PoducateMe: Practical Solutions for Podcasting in Education
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Digital Signal Processors (DSP)
As briefly touched on earlier, DSP effects such as reverb and equalization may be added
to your recordings through software plug-ins or outboard equipment. DSP effects perform
a variety of common tasks that will allow you to massage your recordings for maximum
impact. Most effects will have a number of preset conditions from which to choose, but
will also allow you to tweak the settings according to taste. Depending on the effect, a
DSP may be engaged during recording or applied to the audio after it has been recorded.
The following are some of the more common DSP effects podcasters are likely to use:
Equalizer (EQ)
Equalization is not really an effect, as it simply boosts or lowers targeted frequencies
within an audio signal—it’s more of a sophisticated volume control. While a mixer
such as the Behringer UB802 (detailed earlier) may feature knobs to control three
levels of equalization (low, medium and high), tools developed specifically to control
equalization will allow you greater control over how your sound is processed.
Reverb
Many podcasters will use a slight amount of reverb to bring a sense of warmth and
richness to their vocals. Reverb is a slight echo that can simulate recording in a large,
empty room or a smaller, intimate locale. Because reverb occurs naturally as we
speak (our voices bounce off our surroundings, such as walls, furniture, etc.), a
judicious application of this effect is one of the best things you can do to make your
voice sound fuller and more natural.
Visit the PoducateMe Web site to review a wide selection of multieffect DSPs listed on
Dynamic Range
There are DSPs that will affect your audio’s dynamic range. These DSPs are called
“dynamics processors.” In order to understand what dynamics processors do, you must
understand that dynamic range refers to the sound that makes up your audio, from the
quietest to loudest parts. The graphic below visually depicts the dynamic range of a piece
of audio as it is analyzed by a level meter. Level meters are typically labeled in decibels
(db), with 0db equal to the maximum level. Levels below 0db are shown in negative
integers.
