How do I make an audio recording sound like old-time radio?

Question

I want to make an audio recording sound like it's coming through an old, old radio. Can anyone recommend a good program/effect/method?

Essentially, I'd like to record a sound-bite, then put a filter on it that makes it sound like the original broadcast of Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" broadcast.

Answer 1

Slowly crunch a bag of chips next to the microphone.

Answer 2

You dont

Answer 3

if the above does'nt work for you....try playing the audio back through a megaphone......it should get you close....

Answer 4

the easiest way for you to do it is run it through a home studio board such as the BOSS 1600 or similar which actually HAS a setting for such an effect!...No lie.(I have one)....Check around with any local announcers in your town of who might be working with a board like that....also ask the stations in your area if they have a unit with such effects(they might,if they're customer friendly, run it through for you)...or if you're chummy with someone at an electronics outlet selling such units, see if they'll run it through for you...you'll have to go through an effects generator regardless, from some source.....most late model mixers/boards have effects that might get you 'close' to what you need-but not a bullseye....Also, again,check with local radio stations to see if they have such an effect on their sound effects library..that way you could record it over and over(most sfx run under :60sec usually)to play "behind" your track..that may fit,but won't give you the l00% effect you need...  Hope I've helped. good luck!! (most people selling these boards don't even know what effects on them,so you'll have to check the manuals--but I know for a fact the BOSS units have the effect)

Answer 5

if u have garageband, try to first record and then switch the sound to telephone wire

if not, set ur tv so it has static, and just record that sound for the background.  

Answer 6

Old time audio signals lacked bass and treble.  You need to filter out everything below about 150 Hz and everything above about 5KHz.  Experiment with it to get what you want.

Answer 7

Throw the sound balance right out to one speaker. It was all mono-sound until the late 60s.

Then cut the treble down to cut out the higher frequencies. Drop the bass but not too much. