Since Soundtrack Pro was discontinued, Adobe Audition has been the audio editing application I am using the most. (Tips for Using Adobe Audition)
My media profession began so long ago that—just let’s say—faders were large spinning knobs rather than sliders and we could still purchase recordings that rotated at 78 rpm. For the younger population, here is an explanation of a 78 record.
Before I wax too nostalgic, though, let me just say that the stages of my audio career were analog to ProTools, ProTools to Soundtrack Pro, Soundtrack Pro to…
The Mac first saw this audio recording and editing tool, Adobe Audition, at the same time as Apple was phasing out Soundtrack Pro with the CS5.5 upgrade. I’ve been studying it ever since. Since I work with audio more frequently than I do with film, my stress level was higher than usual. As any editor knows, switching from one major editing package to another is stressful in many ways.
Adobe Audition has a solid reputation in the professional audio and broadcast sectors on Windows, despite being new to the Mac. A few months ago, I finally decided to do a more thorough investigation.
It led to the creation of a library of video lessons on how to capture and manipulate audio in Audition. (A list may be found here.) Soon, a brand-new mixing and effects session will be accessible.
However, I’d want to provide a few succinct recommendations for utilizing Audition in this post. Some fairly wonderful things may not be obvious right away in this situation.
WORKSPACES
There are over 20 different panels and tabs in Audition. The place would be so busy if all of these were on display at once that we would be unable to do any job.
Workspaces, which are groups of linked panels and tabs arranged around common activities, were instead created by Adobe.
(Tips for Using Adobe Audition)
For audio-only work, I like the Default workspace. While I’m mixing to an image, I like modifying audio to video. By making your own workplaces, altering them, removing them, and otherwise customizing them, you may entirely customize the user experience.
I’ll use the Default workspace for the screen images in this lesson.
KERNEL SHORT-CUTS
Making your own keyboard shortcuts is a really handy feature, in my opinion. You might not notice it, though, as it is in the Edit menu and not the Audition menu. This would be inaccurate.
In addition to applying keyboard shortcuts to menu items, you may also set them to workspaces, audio meter ranges, help files, preferences, and transport controls.
If you’re a power user who requires quickness, this action alone will cause your heart to beat more rapidly.
IMPORT VS. OPEN
You are able to open Audition sessions, XML mixing sequences made in Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro, as well as a variety of audio file formats, including WAV and some PC formats that Soundtrack does not support.
Did I mention that you can merge your FCP projects in Audition by using the FCP 7 XML files that Audition can open? OMF is not needed of you. really cool
When you select File > Open, sessions open into the Multitrack timeline and audio files open into the Waveform editor.
Sessions open in the File Browser and audio files are loaded into the Waveform editor when you select File > Import, however they are positioned below the multitrack project or waveform that is now being shown.
To open a file and view it immediately, select File > Open. If you want to open it and come back to it later, select File > Import.
(Tips for Using Adobe Audition)
MAKE A SIMPLE FIX
Have you seen how the audio levels change in the screen shot up top? What if you need to open a file quickly so that you can quickly extract a sound clip from an interview, level it off, tidy up its top and tail, and save it before moving on with your day? This Audition happens really quickly:
1. File > Open
2. Select the waveform section you want to remove. 3. Hit Delete, then repeat steps 2 and 3 until everything has been cleaned up.
3. Select Amplitude & Compression > Apply Effects > Speech Volume Leveler.
4. After accepting the settings, click OK.
5. Poof! Your audio is excellent, and the levels are smooth.
then, save the document.
Done. (I wish I had discovered this tip earlier…!)
NAVIGATION
Using these eight buttons, you may zoom in or out, vertically or horizontally, to the in or out, or, my personal favorite, to fill the full window.
You need a faster approach. Each of them has a keyboard shortcut. Shift+S makes the chosen region larger.
Do you need anything now?
A closer look
– Expands in
you need the speediest method? Roll the mouse scroll wheel to zoom in or out!
Click the Zoom Out Full button to enlarge the window to fit the whole clip and modify the track heights.
Although typing Command + is quicker,
Creating a mix
The Waveform Editor is used to edit audio. The results are frequently damaging changes that you save to your hard disk. But for mixes, you use a Multitrack session. The same process is used by Soundtrack Pro.
(Tips for Using Adobe Audition)
With Audition, however, you must first decide what audio needs the session will need before you can start adding clips to it.
It is far more important that your audio sample rates match the session specifications. If they don’t, Audition won’t allow you add the audio clips to the timeline.
I decided on 44,100 Hz as the standard sample rate for all audio I capture for my podcast, Digital Production Buzz. I consistently record audio at a sample rate of 48,000 Hz for my video projects. Both Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack allow you to mix and match sample rates. However, audition does not.
However, it is very quick and easy to convert sample rates using setting presets in Compressor if I have a problem with an audio file that lacks the proper sample rates. Additionally, Audition provides batch audio file processing.
I always use 16-bit depth while recording audio. You can record using it. By default, Audition uses 32-bit float space for mixing. This blends beautifully and ought to be left alone. Mixing 16-bit audio in 32-bit float space is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged. Your music sounds better as a result, and effects have more room to work.
Once established, the sample rate of a multitrack session cannot be changed.
(Tips for Using Adobe Audition)
AUDIO SUPPLEMENT
Simply drag audio from the File Browser to the Multitrack timeline. The gold border marks the commencement of the clip.
Would you like to use the Waveform editor to access a clip? Toggle it twice.
Are you trying to find a quick way to make a fade? Grab the fading box’s corners to move it left or right.
Do you want to change the contour of the fade? Change the size of the fading box.
EDITING AUDIO
Similar to Photoshop, press V to choose the Arrow tool.
To use the razor blade to cut one (or all) of the tracks in a clip, press R (or RR).
(Tips for Using Adobe Audition)
Press T to activate the Time Selection Tool, then drag to choose a section inside a clip.
Drag an area between two tracks to pick it.
To move the region, drag the top selection box.
To change the region’s In or Out, drag the In or Out buttons at the top.
To eliminate a region and make room, press Delete.
To remove a part and erase the gap, press Shift + Eliminate.
MORE SUCCESS
Do you want any Timecode that is incredibly big? Go to Window > Time to drag the top divider up and UP! To change the kind of time display, click the right mouse button in the Time box and select your choice.
Should you watch the highs and lows? Use the control key to choose Peaks and Valleys in the audio meters. The three most recent, sharpest peaks in your audio are shown in the Peaks (yellow line) section. The three seconds of your audio that are the quietest are represented by the valleys (gray line). I don’t know why, but I really like this feature.
Exactly how loud is your audio? Would you want to know? Open your clip in the Waveform Editor, then choose Window > Amplitude Statistics. Select Scan in the lower-left corner. short statistics
There are more details in this single window than I have time to present, but note that in addition to peak levels, it also displays RMS (average) levels, loudness, and other information. If, like me, you constantly debate whether audio levels should be displayed as peak or RMS, this single panel will significantly lessen your tension.(Tips for Using Adobe Audition)
A FINAL THOUGHT
Final Cut editors will find a lot to love about Audition. I can’t wait to show you more of Audition in the future.
