If you are editing audio waveforms in digital domain, you will have two options. The first option is to edit the files non-destructively while the other option is to edit the files destructively. This is a beginner guide on how to do both of these techniques correctly.
Overview on Non-Destructive Editing of audio files
You may not aware at first but applying effects on multi-track space is a non-destructive editing process. Take a look at Adobe audition multi-track space:
multitrack non destructive editing
You can apply important audio editing techniques such as volume change, panning, EQ and all other effects on the multi-track view without altering the original recording.
The obvious benefits are as follows:
1.) You preserve the original recording. If you make a mistake on applying effects, you simply change the settings DIRECTLY on the multi-track without the need to re-edit the audio wave files manually.
2.) This is a faster approach to editing. On the above screenshot, the multi-track editing techniques are powerful because they have automation tools. For example, volume automation, panning automation; which at a single glimpse can be used by engineers to quickly apply desired effects on the audio.
3.) You have documented evidence of your changes that results to that sound. For example, in the above screenshot, it is shown that you are applying a low pass filter at 15,000Hz -6dB. It is clearly shown on the 3 band parametric EQ. And you know the sound of this setting.
This would make it easy for you to assess and apply more accurate settings to further improve the audio quality especially during mixing.
Disadvantages of non-destructive editing:
1.) If you strictly implement non-destructive editing in all of your projects. Then you cannot solve 100% of all audio quality issues such as noise removal.
2.) Putting too many effects on the multi-track would add too much strain on your PC computing power. Then your computer would run very slow and laggy. This can easily be solved by locking the tracks (if supported by your DAW) or using a very fast computer (can be costly if you are on a very tight budget).
Great improvements on computer speed and power can be realized by using a high CPU clock speed, high amounts of RAM and modern chipsets/motherboard with optimized OS.
When you will be applying non-destructive editing:
1.) Do this in multi-track during mixing stage.
2.) Do this in critical scenario where you can hardly backup audio files. Thus the only way to assure that the files are untouched is to edit them non-destructively by loading them in the multi-track view.
Overview on Destructive Editing of audio files
Destructive editing is manually editing audio waveform by applying desired effects and saving it. This is a very RISKY procedure as it can overwrite the original recording if you are not careful.
For example in the above screenshot, the effects applied are “amplify”. And this effect is applied directly to the audio waveform (at the background). Take note that once this is saved successfully, there is no undo procedure.
The only way you can re-apply the effects (in case you realize the setting was wrong) is to open the original recording and re-apply effects to it.
Benefits of destructive editing:
1.) If you are sure with your effect settings and you are running out of computing power, then editing the waveform and applying effects directly to the waveform makes sense. Provided you have carefully backup your original recording.
2.) You can edit the waveform in details with destructive editing because you have the opportunity to look very closely on the waveform. This is particularly important even during mixing.
Disadvantages of destructive editing:
1.) Like I said before, if you are careless and have accidentally saved the edited file without doing backups on your original audio; then the only way you can bring back the original recording is to perform another recording on that set. This can be time consuming.
2.) This is a very time consuming process. It is why if you are required by your client to do manual editing of the wave to correct their tracking mistakes or inconsistencies (and they do not want to re-record for some reason) then charge them per hour for your time well spent.
When to do Destructive editing:
1.) Mastering process is a destructive editing of the waveform, of course the mastering engineers or the mixing engineers do preserve an original backup of the mix down very carefully.
2.) Apply reverb on some parts of the song only (not the entire song).
3.) Removing noise on the start and the end.
4) Any effects that require to be applied manually instead of automation and many more.
Summary: It is recommended that you practice both of these techniques in your project.
Content last updated on August 5, 2012