What are the steps in making an OTR mp3 file?
To oversimplify, there are two steps: capture from the original analog medium (digitization to .wav) and mp3 encoding. [Return to the top] Low volume This is caused by the material being digitized at too low a volume. “Normalizing” the volume to a peak of 0db usually causes a generational-type loss for mathematical reasons. Some specific (and expensive) utilities can losslessly correct this defect. All my shows have been losslessly normalized. [Return to the top] Pops, crackles The nature of the beast: the original medium was likely an album-like platter called a transcription disc. Played with a needle like a record is played, scratches and defects on the transcription disc will be present in the digitized file. It is theoretically possible to digitally process a file to decrease these defects, but it takes a very light touch or the process will introduce other, shimmery/robot sounds. [Return to the top] Muffled sound Muffled shows are the result of missing upper ranges (treble). This
