CCSMT9 Edit audio material to meet creative requirements

 

Overview

This standard is about editing recorded source material to meet creative requirements.  This is likely to be for music but could also apply to other audio sources.  It is likely to, but does not have to, involve material that has been recorded during multiple takes.

This standard includes identifying editing requirements and expectations, selecting areas of audio that need editing, using accurate editing techniques, maintaining procedures to avoid deterioration and documenting, labelling, saving and archiving files.

This standard is for recording engineers, editing engineers, mastering engineers, mix engineers and programmers who edit audio material to meet the creative brief.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. collect information from relevant sources about editing requirements and expectations
  2. measure the overall timing and feel of audio to be edited
  3. select sections from the range of takes available that will give required results when edited
  4. identify areas of audio that require editing or cleaning
  5. use editing solutions which resolve problems and improve audio
  6. remove unwanted noise and adjust timing, pace and tempo errors using accurate editing techniques
  7. operate computer based digital editing systems, menus and parameters in line with software developers’ instructions
  8. create and produce corrections and improvements to audio files without any obvious deterioration of materials
  9. maintain procedures to ensure audio does not deteriorate or degrade during editing, transfer and import
  10. piece together final from different takes that reflect required specification for quality and timing
  11. resolve problems with equipment and outputs that are within your levels of responsibility as they occur
  12. refer any problems that you cannot resolve to appropriate people without delay
  13. communicate with relevant people about progress at appropriate times
  14. document and label files using industry-accepted labelling systems
  15. save and archive edits as new audio files alongside original audio copy
  16. make sure you follow accepted practice so that your work will be useable by others without requiring further work or preparation
  17. make safe and secure recall and archive of edits
  18. reset and tidy equipment when work is complete

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. sources of information on editing requirements including the creative brief
  2. how to operate and use editing functions on a computer-based digital editing program
  3. ways in which digital editing parameters are used
  4. how to prepare and manage digital editing menus and parameters
  5. mono, stereo, and other multi-channel formats
  6. the importance of preserving original audio content
  7. how to use critical listening skills to identify required edits
  8. how to use appropriate elements of musical organisation in own work
  9. how to assess quality, timing, pace and tempo
  10. how to recognise intervals, chords, scales and chord progressions commonly used in selected styles
  11. common editing problems associated with many editing scenarios
  12. basic editing solutions to improve and repair audio material and remove problems including coughs and sneezes
  13. procedures for ensuring audio material does not deteriorate or degrade
  14. timekeeping and tempo relationships
  15. who to communicate with and how and when to do so including performers, colleagues and supervisors
  16. the differences between editing live content and when there are multiple takes
  17. the purpose of, and how to assemble, small drum and percussion edits to present perfect timekeeping of original
  18. how to save edited content and DAW files in their original state including use of BWAV, WAV, AIFF, (file formats) DVD, DVD RAM, Digital removable HD CADDY,TAPE, DAT, CD, External HD
  19. how to restore and verify edited material
  20. how to use menus and parameters to transfer and import audio
  21. accepted practice relating to editing techniques, quality of outputs and methods of archiving so your work can be accessed and used by others
  22. will be useable by others without requiring further work or preparation