[carol m]

I'm practicing with the Effects of Audacity and would like some feedback (!) if anyone is willing.

I am using the Tip Toe Blues lesson and have tried a few recording alternatives. I have interference from my playback CD player/tuner that I use so its hard to hear whether the Noise is on the recording or just what's coming through my CD player/speakers. I still get it even through headphones too.

Each sample is only 30secs or so long, and all from the original recording.

When I use 'Remove Noise', on the original, it goes muffled and also distorted on all of the 3 basic sample options. Adding +3 gain seems to fix the muffling effect of Noise Removal but I think there is still some distortion from using Noise Removal? I would like to know if the samples without Noise Removal are 'clean' enough to not bother with Noise Removal, or how do I remove noise without distortion.

Also, the last one I have tried out a few effects, and this result seemed to be the best, but there is an interference/buzz that happens at about 10 secs into it which wasn't there before I fiddled with it. I did noise removal on the last sample but it didn't get rid of this interference blip.

I am trying to achieve a smooth sound (not tinny especially in the upper string) and with good tone in my playing. How much can you improve the tone with the recording, and how, or do I just have to achieve that direct with my playing 'skills'?

Any feedback and tips are appreciated, thanks

[Jomi]

Carol,

Firstly - you're welcome.
I didn't add any reverb or anything else, I just used the noise removal - maybe you just sound better than you thought!!
I think the difference between echo and reverb is the spelling.

good luck

[mattz196]

Well done Carol very nicely played , think I liked the non effects best.

[Tekker]

Originally Posted by Jomi

I think the difference between echo and reverb is the spelling.

Echo is the same thing as delay. It's like speaking into the grand canon and having it repeated back to you at a later time:

Echo....echo....echo....

Reverb is very fast delay, so fast that you don't hear a distinguished echo. Like speaking in a tiled bathroom:

Echoooooo

-tkr

[Aunt Doty]

Lovely playing Carol. I liked the 1st one best and I thought the one Jomi did sounded nice also. Good luck with the recording!

Now I'm really nervous about posting because I'm certain mine will have lots of glitches.........and I'll be too dumb to notice!!!

[carol m]

Originally Posted by Aunt Doty

Now I'm really nervous about posting because I'm certain mine will have lots of glitches.........and I'll be too dumb to notice!!!

Don't be nervous, AD, just choose something that sounds good really sloooow and then use the delete button endlessly. Somewhere along the way you'll get one you can live with. I also found that because you can just keep recording over unlimited time, just keep going. If I stuffed up somewhere I just started again straight away until I got one without too many flubs

[carol m]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

What guage of strings are you using?

Good question AT. I have the ones they put on when I bought it a 'couple' of years ago

[carol m]

OK good friends and helpers, get ready for a big belly laugh............I woke up today and realised that when I record on 'line in' (first track anyway).......I don't need to have my CD player/sound system on at all!!!!

This is what we call in our house having a 'toaster moment'. It's a bit like the 'penny dropping' or 'a light went on' but it has the advantage of the image of something actually popping up, and on some toasters, there's a satisfying 'ping' as well.

The next breakthrough in the thought processes was that if I explore down the back of my computer, I should be able to plug earphones directly into the computer and sideline my CD player and speakers all together. I'll keep you posted on my explorations and results.

[carol m]

Thanks everyone for listening and helping me out with a few extra pairs of ears. It's greatly appreciated. If it wasn't for you guys I would never have even thought about recording, or writing lyrics, or tunes or anything except plugging away in private with the same old tunes and practicing the same old stuff.

[X4StringDrive]

So cool to finally hear you Carol....nice playing!
The ears and brain thing kinda scares me from replying considering I have neither that are any good{yet}...But IMO I liked the first one the most...true sound albeit with the pc noise, Not sure what to offer about that as I seem to have a noisy machine myself. Glad to see your enjoying recording, wait a year or so then go back and listen and be amazed at the improvement.

[carol m]

Originally Posted by Tekker

Echo is the same thing as delay. It's like speaking into the grand canon and having it repeated back to you at a later time:

Echo....echo....echo....

Reverb is very fast delay, so fast that you don't hear a distinguished echo. Like speaking in a tiled bathroom:

Echoooooo

-tkr

Thanks for the 'graphic' explanation. I'll experiment more with both. You say you don't mind more questions so here goes.

With the Compression Effect: the default on Audacity seems to be
Threshold (-12db)
Ratio (2:1)
Attack Time (0.2secs)

What do these things 'mean' practically speaking when using the Compression effects?

And underneath these options is a box checked for 'Normalise to 0db after compressing.'
I think I understand what that means, (maybe just adjusting back to neutral 'gain'?) but one time after I did some different effects which didn't work out well, I tried to get rid of them using the Normalise effect, but that did something extra and got rid of nothing. So what is the Normalise effect used for?

I really appreciate your willingness to answer my questions about all this techy stuff that you are so good at......yes, nothing wrong with flattery when it's deserved

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by carol m

Good question AT. I have the ones they put on when I bought it a 'couple' of years ago

EEEEEEeeeeeWWWWwwwweeeee. No wonder the treble sounds tinney to you. That's no way to treat a poor defenseless guitar.

[carol m]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

EEEEEEeeeeeWWWWwwwweeeee. No wonder the treble sounds tinney to you. That's no way to treat a poor defenseless guitar.

I do love it, honest

What guage/sort of strings should I get? I want/need 'easy to play' with great tone!

[carol m]

Originally Posted by X4StringDrive

So cool to finally hear you Carol....nice playing!
The ears and brain thing kinda scares me from replying considering I have neither that are any good{yet}

Thanks Kenny, but I didn't mean to scare you. I figured that most people have two ears and one brain, and I know for a fact that all the members on this site can, in an emergency, get them all to work together and at the same time, some of the time, and if I'm lucky, on a good day

[tonedeaf]

They do sound good to me too a very non-critical ear. I tend to think the first one is the best of them all.

What axe are you using to record these?

John

[carol m]

Hi John, I play a Takamine EG15SC electric/acoustic into 'line in' on my pc and at the moment use Audacity for recording and effects experimenting.