Become a Site Supporter and Never see Ads again!

Author Topic: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing  (Read 11150 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline EWizard

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« on: September 02, 2015, 08:15:36 AM »
I've gotten some awesome vinyl record rips with my Sony PCM-M10 recently.
I'm shooting for peaks of -3db in my recordings.
I have both Audacity and Sound Forge (which came with my recorder).
What I'm wanting to do is trim out the front and rear of my recording, which is basically the beginning and end of an LP side.
Sound Forge will let me do this fine, but the track separation and normalizing do not seem to work as well as in Audacity.
Audacity's downfall is that it appears that I cannot save changes to my .WAV file directly, and have to export at a lower resolution (16 bit, or FLAC, MP3, etc).
Sound Forge will let you save changes directly to the raw recording file.

The post-processing I would like to apply to my files are pretty basic.
1)  Raise the volume of my recordings, so that they peak at 0db.
2)  Trim out the beginnings and ends of the LP side.
3)  Separate tracks

Can someone give me some direction on the best way to achieve this, while retaining my 24bit/48k resolution?

Offline yug du nord

  • ...til things never seen seem familiar…
  • Trade Count: (56)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 5533
  • made with natural flavor
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2015, 12:13:46 PM »
IMO..
Audacity is a great free program that can do what you need it to do.
Sound Forge is better.  What version??
Download CD Wave Editor (free) for track splitting.
Download Trader's Little Helper (free) for file conversion.
.....got a blank space where my mind should be.....

Offline bryonsos

  • Omni addict
  • Trade Count: (28)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 2061
  • Gender: Male
  • If it's important, tell me to write it down.
    • LMA uploads
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2015, 12:14:37 PM »
Once you do your editing in Audcity: file > export multiple tracks will do what you want. You'll get a dialogue box where you can select bit rate etc. Audacity is quirky.
Mics: 3 Zigma Chi HA-FX (COL-251, c, h, o-d, o-f) / Avenson STO-2 / Countryman B3s
Pres: CA-Ugly / Naiant Tinyhead / SD MixPre
Decks: Roland R-44 / Sony PCM-M10
GAKables
Dead Muppets

My recordings LMA / BT / TTD

Offline Gutbucket

  • record > listen > revise technique
  • Trade Count: (15)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 15698
  • Gender: Male
  • "Better to love music than respect it" ~Stravinsky
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2015, 12:40:04 PM »
Once you normalize the peak level of your files (a little under 0dBFS is better that maxing out right at zero) the resulting dynamic range from any LP will easily fit into that provided by a 16bit file.  There is no advantage whatsoever in storing the files in 24bit format that point, only wasted storage space consisting of nothing but additional low level noise.  If peaking at around -3dBFS during the transfer, you could probably record directly to 16bit without noticing any increase in the noise-floor of the resulting files.  Recording to an higher bit depth could be advantageous if you were not setting levels as accurately and were peaking much lower during the transfer, as the M-10 is probably capable of a real world dynamic range of maybe 18 bits or so when set to write 24bit files.
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline EWizard

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2015, 03:13:53 PM »
IMO..
Audacity is a great free program that can do what you need it to do.
Sound Forge is better.  What version??
Download CD Wave Editor (free) for track splitting.
Download Trader's Little Helper (free) for file conversion.

I have version 9, which came with my Sony PCM-M10.
I need to find some tutorials for how to go about upping the volume, etc.
Thanks for the info.

Offline chinariderstl

  • Trade Count: (43)
  • Taperssection All-Star
  • ****
  • Posts: 1260
  • Gender: Male
    • https://chris-finn.com/
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2015, 05:16:00 PM »
I wrote the following up a long time ago.  It works well for me.  I grabbed most of it (verbatim) from one of their manuals.


