In this tutorial we’ll take a look at techniques for editing spoken word. We’ll build on concepts from the editing breaths out of vocals tutorial, but unlike with Vocals we wouldn’t want to leave a gap in the audio when dealing with spoken content. This means that we’ll also discuss ways to get rid of gaps in the audio to make the recording seamless.
While this demonstration is done in the concept of editing while recording, useful if you are say recording an audiobook or long form narration where it may be more efficient to edit between takes, the concepts covered here will assist in editing already recorded material like podcasts etc. as well. However, editing pre-recorded material is covered in this tutorial in depth.
The tutorial begins with discussion of the different key commands that are covered, which are also listed below. Next I’ll then record something and demonstrate how to stop the recording, go back to just before the mistake by transient and trim the region to end there before continuing with the recording.
Next we’ll cover how to trim the start, in situations where you may have a false start, and then how to get rid of the gap by shuffling to the left to make things seamless.
Then we’ll look at an alternative to the first method, but instead of trimming the region, we’ll enable replace mode so we. Can just record from any point with out fear of creating a take folder for overlapping regions. This maybe the preferred way to have Logic set for any spoken content type of recording.
We’ll also look at Delete And Move, another way to delete a region and have what comes after it move up to fill in the gap.
Region selection is also covered as at times you need to quickly select the last region, or any other regions to make edits.
Other related things covered in this tutorial include, how to switch Logic from bars and beats to minutes and seconds and how to disable the count in or metronome as they may not be needed in a spoken word recording session.
The list of key commands used in this tutorial follows, and if you have any questions, ask them in the comments. Also let me know other stuff you’d like to see covered for members. Remember Members also get to attend an in person Q&A so send any questions you would like an in depth answer from me in for the next one.
- Forward by Transient Control period
- Back by transient Control comma
- Forward by division Value Control Command period
- Back by division Value Control Command Comma
- Set Division Value to 32nd note Control Option Slash
- Set division Value to 64th note Control Option Shift Slash
- Set Division Value to 16th note (default) Control Option Command Slash
+ Set Division Value to 1/4 note Control Command Slash - Shuffle Left Option Left Bracket
- Shuffle Right Option Right Bracket
- Set Start of region to playhead (Trim Start of region to playhead) Command Left Bracket
- Set end of region to playhead (Trim end of region to playhead) Command Right Bracket
- Delete And Remove (delete selected region and move region to the right of it up) Shift Delete
- Select previous region/last region Left arrow
- Select Next Region/First Region Right Arrow
- Replace Mode Toggle Slash (On The NumberPad)
Great stuff Steve. What approach would you take if editing spoken word across 2 tracks together.For example in a situation where you have a guest and your voice is on 1 track and the guests voice is on another track?
There is a few workflows you could enable for this. You could put the two tracks in an editing group and then use a key command to disable the group when it’s not needed, like when you need to do an edit to just one track. Just remember to -re-enable it with the same key command when you want to perform an edit to both tracks.
Another option is just selecting the two tracks before doing an edit for both of them. Putting them in a track stack could work as well as you may be able to just select the track stack when you want to select both tracks. This is something I can explorer for a future tutorial.
Thanks Steve.
If you have a Macbook or can’t afford a keyboard with numpad, are there alternatives to the key commands that require the numeric keypad?
I strongly recommend picking up an external keyboard when you can. You don’t need an apple branded keyboard or even one that is Mac specific. Any external keyboard should work with MacOS, wired, Bluetooth etc. It’s easy to remap the command and option keys if they are in the wrong order in system preferences.
That being said, you could always remap key commands that are on the NumberPad to be else where on the regular Keyboard, or Use something like Virtual Extended Keyboard. https://lb.theoreo.monster/virtual-extended-keyboard-gain-access-to-a-numpad-and-function-keys-on-a-laptop-with-a-touchbar/