Tuesday Tech Tools: Adobe's AI-powered Enhanced Speech tool

/

If you are playing around with podcasts or just want to make great audio, Adobe has just released an AI-powered enhanced speech tool. It will increase audio clarity by removing background noise and make your voice sound way better—even if you used a not-so-great mic in a noisy room. Try it yourself here. A free Adobe account is required. Below is an audio example and a video explanation. 

Audio Block
Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more


Tuesday Tech Tools: 91 Audio tools for podcasts, recording, editing, etc.

/

Below are 33 standout tools. See all 91 here.

Anchor*
An app for recording and editing. Originally intended to be a platform for short-form audio snippets ("Snapchat" for audio) with content disappearing after 24 hours. But the podcasts published from your phone to Apple, Spotify, or Google will remain available. Record up to four guests on a single call, trim and edit tracks, and add music, all within the app. Owned by Spotify. Free.

Audacity*
Audio editing software. Free and open source.

Audio Hijack*
Record video conferences on your Mac with this long-time favorite. It can record from designated applications, or simply record any system sound coming through your computer. Total Recorder does the same thing for Windows.

AudioNote*
Searching for a section of audio corresponding to a note is easy to find.  The recording time is insertedat the beginning of each line oftext. $9.99.

Adobe Audition*
Audio editing program.  Formerly Cool Edit Pro.  $349 but it can be purchased as part of Creative Suite.

Avid Pro Tools*
An industry-standard, studio-grade audio editing tool. $699 for the base version.

Cogi*
Mobile app to record meetings, interviews. Records and sincs audio (from news conferences, for instance) with typing so you can find quotes easier. Allows for tags and annotations. Always recording so picks up the 15 secs before you turn on recording.  Enables recording calls, highlighting key parts of the conversation, and transcription.  Free. $5 for more features.

Evernote*
Access notes on any computer, tablet or phone. Search function lets you find a note in either text or audio format. Free for iOS and Android. For more options there is Evernote Plus $2.99 a month, while Premium is $5.80 per month.

Google Docs Voice Typing*
This free Google Docs tool under the drop-down menu for 'tools', (the 'voice typing’ icon) will transcribe your dictation or the audio you are playing in real time.

Hindenburg Journalist*
A multitrack audio editor designed for podcasters, audio producers and radio journalists. The design and features are tailored spoken-word productions. Set markers and add notes as you record interviews with uncompressed sound to give you the best audio quality. Drag any audio file into Hindenburg and start editing. There are some great features. However, there are also some limitations (read more here) which makes other options more attractive. Overpriced at $95 and $375 for the pro version.

iRig Handheld Mic*
A handheld microphone with a built-in headphone socket allowing users to monitor audio and control levels when paired with the iRig Recorder app. $69.99.

iRig Mic Studio*
Professional studio mic that comes with many adaptors including a lightning port plug so it will work with the iPhone 7 (which is it smaller than). Includes gain control, level indicator, and headphone output (with its own level control).  Tripod stand included. $129.99.

iRig Pre*
A preamp which allows you to plug your quality mic into an your iOS device. It takes an XLR input and turns it into a 3.5mm jack. A built in headphone socket allowing users to monitor audio when paired with the iRig Recorder app, which also gives audio control levels. Very simple to use. Uses 9-volt battery. $39.99. If you want better sound quality, and control, try the iRig Pro or even better theiRig Pro Duo.

iRig Pro Duo*
User can plug two XLR microphones into an iPhone through the lightning port. You and the person you are interviewing can be mic’ed with separate gains. A headphone port allows you to monitor the audio. Uses two AA batteries so it does not draw power from your iPhone. $199.95.

Libsyn*
Podcast Hosting Services. Starting at $5 a month.

Mixlr*
Live internet audio app. Share in social media, text with listeners, embed player on your website. Free.

Otto.ai*
Automated transcription app. A favorite among journalists. Turns a couple hours of audio into a reasonable written transcript often in a matter of minutes. Free..

Rev Voice Recorder*
Quality voice recorder and editor for both iPhone and Android. Includes Dropbox and Evernote integration. Free but voice-to-text human transcriptions in 12-hours for $1 a minute.

Rode i-XLR*
A broadcast quality XLR adaptor that lets you connect it to the lightning port of the iPhone. The cable is about 10 feet long in order to reach an interview subject. You can adjust the headphone volume but there is no preamp or gain control. $149.

Shotgun Mic*
Popular RodeVMGO Video Mic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone SuperCardiod. Lightweight directional microphone. Adaptor and extension cord needed as well for it to work with a iPhone 7.  $99.

Send Anywhere*
A free file transfer app (iOS and Android) for images, video, audio and text. Share up to 10GB per transfer, Your recipient uses an URL to access and download the files from the cloud.

SlideShare*
Popular resentation tool owned by LinkedIn. Use documents, PDFs and video to create webinars, audio presentations, for online lectures etc. Solid analytics for free. Watch a slide show about SlideShare here.

SoundCloud*
Post your audio here and then link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog. Limited space free, more for a fee.

Steller*
Create photo and video stories on an iPhone with an emphasis on mobile design. Create collections and share on social networks. Free. Sample.

Shure Mic for iOS*
Shure MV88 Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone for iOS. Stereo and mono options. Small and portable, it plugs directly into the iPhone’s Lightning Port. A 90-degree hinge allows you to adjust it to different angles to capture the best sound. Comes with an app that controls the gain, EQ, and stereo width. $129.

TapeACall*
Record cell phone calls and export the audio for editing, to email or upload to Google Drive or Dropbox. IoS and Android. Dial the TapeACall line, then dial the person you want to talk to, and merge the two calls into a conference. The recording is saved on the app. $24.99 a year. Watch a video here.

Temi*
Speech to text transcription in 5 minutes Advanced speech recognition software. 10 cents a minute.

Transom*
All things audio. A performance space, editorial session, an audition stage, a library, and a hangout. How to guides for podcast beginners.

VoiceBase*
Transcribes audio to text.

VideoMic ME*
Compact and lightweight, directional microphone for smartphones. Adaptor and extension cord needed.

Voice Record Pro*
Professional voice recorder that saves high quality WAV files. Available for both iOS and Android but more features in the iOS version including an automatic transcription tool. Record audio from events, voice memos and on-site sounds at unlimited length, add markers, share or upload. While it is not an audio editing app, you can trim the beginning and end of your recordings. Short tutorial here.An explanation for journalists here. Free though the paid version ($6.99) has no ads.

WeTransfer*
A file transfer service, Dropbox has more options for the price. WeTransfer is free for individual users, but $12 for companies needing more.

Zoom iQ7 Mic*
This compact condenser mic is portable. Can be set to record a source from the front with or without the surrounding ambiance from the sides. $99.

More audio tech tools here.

83 Audio Tech Tools

/

The list below includes links to a variety of audio tools—from podcasting helps to recording phone interviews, from microphones to audio editing software. Find more Tech Tools here and this list in particular here.

Ableton Live
Audio editing program especially for music.

Acast (formally Pippa)
A podcasting platform focused on ease of use. Doesn’t include some of the extras of other sites but low learning curve. Monthly fees from $12-50,

Acoustica
Audio editing program. Basic version is free and includes MP4 and AAC import and export filters.

Alitu
Edit podcasts. Automates things like editing out mistakes and silence, adding and fading music, etc. This also means there is a lack of control over some details of the process. Does not record the audio so your file must be uploaded. Online, no phone app. For those who want to focus on content rather than editing. Free trial then $28 a month.

