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Editing using the Waveform
Editing using the Waveform

How to edit using the waveform and also explains other features of the editor like , split a file, auto zoom, remove ahs & ums & preview

Updated over 3 weeks ago

Editor Toolbar

Alitu allows you to edit using our traditional waveform or by using our text-based editing.

For more details on text-based editing see this article.

You can find some of the editor features in the editor toolbar top left hand side.

  1. Cut function (edit out audio)

  2. Mute tool

  3. Add a bleep

  4. Add a silence

  5. Clip Tool

  6. Split the recording

  7. Magic Filters (remove filler words and silences)

  8. Audio length (will reduce as you make edits)

How do I make an edit

  • Click the edit button on the file you want to edit in episode builder

  • Navigate to a section of audio and then use a click and drag motion with your mouse over the area you want to edit.

  • Click "cut this out"

  • When making edits the waveform will auto-zoom in and out (you can turn this off in the preferences so that you manually control the zoom function)

  • As you edit the audio length will reduce which you can see in the bottom left hand corner of the editor


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Using the Editor Auto-Zoom

You can use the zoom function to hone into an area of the waveform to make a precision edit. As you zoom you will see more details of the waveform, making it easier to create smaller edits.

  • Click on the zoom button, either the + or -, keep pressing the button to your desired zoom in or out.

  • Make your edit as normal (as described above)

  • You can zoom back to 100% but clicking the magnifying lens icon

When you first use the editor you will notice that when you make an edit, it will automatically zoom in and out for you. This is a setting preference you can change. For more details see the Editor Preferences section

Alitu Zoom Function

How do I remove an edit - "Restore"

  • Navigate to the edit you want to remove, press edit

  • That edit will open up and you can then press "Restore"

  • It will remove that cut and restore the previous audio that was in that cut

Previewing your edited audio

  • Navigate to an edit you want to preview, press edit

  • That edit will open up and you can then select "preview"

  • This will play a few seconds of audio before the cut and after, skipping out your edited section so that you can hear what it will sound like.

  • Alternatively, you can move the purple playhead bar to a spot before the edit and press the play button from the playback settings in the bottom toolbar.

Magic Filters

A great and easy tool available to your in the editor toolbar is the Magic Filters feature.
At the click of a button you can automatically create edits for the removal of filler words (ums and ahs) and unwanted silences.

  • In the editor select "Filters"

  • Toggle on what filters you want to apply

  • Press "Apply Filters"

  • Review the edits. You still fully control the edits created. You can adjust the edit, preview the edit and restore the edit if you dont want that audio cut.

  • Or remove the filters by toggling them off

How do I add a silence?

  • Place the play head where you want to add a silence to the clip

  • Click 'Silence' in the editor toolbar

  • Use a click and drag motion with your mouse to adjust the length of the silence

  • You can also adjust the length by clicking the + and - icons

  • Click Preview to hear how your file will sound with the silence added

  • To remove the silence click 'Cancel'

  • When you are happy click 'Add Silence'

  • To open the editing option again click the Pencil icon

How do I add a bleep sound?

Useful if you want to bleep out curse/swear words or other portions of the audio.

  • Place the play head where you want to add a bleep to the clip

  • Click 'Bleep' in the editor toolbar

  • Use a click and drag motion with your mouse to adjust the length of the bleep

  • You can also adjust the length by clicking the + and - icons

  • Click Preview to hear how your file will sound with the bleep added

  • To remove the bleep click 'Cancel'

  • When you are happy click 'Bleep this out'

  • To open the editing option again click the Pencil icon

How do I mute a section of the audio?

Useful if you want to mute a portion of the audio without editing the length of the recording

  • Place the play head where you want to mute the audio

  • Click 'Mute' in the editor toolbar

  • Use a click and drag motion with your mouse to adjust the length of the muted section

  • You can also adjust the length by clicking the + and - icons

  • Click Preview to hear how your file will sound with the muted section

  • To remove the mute click 'Cancel'

  • When you are happy click 'Save'

  • To open the editing option again click the Pencil icon
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How do I split my audio file

Useful when you want to insert some form of transition between the files, such as music or an advert.

  • To split your audio file move the purple playhead bar to the appropriate place in your audio.

  • Press the split file icon from the top right of the editor toolbar

  • You can adjust the place/timestamp of where you want the split to be in the pop up

  • Give your files appropriate names - as you are creating 2 new files in the place of the original

  • All previous edits will remain in place once the split has been actioned.

Clipping Tool

To extract a clip from your audio file you can use the clipping tool in the editor bar. Any edits that have been made will also be in the clip you extract.

You can extract clips either using the waveform or using the transcript.

  • Navigate and select the "Clip" button in the editor tool bar

  • Select the audio you want to clip by dragging over the area you want

  • Select "Export Clip"

  • Name the clip

  • Tick the checkbox if you want the clip at the beginning of your episode (optional)

  • Select add to library

  • Your clip will appear in the library for you to use as and when you want.

  • To return to editing as normal select the "Cut" function from the editor toolbar.

Editor preferences explained

  • Selecting the gear icon opens up the preferences you can control inside the editor

  • You can select your waveform preference (simple and professional). This effects the look of the waveform.

  • Whether you want the editor to auto-zoom when you are making edit cuts (mentioned previously in the zoom section)

  • Make the playhead bar appear centrally as standard.

  • Press save preferences when you are done.

Editor Playback Settings

  • Use the playback settings in the editor to listen to your audio, play, pause, fast forward or rewind using the playback toolbar at the bottom of the editor.

  • You can choose your preferred speed using the playback speed icon at the bottom right corner of the Audio Editor.

  • You can choose between 0.5, 0.75, 1 (normal),1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2x.

Editing: best practice

To avoid unnatural-sounding audio/cutting or clicking sounds:

  • DO make edits where the soundwave is silent βœ…

  • DO NOT make edits in the middle of a sound wave β›”

  • Instead of making lots of cuts right next to each other, try making a bigger cut and see if that works with your audio.

If you have any other questions, just click the chat icon to the right and we'll be happy to help.

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