Digital Preservation of Audio Cassettes

By Lori Spencer

 

Magnetic audio cassette tapes deteriorate over time to due age, wear, dust and temperature/humidity fluctuations. If you have some cherished recordings on cassette tape that you don’t want to lose, back them up to a digital format quickly and preserve them forever.

This is a simple process using basic sound recording software. Some popular free software choices are Audacity and WavePad (both are Mac compatible), or you can just use the Sound Recorder program that came pre-installed with Windows. In this tutorial we will be using Audacity, although the…

Continues at: http://www.ehow.com/how_7346684_record-audio-cassette-computer.html

How to Host Websites With Music Players

Adding a music player to your website is a way to share songs by your favorite artistswith visitors. If you are a musician or songwriter, a music player is an essential tool for offering samples of your original music. It…

Read more at http://www.ehow.com/how_8412958_host-websites-music-players.html

Spinnin’ Platters With the Ion Turntable

By Lori Spencer

 

If your primary need for a record player revolves around transferring stacks of vinyl albums to your computer, a USB turntable may be just the right solution. While most audiophiles and critics agree that USB turntables still cannot deliver the fidelity of a traditional stereo component turntable, a USB turntable works fine for the average consumer’s needs.

Ion Audio makes a popular line of plug-and-play USB turntables at affordable prices. In addition to USB, Ion Turntables also have RCA output jacks — quite handy for connecting the turntable to your stereo system…

Continued at http://www.ehow.com/how_8408233_ion-turntable-spin-records.html

How to Make 78 rpm Records the Right Speed if Recorded at 45 rpm

By Lori Spencer

Most consumer-grade turntables on the market today will only play 45 and 33 rpm records, leaving 78 rpm enthusiasts without a way to listen to their prized collections. It is entirely possible to record 78 rpm records to a digital format using the 45 rpm speed on your turntable, then convert to the correct speed using audio software.

Free software such as Audacity and WavePad will automatically correct the speed with a few clicks of the mouse. The conversion speed can also be adjusted manually to accommodate early 20th century recordings, which often were recorded from 70 to 90 rpms…

 

Article continues at http://www.ehow.com/how_8193357_make-right-speed-recorded-45.html

Adding A New Audio Track to Your Video

By Lori Spencer

 

When producing your video project, you might want to record a new audio track to mix with or replace the existing audio on your video. For example, maybe you want to add narration to a documentary film. You can accomplish this from within your video editing program, such as Windows Movie Maker for PC (or iMovie for Mac).

For the purposes of this tutorial, we’ll be using Windows Movie Maker. However, the basic audio recording functions are the same in iMovie and most other movie-making software programs.

Step 1

Purchase a good quality external microphone for recording your audio track. While you don’t have to invest in a top-of-the-line microphone, plan to spend at least $50 to $100 for a microphone of sufficient quality. Same goes for headphones; if you don’t already own a good pair, it’s well worth it to invest in headphones that will give you the cleanest and most accurate sound possible.

Step 2

Plug the microphone into the mic jack on your computer. (You may need an adapter if the plug is too large for the jack.)

Step 3

Plug your headphones into the computer’s headphone jack.

Step 4

Open your movie project file in the video authoring program (in this case, Windows Movie Maker).

Step 5

Place the cursor in the audio area of the time line at the point where you want the narration to begin. (The audio track area is located just below the video time line.)

Step 6

Press Narrate Time Line. The narration wizard will appear. Select your recording input as microphone.

Step 7

Test your recording levels and adjust the microphone volume level accordingly. Play back the test recording to make sure you are getting enough gain on the microphone without distortion.

Step 8

Press Record and speak normally into the microphone. The narration wizard will play your movie to help guide you during recording of the voice track.

Step 9

Press Stop when you are finished recording. The track is automatically inserted into the audio area of your movie time line.

The narration you recorded is saved as a Windows Media Audio file (WMA). By default, the narration file is saved in the My Videos/Narration folder on your computer.

