Looking for OSX audio app to normalize volume in phone interviews recorded straight to hard drive.

March 8, 2006 12:51 PM

Looking for OSX audio app to normalize volume in phone interviews recorded straight to hard drive.

I do a lot of phone interviews, and record them with a RadioShack doohicky straight to the hard drive. The problem is, my voice comes in really loud, and the subject's voice is really soft. So when I play the file back for transcription I have to crank the volume, and invariably am deafened by my own questions. Anyone know of a sound app out there that would level out all the sound to the same volume level? Or can you suggest another way around this problem?

posted by It ain't over yet to computers & internet (5 comments total)

Audacity should do it.

"Adjust volumes with Compressor, Amplify, and Normalize effects."
posted by mrbill at 1:30 PM on March 8, 2006

You're looking to do something called dynamic compression, which decreases the difference between the loud and soft. Audacity can do this, and it's free software.
posted by pmbuko at 1:31 PM on March 8, 2006

I third Audacity. It's great.
posted by tittergrrl at 1:34 PM on March 8, 2006

Sound Studio is something you might want to look into if you want something a bit more Mac-like than audacity. Its pricey, ($80USD), but its a pleasure to work with.
posted by dantekgeek at 1:40 PM on March 8, 2006

What's your Radio Shack doohickey?
posted by clango at 6:34 PM on March 8, 2006