# Sony Sound Forge
------------------------

# Resample to a New Sampling Rate

To change the sampling rate of an audio file, do the following:

1. Process > Resample

2. Set the new sampling rate for your audio file by using the New Sample Rate parameter.

3. Set the Interpolation Accuracy parameter.
    This parameter specifies the accuracy of the resampling process.
    A higher setting provides slower but more accurate processing.
    Unless you have a really long audio file, you probably want to keep this parameter set to 4.

4. IMPORTANT: If you are converting from a higher sampling rate to a lower sampling rate,
    be sure to activate the 'Apply an Anti-Alias Filter' during Resample option.
    This prevents any high frequency content from the file with a higher sampling rate
    from becoming noise in the converted file.

5. Click the Preview button to hear how your file will sound.

7. Click OK.

# Normalizing Audio

To use the Normalize function, do the following:

1. Select the data in your audio file that you want to normalize.
    If you want to process the entire file, select it all by choosing Edit > Select All (or by pressing Ctrl-A).

2. Choose Process > Normalize

3. For the 'Normalize Using' parameter, choose the 'Peak Level' option.

4. Click the Scan Levels button to find the highest amplitude level in your audio data.

5. Adjust the 'Normalize to' parameter by dragging its slider up or down, which sets the highest amplitude level
    to the level you'd like it normalized.

6. Click the Preview button (optional).

7. Click OK.

# Fade Audio

To apply a fade-in or fade-out to your audio data, follow these steps:

1. Select the data in your audio file to which you want to apply a fade.

2. To apply a fade-in, choose Process > Fade > In.

3. To apply a fade-out, choose Process > Fade > Out.

# Adjust Audio Volume - The Volume Function (Adjust Gain or Amplify)

To simply increase the amplitude of a data selection, use the Volume function.

1. Select the data in your audio file to which you want to apply amplitude changes.
    If you want to process the entire file, select it all by choosing Edit > Select All (or by pressing Ctrl-A).

2. Choose Process > Volume to open the Volume dialog box.

3. To adjust the amplitude of your data, set the Gain parameter.
    Move the slider up to increase amplitude.

4. Click the Preview button (optional).

5. Click OK.
Mics: Audio-Technica AT853's, Avantone CK-40 (Busman mod), Busman BSC1's, DPA 4022's, DPA 4060's
Pres: Apogee Mini-MP, Core Sound Battery Box
Decks: Sony PCM-M10, Tascam DR-2D, Tascam DR-680 (Busman mod)
Power: Initial RB-270, Naztech PB15000
LMA: http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=taper%3A%22Chris+Finn%22

Offline EWizard

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2015, 09:40:39 PM »
I don't know if I'm an idiot or not but I cannot figure how to install plugins into Sound Forge.
I'm looking for the Click and Crackle plugin.
Are there any free ones that are worth a darn?

ilduclo

  • Guest
  • Trade Count: (0)
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2015, 09:47:19 AM »
be sure to do most of your edits while still in 24 bit, especially normalize.  I agree that one program doesn't seem to do it all for me. I use soundforge for normalize, resample and bit depth conversion, cool edit pro for trims, fades, cuts, applause reduction (hard limit or envelope) then CD wave editor for track cutting, TLH for flac conversion (works on the 24 bit original archive files, too) and CDWav for mp3 conversion.

Offline EWizard

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2015, 10:47:03 AM »
Another question.
For converting LP's to digital, applying Normalization to the digital file it seems is a debated topic.
The debate is whether or not you are "destroying" the dynamic range when applying Normalization.
How is this different than applying Volume?
It appears to me to be the same thing.  Is one better than the other for keeping the dynamic range of the LP?

Offline chinariderstl

  • Trade Count: (43)
  • Taperssection All-Star
  • ****
  • Posts: 1260
  • Gender: Male
    • https://chris-finn.com/
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2015, 11:09:04 AM »
be sure to do most of your edits while still in 24 bit, especially normalize.  I agree that one program doesn't seem to do it all for me. I use soundforge for normalize, resample and bit depth conversion ...