Step 10

Work with the track by selecting it with your mouse. Now you can move it around, trim the beginning/end and adjust the volume level in the mix. (For example, you can layer the narration track over background music or the audio on your existing video.)

Step 11

Save your movie project with the new audio track when you are done editing.

Tips

You can record the audio track in a separate audio recording program such as Audacity or WavePad. This gives you more control over the sound and the ability to add effects and perform more advanced editing tasks.

To add a prerecorded audio file (such as an MP3, WMA or WAV file) to your movie, use the Import function to import the file into your Collections pane. Then drag the audio file into the time line and insert it at the point where you want it to play.

Warnings

Key Concepts

• record narration video
• record audio video
• audio video recording
• windows movie maker
• apple imovie software
• video authoring software

References

• YouTube: Working With Audio in Windows Movie Maker [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqWStZMWAJA&feature=related]
• YouTube: Windows Movie Maker Effects: Adding Audio [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xk17QpPBN0&feature=related]
• YouTube: Recording Voiceovers With iMovie09 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPgCWQRBaus&feature=related]
• YouTube: Editing Audio in iMovie (for Mac) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qfC2gwLsGI&feature=related]
• YouTube: How to Record a Narration Using Windows Movie Maker [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2n8NeghC8c]

Resources (Further Reading)

• Microsoft: Adjusting Audio in Windows Movie Maker FAQ [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Adjusting-audio-in-Windows-Movie-Maker-frequently-asked-questions]
• Windows Movie Maker Tutorials: How to Add Narration [http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/Tutorials/HowToAddNarration.aspx]

User Bio

Lori Spencer has written professionally since 1986. She is the author of three nonfiction books, is writing her fourth and provides content for eHow and LIVESTRONG.COM. She also produces and hosts a weekly radio show. Her subjects of expertise include history, media, music, film and the performing arts.

How to Broadcast Radio on the Internet

How to Broadcast Radio Audio on the Internet | eHow.com.

By Lori Spencer

How to Record Vocal Multitracks for Barbershop Music

By Lori Spencer

 

Old school meets new technology online in the barbershop multitrack tag video. This is usually a single vocalist recording several tracks of their own voice a cappella.

If you’re a singer, multitracking your own voice is also a great way to practice your harmonizing skills, or rehearse parts for an upcoming barbershop quartet performance. Or you could make a video and become the next online sensation.

To do this yourself at home, you’ll need audio recording and editing software that offers multitracking capacity…

Read more: How to Separate Multitracks for Barbershop Music | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7464773_separate-multitracks-barbershop-music.html#ixzz1g8l9BNLx

How to Convert Your Old 45 RPM Records to MP3

By Lori Spencer

 

If you’ve been keeping a treasured collection of old 45 RPM records in a box for years, you can transfer those old platters to a digital format, such as MP3, and continue to enjoy them for many years to come.

Archiving your 45 RPM collection requires some audio recording/editing software. Free programs, such as Audacity and WavePad, work fine for most basic transfers. If you’re looking for more advanced editing features, you may want to invest in a program such as Golden Records or Spin It Again (see Resources).

Read more: How to Convert 45 Records to MP3s | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7463622_convert-45-records-mp3s.html#ixzz1g8kGNISG

How to Record Voice Audio in Windows Media Player

How to Record Voice Audio in Windows Media Player | eHow.com.

By Lori Spencer

A Tutorial for Audio and Video Mixing

By Lori Spencer

 

When making a movie project, you’ll usually be working with several audio sources: the sound recorded on the original video, background music, sound effects and/or a voice narration track. Your goal should be to get all these various elements to flow together seamlessly in the mix without “clashing.”

For most homemade movie projects, Windows Movie Maker for PC (or iMovie for Mac) will accomplish all the basic editing tasks you need. These video-editing programs come preloaded on most newer computers.

In this tutorial we’ll be working with Windows Movie Maker, but the functions and commands are essentially the same in iMovie.

Read more: A Tutorial for Audio and Video Mixing | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7250454_tutorial-audio-video-mixing.html#ixzz1gDdLrxBU