Amadeus Pro
Multi-track recorder. Can pull audio off of videos. Includes options for cleaning up noisy audio. No mobile option but easy to use. $59.99

Anchor
An app for recording short-form audio snippets and podcasts. Similar to Alitu. Free but Anchor changed its terms of service to claim ownership of any material published on the site.

Audacity*
Audio editing software. Free and open source.

Audio Hijack*
Record video conferences on your Mac with this long-time favorite. It can record from designated applications, or simply record any system sound coming through your computer. Total Recorder does the same thing for Windows.

Audioboom
Podcast hosting service with monetization options. Starts at 9.99 a month.

AudioNote*
Searching for a section of audio corresponding to a note is easy to find.  The recording time is insertedat the beginning of each line oftext. $9.99.

Adobe Audition*
Audio editing program.  Formerly Cool Edit Pro.  $349 but it can be purchased as part of Creative Suite.

Avid Pro Tools*
An industry-standard, studio-grade audio editing tool. $699 for the base version.

BlogTalkRadio
Using phones, you can interview someone and it both streams and records downloadable MP3 of the interview.

Bobler (no longer available)
App for creating shareable audio packages of up to two minutes in length. Ad text, images and geo-tags. Use the app to search for audio uploads from a specific location. Not embeddable (as is audio uploaded on Soundcloud or Audioboo). 

Cast
All-in-one podcast solution: Record, edit, and publish. Great interfaces. No free account. Only works in Chrome. Starts at $10 per month.

Cogi*
Mobile app to record meetings, interviews. Records and sincs audio (from news conferences, for instance) with typing so you can find quotes easier. Allows for tags and annotations. Always recording so picks up the 15 secs before you turn on recording.  Enables recording calls, highlighting key parts of the conversation, and transcription.  Free. $5 for more features.

Deepgram
Transcrption service uses artificial intelligence to transcribe large audio files and allow users to search them using keywords. Free.

DivShare
Post your audio here link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog.

Dragon Anywhere
Voice to text app for iOS. Have to finish dictation before seeing the text. Free. 

Ecamm
App that records Skype and Facetime. It lets you convert your calls into MP3 files for podcasting or easily move the video to YouTube and Vimeo. Split the audio tracks after a call for easy editing. $39.95.

Evernote*
Access notes on any computer, tablet or phone. Search function lets you find a note in either text or audio format. Free for iOS and Android. For more options there is Evernote Plus $2.99 a month, while Premium is $5.80 per month.

Final Cut Pro
Video editing program from which you can rip the audio.

FL Studio
Digital audio workstation formally known as FruityLoops. Create multi-track music projects. Can be used for vocal projects as well. Bit of a learning curve. Starting at $99.

GarageBand
Intended for music editing. Only 5 minutes of audio can be edited.

Giant Squid Audio Lab Omnidirectional Mic*
Great quality sound but requires an adapter for it to work with a phone. $49.99.

Google Docs Voice Typing*
This free Google Docs tool under the drop-down menu for 'tools', (the 'voice typing’ icon) will transcribe your dictation or the audio you are playing in real time.

Google Voice
Your own phone number. Can be used to record interviews but sometimes not reliable and they have to call you. Free.

Hindenburg Journalist*
A multitrack audio editor designed for podcasters, audio producers and radio journalists. The design and features are tailored spoken-word productions. Set markers and add notes as you record interviews with uncompressed sound to give you the best audio quality. Drag any audio file into Hindenburg and start editing. There are some great features. However, there are also some limitations (read more here) which makes other options more attractive. Overpriced at $95 and $375 for the pro version.

Horrorli
Background horror noise generator.

