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How to Draw an Audio Waveform

Music, audio effects and voice-overs are commonly associated with sound, or the audio spectrum. To editors and other music enthusiasts, however, being able to see music is just as important as the music itself. The visual representation of any type of audio is known as a waveform, and with the right supplies, time and dedication, anyone can turn all aspects of sound into a waveform that is ready to be edited or modified.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • Audio editing software
  • Audio interface
  • 1/4 inch cable (optional)
  • XLR cable (optional)
  • Microphone (optional)
  • Instrument (optional)
  • Adapters (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1
      Headphone plugs are an easily recognizable representation of a 1/8 inch plug. They too need adapters in order to listen to audio through an interface.

      Connect the interface to your computer. Connect either an instrument or microphone to the interface. An instrument such as a guitar or keyboard will almost always be connected by at least one 1/4 cable. A mic will be connected by XLR cable. If you plan to mic an instrument, it too will be connected by XLR as the microphone is what is actually plugged in to the interface. Anything else you desire to plug in or record from will require an adapter. For example, a sound being extracted from a recording on a cell phone will need a 1/8 to 1/4 inch converter.

    • 2
      While visual drawing traditionally happens by hand both digitally and on paper, audio drawing is done through the process of recording.

      Record the sound into your audio editing program. If you already have audio you wish to visualize on the same computer you are editing with, you can start with this step. The audio will have to be saved as its own file, usually a WAV file, and then imported into the program. By recording or importing audio to your program, a raw, or unedited waveform will automatically be drawn and represented for you.

    • 3
      Any other undesired noises, such as breathing, are more simple to remove during the editing process.

      Listen to your newly recorded audio track. If it sounds acceptable to you, you are done and have successfully drawn an audio waveform of your sound or idea. If you hear small pops or clicks in your recording, you can remove them without recording the track a second time by manually redrawing those parts of your waveform.

    • 4
      If you do not zoom in far enough, the pencil tool will be inactive.

      Select the pencil tool in your editing program. This will be represented by a button with a writing utensil symbol over it, then, zoom in on the disturbed section of your waveform. If you need to, use the magnifier tool to zoom. As you zoom, the damaged data will become obvious as it will extend vertically much further than the surrounding parts of the waveform. You must zoom in until the waveform appears to be a single line, much like a scribble, instead of what is normally a colored representation outlined by two lines, or waves.

    • 5
      This process should take no more than 15 minutes from start to finish.

      Click just before the spike in the wave and then use the pencil tool to redraw the damaged section of the waveform to look like its surroundings. This may take several attempts to redraw the wave correctly. Once you have done this, you have finished drawing your waveform and can begin the editing process.

Recording Music

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