How To Record Digital Audio: a beginner's guide

How to record digital audio! This is a very comprehensive video explaining everything you need to know about recording digital audio. For music, videos, film making, podcasts, voiceovers, foley, sound design, field recording, and the rest. It's all talk, so it's good for listening while doing other stuff.

Please like and subscribe and maybe buy me a coffee!

Feel free to skip to your desired chapter:
00:00 - Intro
01:12 - Overview
01:35 - Sample Rates
06:09 - Bit Depth
10:24 - Input Levels
14:00 - Capture Devices & Color
23:18 - TLDR Sum-Up

#recording #digitalaudio #howtorecord #audio #audioadvice #howto #audioforbeginners #samplerates #bitdepth #filmaudio #musicrecording #voiceover

Gear Used in this video:
-Townsend Labs L22 (UAD DLX) Sphere Mic (103/VM1)
-Universal Audio Apollo Twin X (SSL Pre)
-Rycote InVision Shockmount
-Canon M50
-Sigma 30mm 1.4 EF-M Lens
-Sennheiser HD25 Headphones
-Manfrotto BeFree Tripod
-Manfrotto Mini Tripod (MixPre Mount)
-Godox ML60 Continuous Light
-Godox 32" Softbox with Grid
-GVM LED light panel (backlight)
-Pixel GS1 RGB Light
-Godox VL49 RGB Light
-Canadian Studio 5-in-1 Reflector

Links to purchase all my gear below! Please use them, I could really use the bones to help make more videos!

My film Kit:

My Music Recording Kit:

All of my kits:

If you'd like to see more or less of anything in my examinations, let me know!

My Tip Jar!

[EdwardKilner]

16 and 24 bit refer to a “word length” of that many bits. Each word contains one sample of audio. The sample is a set of bits that represents a voltage obtained by sampling, say, a microphone. (Later, those samples can be turned back into voltages and sent to an amplifier/loudspeaker.)

32-bit Float means instead of a simple set of bits the representation of the voltage in each sample is expressed in 32-bit Floating Point format. Floating point is a computer technique needed for doing arithmetic on very small numbers to very large numbers, and positive and negative if needed. There are videos explaining the details and since I am an Electrical Engineer I can follow those videos but it isn’t easy. Forces me back to 1971 when I knew this stuff in some detail. Simple 32 bit can encode an excellent range of voltage samples. 32-bit Float can encode a mind-boggling range.
Still, this is an excellent example of how technology is improving our lives.

And, excellent video by the way. Useful to me.

[thDoctor]

idk why, but this video is so damn calming

[StephenCarterStressExpert]

This is an excellent exploration of digital audio recording. Whether you're new to audio and even video recording or you've been doing recording work for years, you're going to learn - or be reminded of - knowledge that will make your recordings noticeably better.

[vampula]

Holly Molly! That's a goldmine of knowledge right there. Thank you very much for this lecture, it's eye...Ear opening!

[Rounder-One]

I was frightened when you stated that this video would be with less than normal humor. But then you picked up you tape measure and all was right with the world. By the way, excellent video. Everything that audio lovers who are not professionals were embarrassed to ask. Thank you!

[armandhammer]

Great video. I liked the analogy of the cup for bit. I tried to explain it on the weekend but a audio/visual demonstration was needed. This will help me in the future.

I'd love to see a video of you in the field doing some field recording for sound effects and natural sounds. Always great to see in field workflows too.

Thanks for the videos!

[xandertempelaar]

The bits and herz part will stick with me forever, thanks 👍

[rolandberendonck]

Excellent!!! I already knew you are a perfect teacher, but this video even surpassed that. I loved watching it; even when you are teaching us the nerdy stuff you are able to keep it amusing. Perfect.

[NinoAmerica]

Wow. Amazing channel! Glad I came across it. Just scrolled thru your videos.

[aboabdo]

Keep doing these videos me and the gang love them fr♥️💥💯

[jonassackarndt]

This video is great, as somebody with no idea of audio...stuff i really could use this breakdown. I would love another video like this that would explain DAWs and plugins and LFOs and Automations just like you worked out this rundown. I want to get to know what actually wetness and other knobs i can possibly turn do to the Audio which was so nicely recorded.

[paultaylor]

I've been using a daw blindly and getting stuff hit and miss. That was a real eye opener thanks fir all that clear info. ❤

[RichardOldroyd]

Top class video mate. Just what I needed to help me understand.

[damndunk]

student from germany here, , i just wanted to say your video are incredibly helpful thanks alot and keep it going !!!!

[Maxim__g]

I really can’t emphasize enough how great your videos are. You’re making them better than most of you Youtubers. I’d say better than 95% of them. at least in my opinion. You’re one of the coolest guys ever. thank you.

[gsqmedia]

How do I say this, awesome tutorial. Explaining a subject that is not always the most exciting yet you found a way to make it interesting and easily understood. Many other videos focus on the tech and settings and don't really explain the why? How can anyone learn to master a subject without learning the fundamental reasons something is done the way it is. Thank you!

[LucaTutino]

Bravo! Not exactly the info I was looking for, but so well explained and pleasant that I could not almost skip anything!

[Nadroj]

Thank you for this video :D I think this is the first time someone has just plainly explained what bit rate actually does

[Helderhugo]

What you said I discover by myself along the years by instinct and experimenting. It's good to listen that I am right from another specialized people like you.

[DBoom]

Great great content and thank you for sharing! Professional cinematographer for years and been dabbling in audio now for some time. Well done on every aspect of your video and super helpful.