The correct mindset for post-processing

In the last two posts of this Sound Better series, we learned what to do before and during recording. In this post, I will discuss what to do after recording.

Whether you're a voice-over artist, audiobook narrator, podcaster, or content creator, great audio isn't just about recording—it’s about what happens after the recording.

Your mindset of how you will handle the audio also plays an important part.

In this post, we’ll dive into the purpose of audio processing, its benefits, and the steps you can take to elevate your recordings. By the end, you'll understand why proper processing is non-negotiable in creating professional-quality audio.

Why Audio Processing is Crucial

Even if you’ve recorded in the best studio with top-tier equipment, your audio can still benefit from processing. Why? Because recorded sound is rarely perfect straight out of the microphone.

You will need some kind of audio processing to make it perfect. The processing serves two main purposes:

1. It Improves Quality
   Audio processing enhances the clarity, balance, and overall polish of your recording. Good processing can:

   • Make a bad recording bearable.

   • Make a good recording exceptional.

2. It Fixes Anomalies
   It also helps correct specific issues, such as:

   • Volume inconsistencies (some parts too loud, others too quiet).

   • Background noise (hissing, hums, or white noise).

   • Flaws like mouth clicks, sibilance (harsh “s” sounds), or plosives (popping “p” sounds).

No matter how skilled you are at recording, there’s always room for improvement—and that’s where processing comes in.

Core Steps in Audio Processing

Let’s break down the essentials of audio processing into two key actions:

1. Cleaning Up the Audio (Editing Phase)

You can clean up the audio before or after applying the effects. It’s important to tidy up your recording by:

• Removing filler words: Eliminate “uh,” “um,” and other verbal clutter.

• Trimming pauses: Shorten overly long silences.

• Deleting mistakes: Cut out repeated words or sentences.

This step ensures polished and professionally handled audio.

2. Processing the Audio

Only cleaned-up audio is not enough; it has to be processed properly with different audio effects. Here are the main tools and techniques you’ll use:

• Normalize & Compression:

  • Normalize ensures the loudest parts of your audio reach a standard level (e.g., -3 dB).

  • Compression balances out dynamics, making quieter parts louder and overly loud sections softer.

• Noise Reduction:
  Tools like Waves Clarity Vx or software-native effects help minimize background noise. Remember, audio quality can degrade after noise reduction, so you should use the best tool you can.

• Equalization (EQ):
  EQ lets you shape the tone of your recording to fit its purpose. For example:

  • Boost higher frequencies for clarity or brightness.

  • Add warmth.

  • Sculpt a bold, punchy sound.

  Keep in mind that overdoing EQ can ruin a great recording, so apply it carefully.

The Limits of Processing

While audio processing is a powerful tool, it’s not a magic wand. Here are a few key points to remember:

• Bad recordings cannot become great. Processing can improve them, but it will not completely fix poor-quality audio.

• Overprocessing is dangerous. Adding too many effects without proper configuration can make your audio sound unnatural or overly manipulated.

Pro Tip: Always aim for balance. The goal is to improve the sound of your audio, not to make it unrecognizable (unless you clearly want so).

Why Processed Audio Wins Every Time

To highlight the importance of processing, consider this scenario:

Two voice-over artists with equally great voices are auditioning for the same job. Both use the same studio and equipment to record. One submits their raw recording as-is, while the other applies proper processing for balanced volume, noise reduction, and tailored EQ.

Who do you think will win the job?

The processed recording will always stand out for its clarity, polish, and professionalism. This applies across industries, from podcasting and audiobook narration to content creation and radio broadcasting.

Key Takeaways for Audio Processing

If you’re serious about producing professional-quality audio, focus on the following goals:

1. Fix loudness issues: Balance peaks and valleys in your audio for a consistent listening experience.

2. Reduce noise: Minimize hissing and background distractions without compromising voice quality.

3. Correct specific flaws: Address clicks, sibilance, and plosives as needed.

4. Shape tone with EQ: Use equalization to match the sound to your intended purpose.

Your Next Steps

Audio processing is both a skill and an art. By cleaning up your recordings and applying essential effects, you can elevate your audio quality significantly. But remember:

• Start with clean recordings for the best results.

• Understand the limits of processing—don’t aim for perfection, but strive for improvement.

• Use processing as a diagnostic tool to identify and address recurring recording issues.

Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll share details of the correct order of audio effects and why that is important!

If you are looking to produce quality Audio with Audacity, please check the Audacity Bundle (Beginner to Advanced): https://www.patreon.com/master_editor/shop/audacity-bundle-beginner-to-advanced-189564

If you are thinking of producing Voice Over, Audiobooks, or Podcasts in Adobe Audition, please check the Adobe Audition Bundle: https://www.patreon.com/master_editor/shop/adobe-audition-bundle-beginner-to-240352

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