Adobe Audition 2.0

Macintosh computers are known for their quality in handling media such as graphics or audio. Every Mac comes with the iLife software suite installed, which includes an audio recording program known as GarageBand. Whether you want to simply record a short ringtone, a huge film soundtrack or simply your own voice, GarageBand provides an easy-to-use interface that works with your computer’s internal microphone. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a voice recording on your Mac.

1. Open GarageBand. In the initial pop-up window, click “Create New Podcast Episode.” Enter a file name for your recording and choose a location on your computer to save your file. Click “Create.”
2. Step 2

   Go to the left side of your file and find the “Tracks” section. If you are male, click the icon for the “Male Voice” track. If you are female, select the icon for the “Female Voice” track. This will enable that track for recording.

3. Step 3

   Go to the track editor in the middle of the screen. When you are ready to record your voice, click the “Record” button, which is the circle button with another red circle contained within it. Start speaking and your Mac’s internal microphone should pick up your voice. Click the “Record” button again when you are finished. Also click the “Play” button to stop the cursor from continuing to move forward.

4. Step 4

   Drag the play cursor back to the very beginning of your track and press “Play” to hear your recording. If you are not satisfied, click to highlight your recorded track and press the “Backspace” key to delete it. Click the “Record” button again to rerecord your voice.

5. Step 5

   When you are finished and satisfied with your voice recording, go to “Share” on the top navigation menu. GarageBand can send your recording to iTunes, upload it on iWeb, or export and burn it onto a disc.

   GarageBand has many features you can experiment with that can enhance your voice recording. You may want to add background music or play around with composing your own theme song.

You can use the Windows Sound Recorder to record your own warning beeps or other sounds. You’ll need a sound card that supports sound input, a microphone and speakers.

1. If your computer has a sound card and speakers, as most do, you will only need to acquire a microphone (fewer computers come with them). Microphones range in price greatly; if you’re just recording simple sounds and effects, buy a cheaper microphone.
2. Step 2

   Attach your microphone to the Sound In port on the back of your computer. (It might have a picture of a microphone next to it.)

3. Step 3

   If your microphone has an On button, turn it on. Otherwise, refer to the instruction sheet that came with it.

4. Step 4

   Open the Sound Recorder. (Open the Start menu and choose Programs, then Accessories, Entertainment and, finally, Sound Recorder.)

5. Step 5

   From the Sound Recorder, click New.

6. Step 6

   To begin recording, click Record – the circle that appears at the right-hand side of the Sound Recorder.

7. Step 7

   When you are finished recording, click Stop – the square that appears directly to the left of the circle.

8. Step 8

   Use the Play, Rewind and Seek to End buttons to test your recording.

9. Step 9

   When you are satisfied, save your sound file using the Save As command in the File menu.

An expensive piece of test equipment used to analyze and graph the waveforms of electric signals (AC and DC), an oscilloscope may be out of the price range of most hobbyists. Though certainly not as good as the real thing, you can simulate an oscilloscope with the sound card on your PC.

1. Download PC sound card oscilloscope software. Some of the more commonly used software includes Zelscope, Audiotester and Scope, which can all be downloaded at little or no charge to the user (see Resources below).
2. Step 2

   Configure your PC to record sound via the microphone or line in port. Though you may not actually be recording any of the signals you’ll be capturing, the PC sound card oscilloscope software uses the same interface used to record sound. Double-click on the volume icon in the system tray and be sure both the Line Volume and Microphone Volume levels are turned up and not muted.

3. Step 3

   Make a set of probes. This requires an old headphone cable with an 1/8 inch phono jack, a soldering iron and some solid core wire. Cut off a long section of the wire and strip the ends opposite of the phono jack. There should be three wires if the phono jack is stereo, only two if the phono jack is mono.

4. Step 4

   Solder solid core wire to the ends of each wire. Solid core wire can be plugged directly into breadboards or used as probes. If you desire, you could solder banana clips, alligator clips or any type of connector or probe to the ends of the wires.

5. Step 5

   Make a voltage divider. A voltage divider is required because your sound card was intended to be used with low-power audio devices. The maximum voltage from your circuit should be around 1.7v. The sound card should be protected against some voltage spikes, but anything above 5v may permanently damage your sound card. A voltage divider can be created with resistors or a potentiometer.

6. Step 6

   Test the voltage divider. Since the voltage divider may be the only thing protecting your sound card from the higher-voltage circuit, supply a DC voltage of the maximum voltage your circuit can output. Measure the output of the voltage divider. Remember, you’re aiming for an output voltage peaking at 1.7v or lower.

