The "Limiter" option (audacity)

[ej400]

Figured I would share this in case anyone else would find this helpful:

So lately during recording my voice simply cannot reach those 86 to 92 dbs without needing amplify. However, there are inconsistent places during the recording where I have found the volume too loud, or random spikes inside of words with pesky "s" sounds or spikes of "ah!" Or etc occur.

That said, I wouls normally have to select portions of the audio to de-amplify where it was too loud, or had a few clicks of a sort, or amplify the spots that were too quiet, like the beginning of a recording where my voice is soft and not warmed up.

I present to you my new favorite audacity tool, the limiter! Close to the noise reduction option, I select the entire recording and hit "apply" (if needed I can share my settings tomorrow when I have my computer). This way it will automatically pull certain areas together and have a much more constant flow. From there I can select the entire section again, and go about amplification and it will be able to hot that 89 db target quite closely! Pretty neat in my opinion

Thought I would share! I'm sure it has been used before / mentioned somewhere but I'm geeking over the easier editing times

Elijah

[InTheDesert]

Wait till you discover the compressor!

[TriciaG]

Wait till you discover the compressor!

I don't like the compressor and switched from it to the limiter. The compressor adds this weird fade-in to the start of the vocal, whereas the limiter basically does the same thing, but without the fade-in.

[ej400]

I use the compressor when there are multiple strong spikes that sometimes the limiter cannot reach.

[Winnifred]

I must try that. Seems easier than de-amplifying all the spikes.

Thanks!

[SowasVon]

I don't like the compressor and switched from it to the limiter. The compressor adds this weird fade-in to the start of the vocal, whereas the limiter basically does the same thing, but without the fade-in.

Aye, that is an annoying thing about compressor. There's one way to trick it though: At the beginning of my recording, I say some words that won't go into the recording. Then, the unwanted fade-in only affects something that gets cut out anyway.