Post-Production Software (recommended)
Audacity (Free with a great variety of filters)
Logic Pro 10 (easy to learn and lots of 3rd party add-ons)
Ableton Live (mostly for live performances and triggered events)
Pro Tools (expensive and difficult to learn)
Audition (easy to learn and great for micro edits)
Some Terminology
An audio filter is a frequency dependent amplifier circuit, working in the audio frequency range, 0 Hz to beyond 20 kHz. Many types of filters exist for applications including graphic equalizers, synthesizers, sound effects, CD players and virtual reality systems.
Being a frequency dependent amplifier, in its most basic form, an audio filter is designed to amplify, pass or attenuate (negative amplification) some frequency ranges. Common types include low-pass filters, which pass through frequencies below their cutoff frequencies, and progressively attenuates frequencies above the cutoff frequency. A high-pass filter does the opposite, passing high frequencies above the cutoff frequency, and progressively attenuating frequencies below the cutoff frequency. A bandpass filter passes frequencies between its two cutoff frequencies, while attenuating those outside the range. A band-reject filter, attenuates frequencies between its two cutoff frequencies, while passing those outside the 'reject' range.
File Formats
File Format: a specific way to encode data that is to be saved as a file. You are probably familiar with mp3. Each format resulted from the technology that we are using now - It is always a general rule to record at the best possible bit rate to get the best quality and work your way down from there. Ultimately, it is up to your own ear to determine which codec to use, and which format is best for you for whatever circumstance.
Codec: a program/algorithm that encodes/decodes data to convert a file between different formats. The popular media codecs are generally used for shrinking file size. Codec refers to a codec that sacrifices file quality for the sake of compression.
Lossless Codec: does not destroy any data, regardless of whether or not the data is necessary for the file’s integrity.
Metadata: information about the file that is stored within the file itself.
Container: a file format that concerns itself more with how data is stored, and not necessarily coded.
Bitrate: the number of bits processed per second. To put things into perspective, mp3s generally have a bitrate of 128 kbit/s, while CD’s generally have bitratesof around 1.4 Mbit/s.
Audio File Formats Explained.
aiff /.wav. – These are both uncompressed, lossless formats, which means it takes about 10MB to save a minute’s worth of music.
aiff was developed for Apple’s OSX, and wav for PCs, although both formats are compatible with both operating systems.
(wav is the format preferred by PC wielding audiophiles; mac users generally rip CD’s into the aiff file format.)
Apple’s default audio format, AAC is a lossy compression scheme that was developed to replace mp3, but never achieved the prominence that mp3 has with listeners. Some argue that AAC produces the same quality audio at 96 kbits/s as a mp3 does at 128 kbit/s, but with the recent developments in mp3 codecs (particularly LAME), mp3s have performed far better in listening tests against AAC than in previous years.
If you’re willing to sacrifice the storage space, and have ears sensitive enough to tell the difference between a CD and a ripped track, go with .wav or .aiff. Otherwise, .aac and .mp3 encoded at bitrates above 256 kbit/s are indistinguishable from CDs for the average person.
Audacity (Free with a great variety of filters)
Logic Pro 10 (easy to learn and lots of 3rd party add-ons)
Ableton Live (mostly for live performances and triggered events)
Pro Tools (expensive and difficult to learn)
Audition (easy to learn and great for micro edits)
Some Terminology
An audio filter is a frequency dependent amplifier circuit, working in the audio frequency range, 0 Hz to beyond 20 kHz. Many types of filters exist for applications including graphic equalizers, synthesizers, sound effects, CD players and virtual reality systems.
Being a frequency dependent amplifier, in its most basic form, an audio filter is designed to amplify, pass or attenuate (negative amplification) some frequency ranges. Common types include low-pass filters, which pass through frequencies below their cutoff frequencies, and progressively attenuates frequencies above the cutoff frequency. A high-pass filter does the opposite, passing high frequencies above the cutoff frequency, and progressively attenuating frequencies below the cutoff frequency. A bandpass filter passes frequencies between its two cutoff frequencies, while attenuating those outside the range. A band-reject filter, attenuates frequencies between its two cutoff frequencies, while passing those outside the 'reject' range.
File Formats
File Format: a specific way to encode data that is to be saved as a file. You are probably familiar with mp3. Each format resulted from the technology that we are using now - It is always a general rule to record at the best possible bit rate to get the best quality and work your way down from there. Ultimately, it is up to your own ear to determine which codec to use, and which format is best for you for whatever circumstance.
Codec: a program/algorithm that encodes/decodes data to convert a file between different formats. The popular media codecs are generally used for shrinking file size. Codec refers to a codec that sacrifices file quality for the sake of compression.
Lossless Codec: does not destroy any data, regardless of whether or not the data is necessary for the file’s integrity.
Metadata: information about the file that is stored within the file itself.
Container: a file format that concerns itself more with how data is stored, and not necessarily coded.
Bitrate: the number of bits processed per second. To put things into perspective, mp3s generally have a bitrate of 128 kbit/s, while CD’s generally have bitratesof around 1.4 Mbit/s.
Audio File Formats Explained.
aiff /.wav. – These are both uncompressed, lossless formats, which means it takes about 10MB to save a minute’s worth of music.
aiff was developed for Apple’s OSX, and wav for PCs, although both formats are compatible with both operating systems.
(wav is the format preferred by PC wielding audiophiles; mac users generally rip CD’s into the aiff file format.)
Apple’s default audio format, AAC is a lossy compression scheme that was developed to replace mp3, but never achieved the prominence that mp3 has with listeners. Some argue that AAC produces the same quality audio at 96 kbits/s as a mp3 does at 128 kbit/s, but with the recent developments in mp3 codecs (particularly LAME), mp3s have performed far better in listening tests against AAC than in previous years.
If you’re willing to sacrifice the storage space, and have ears sensitive enough to tell the difference between a CD and a ripped track, go with .wav or .aiff. Otherwise, .aac and .mp3 encoded at bitrates above 256 kbit/s are indistinguishable from CDs for the average person.