audio production with free software by d.lynch
TRANSCRIPT
Audio Production With Free SoftwareFreeing your ears without compromising on audio quality
By Dan Lynch - http://danlynch.org
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 UK:England & Wales
Agenda – what I want to coverIntroduction
Who I am / What I do / Podcasting background
Audio Production 101Principals / techniques
My Production ToolsSoftware and hardware I use
Software Freedom Law ShowHow it came about / BackgroundHardware & Software UsedQuick Demo / Example
Agenda – continued
Linux OutlawsHow we record the showEditing and post productionPublication
Music Production on Linux & The FutureA confessionCurrent problems and shortcomingsHow do we address them
Discussion & Questions
Who Am I?
From the other end of the M62...
...where we all look like this!
Background & Podcasting
Musician, Sound Engineer & Big Geek :)
Host of Linux Outlaws – linuxoutlaws.com
Producer of the Software Freedom Law Show for the SFLC
FLOSS advocate, web developer/host and Linux/FOSS writer
Have a small production company called Half Baked Media
A Podcast Is...A piece of pre-recorded media delivered to subscribers for download via the web.
On demand, not broadcast liveCan be audio or videoNothing to do with the Apple iPodEmerging media format, still young
Subscription based, fans subscribe to an RSS feed and are notified of new episodes as they hit the feed.
Audio Production 101 – Pre
Fix the basics before worrying about technologybackground noise / environmentThe better the source recording the easier your job editing
Use the best microphone for the job and place it wellExperience will help you here
You don't need to be pushing the recorder. Especially with digital
No technology can substitute for your ears, the best tools you'll ever have
Audio Production 101 - Post
Compression is kingHow does it work? Why do you need it?
Noise Removal / GatesCan be really useful in a noisy environment
Limiters – Getting the volume right
My Studio - HardwareSoundcraft 328 digital mixerRME HDSP 9652 audio cardStandard PC tower:
AMD X2 4200 CPU, 2gb RAM, various hard disksBehringher Composer Pro Comp/Gate/LimiterADK A51 studio condenser mic (shock mounted)Spirit Absolute Zero monitors
My Studio - Software
For podcast and other audio production I use Ubuntu Studio 64bit at the moment. Have used 64 Studio in the past.
Have JACK & Ardour set up...
But use Audacity most by far
My Studio – Mobile
The latest addition to my audio kit is the Zoom H4 handy recorder
Very versatile. Costs about £200 new. Balanced XLR inputs, full 96/24 recording, takes standard SD cards and AA batteries.
Works like any normal removable storage drive
Zoom H4 Product Page
Zoom H4 Product Page >>
Software Freedom Law Show
Fortnightly podcast from the SFLC about legal matters in the Free Software world.
SFLC enforces the GNU GPLBegan about a year ago
How did I get involved? Free Software Only!!!
What I do as producer:Advise on equipment and recording techniquesEdit the show together from recordingsEncode to Ogg and Mp3 for release
The Fun Bit... I hope ;)
Recorded in the SFLC office by Bradley, using Arecord terminal utility (he's hardcore)
Equipment: AKG C1000 mic, USB audio interface
Let's put together a Software Freedom Law Show right now and look at what tips and techniques it involves....
Linux Outlaws ProductionWe each record locally, UK & Germany
Recordings loaded to a private area on our webserver. Where I download.
I combine, compress and normalise levels on both files
Create a stereo file, keeping the tracks separate
We edit in Audacity and export to Ogg Vorbis & Mp3
Music Production on LinuxA dirty confession – I dual-boot XP still on one
machine for music production only
Pro Tools, Reason, Ableton Live and many proprietary VST plugins standard in commercial studio production.
Example: Drums
I use Groove Agent a lot
The future?
I think audio production on Linux is more than ready for widespread use. Music production is still very proprietary and presents problems.
How do we address this as Free Software advocates?
Are we duplicating effort with the likes of Pulse Audio, JACK and now Phonon all trying to do the similar things?
What about hardware support?
Any Questions?
If you'd like to discuss audio production, music or anything else please contact me any time: [email protected]
Check out LinuxOutlaws.com and SoftwareFreedom.org
Any questions?