Matching Audio Qualities?

[Tchail]

I have a series of lectures that I'm trying to update.

Unfortunately, my new audio has a much different quality than the previous recordings.

The old recordings sound "tin'ier" than my new recordings, which have a broader range and a fuller sound to them.

I'm at a loss as to how to go about modifying the new audio. I tried adjusting the pitch of the new recording, but all that did was make my speaker sound like a chipmunk.

Any advice would be appreciated.

-Tchail

[Lodovico]

You could try lowering the bit rate. That would degrade the quality (if that's really what you want to do) and would have the benefit of reducing the file size. 32kbps would sound quite tinny, like an AM radio.

[bigass]

Nope, you're not out to adjust the pitch, unless you're messing with a tape recorder that was rolling with dying batteries.

My best advice would be to use the best audio you can, always.

But if you want all your items to sound "equally bad", you'll probably need to resort to EQ. Lowering the bitrate introduces its own kind of crappiness, for sure, but you can get a good, nasty, tinny sound with a high-pass (or low-cut) filter that takes the rich, smooth, lower frequencies out of the sound.

Any audio editing program (pretty much everyone can agree that the free Audacity will get the job done; you can spend as much as you like for anything beyond that) ought to accomplish your goals. Check the EQ or filter section for a preset that offers a 'telephone' sound effect, and adjust the top- and bottom-end cutoffs to match the poor sound you're looking for.

Or, just delight in your improved new recordings and move on from there.

[filmboss80]

You could try lowering the bit rate. That would degrade the quality (if that's really what you want to do) and would have the benefit of reducing the file size. 32kbps would sound quite tinny, like an AM radio.

My goodness; talk about bad advice. Do not lower the bitrate. Follow the advice of bigass and use an Equalizer filter (EQ) in an audio editor. You don't say what software you tried to use to modify your audio. It might already have an equalizer. Otherwise, Audacity is the way to go. Great tool and free.

[MadMax_911]

Try also lowering the bit depth (not bitrate) to 8 bit, that also produces a kind of crappy sound that is used by some voice recorders. Together with the high/low pass filters.

[bigass]

Good point there -- see what specs the old crap recorder recorded with, and you can match the new good recordings to it.