Topic: Compressing loud applause in Audacity advice?

[yltfan]

I have read several different threads about this, tried a few things, but I'm not happy with the results. I recorded a quiet acoustic show--the music peaks at -32db, and the applause goes up over -22.

Using the compressor in Audacity, I tried a few settings, ended up here:
threshold: -32
noise threshold: -40
ratio: 6.5:1
attack time .2
decay time 1.0
make-up gain for 0db after compressing – yes
compress based on peaks – no

It generally seems to work, but the compressed applause sections sound pretty funky, lots of "pumping". I can live with that, but thought I'd throw this out here first.

Should I go with different settings? A different route entirely? I only have Audacity on the machine I'm working with, but might be able to use soundforge or CEP. Thanks for any advice!

[page]

I've used Audacities "Hard Limiter" with a larger residue (like 0.4 or so to soften it) where I had to chop just peaks of applause or other sudden pops. I wouldn't use it in place of a compressor for music, but it does the job for small loud sections.

[capnhook]

I'd ditch the automation altogether......you can do a much better job yourself by using the envelope tool to drag down loud audience events.  Drag them down below the music, and give yourself some headroom, too.

[fmaderjr]

I agree with page. I use Audition's hard limiter for peaks of applause and it sound completely natural to me. At least with Audition I don't see why I'd want to go to the trouble of lowering each peak of applause individually and I imagine I'd probably feel the same if I used Audacity.

[page]

I agree with page. I use Audition's hard limiter for peaks of applause and it sound completely natural to me. At least with Audition I don't see why I'd want to go to the trouble of lowering each peak of applause individually and I imagine I'd probably feel the same if I used Audacity.

The cute part about Audacity's (and I'm working from memory and hope it's not an AU filter I'm thinking of) is that the Hard Limit function has a softener so if your peak is at -2, you can run the limiter at -6 with a residue of maybe half or a little under and your peaks won't be shaved off at -6, but will sort of float around -4 and at least look somewhat natural (and I found it sounds better on stuff that has some sustain to it).

[Gutbucket]

I'd ditch the automation altogether......you can do a much better job yourself by using the envelope tool to drag down loud audience events.

I'm with 'hook on this.

[runonce]

I'd ditch the automation altogether......you can do a much better job yourself by using the envelope tool to drag down loud audience events.

I'm with 'hook on this.

Agree as well. Limting is good for fixing stuff where you can hear spikey, specific claps...but for those big full-room swells (like recording quiet music in a nice hall) - you are best just reducing the volume and using the envelope to soften the abrupt reduction.

[yltfan]

I'm loving the nice, healthy debate here. So far, I have not been able to get the compression to sound good. The envelope sounds better, but is soo much more work (insert whiney tone). I'll try the limiter next.

Thanks for all the input!

[capnhook]

Well then, try combining the two.....compression to knock down the tips, then envelope to bring it all down together.......see if that works.

[ilduclo]

you must be working with a show with lots of short quiet songs. I just did a classical type thing with at least 15 minutes between loud applause segments, it was easy with the envelope. ymmv

[travelinbeat]

Well then, try combining the two.....compression to knock down the tips, then envelope to bring it all down together.......see if that works.

That's what I do.  1st off I'll run a De-Clicker or something like that to remove most of the loud, close-by claps.  Any stragglers I'll then address by hand, with a "V" shaped fade to really choke them down to a reasonable level.  Once those two steps are done, I'll take that same Fade tool (I don't really like how Envelope works in Soundforge), and craft a custom fade (lower volume, then slowly climb it back up to 100%) for each applause that sounds as natural as possible. 

I've used this technique for several shows with increasing success.

[page]

Well then, try combining the two.....compression to knock down the tips, then envelope to bring it all down together.......see if that works.

see, we can be friends. 

[capnhook]

Well then, try combining the two.....compression to knock down the tips, then envelope to bring it all down together.......see if that works.

see, we can be friends. 

Viva Audacity!   

[Shadow_7]

Hard limiter.  I'd rather there be some sort of soft limiter (everything louder than X dB compress to a 3dB range) and there probably is, but I don't know where that feature is yet.  I tried to do this same thing with compression and it always seemed to have to opposite effect for some reason.  And none of those results sounded good.  I used to just amp with clipping to cut it off, but that's no grammy winner either.  But still useful if your mic'd result is pure wind noise.  So hard limiter, it comes in handy if you do a low end bump and the percussive sounds get a little too unruly.  I generally can't just select the applause and downsize.  There's always someone clapping early, or some MC blabbing on the PA during the last few seconds of music.

[Walstib62]

I must say I'm with the Capn also on this one. Envelope is quick, easy, provides a smooth transition. What more could you want?