1http://heritagecollector.comCopyright Marlo E. Schuldt 2011cOSound Recording Tips for Notebooks

Over the years I’ve conducted many experimentsrecording sound. Here’s a summary of what I’ve learnedwithout listing all my intense frustrations and hours offailure experiences.

Desktop Computers. Every desktop computer I’ve usedinjects static and distortion into the recorded oralnarrative when using a microphone. Each computer hada different sound card but resulted in about the samelevel of unacceptable sound quality.

Microphones. I’ve tried numerous types ofmicrophones (expensive, inexpensive,battery powered, and USB models). I’vedetermined the static and distortion problemis NOT usually a microphone qualityissue, however some microphones werebetter than others.

The best quality microphone I foundwas at Target and under $30 and isnot a USB microphone! It’s was adetachable microphone on a GEheadset. I’ve used this little micfor several years and still useit today.

Notebook Computers. The three notebook (laptop)computers I’ve used, one Dell and two HP computers,were almost free of static and distortion when recordingwith an external microphone. The notebooks were farsuperior for recording with a microphone than anydesktop system I’ve ever used. Note. I have not investedin expensive sounds cards, just the cards that comestandard with a computer.

Running From the Battery. I’ve been able to eliminatealmost ALL of the static and distortion by unpluggingthe AC power so the notebook is forced to run frombattery power. However, recording time will be limited toa couple of hours.

Editing Sound Files. I edit my sound files from mydesktop system since it’s faster and has a larger harddrive capacity.

I save my original files in a ‘wav’ format since it’suncompressed and does not lose quality with repeatedenhancement. However, I typically do all my audioenhancement at one time. I convert my edited soundfiles to MP3 or WMV files for use in Heritage Collectoror other software programs.

Copyright 2011 by Marlo E. Schuldt Vol. 5 #1 http://www.heritagecollector.com/Newsletter/Newslist.htm

Combining sound with family history will dramatically enrich andpersonalize every story you share. The goal of this newsletter is tohelp you achieve quality sound reproduction using your computer.

Use Sound to Enhance Family History

Sound Recording Tipsfor Notebook Computers

2http://heritagecollector.comSound Recording Tips for Notebooks Copyright Marlo E. Schuldt 2011cO

Using Audacity. I can use my desktop computer torecord sound if I use a sound editing program such asAudacity which has a noise filtering option. However,using a notebookcomputer stil lprovides the‘cleanest’ soundquality and does notrequire muchenhancement.

Here’s how I use Audacity to remove staticand distortion:

1. Load the sound file in Audacity.

2. Drag your mouse over a section ofthe sound file that has distortion orstatic without any speech if possible.

3. Select Effect from the menu.

4. Click on Noise Removal.

5. Click the ‘Get Noise Profile’ button(A).

6. Double click on the sound wave partof the Audacity display to select thewhole sound file.

7. Reselect the Noise Removal optionin the Effects menu.

8. Click the ‘OK’ button(B).

9. This will run the noisereduction process onthe sound file.

10. Save the sound file.

Note: This will not be aperfect fix but it will provide less distortion or static thanthe original sound file recorded using a desktop system.You many need to experiment with the sound settingsin the Noise Removal option to get the best results.

Please Note: I’ve had abnormally good hearing all mylife. This has been verified by many audiometric examsI received when I was in graduate school pursuing adegree in Speech and Hearing Science. I could beconsidered an audiophile. “A person with an interest inhigh fidelity sound reproduction and its associatedtechnology. An audiophile, from Latin audio “I hear” andGreek philos “loving,” is a hobbyist who seeks high-quality audio reproduction via the use of non-mass-produced high-end audio electronics.” From Wikipedia.

Bottom line - You may not perceive the static or distortionas easily as I do – but others might. I’m also aperfectionist with all that infers and the burdens it placeson one when working with less than perfect equipmentand sound files while living in the ‘real world’ with alimited budget.

Using a Notebook Computer – Discovering a sneakylittle problem

Just when you thought you were home free using yournotebook to record sound I go and throw a curve at you.

