High-Pass Filtering: Getting Rid of Undesirable Low Frequencies

I care deeply about the level of production that goes into each podcast that I make. My production chain begins with using the best microphones I can afford and ends with carefully edited and mastered audio that is suitable for consumption by the listener. I enumerate my production chain below and how it flows to the final product:

  • Microphones
  • Outboard processing (compressors)
  • Mixer
  • Computer
  • Recording software
  • Editing
  • Mastering
  • Upload to the web

Disturbing frequencies you don’t want

A common problem in podcasts produced by the inexperienced is an abundance of undesirable low-end frequency. For example: excessive bottom end that’s audibly disturbing when people hit their microphones, slam their arms on a desk, or a car drives by with its subwoofer blaring. If you record in a noisy environment, this amplifies certain problematic frequencies. Short of recording in an acoustically treated room away from the noise of the outside world, you can’t completely get rid of all undesired frequencies. You can of course minimize the impact or “energy” of the problem.

If you have a dynamic or condenser microphone with an XLR connector, there’s a good chance you will find a switch on it that is a bass roll-off (sometimes referred to as HP or High-Pass). The characteristics of the bass roll-off implementation can vary from microphone to microphone. Consult the manual from the manufacturer to get the details on how they implemented a bass roll-off.

XLR cable

What frequencies should I filter?

A High-Pass filter, as the name suggests, allows high frequencies to pass through whilst unwanted low frequencies (below the threshold you specify) are removed.

For spoken word, I typically filter below 100Hz as you really don’t need frequencies below that. Most of the frequencies that live below 100Hz too easily creep into a recording, some are avoidable if you have poor microphone technique and bad habits, others may be out of your control (as described earlier). In the illustrated example below, the microphone I use is a Shure SM7B. At the rear, there are two switches: one provides a presence boost, the other a bass roll-off. Audio engineers will tell you filtering closest to the source is best. I would agree, but in some scenarios, you’ll find the bass roll-off too aggressive.

Shure SM7B

The SM7B is a fantastic microphone, but I don’t roll-off on the microphone because the filtering slope begins at around 200Hz. There are some lower frequencies in a male voice that I like to retain around 150Hz). Other dynamic microphones more commonly roll-off at around 100Hz or even 80z. There are other microphones that offer granular controls such as the Sennheiser MD-421 that have multiple bass roll-off options. If you don’t filter at the source, there are 3 other options: filter at the mixer level if you have the luxury of owning one, filter at the preamp/channel strip, or in software.

dbx 286s

Rolling off bass in software

My primary recording software is Adobe Audition. The example below applies to other popular software packages such as: Avid Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, GarageBand, or Audacity. Plugins are little software programs that can be inserted into an individual audio track to apply a particular desired effect such as: dynamic processing (compression), reverb, delays, equalization, and more. To filter out low frequencies, insert an EQ plugin into the problematic audio track.

Enable the HP button and specify a value for the filter. Note that I set mine to 100Hz.

Note: If you prefer, you can filter all tracks at once, and how you do that is by inserting the same EQ plugin on your “Master Bus” track. The Master Bus is a stereo bus that sums all of the individual audio tracks together.

Parametric EQ

You’ll notice in the screenshot below that below the “Frequency” option, there is “Gain” setting, which defaults to 24dB/Oct. This setting tells the filter by how much gain should it attenuate from the signal in db (decibel as the unit of measurement for the intensity of sound). In other words, how aggressively should it cut out the frequencies. The “Oct” stands for octave. In musical terms, an octave is described as follows:

A series of eight notes occupying the interval between (and including) two notes–one having twice or half the frequency of vibration of the other.

To put this all together, my High-Pass filter will filter out frequencies at 100Hz or lower and will cut them on a relatively aggressive slope of 24db per octave.

HP filter


Podcast tip: Remove undesirable low frequencies from your podcast audio with High-Pass filtering.
Click To Tweet


Coda

You now have an understanding of problematic frequencies that you want to remove from your podcast audio, how to remove them, and what exactly is going on from a technical perspective behind the scenes.

