Well I am in the process of attempting my first Podcast recording. I have always used Cool Edit Pro (v2.0) in the past for editing of .wav files and converting to mp3′s, but never have I used Cool Edit Pro to do the actual recording of the file.
I did read these steps somewhere on the internet, and I think a 19 step outline for those wanting to record with Cool Edit Pro is something that would be useful for all that want to have a really easy and direct how to guide. Let me say, that I have used Cool Edit Pro on the editing functions before, but until last evening NEVER as my main recording place.
Here below is a basic how to guide.:
1. Open up a new cool edit session. Make sure you are looking at the single track view. In the upper left corner there is like a button that looks like “wav file” under the “File” menu. When you click it, you can switch between multi track view and single track view.
2. Make sure you see only ONE track view, and not like 4 on there.
3. Hit the record button, which is obviously the red dot button (commonly known) in the lower left corner of operating buttons. Let the tape preroll (recording) run a blank spot for like 10-20 seconds if possible.
4. Start your recording/speak into your mic. When done hit the stop button, in the menu of buttons in the lower left corner.
5. Take your mouse, click once in the middle gray bold line that separates your left/right channel. This will but a yellow dotted line there, hold and drag to the left and highlight your tape preroll blank section. This should highlight the whole area (left/right channels) white.
6. Click->Effects->Noise Reduction->Noise Reduction
7. Click -> the button “Get Profile from Selection” – this is located on the right side, on the Noise Reduction screen which pops up after step #6 above.
8. Click “Ok” (lower right)
9. Take your mouse now and double click in the middle gray line that separates the left/right channel to make sure the whole file is highlighted.
10. Repeat step #6
11. This time DO NOT click or do #7.
12. NOW just go to step #8
13. Now highlight the blank section in the beginning and hit your delete key. Do the same for the blank section after the recording is done.
If you are creating mp3′s, keep reading. If not or just wanted to get a tip on how to record and use the noise reduction, you can skip the next 6 steps below.
14. NOW - Click – File -> Save As
15. IN that screen make sure the “save as type” says mp3PRO (FhG) (*.mp3)
16. Fill in the name of the file where it says “File Name” ie… MY-recording
17. Click on options button – make sure that says or has checked off CBR (constant bit rate) and the one to the right of that says MP3. There should be radio buttons selected on both of these, just make sure it is.
18. In the pulldown under that make sure it says 256Kbps, 32000 hz, Stereo (5:5:1) – click “Ok” button on the right.
19. Click “Save” button. You may get a pop up screen if you haven’t done this before that is a warning about mp3′s being a lossy format, etc. You can disable that screen with that check box in the lower left to never tell you again about mp3 files being a lossy format. I think anyone that creates mp3′s knows this already!
That’s it! Simple right? Now you have just created a 256k mp3 file. As most people know the human ear can’t tell the difference after 192k from an actual .wav file or mp3. If you have the capability to do so, 256k is just nice to do.
This file should be more then good enough to do further editing, sequencing, etc. I personally use Sonar to do my sequencing, and in the past used it to record everything I ever have recorded on my own. Just obviously import the file into whatever sequencer you are comfortable with.
That is my quick how to tips for recording in Cool Edit Pro. I do believe I will start recording things in there now more often. Now I know the reason why some musician’s swear by it to do ALL their recordings, and sequencing there. That is something I may try the next time I go to record a song, maybe do the whole thing in there, and use the multitrack feature!
In the past, all I have ever really used Cool Edit Pro was for AFTER the .wav file was done. In other words post production stuff. Recording with it is so simple, that you can I believe create at the very least some great Podcasts with it; at least Technically Speaking.