Precisely, as do I! :)
Mics: Audio-Technica AT853's, Avantone CK-40 (Busman mod), Busman BSC1's, DPA 4022's, DPA 4060's
Pres: Apogee Mini-MP, Core Sound Battery Box
Decks: Sony PCM-M10, Tascam DR-2D, Tascam DR-680 (Busman mod)
Power: Initial RB-270, Naztech PB15000
LMA: http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=taper%3A%22Chris+Finn%22

Offline EWizard

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #10 on: September 03, 2015, 12:20:34 PM »
Also, is there any reason not to resample and just export my 24/48 .wav file as .flac via Audacity?
Audacity has a de-clicking effect and an Amplify which seems to be the same thing as Volume/Normalize(the whole file) in Sound Forge.
Audacity will also export individual tracks.
It doesn't seem that Sound Forge will do either of these things (export to .flac or split files or de-click).
Why use Sound Forge instead of Audacity?

Offline Gutbucket

  • record > listen > revise technique
  • Trade Count: (15)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 15698
  • Gender: Male
  • "Better to love music than respect it" ~Stravinsky
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2015, 12:48:12 PM »
is there any reason not to resample and just export my 24/48 .wav file as .flac via Audacity?

That will work.  Primarily, resampling to 44.1kHz and truncation/dither to 16bits reduces the need for excess storage space that isn't providing any additional fidelity, since that additional bandwidth isn't being used.  It can also provide greater player compatibility.  If you don't care about storage space or compatibility, just FLAC the 24/48 files directly.  Likewise, you could transfer at 16/44.1 (or 16/48 if you like), avoiding the truncation (and sample rate conversion) steps, with the same fidelity, given the source material and the good level control you are exercising during the transfer.

A note on file bit depth verses working program calculation bit depth- Most modern audio editors make their internal calculations at a higher bit depth than the bit depth of the file itself.  They are usually working at something like 32bit float internally, regardless of whether the file is 16, 20, 24, 8 bits or whatever.  Keeping the file in a higher bit depth can be important if you are saving and transferring between different pieces of software and making audio changes in each of them.  If you are doing all the work in one program however, or if you are exporting the file and then only doing things which do not require complex calculations (such as tracking in CDWav, FLACing in TLH or whatever) you can go ahead and save at the final target bit rate of 16bits without any penalty.  The editing software will truncate and dither from it's internal 32bit float or whatever down to 16bits or whatever you specify when you export the file.
« Last Edit: September 03, 2015, 12:54:13 PM by Gutbucket »
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline EWizard

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #12 on: September 03, 2015, 05:13:27 PM »
Are you saying that a FLAC file created from a 24bit source could be incompatible with some players?

Offline Gutbucket

  • record > listen > revise technique
  • Trade Count: (15)
  • Needs to get out more...
  • *****
  • Posts: 15698
  • Gender: Male
  • "Better to love music than respect it" ~Stravinsky
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #13 on: September 03, 2015, 05:29:20 PM »
If it can decode FLAC it will probably play a 24 bit file.

16/44.1 WAV is the undoubtedly most universal format, playable anywhere, including being dinosaur disc compatible.
musical volition > vibrations > voltages > numeric values > voltages > vibrations> virtual teleportation time-machine experience
Better recording made easy - >>Improved PAS table<< | Made excellent- >>click here to download the Oddball Microphone Technique illustrated PDF booklet<< (note: This is a 1st draft, now several years old and in need of revision!  Stay tuned)

Offline EWizard

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Taperssection Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 17
Re: Audacity vs. Sound Forge post-processing
« Reply #14 on: September 03, 2015, 08:51:52 PM »
I sure wish my Sony could play .flac.
Would make my life easier. :-\

 

RSS | Mobile
Page created in 0.085 seconds with 43 queries.
© 2002-2024 Taperssection.com
Powered by SMF