The post High-Pass Filtering: Getting Rid of Undesirable Low Frequencies appeared first on FeedPress – RSS analytics and podcast hosting, done right….

Improving Your Podcast Interview

Last week I wrote about booking guests for your podcast. Today I’m going to address interviewing performance. There are two types of interviews that I’ll elaborate on and why they’re different.

In journalism school you learn how to conduct interviews. You must prepare, including getting as much background information as possible about your guest as well as having a deep understanding of the subject matter for discussion. Research and preparedness is critical, irrespective of the transmission medium: radio or podcast. My favourite interviewers are ones that engender an environment of safety and comfort. A skilled interviewer will be able to elicit the most interesting responses from the subject.

Research your guests

Knowing your subject is conducive to a better interview for both parties. By collecting as much background information as possible, you will be more confident during the interview. Spending the time to take interest in learning about the subject will make your guest feel more comfortable with you. It’s never about you, so act selflessly.

Write down critical topics to discuss

Preparing questions in written format is not something I use during interviews, but I do write down the critical topics for discussion and order them appropriately. The reason why I won’t write questions down is because I don’t want to read them, which makes the interview sound scripted and unnatural. My goal is for the listener to feel like a fly on the wall in a private conversation. If I can do that, I have done my job.

Look for something interesting to delve deeper

If you’re asking the right kinds of questions, the flow of the conversation should naturally progress and lead from one interesting topic to another. You should use reflective listening techniques to focus on what the other person is saying. Reflective listening is different from active listening and is described as follows:

Reflective listening is a communication strategy involving two key steps: seeking to understand a speaker’s idea, then offering the idea back to the speaker, to confirm the idea has been understood correctly. It attempts to “reconstruct what the client is thinking and feeling and to relay this understanding back to the client”. Reflective listening is a more specific strategy than the more general methods of active listening. It arose from Carl Rogers’ school of client-centred therapy in counselling theory. Empathy is at the centre of Rogers’ approach.

When your subject mentions something intriguing, don’t just let the moment pass. Ask them to tell you more about it. This can often lead into new, interesting, and unexpected territory.


First time interviewing: invite a friend to interview and record the talk so you can review later.
Click To Tweet


Coda

You can only improve your interviewing skills and level of comfort by conducting many interviews. If you haven’t interviewed before and don’t know where to start, ask a friend if you could use them as a test subject. Make sure you record the interview and listen back to it so you can critique your own performance.

The post Improving Your Podcast Interview appeared first on FeedPress – RSS analytics and podcast hosting, done right….

Booking Guests for Your Podcast

Last Monday I took the day off for Canadian Thanksgiving while Maxime held the fort. Today I’m speaking to you about booking guests to interview on your podcast.

If interviewing is something you enjoy but you’re having a hard time finding guests or are unsure of how to approach people, I’ll elucidate on some things you will be doing. There’s no easy way around going out there and chasing the people who you want to interview, however I’ll give you some pointers so you don’t feel lost or make mistakes you will regret.

Where do you start? Make a list

Instead of going week to week scrambling for ideas of who you should approach and then trying to contact them, write a list of as many people as you can think of that you want to interview. The more the better. It doesn’t matter what tools you use for keeping track of the guests you want to contact, just make sure that fill it with as much helpful information as possible.

Spreadsheets work well for financial data but they also work well tracking who you want to talk to. In a spreadsheet, my suggestion is to create columns that include the following headings:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Website
  • Phone
  • Skype
  • Social
  • First attempt (the date you contacted)
  • Second attempt (the date you contacted)
  • Booked

This will be your database to keep tabs on your prospects.

One thing you will discover is that people have preferred contact methods. Some like email over phone or Skype to give one example. Make a note of which communication method your prospect prefers. I like to colour code the preferred contact method so I can refer back to that later.

Reach out to people

You have a list ready and now will begin scouring the web and social media for contact information. This is not difficult but will require time and effort on your part. The hard part will be getting your prospective guests to respond and agree to the interview.

