You’re working on a video production project. What audio editing tools should you be using?

1 Audio editing basics

Before you dive into the audio editing tools, you need to understand some of the audio editing basics. Audio editing is the process of manipulating, enhancing, and arranging audio tracks to create a desired output. Audio editing can involve tasks such as trimming, cutting, splitting, merging, fading, mixing, adjusting volume, applying effects, and more. Audio editing can be done in different stages of video production, such as pre-production, production, and post-production. Depending on your project goals and budget, you may need different types of audio editing tools for different stages.

2 Audio editing software

When choosing an audio editing software, there are several factors to consider, such as compatibility with your operating system, video editing software, and audio formats. Additionally, the software should have the features you need for your audio editing tasks, like multitrack editing, waveform editing, effects, plugins, and noise reduction. It should also be user-friendly with an intuitive interface and helpful tutorials. Lastly, the software should fit your budget and offer good value for money. Popular audio editing software options include Audacity, Adobe Audition, GarageBand, Logic Pro X, and Pro Tools.

3 Audio editing hardware

For audio editing, you need to have the right audio editing hardware. This includes a microphone for capturing your voice, narration, or other sounds. You should choose a microphone that fits your recording environment, sound source, and audio quality standards. There are different types of microphones such as condenser, dynamic, USB, and shotgun. Additionally, you need an audio interface which connects your microphone to your computer and converts analog audio signals to digital audio signals. The audio interface should also have the inputs and outputs you need as well as the sampling rate and bit depth you want. Finally, you need speakers or headphones to play and monitor your audio tracks. These should have good sound quality, frequency response, and dynamic range that are suitable for your listening environment such as studio monitors, closed-back headphones, or open-back headphones.

4 Audio editing techniques

In addition to knowing the audio editing tools, it's important to be aware of the audio editing techniques that can help you improve your audio tracks. Trimming is the technique of removing the unwanted parts of your audio tracks, such as silence, noise, or mistakes. Fading is the technique of gradually increasing or decreasing the volume of your audio tracks. Mixing is blending multiple audio tracks together. Effects are applying various filters, processors, and modifiers to your audio tracks. You can use the trim tool, fade tool, mixer tool, effects tool, scissors tool, envelope tool, pan tool, and plugins tool in your audio editing software to create smooth transitions and enhance or transform your audio tracks. Reporting and documenting the incident will help you inform and reassure stakeholders as well as provide valuable insights for improving your cloud security posture.

5 Audio editing best practices

To make the most of your audio editing tools and techniques, you should also adhere to some best practices. Before you start, plan your audio editing workflow to determine what audio tracks you need, what audio editing tasks you must do, and which tools and techniques you should use. When recording, use a suitable microphone, set the appropriate recording level, and be mindful of background noise. When editing, make backups, save frequently, use non-destructive editing, and check for errors and inconsistencies. Finally, when exporting your audio tracks, choose the right format, bitrate, sample rate, name your files clearly, and sync your audio with your video.

6 Audio editing resources

If you're interested in learning more about audio editing, there are plenty of resources available online. You can find helpful blogs, podcasts, courses, and forums that can provide useful information on the topic. Popular blogs include The Podcast Host, Musician on a Mission, and Audacity Team. Podcasts like The Audacity to Podcast, The Audio Production Show, and The Pro Audio Files are also great sources of information. If you prefer to take a course, you can check out Udemy, Skillshare, and Coursera. Lastly, online communities like Reddit, Quora, and Stack Exchange are great places to ask questions and get feedback from experienced audio editors.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?