Hokusai
iOS audio editing app for interviews, podcasts, or voiceovers. Can import clips from other applications and export directly to Dropbox and iTunes. Free.

iAudition (no longer available)
Record high quality audio using external mic for better quality. Includes easy-to-use single-track audio editor. Export audio file as as MP3 or WAV. Free.

iRig Handheld Mic*
A handheld microphone with a built-in headphone socket allowing users to monitor audio and control levels when paired with the iRig Recorder app. $59.99.

iRig Mic Studio*
Professional studio mic that comes with many adaptors including a lightning port plug so it will work with the iPhone 7 (which is it smaller than). Includes gain control, level indicator, and headphone output (with its own level control).  Tripod stand included. $179.

iRig Pre*
A preamp which allows you to plug your quality mic into an your iOS device. It takes an XLR input and turns it into a 3.5mm jack. A built in headphone socket allowing users to monitor audio when paired with the iRig Recorder app, which also gives audio control levels. Very simple to use. Uses 9-volt battery. $39.99. If you want better sound quality, and control, try the iRig Pro or even better theiRig Pro Duo.

iRig Pro Duo*
User can plug two XLR microphones into an iPhone through the lightning port. You and the person you are interviewing can be mic’ed with separate gains. A headphone port allows you to monitor the audio. Uses two AA batteries so it does not draw power from your iPhone. $199.95

Keep Vid
Post your audio here and then link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog.

Krisp
App that reduces noise on both ends of a phone call on your phone or when recording audio. There’s a free version.

Launchpad
This Novation creation allows users to make and remix music on the go. Simple enough for non-musicians to use. The Launchpad Mini is a smaller and much less expensive version and the Launchpad Pro is more sophisticated. $299.

Libsyn*
Podcast Hosting Services. Starting at $5 a month.

Listen Notes
Podcast search engine.

Logic Pro
Audio editing program, especially music.

Loopback
Rogue Amoeba’s Loopback 2 will rout any audio on your computer from one application to another. For instance, take the output from audio playing in Safari and record it with QuickTime. Or on a podcast, you can play background music or snippets so everyone (or only you) hears it. And many more options. Easy-to-use but only for Macs. The Windows alternative would be VoiceMeeter. Pricey but meant for professionals. $99.

Miro
Post your audio here and then link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog.

MixCraft
Audio editing program, especially music. $75.

Mixlr*
Live internet audio app. Share in social media, text with listeners, embed player on your website. Free.

Mp3DirectCut
Audio editing program.

MP3Gain
Audio editing program designed to normalise MP3 files so that they all have the same loudness in a more effective way than other programs.

MP3 Quailty Modifier
Audio editing program to adjust the quality of your MP3 files so you can save disk space.

Music Editor Free
Free audio editing program. You'll need a converter since it can only save WAV files.

Ocenaudio
Simple audio editor made for users who do not need all the options offered by Audacity free. 

oTranscribe
Transcribe recorded interviews.

pCloud Transfer
Like WeTransfer, quickly transfer files up to 5GB. No account required. Free.

Podomatic
Podcasting made easy. Some users have said it rather clunky.

Reaper
Audio Editing program. $225 full commercial license. $60 for discounted license.

RecordiaPro
Record your incoming and outgoing phone conversations on any phone without needing equipment.  Works for interviews.

Recup (formally DropVox)
Records audio and sends it directly to your Dropbox account. $1.99.

Rev Voice Recorder*
Quality voice recorder and editor for both iPhone and Android. Includes Dropbox and Evernote integration. Free but voice-to-text human transcriptions in 12-hours for $1 a minute.

Ringr
App to record conversations on your phone for podcasts and interviews. Guests receive an email and just click a link to join the call. Uploads separate files to the cloud, then syncs them to avoid long distance glitches. Unlimited calls, storage. Both iOS and Android apps. $8 basic plan has some limitations. Premium plan includes conference calling, better sound quality, and split tracks. 

Rode i-XLR*
A broadcast quality XLR adaptor that lets you connect it to the lightning port of the iPhone. The cable is about 10 feet long in order to reach an interview subject. You can adjust the headphone volume but there is no preamp or gain control. $149.