Use social media

Social media is ubiquitous. As of June 2016, Facebook reported on average 1.13 billion daily active users and 1.03 billion mobile daily active users. For the same month, Twitter reported 313 million active users of which 82% accessed the service from a mobile device. There’s a good chance you will find someone to talk to on either of these outlets.

My personal experience is most low to mid level “celebrities” (I use that loosely) are pretty receptive to speaking with people about what they do. It also gives them a platform to further plug their creative work.

Twitter: Begin with an @ reply and see if you can ask for an interview (you only have 140 characters to do that). Give them some time to reply. If you don’t hear back from them within a week, try a DM (Direct Message) and see if that goes through (this depends on the recipients privacy settings. DMs now have a 10,000 character limit, so make sure to briefly explain why you want to interview them and let them know you’re open to whatever communication method they prefer.

If you don’t hear back within 2 weeks, try tweeting them again. Keep in mind that people are busy. Depending on how many followers they have, they may not even notice your inquiries (my observation is that becomes an increasing issue for 10,000+ followers).

Facebook: It’s an excellent platform without some of the character limitations of Twitter. Creative people (I’ll lump writers, actors, musicians, makers into that term) often use a business page to showcase what they make. Begin by writing a message on their page (seen publicly) and ask them if they would be open to an interview. Remember to mention what it’s for and that you’re flexible to their preferred communication method. Brevity is key (don’t ramble on).

Email

Email, yes email, is still an effective means of communication for an overwhelming majority of people. If social media efforts led nowhere, check for a link to their website from their social profile and see if there’s an email address or contact form. I recall many times where my prospects responded first over email rather than social.

Checklist of things to mention

  • Why you want to interview the individual (your podcast about “x”)
  • You can arrange to communicate via email, phone, Skype or whatever works best for them.
  • Give them an idea of how long you need them (I always say it will around an hour at most)
  • If they agree to the interview, be flexible and work around their schedule to book a time

Tips for booking a podcast guest: Research and persistence is key.
Click To Tweet


Coda

In the coming weeks I’ll be delving into building on your interviewing skills. Hopefully this will provide some valuable information so you can book your own interviews. Please remember that when both parties have agreed and the place, date, and time, you should create a calendar event and also write down in your spreadsheet that the booking was successful. In the aforementioned section regarding making multiple attempts at contacting people, you should not give up if you don’t hear back. If you’ve made a couple of attempts, you can always come back to them later and move on to the next person. Some people are incredibly difficult to reach, but persistence is key. If it takes six months to book your favourite guest, then so be it.

The post Booking Guests for Your Podcast appeared first on FeedPress – RSS analytics and podcast hosting, done right….

Review: Changes To Your Feed Dashboard

Over the last couple of months, we’ve made some changes to the feed dashboard you should know about. An overwhelming majority of customers have responded positively to the new changes and improvements with podcast feed creation, importing feeds, and feed merging.

When you login to your FeedPress account, your feed dashboard is the first page to greet you. There are four buttons laid out horizontally across the top of the page: Create Feed, Import Feed, FeedBurner Migration, Merge Feed.

Feed dashboard buttons

Create Feed

To create a new podcast feed and to utilize the new podcast post creation system, you will use Create Feed to get started. We’ve had a few reports from people who inadvertently used this method when what they really wanted was to import an existing podcast feed that they own. We added some additional text to the button to make it clear this is for podcasters that want to create a new feed from scratch.

Import Feed

If you own a feed that you wish to import into FeedPress, be it a podcast or blog feed, you will import it so you can get analytics or add podcast hosting if you need it. Note that if you are running WordPress, you can also install our plugin to speed-up setup. Our plugin can import the feed and redirect as well as do a few other advanced things. Importing feeds means they are from a third-party. For example: WordPress, Tumblr, Blogger, Libsyn, SoundCloud.

FeedBurner Migration

If the label didn’t give it away, within a couple of clicks, you can easily move your blog and podcast feeds from FeedBurner directly into FeedPress. We port the feeds and data, which include any newsletter subscribers.

Merge Feed

A sought after feature requested by our customers, you can take two or more feeds and merge their content together. This is useful for podcast networks that want a single “master” feed that contains all of their podcasts. Bloggers also find it useful since you can take different feeds that contain different content and create a “master” feed with all of their writing.


Create Feed vs Import Feed in FeedPress: we explain the differences.
Click To Tweet


Coda

We have some bigger updates planned for the dashboard in the future, but for now, I hope this clarifies some of the recent changes we’ve made. If you have any questions, we’re available 7 days a week to help. Get in touch with us via email.

The post Review: Changes To Your Feed Dashboard appeared first on FeedPress – RSS analytics and podcast hosting, done right….

Typical Features Performed by Converter and Audio & Music Manager

Turns and sound writers will be the programs which make particular adjustments in the files that are audio. They empower the customers to document their particular appear, change and personalize several audio press in accordance with program conditions and their selection.

Audio functions as a pick-me-up to rest our head in pleasurable. So when a music-lover, you would like to listen to the monitors of your selection. But occasionally you will run into some difficulties while few types are supported by playing with them-like your apparatus or you would like to change the precise duration of sound or you would like to provide a re-touch to your own group. But thanks to lack of your program you can’t execute changes to play with it. There are several editing applications accessible for many programs that will help out you. By using them it is possible to alter beat and the speed of monitors, record your own personal words and give your personal contact to them. To execute your goal for the most part it is possible to down-load Music sound applications for Windows that provide all in one in a bundle that is single.

There are capabilities and a few valuable characteristics of the application that are mentioned below:-

Record

This within program electronic resources offers you the change to use your unique and results that are customized to any saving as well as to document your personal voice from microphone. They may be accessible with really advanced and Easy To-use software to ensure cub or experienced equally may make use of them economically. That is not incapable of digitizing your records to alter them in documents that are regular. Along with that they have input signal and timer record was activated by amount.

Help for formats that are assorted

Documents which you obtain in the Web are of formats that are different and often you encounter problem to to perform them. These applications are able transform and to shift guidelines and the structure of the media docs according to the skills of your apparatus. They include the equalizers change the amount of documents and to correct the bass.

Clips that are extract

These tools let you make your own personal music CD from sound record so that you conserve and can handily play back them. They let you burn off the CD and monitor the window for the monitor output signal. Using their removal device you burn the CDs in the media of numerous platforms and can grab the appear.

Conversion

Together with assistance from these it is possible to convert MP3 files alter or to ringtone different types to Music. They allow you to decrease singing in the press and examine the output signal like an expert that is experienced by using real time analyzers.

Processing that is personalized

All these are multi-functional software that are to deal with your sound files. They also let you do, in the event you would like to modify bit rate or the test. What’s more, the unique documents can be converted by you at the same time. Besides these capabilities you discuss them with others can transfer the press from place to a different and remove them as an individual document or in order. In addition they enable documents to divide or combine. A lot of these are feature rich applications which helps the important working to personalize your sound files.

There’s various audio-editing and changing applications in the marketplace which features quite capabilities that are specialist. They allow you to execute changes like cut, include any impact for example noise savings, words sound, echo, etc. in records, on any words bit and audio. You can even take out a certain span bit from any movie or sound record. S O down-load Music sound applications for Windows

Audio operates as a pick-me-up to rest our head in pleasurable. So when a music-lover, you would like to listen to the monitors of your selection. But occasionally you will run into some difficulties while few types are supported by playing with them-like your apparatus or you would like to change the precise span of sound or you would like to provide a re-touch to your own group. But thanks to lack of your program you can’t execute changes to play with it.

There are several editing applications accessible for many programs that will help out you. By using them it is possible to alter beat and the speed of monitors, record your own personal words and give your personal contact to them. To execute your goal for the most part it is possible to down-load Music sound applications for Windows that provide all in one in a bundle that is single.

There are capabilities and a few valuable characteristics of the application that are mentioned below:-

Record

This within program electronic resources offers you the change to use your unique and results that are customized to any saving as well as to document your personal voice from microphone. They may be accessible with really contemporary and Easy To-use software to ensure cub or experienced equally may make use of them economically. That is not incapable of digitizing your records to alter them in documents that are regular. Along with that they have input signal and timer record was activated by amount.

Help for formats that are assorted

Documents which you obtain in the Web are of formats that are different and often you encounter problem to to perform them. These applications are able transform and to shift guidelines and the structure of the media docs according to the skills of your apparatus. They include the equalizers change the amount of documents and to correct the bass.

Clips that are extract

These tools let you make your own personal music CD from sound record so that you conserve and can handily play back them. They let you burn off the CD and monitor the window for the monitor output signal. Using their removal device you burn the CDs in the media of numerous platforms and can grab the audio.

Conversion

Together with assistance from these it is possible to convert MP3 files alter or to ringtone different types to Music. They allow you to decrease singing in the press and examine the output signal like an expert that is experienced by using real time analyzers.

Processing that is personalized

All these are multi-functional software that are to deal with your sound files. They also let you do, in the event you would like to modify bit rate or the test. What’s more, the unique documents can be converted by you at the same time. Besides these capabilities you discuss them with others can transfer the press from place to a different and remove them as an individual document or in order. In addition they enable documents to divide or combine. A lot of these are feature rich applications which helps the important function to personalize your sound files.

There’s various audio-editing and changing applications in the marketplace which features quite capabilities that are specialist. They allow you to execute changes like cut, include any impact for example noise savings, words sound, echo, etc. in records, on any words bit and audio. You can even take out a certain duration bit from any movie or sound record. S O down-load Music sound applications for Windows or down-load it for Android other platforms Mac and Rim.

Audiorecording amps for copying sound

Sound Amplifier is measured as the most vital part of audio-recording gear. For copying sound frequencies, the sound amplifier is actually made to be useful.
A amp rolls up each of the electricity, which needs for making audio output that is appropriate to be carried. It usually contains circuits, which bring uncooked power via its cables, gather it along with the intent that audio output that is closing is launched automatically from your loudspeakers.

Amp may be further sub-divided into different groups, including power amplifiers and transmission amplification which are enhanced to generate loudspeakers. Manya moment several amps are gathered together for adapting different sound duplication requirements in kind of different or bridgeable programs.

The amount of amps is computed in watts that was audio. Amps are produced in several measurements and a few contours. These may come as an integral part of even or the machine as an accent that is additional. Besides the amps that are appear, you’ll find power amps at the same time.

There are different types of sound amps which are strong however compact amps designed for for even pick programs that are live and facilities. The amps provide superb, tidy and strong sound with ultra-low distortion of noise. A lot of the amps are well suited for house companies, or job, specialist. In replicating your combinations by near, while several amp versions may assist pin-point precision in a stand room that is single.

Additionally, some highly innovative sound amps may be used as well as an enormous selection of frozen setup as well as clubs in the galleries. The most astonishing aspect about those amps is its present-pushed push period that provides bass character and additional measurements, creating certain the incredibly precise replica of the transients coupled with normal visibility perhaps not normally found in other types of amps. Moreover, the micro-controller that is state-of-the-art ensures the functionality provided stays preserved on an excellent variety of temps and loads.

Every one of the amps that are sound reachable integrate distinctive and distinctive characteristics, including building that is flip-up as well as amazing heat sinks for simple serviceability, low sound change rate enthusiasts to produce user-selectable cut limiter and fairly operations with limited and simple options that monitor the current provide. Right top level metres signifying head room that adjust automatically to and provide and electricity weight, connection function and 2 gauges at top panel, completely functional bi DC safety that re-connects automatically on problem settlement and complete short-circuit and directional remote-control are a few other options that come with sound amps.

The best way to Record Streaming Sound

Streaming sound is throughout the internet today. You can find live stereo shows, audio and video channels, and lots of songs sellers use streaming sound as types of of the goods. It’s possible for you to tune in to the tune, but it can not be saved on your pc if you don’t get it. Or did it it? The uncomplicated response is “Yes”! We’ll check out several options for saving streaming sound.