A sneaky little problem develops when you attempt touse your notebook computer to convert old cassettetapes or reel-to-reel tape recordings using themicrophone input jack in place of the missing line-injack.

A few years ago, notebook computers started to appearWITHOUT a line-in jack.Who cares? So what’s thebig deal about a missingline-in jack? Can’t I plug atape recorder or otheraudio device into themicrophone jack torecord? Answer – Not ifyou want good soundquality!

The microphone jack on adesktop or notebook computer is not designed to receiveaudio input from anything but a microphone. The result– you will get very distorted sound quality from otheraudio input devices. Your recordings will not capturethe full sound range because you will have to turn thetape recorder volume all the way down or almost off.You also run the risk of damaging your sound card ifyou over drive (too loud) the sound level going into themicrophone jack from a tape recorder.

Two Options and a Bad Choice

Cheer up! You have two good options that are both simpleand inexpensive.

1. Use your desktop line-in jack to connect andrecord sound from a tape player or other audiodevice. Unlike using a microphone with a desktopsystem, the line-in jack will produce high qualitysound files.

2. Purchase an inexpensive external USB soundcard for your notebook computer. (Seerecommendation below).

(A)

(B)

?

3http://heritagecollector.comCopyright Marlo E. Schuldt 2011cOSound Recording Tips for Notebooks

3. Unacceptable Option – use your microphone torecord the sound coming from a speaker in a tapeplayer or other audio device. You will not get goodsound quality and you will get environmentalbackground noise. Don’t do this! If you are goingto spend the time and effort – please do it right.

Use an External USB Sound Card

I spent a lot of time (more than I’m willing to admit)researching a solution for the missing line-in jack onmy notebook computer. I found some inexpensive USBsound cards that infer you can use them for a line-injack. I almost bought one of these and then dug a littledeeper and discovered many are just another microphoneinput jack. Don’t waste your time or try to save moneyon such an inexpensive and useless hardware device.

I purchasedthe BehringerU F O 2 0 2A u d i oInterface. I’mhappy toreport itw o r k e dperfectly withmy notebookwith one littlesnag. It came

set up to record from a phonograph. Kind of dumb Ithought since it took me about fifteen minutes to discoverI needed to move the little switch from Phono to LineInput and then it worked great. Naturally this tip was notin the manual! From there forward I was super impressedwith the results. It also works perfectly with Audacity.

What You Need to Do to Use the UF0202 – This iseasy!

1. Plug the USB cable from the BehringUF0202 into your notebook.

2. Attach the cable coming from your tapeplayer to the UF0202 line-in jacks.

3. Start Audacity.

4. Press play on the tape player.

5. You will need to adjust the output volume level onthe tape player to get the best quality. Turn upyour value as high as you can while keeping theinput recording bars as high as possible inAudacity. The bars need to go into the red( d i s t o r t i o nl e v e l )occasionallyto get thebest and mostr e a l i s t i cquality.

More good news. It’s not expensive! Price for the UF0202ranges from $22 to $30 depending where you purchaseit.

So what are youwaiting for? Get thedevice ordered or useyour desktop, find yourold tapes and startconverting, preservingand sharing thosepriceless soundtreasures for others toenjoy!

4http://heritagecollector.comSound Recording Tips for Notebooks Copyright Marlo E. Schuldt 2011cO

Have Some Real ‘Sound ’Fun!

Create some photo hotspots that contain sound files or add an audio file to an image in Heritage Collector.

In the following example, each one of our grandchildren tells grandma how much they love her. This was one ofthe highlights of our Christmas slide show. The grandkids wanted to see and hear this many times.

The adjacent photo has two ‘talking hotspots.’ Clicking on a hot spot allows me to introduce my dad and theGerman song you willhear him sing whenthe ‘Edward Schudlt’hot spot is clicked.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net

“Audacity” is a trademark of Dominic Mazzoni.

Audacity is an open source (freeware) program thatcomes with Heritage Collector. You can download itat: