Overview 

This standard involves carrying out audio editing; understanding both the editorial and artistic context and the technical considerations. 

It involves creating a sound mix which achieves the required artistic effect, and offering practical solutions if there are problems.

This standard applies to all those who edit and mix audio content for radio.

 

Performance Criteria 

You must be able to: 

  1. select clips and structure audio to tell the story in a clear, accurate and balanced way
  2. select edit points which create a smooth transition in terms of rhythm and pace, and which achieve the required editorial or artistic effect
  3. select and use audio editing software or techniques to meet production requirements
  4. carry out basic timeline based editing operations which meet the requirements of the brief
  5. use sound effects and acoustic effects when required to meet production requirements
  6. confirm that sound sources to be mixed are in a suitable acoustic with an appropriate dynamic range
  7. ensure the position and blend of sound sources achieve the required artistic effect when creating a sound mix
  8. balance music, voice, actuality and effects to meet the requirements of the target audience
  9. confirm that transitions between sound sources are technically accurate
  10. offer practical solutions when there are problems with the sound mix
  11. label audio materials according to appropriate protocols
  12. ensure that documentation is accurate, current readily accessible and in approved formats

 

Knowledge and understanding 

You need to know and understand: 

  1. the editorial intent and the artistic effect required of the final edited material
  2. how the edited material will be used and its target audience
  3. the key differences between analogue and digital audio
  4. the basic theories of file based, cut and paste audio editing and of timeline based, multi-track audio editing
  5. the key differences between destructive and non-destructive audio editing
  6. how audio can be translated into a visual waveform representation based on amplitude
  7. basic musical form and nomenclature
  8. how to assess recorded material and make a rough or “paper” edit selecting the key content to be included in the finished piece
  9. how to determine edit point selection criteria for the final edit, balancing editorial and artistic considerations; story structure and the provision of information,
  10. rhythm, pace, flow and background sound
  11. whether the material is mono or stereo and the implications for the edit
  12. what the mix is intended to convey the timescales for the edit and, where necessary, the budget
  13. the documentation requirements and labelling protocols