Firstly, we have to analyze what exactly it can be used for and what buffering technologies is. The traditional approach to watching movies in your pc or playing songs was to down-load the whole record and play it. Loading functions in actual time – as it’s being saved, it is possible to see the movie or pay attention to the audio. The information occurs in a “stream” of pieces in the host to your own pc. Period is being saved by the clear benefit of buffering – it is possible to tune in to the flow several seconds following the download is started. Streamed sound and video can be protected from copying by Electronic Rights Management (DRM) technologies. Industrial sellers of sound and movie usually do this to control distribution of the articles.

Also with DRM, nevertheless, all video and sound channels may be documented. The easiest approach to record streaming sound would be to to install a camera to the output jack-of your sound card. Any saving apparatus – mobile mp3-player, cassette deck, mini disc etc. may be utilized. The situation with this particular technique is the fact that you must change the stream that is electronic into analogue, and there will likely be some reduction in quality that is sound.

You require specific software to get it, if you want to maintain the sound flow in the electronic domain name. Many audio capture software functions by copying a card that is sound. You feed the output signal of the sound card that is copied into a document, and it’s recorded to document as the audio is streamed to your own pc. Almost any sound flow may be recorded this way whether or not it’s used QuicktimeHealth Posts, Realplayer, Wmp, or another sound streamer.

Maudio Products for Pupils

Maudio products are offered to instructors and pupils to get a cost that is great. Cost-effective and applications USB control computer keyboards and sound interfaces can replace now’s songs equipment.

Several colleges are seeking cost-effective, and mobile equipment for his or her sessions. Cost-effective and applications USB control computer keyboards and sound interfaces can replace now’s songs equipment. Gear such as this is not unimportant to music teachers seeking to offer their pupils with special audio experiences that are academic, within budget restraints. Students and teachers are finding that Maudio is overall quite useful, user friendly, flexible, and cost-effective in the audio engineering planet. Maudio utilizes the industry-standard Protools, gives more options about their creation resources to concert-goers. Among the most popular products from Maudio comprise the entrylevel Fasttrack Hardware, which can be an excellent method to begin documenting guitar and vocals one-track at a time. Genesis Technologies, Inc. provides superb educational discounts on merchandise such as the Fast-Track USB, Maudio Protools Mpowered, and the Maudio MBox2 Mini from Digidesign. These items used extensively by several universities and have become well-known. Genesis Systems provides Maudio for instructors and pupils at costs which are not dramatically more expensive.

M audio and Digidesign products for pupils could be bought through Genesis Technologies, Inc. at their web site. Genesis Systems provides educational discounts on software for teachers, students, and employees of K12 schools, colleges, and universities. Genesis Systems also provide reductions on applications for 501(c)3 nonprofit companies. To see in the event that you meet the requirements, visit www.genesis-technologies.com.

What’s Dvdaudio?

DVD-Audio is a music structure that’s built to provide enhanced sound … finished CD. The newest sound structure may be used to supply … with Complex … stereo!

The newest sound structure may be used to supply listeners with Superior Quality stereo and multi channel (up into a maximum of six stations) songs. So that you can playback DVD-Audio discs, gamers must be specially built to to guide the format. The thought behind Dvd audio is the fact that it let producer to offer listeners a play experience that’s a lot more close to the initial master recording that has not been impossible previously.

DVD-Audio discs possess a greater capacity than CDs. This added room can be utilized to supply added content, including information about the musician, pictures as well as movie, which can be display wear a tv display or for lengthier records, or to supply sound in peak quality. When played again on a participant linked to your tv set, dvd audio discs are navigable in exactly the same fashion as DVD-Video. Customers may choose the monitor that is necessary from an onscreen menu and with the web connection, may click on hyperlinks to visit web sites.

These dual-format discs really are a great way to kick start the market while DVD-Audio players continue to be relatively uncommon. Combined DVD-Video and Sound gamer will also helps the marketplace.