Topic: Programs to edit recordings(mainly levels)?

[ChrisV]

Ok, so I use a JB3 and am still trying to figure out what program I am going to use to edit my recordings once I transfer them to my computer.    I am not experienced at all on how to make stuff sound better frequency wise so I probably don't want to mess with it cause I'd probably screw up.   I mainly just want to increase or decrease levels to get the peaks to 0 db and also in some cases I had right/left channels off in parts of the recordings and would like to be able to increase or decrease the level on one side.

So are there any free programs out there to accomplish this?   I've done a search in the forum and see mentions of Cool Edit, Soundforge, and Wavelab of all software people use....assuming all of those cost money to use.

The only one I have experience with so far is CDWav, but I've only used that to track my stuff which was converted/edited for me from my minidisc days.

[caymanreview]

isnt audacity free?

[ChrisV]

Aha, that should probably do the trick.    Checking it out

Thanks!

[F.O.Bean]

if that doesnt suite you, PM me!!

[lds490]

I've been using Adobe Audition lately.  It's a great program.  You can download and try it for 30 days for free.  I've also tried out WavePad--not as good a program but its free.  I'm going to check out Audacity.

[ChrisV]

Arg, this program is confusing me....I don't quite understand how to do much of anything ;p

I go to open up a .wav file and it shows 2 copies?  I don't get how to edit left/right or how to view db levels or decrease/increase them.   The help file just isn't helping me that much.

[blu666z]

Is it actually 2 copies or just right/left wavs?

-Kevin

[ChrisV]

Not sure.  I open up program and then file open .wav file.  It brings up 2 wavforms...I assume left and right but it doesn't say which is which.   It has a drop down menu option to "split stereo track" which is what I think I want to do so I did that and now each one is has a drop down menu.   The top one has a drop down menu with options for "make stereo track, left, right, mono" and the bottom has options for "left, right, mono".

[caymanreview]

im not sure which would be left and which would be right, but yes, when you open a recording it is 2 waveforms, one is left and one is right

[ChrisV]

Ok, thanks for that confirmation...I guess I always just thought top and bottom of a waveform were left and right like when I open it up in CDwav it is only 1 wavform....but I could be wrong because I know near nothing

[F.O.Bean]

when you open almost any editing program, the left channel is the top channel, and the bottom is the right channel


its kinda like reading music, looking at it kinda similarly!!

[caymanreview]

when you open almost any editing program, the left channel is the top channel, and the bottom is the right channel

thats exactly what i thought