7. Step 7

   Start the PC oscilloscope software. Once started, you will see an oscilloscope-like interface. You may also want to turn down the volume of your speakers as many waveforms can sound very loud or even damage your speakers.

8. Step 8

   Test your circuit with the probes. Though you won’t be able to probe the circuit as freely as you would with a real oscilloscope, you will at least be able to get some information about what’s happening in your circuit.

An audio software engineer develops the software that runs programs for the gaming industry, websites, television, video and radio stations. As the digital sound movement completely replaces analog transmission of sound, software development is more important than ever. New hardware devices require ever-increasing software programs to handle the variety of audio that artists and businesses transmit. Consumers and business both utilize software as it becomes available. There are a number of factors to take into consideration when you begin searching for information about audio software engineer jobs.

Market

1. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that job opportunities in the audio software engineering arena will decline during the first couple decades of the twenty-first century. Globalization in the industry greatly affects the job market as the overseas markets produce more software designs at much lower rates. Salaries in the software engineering profession tend to run higher than similar technical professions, usually in the mid-$40,000 range, making overseas options more attractive to manufacturers and users of the platforms. Automation is another factor that is affecting job growth in the industry. Segments of audio software engineering expected to see growth include medical, military and communications.

Training

2. A four-year degree in engineering is typically required for an entry-level software engineer position. Other degrees that offer entry into the field include physics, computer science and other technical related fields. There are numerous online options to obtain a degree. Full Sail University is a school focused on the recording arts. The school offers both online and campus programs. Phoenix University and Kaplan both offer IT degrees.

Specialties

3. A software engineer who develops niche specialties can expect to find more opportunities for employment. Computer hardware and peripheral engineers that produce products that can be sold over the Internet can find a number of options through computer employment agencies, such as Developers and Digital Audio Insider. Gaming software engineers can find a number of job openings through niche marketplaces, such as Creative Heads and Game Podunk.

Consultants

4. Many audio software engineers are going out on their own to form consultancies or finding opportunities with companies that provide project consulting to manufacturers. Firms, such as Amadeus Consulting, provide companies with everything from audio technicians to project managers for short and long-term assignments. Blue Cat Audio is a consulting firm that specializes in audio software production for the music industry.

Research and Development

5. The engineering scientist who focuses on developing new modes of storage and delivery for audio software is in demand at research facilities looking for the next big breakthrough. Consider pursuing an advanced degree in computer science to find jobs at organizations, such as Mind Tree or Motorola.

These instructions will work for the majority of Intel & AMD PCs running Windows XP/Vista. If your computer currently has a sound chip (called “on board sound”) or if your sound card requires a change in jumpers or IRQs, installation will be much more complicated and you might want to consult a professional.

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Step 2

   Unplug machine from the surge protector.

3. Step 3

   Disconnect all peripherals from the computer.

4. Step 4

   Remove the cover of the chassis and lay computer on its side if it is a tower.

5. Step 5

   Ground yourself to the computer. If you have a grounding strap, put it on and follow its directions. Otherwise, ground yourself by touching a metal part of the chassis.

6. Step 6

   Remove the back panel, if necessary.

7. Step 7

   Locate the existing sound card if there is one already installed. If it is screwed in on the side of the slot hole, unscrew it and pull the card out firmly.

8. Step 8

   If the computer doesn’t already have a sound card, find an open slot.

9. Step 9

   Knock out or unscrew the metal plate on the card’s slot holder on the back panel.

10. Step 10

    Insert the sound card gently but firmly into the slot. Rock it into position if necessary, but don’t force it. Don’t touch any connectors on the card.

11. Step 11

    Connect cables from the CD-ROM drive to the sound card.

12. Step 12

    Replace the back panel and any removed screws. Screw sound card into slot holder if it has a screw hole.

13. Step 13

    Reconnect monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Connect speakers to the sound card’s ports.

14. Step 14

    Turn on the speakers and restart the computer.

15. Step 15

    If Windows detects the sound card upon startup, follow instructions to install the card’s driver and additional software. If Windows doesn’t detect sound card, manually complete the installation using the Add New Hardware control panel.

16. Step 16

    Play music CD to test sound card.

17. Step 17

    Shut down computer.

18. Step 18

    Replace cover of computer. Reboot computer.

Creative Sound Blaster makes computer sound cards for both desktop and laptop computers. The Sound Blaster Live card was first introduced in 1998 and opened the door for computer audio innovation on a consumer level. The Sound Blaster cards come packaged with drivers and software that are necessary when installing the hardware. There are effective ways to remove these programs from your computer. If the Windows uninstaller doesn’t work, you can use your original software CD that came with the sound card.

1. In Windows XP or earlier, click the “Start” button in Windows, then navigate to “Control Panel” and select “Add or Remove Programs.” For Windows Vista, under “Control Panel” select the “Programs and Features” icon.
2. Step 2

   Choose the Sound Blaster Live program you wish removed, then right-click and select the option to “Uninstall.”

3. Step 3

   At the prompt, choose “Automatic Uninstall” for the uninstall preference. The Windows uninstaller will then remove the program completely from your computer.

4. Step 4

   If you have Windows XP, you may also uninstall the program with the original software CD that came with your device. Make sure the program isn’t running, and insert the CD into the computer.

5. Step 5

   Close the autorun window that pops up, and manually navigate through the CD by clicking the “Start” button, selecting “My Computer,” and then right-click the CD and select “Explore.”

6. Step 6

   Navigate to the following folder: \XP\Audio\Drivers, and double click on the file labeled “SETUP.EXE.”

7. Step 7

   Choose “Uninstall” from the menu option. The program will then perform an automatic uninstall of the software.

Voice recognition software is software that allows a computer to recognize what a user is saying and react accordingly. The software works by identifying the sound patterns that the user produces and associating each pattern with a particular entry in its database. To illustrate, voice recognition software used for dictation can recognize that a particular sound pattern equates to its database entry for “hello.” When the software receives that pattern through a microphone input, the software accesses the database and returns “hello” in the text that it is typing for the user.

History

1. Technology designed to recognize the spoken word and use the information as meaningful data to a computer emerged as early as 1940 in early research by AT&T Bell Laboratories. However, demand for the use of voice recognition software as a consumer tool began to grow in the 1990s. Computer vendors began to incorporate voice recognition software into the operating systems for personal computers available to home and business users, for example, with the introduction of speech recognition capabilities in Windows XP in 2001.

Types

2. Voice recognition software is available to consumers as freestanding software applications and as part of some computer operating systems. Microsoft operating systems such as Windows Vista incorporate voice recognition technology that can perform functions, such as taking dictation, as well as executing specific computer commands, such as opening and closing documents. Specialized voice recognition software packages may serve to enable dictation or to allow voice control of particular software applications.

Features

3. Sophisticated voice recognition software offers features that allow the software to learn the speech patterns of its users. Because individuals pronounce specific words differently, the more information that speech recognition software has about a particular user’s speech, the better it can recognize what the user is saying at any given time and the fewer mistakes the software makes in transcribing speech or executing commands.

Problems

4. Voice recognition software begins with a database of pre-programmed sound patterns. However, actual user speech varies. A user’s pronunciation of a given word can change, the quality of the microphone gathering the sound patterns may be poor, and ambient noise can all alter the sound pattern for a particular word. Voice recognition software works best only after the software has gathered data about each user’s speech patterns. This means that the software has an introductory learning curve; the software becomes most effective with time and initially makes many mistakes.

Benefits

5. When users are able to overcome the problems associated with the software, it can transcribe a users speech rapidly, which can be useful to users who type slowly or who are unable to type or otherwise use a computer keyboard. Users suffering from repetitive stress injuries associated with prolonged keyboard use can substitute voice recognition dictation for some or all of their keyboarding tasks.

These days, with a little software tinkering, it is also possible to make your voice sound better with the help of a computer program. Auto-Tune is an audio editing software plug-in developed by Antares that can correct off-pitch singing voices. It has become very popular since it was revealed that the robotic voice effects in Cher’s 1998 song “Believe” was made using this plug-in. Although it has recently become more known for the robotic voices used by T-Pain in his songs and in various viral videos, famous singers also use Auto-Tune to make their voice pitch-perfect in the songs they release.

1. Install the audio editing software. Make sure that the software has support for VST, an audio plug-in standard that is supported by many applications.
2. Step 2

   Run the Auto-Tune installer. If it is not an executable file and is instead a .dll, look for and select VST effects in the audio editing program’s menus. This can probably be found in the “Effects” menu or something similar. Browse for the .dll file of the auto-tune plug-in and open it.

3. Step 3

   Open Auto-Tune from the start menu (if installed by executable file) or inside the audio editor.

4. Step 4

   Play around with the settings and become familiar with the program. A T-Pain-like effect can be achieved by setting the following: pitch tracking—relax, key—F, scale—major, retune speed—0, rate—0, and amplitude and formant at maximum.

5. Step 5

   Save the effect by clicking the save button near the top right of the Auto-Tune window. Input the desired name for the preset and press “Okay.”

6. Step 6

   Exit Auto-Tune and go back to the main interface of the audio editing software.

7. Step 7

   Load the voice recording clip to be altered in the audio editing software and apply the saved preset on the file. The preset can also be used again on other voice files.

A sound card is a hardware device that is responsible for the computer’s audio output. It can be integrated, or built onto the motherboard, or may come as an expansion card. Regardless, this device needs a driver that will communicate with the computer’s operating system in order for it to function. If you happen to have installed the wrong sound card software or the existing driver is already corrupted, you can easily uninstall it and reinstall the driver.

1. Uninstall the existing software driver. If you are using Windows XP, click on “Start,” “Control Panel” and then “System.” In the dialog box that appears, select “Hardware” and then “Device Manager.” If you are using Windows Vista, click “Start,” “Control Panel,” “System and Maintenance” and then “System.” On the left side of the column under “Tasks,” click on “Device Manager.”
2. Step 2

   Scroll through the list of devices and locate “Sound, Video and Game Controllers.” Click on the plus sign beside it to see the list of devices. Right-click on the name of your audio device and select “Uninstall.” Confirm your action and complete the uninstallation process.

3. Step 3

   Click on “Start,” and then “Run” if you do not know the name of your sound card. Type “dxdiag” in the box” to open the “DirectX Diagnostic Tool.” Click on the “Sound” tab and write down the name of your sound card listed under “Device.”

4. Step 4

   Insert the software disc of your sound card to your optical drive or CD/DVD-ROM and run the installer. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation process. Reboot the computer.

5. Step 5

   Navigate back to the “Device Manager” window and check the sound card. If there is a red “X” beside the device, it indicates that there is a problem with the installed driver. The current driver may not be compatible with the device or it is simply faulty or corrupted.

6. Step 6

   Right-click on the name of the device and click “Properties.” Select the “Driver” tab and click on “Roll back driver.” This will uninstall the recently installed driver.

7. Step 7

   Make sure that you are connected to the Internet and then open a web browser. Navigate to the manufacturer’s website and search for the driver that you need. Download and save it to your computer. If the driver is not available, search for it in other driver download sites.

Outdated drivers, sound card configurations and software settings can all cause problems with audio playback. If the software on your Windows Vista computer does not play sound, or if the sound you hear is in some way distorted, you will need to troubleshoot the issue. Troubleshooting your computer’s sound problems will not only allow you to figure out where the problem lies, but also how to fix it.

1. Check your computer manual or contact your computer’s manufacturer to make sure a sound card came installed with your computer. If your manufacturer did not include a sound card, you will need to install one in order to enable sound on your Vista PC.
2. Step 2

   Check the back of your computer to make sure that the speakers are firmly plugged into the correct port. If your speakers are plugged into the wrong port–such as the microphone port–no sound will come out. Similarly, if the connection is loose, the sound may skip or be very faint.

3. Step 3

   Double-click the speaker icon on your taskbar. If the speaker icon is crossed out, click the button to unmute the sound. Raise the volume tab to at least 15 (numbers will appear as you move the tab up or down).

4. Step 4

   Click “Start,” “All Programs,” then “Accessories.” Click “Run.” Type “devmgmt.msc” into the empty box, then hit “Enter” to open Device Manager. Click “Continue” if the User Account Control dialogue box appears.

5. Step 5

   Click the plus sign next to “Sound, video and game controllers.” If no driver appears, go to your computer manufacturer’s website and search for your computer’s model and number. Download the sound card driver from the website, then install the driver to your computer.

6. Step 6

   Right-click the sound card, then click “Update Driver Software.” Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option. If Windows finds a updated sound card driver, follow the onscreen instructions to install the driver to your computer.

7. Step 7

   Close Device Manager, then restart your computer.

8. Step 8

   After your OS loads, click “Start,” then “Control Panel.” Double-click “Sound.”

9. Step 9

   Click your audio device, then click “Properties” to access your sound card’s settings. Review the volume levels to make sure they are not at “0.”

10. Step 10

    Open Windows Media Player, then open a media file, such as a movie or an audio clip. Do not open a file type that is not compatible with Windows Media Player.

11. Step 11

    Turn the volume up to at least 25 percent, then play the file to check your audio playback.

12. Step 12

    Contact your computer’s manufacturer for further assistance or consult a computer repair specialist if your computer is still not playing back audio correctly.