Teach me about waveforms

[Ericlingus]

Hey guys, I recently have been learning about editing. That is something I really have not spent much time on. I have seem the tutorials on slip editing and was wondering how you know exactly what where the hit starts. I know it's obvious when there are big gaps between notes or hits but what about when they are close together. I'll try to listen to where it starts but sometimes it's hard to determine the exact spot. Also, where is a good spot to cut? Is it he lowest peak. I'd appreciate it if anyone could help or post a tutorial on editing waveforms.

 

[topsoul182]

it depends on what your talking about, drums? guitars? vocals?

 

[Skinny Viking]

Zoom in

 

[Ericlingus]

im talking about drums and guitars/bass. I do zoom in but that sometimes makes it even more confusing. Any tips on where to cut? How do you guys go about doing it.

 

[Skinny Viking]

you haven't spent enough time to be comfortable with knowing what to look for ... it takes time and no one can give you a specific answer because waveforms can all look different even if its the same type of instrument. Just get in there and start chopping and use your damn ears ... you may surprise yourself at how quickly you start to "get it"

 

[Ericlingus]

okay thanks man. I was hoping for a solid exact answer but maybe there isn't one. Guess it just takes practice. I really only started editing like this a couple days ago lol. How did you learn to edit? That is another question i've been wondering. Did you guys learn through tutorials or class? Or just figured it out on your own? Also, what methods do you use? Slip editing seems like the best way to me.

 

[Heabow]

use your damn ears ... you may surprise yourself at how quickly you start to "get it"

This.

 

[Skinny Viking]

I'm being 1000000% honest with ya here ... I learned through trial & error

Took a lot of zooming in, cutting, listening, "FUCK YOU!!!", heal separation, zoom in further, cut, listen, "FUCK ME!!!!", heal, zoom out, listen, "AHHHHHH", cut, listen ... Profit

As you get the hang of it you'll have to zoom in less and less often. Think of it like learning to see shit in The Matrix

And yeah, there really is no exact answer. I can hand you 2 sets of snare tracks and they can look completely different and fucked due to the amount of kit bleed in each

Practice, trial & error and again, don't just rely in your eyes, use those ears

 

[jackbraglia]

practice....i do a lot of editing for voice overs, and i can sometimes guess what word or sound is going to be spoken simply by looking at the waveform...

 

[-Noodles-]

I've found that where the waveform (if it's mono) crosses the zero line is a good place to start.

You do lose a little of the attack, or tail if its the end, but that's only in situations where I can't use multiple tracks and takes.

 

[ZanetheVocalist]

Hey Eric, tell ya what. If you can tell me how to set up screen record on my computer, I'll try to do a little video for you explaining these things. Never done it before but its the best way I know to go through all the subtleties without writing a book.

 

[Ericlingus]

damn I wish I knew how but I have no idea how to set up screen record. I'll try to look into it because I am very interested in the tutorial. Thank you.

 

[Plendakor]

Always cut at zero to get an even clip (no hard clipping).

 

[AudioGeekZine]

Hey Eric, tell ya what. If you can tell me how to set up screen record on my computer, I'll try to do a little video for you explaining these things. Never done it before but its the best way I know to go through all the subtleties without writing a book.

Quicktime (on mac) has a record screen function.

 

[ZanetheVocalist]

Quicktime (on mac) has a record screen function.

I'm working on a PC but I have the quicktime player installed. I assume its the same... Checking it now and it seems I'd have to buy Pro to use it. Screw that. I found an app with screen record called atube catcher.

Btw, how can I set things up so that whenever someone replies to my comment it will notify me? I always have to search user, type my name, read profile, scroll down to recent posts, and look through each to find out if someone has talked to me. Extremely time consuming and I often miss messages.

 

[Ericlingus]

well i'd really appreciate it if you did do a tutorial. Wish I could be of more help to you though. I'm just as clueless.

 

[AudioGeekZine]

Btw, how can I set things up so that whenever someone replies to my comment it will notify me? I always have to search user, type my name, read profile, scroll down to recent posts, and look through each to find out if someone has talked to me. Extremely time consuming and I often miss messages.

 

[ZanetheVocalist]

Thanks!