Shotgun Mic*
Popular RodeVMGO Video Mic GO Lightweight On-Camera Microphone SuperCardiod. Lightweight directional microphone. Adaptor and extension cord needed as well for it to work with a iPhone 7.  $99.

SlideShare*
Popular resentation tool owned by LinkedIn. Use documents, PDFs and video to create webinars, audio presentations, for online lectures etc. Solid analytics for free. Watch a slide show about SlideShare here.

Smart Voice Recorder
Android recording app. Good for memos and group meetings. Decent audio quality. Allows users to skip silences, test the mic, determine where recordings are saved, etc. Free.

SoundCite
A project of Northwestern University's Knight Lab, it lets users embed audio into posts. So, for instance if you write "..thick, one-note guitar riffs shuffle and stomp with a heavy beat" you can make it so that when someone clicks on "thick, one-note guitar riffs" they will hear a short example. Watch a video explanation here.

SoundCloud*
Post your audio here and then link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog. Limited space free, more for a fee.

SoundForge
Free. Audio editing program. Especially for music.

SoundGecko (no longer available)
Convert text story into an MP3 audio file.

SoundSlides (no longer available)
Creates audio slideshows. Basic $40, Plus $70. There's a free version but it will display "demo" at the beginning. resizes your images for you, can reorder them, etc. but doesn't edit photos.

Steller*
Create photo and video stories on an iPhone with an emphasis on mobile design. Create collections and share on social networks. Free. Sample.

Shure Mic for iOS*
Shure MV88 Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone for iOS. Stereo and mono options. Small and portable, it plugs directly into the iPhone’s Lightning Port. A 90-degree hinge allows you to adjust it to different angles to capture the best sound. Comes with an app that controls the gain, EQ, and stereo width. $129.

TapeACall*
Record cell phone calls and export the audio for editing, to email or upload to Google Drive or Dropbox. IoS and Android. Dial the TapeACall line, then dial the person you want to talk to, and merge the two calls into a conference. The recording is saved on the app. $24.99 a year. Watch a video here.

TalkShoe
For call-in podcasts. Samples.

Temi*
Speech to text transcription in 5 minutes Advanced speech recognition software. 10 cents a minute.

TinyVox (no longer available)
Allows users to record, store, listen and share MP3 audio files in social media. Can be used to record interviews as well.

TLDR
A scientific search engine that generates one-sentence summaries of research papers.

Total Recorder
Record video conferences on your PC with this long-time favorite. It can record from designated applications, or simply record any system sound coming through your computer. Audio Hijack does the same thing for Mac.

Transom*
All things audio. A performance space, editorial session, an audition stage, a library, and a hangout. How to guides for podcast beginners.

TwistedWave
Audio editing program (Mac only). $80.

VoiceBase*
Transcribes audio to text.

VoiceMeeter
Rout any audio on your Windows computer from one application to another. The Macs alterntive is Loopback.

VideoMic ME*
Compact and lightweight, directional microphone for smartphones. Adaptor and extension cord needed.

Voice Record Pro*
Professional voice recorder. Record audio from events, voice memos and on-site sounds at unlimited length, add markers, share or upload. Will transcribe the audio into text if there’s little background noise. iOS. Free though the paid version ($6.99) has no ads. An explanation for journalists here.

WavePad 
Free audio editing program.

WaveShop
Free audio editing program.  Bit-perfect, minimizing the loss of quality by altering files only when absolutely necessary.

Wavosaur
Free Audio editing program.

WeTransfer*
A file transfer service, Dropbox has more options for the price. WeTransfer is free for individual users, but $12 for companies needing more.

Zamzar
Video and audio file converter.

Zencastr
For recording podcasts. The interviewee doesn’t need to download and install an app, they can just click on a link, and run it in a browser. No editing, hosting, and publishing, however. Limited free version or $20 a month for the pro version.

Zoom iQ7 Mic*
This compact condenser mic is portable. Can be set to record a source from the front with or without the surrounding ambiance from the sides. $99.