Adobe Audition Basics

What is Adobe Audition?

Adobe Audition is a digital audio workstation used to record, edit, mix, restore, and apply effects to audio.

It includes a comprehensive toolset that consists of multitrack, waveform, and spectral display for creating,

mixing, and editing audio content. This powerful audio workstation is designed to accelerate video produc-

tion workflows and audio finishing — and deliver a polished mix with pristine sound.

Set-up

1. Plug in the USB microphone before opening Adobe

Audition

2. Adjust the mic to where the front (the blue LED light)

is facing you.

3. Right-click the sound icon on the lower right area of

the tool bar

4. Select Recording devices > Select the AT2020

USB microphone > Properties > Levels

5. Adjust the level to be around 30.

-The level of recording can vary with different

microphones, adjust accordingly

USB Microphone Set-up

TIP:

You want to ensure you are not recording too loudly, as this distorts/blows out the audio and makes

it much more difficult to work with in post.

30

1. Open Adobe Audition

2. Select Edit > Preferences > Audio Hardware

3. Ensure that the Default Input is the AT2020

Microphone and that the Default Output is

either the Speakers or Sennheiser headphones

Importing

Settings

There are multiple ways to import previously recorded

material:

1. File > Import > Raw Data

2. Right-click in the media panel and select Import

3. Drag and drop the audio file into the workspace

TIP:

It is important to place the media you will be editing in a secure location PRIOR to importing the

media to Audition. If you move the media after importing, Audition might not be able to find it.

1. Select the Waveform icon

2. Title your file

3. Ensure that the Sample Rate is set to 4800,

Channels is set to Stereo, and Bit Depth is set to 24

Creating a workspace

Set-up

1. With the USB microphone plugged in, press the red circle icon at the bottom of the work

space, or press Shift + Space

2. Once you are done recording, press the red circle again, or Shift + Space.

3. Ensure that your recording level stays around the -15dB to -12dB range. If you each above

-9dB, go back to the Sound Icon on the Windows Toolbar and decrease the recording level

accordingly.

4. To play the recording, press the triangular Play button, or press Spacebar

5. If you are unhappy with your recording press Ctrl + Z to undo the recording and try again.

6. Select the Loop icon to loop-play your clip

Stay in this range

TIP:

If you record too loudly, your audio clip will become distorted and harder to edit, always

record slightly quieter than what you would like the final sound level to be.

Use one of our Pop Filters in the DCS to soften hard consonant sounds with words containing

p’s, k’s, t’s, etc.

Recording

Editing

Select the Spectral Frequency Display icon in the upper left area below the toolbar

This creates a visual representation of the frequencies in your audio:

TIP:

The brighter the color in the Spectral Frequency Display, the louder the frequency is.

Deleting Audio

1. Select the Time Selection Tool (T)

2. Click and drag the mouse over a selection of audio you would like to delete

3. Press the Delete key

Adjusting Audio Levels

1. Select the Time Selection Tool (T)

2. Click and drag the mouse over a selection of audio you would

like to lower or raise the volume on.

3. You will see a HUD (heads up display) appear in your workspace.

Click and hold the circular icon, dragging it up and down to ad-

just the volume.

NOTE: Editing in Waveform is “destructive” meaning any changes made in this mode will be

permanent once it’s saved. We advise making a copy of your original recording before editing.

Editing

EQ Graphic Equalizer

This effect is used to adjust the high and mid tones in a voice

1. Go to Effects > Filter and EQ > Graphic Equalizer (20 Bands)

2. Copy these settings:

2.8k to 1.5

4k to 5.4

5.6k to 8.9

8k to 10.8

11.3k to 13.2

16k to 7.2

and >22k to –1.4

3. Press the play and the loop icon in this window to preview the changes

4. Toggle the effect on and off by selecting the green “power” icon

5. Select Apply

Effects

Audition comes with many audio effects that can boost your recording to the next level. The ones we will

be focusing on today will be the EQ Graphic Equalizer, Parametric Equalizer, Single-Band Compressor, Nor-

malizing, and Noise Reduction effects.

NOTE:

These settings are not meant for every voice, they are meant to be a starting point. Every

voice is different, so it is essential to play around with the settings.

Effects

Parametric Equalizer

This effect is used to adjust the bass levels of a voice.

1. Go to Effects > Filter and EQ > Parametric Equalizer

2. De-select the 1, 2, 4, and 5 boxes.

3. Set the Range to 96 dB

4. Copy these settings:

L Frequency =

L Gain =

L Q/Width =

5. Preview your changes with the Play and Loop icon, once satisfied, select Apply

Effects

Single-Band Compressor

This effect is used to even out audio

levels, ensuring that one section isn’t

excessively loud or quiet.

1. Go to Effects > Amplitude and Com-

pression > Single-Band Compressor

2. Copy these settings

Effects

Normalize

This effect is used to reduce background noise and room hum.

1. Select the Time Selection Tool (T)

2. Click and drag a section of the audio where there is no speaking

3. Right-Click and select Capture Noise Print

4. Press Ctrl + A to select all audio in your workspace

5. Go up to Effects > Noise Reduction /Restoration > Noise Reduction Process

6. Click on the arrow

next to Advanced

and copy these

settings:

Effects

Noise Reduction

This effect is used to increase the dB of your audio, that is now quieter due to compression, to that of a

normal range.

1. Go to Effects > Amplitude and Compression >

Normalize

2. Check the Normalize To box

3. Select the dB circle and type in - 0.1

Effects

Lynda.com

“Audition CC 2017 Essential Training”

https://www.lynda.com/Audition-tutorials/Audition-CC-2017-Essential-Training/510572-2.html

Youtube.com

“Five Adobe Audition CC Effects To Better Quality Voice Overs”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iiy5EnJbcr4

Adobe.com

“Keyboard Shortcuts”

https://helpx.adobe.com/audition/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts.html

Exporting

There will already be a .WAV file that will be updated when you save and close your Adobe Audition file,

but you can also export it as an MP3 file.

1. Select File > Export > File

2. Title the file, choose a location, and select the drop down menu next to Format and select MP3

Additional Resources