Author: Mike Adams

Caution: “Treat Mono As Dual Mono” Will Reduce LUFS By 3dB

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment

In this video I show you how checking the option, “Treat Mono As Dual Mono” when setting LUFS levels in Audacity will actually reduce your exported file’s level by 3dB. This option is there to meet the EBU’s broadcast standard for LUFS when working with a dual-mono track. A dual-mono track is a track with left and right channels (similar to a true stereo track) but unlike a stereo track, the audio in each channel is identical. But when used on a mono track, this option reduces the LUFS level by 3dB. As I show you in this video, if you’re exporting a mono podcast at -19dB LUFS with this option checked, you’re actually exporting at -22dB LUFS. This is important information.

Links mentioned in this video:

Hardware I used in this video (NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases).

Software I Used:

  • Audacity Version 3.1.3
  • Camtasia 2022
  • Auphonic Desktop Leveler

Other places you’ll find me:

How to Trim a Waveform for ACX Using the Selection Toolbar in Audacity

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment

In this video I show you how to trim the precise length of room tone that is required by ACX at both the beginning of your recorded waveform and at the end, using the Selection toolbar in Audacity. ACX requires 0.5 to 1 second of room tone at the beginning of your recorded chapter and 1-5 seconds at the end of each chapter. Using the selection toolbar to trim the excess audio gives you a precise way to be consistent with your recordings from chapter-to-chapter while meeting the ACX standard.

Hardware I used in this video (NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases)

Software I Used:

Other places you’ll find me:

Stick House Recording Room Preview

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment

We’re having a house built and I can’t wait to get out of this temporary location we’re in. It’s a challenge to record video here. Our house is in the early stages of construction and I call it the stick house since it’s framed but that’s about it. I made a short video of the new recording room I’ll have one day and I wanted to share it with you.

Enjoy!

Hardware I used in this video (NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases).

Software I Used:

Other places you’ll find me:

From Zero Downloads to 101 Podcast Episode Templates

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment

It’s never a good day when your podcast hosting company says they anticipate zero downloads on your next podcast episode. It sucks really. But that’s what happened to me at a time when I was considering shutting down my podcast anyway. It was the final piece of the puzzle that convinced me to shut it down. So I did. The already struggling Audacity Bootcamp Podcast is no more. I think having that podcast was a good idea but the timing was off. I may bring it back in a little different format in 2023. We’ll see.

But within hours of deciding to retire that podcast, I heard from David Hooper about a newly-published book of his entitled, 101 Podcast Episode Templates. This was great timing because all of us feel it from time-to-time. That dreaded funk that results from podcast burnout (or in my case, bad news from my podcast hosting service). So I bought the book and in this video I want to give you a peek inside it because what it really is, is 101 great podcast ideas to keep you going and to keep your podcast (or your videos too) fresh. As I explain in this video, my reasons for retiring the Audacity Bootcamp Podcast were a little different but just like every other podcaster, I’ve experienced burnout too and have found myself in need of fresh topics. David’s book might be just what you need for that extra nudge to keep going when you feel that funk start to set in.

Here’s the links I mention in this video:

The microphone I used in this video (NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases) 

Software I Used:

  • Audacity Version 3.1.3 (for both recording and post-production)
  • Camtasia 2022
  • Auphonic Desktop Leveler

Other places you’ll find me:

What to Expect in Audacity Version 3.2

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment

Audacity version 3.2 has an anticipated release date of September 2022. Audacity made this announcement on June 11, 2022. I haven’t seen anyone talking about it yet (but I don’t get out much) so this is my own announcement highlighting a few of the significant changes we can expect. As suspected, there are some changes to the user interface but the bigger news is probably stackable effects and real-time effects support. Leave a comment and tell me what you think of Audacity’s announcement of version 3.2.

Links I mention in this video:
– What to Expect in Audacity 3.2
– The Audacity Discord Server

Hardware used in this video (NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases) – RØDE NT-USB Mini Microphone

Software Used:
– Audacity Version 3.1.3
– Camtasia 2022

Audacity Sample Rates and Bit Depth

/ Mike Adams / Leave a comment

Let’s talk Audacity sample rates and bit depth. What is a sample rate? What am I sampling and why? What is bit depth? What’s the relationship between sample rate and bit depth? Why are there sample rates displayed in each track and a project sample rate in the lower left corner of the screen? What’s the difference and do they have to match? Where do I set the default sample rate in Audacity?

Contents:

  • 00:00 – Introduction
  • 00:15 – Digital and Analog
  • 00:48 – Digital Waveforms
  • 01:10 – Analog to Digital Conversion
  • 02:46 – Topics: Sample Rate and Bit Depth
  • 03:10 – Track Sample Rates and Project Sample Rate
  • 03:59 – What Is a Sample Rate?
  • 05:17 – Project Sample Rate
  • 05:51 – Three Examples of Different Project Rates
  • 08:55 – What is Bit Depth?
  • 12:07 – Changing Track Sample Rates
  • 13:05 – Project Sample Rate for ACX Audiobooks
  • 14:13 – How to Set The Default Project Sample Rate
  • 15:44 – Sample Rate Conversion Settings in Audacity
  • 17:49 – Recap
  • 18:06 – MP3 Export for ACX
  • 19:41 – What is MP3 Bit Rate?
  • 20:23 – Wrap-up and Video Courses I Teach

Hardware used in this video (NOTE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases).

Other places you’ll find me: