Frank Metzger Asked:

> 1. Is there a handy piece of software that I can use to edit either
> WAV or RM (real media) files (for example - of musical snuff box
> tunes) that I am putting on my web page?  I guess I want to 'tweak'
> sound levels as well as take out some extraneous 'noise' (primarily
> mechanical whirring) that is overemphasized in the recording
> process.

I can recommend DC-ART for this.  It was written for restoration of
78-RPM records, so has some filtering and noise reduction capabilities
as well as editing tools.  As far as I know it will run in any Windows
machine with a 100 MHz or faster clock, although the faster the better.
It's sold by Tracer Technologies, price is around $200.  Phone
888-887-2237 or web site: http://www.enhancedaudio.com/ .

I've been playing with this software for about 6 months, cleaning up my
scratchy 78's, and I love it.

> 2. Including the effects of iteration, do you think it is better
> to record directly into the computer (Win 98 Sound recorder) or
> to record on a digital Sony minidisk and then transfer the recording
> to the computer?

Any iterative process that requires translation from analog to digital
and back again is bound to incur some degradation.  I'd record directly
into the computer.  DC-ART generates 16-bit 44.1 kHz WAV files, mono or
stereo.  Do your recording and manipulation in this format, then
convert/compress the files to whatever final form you like.

John Ward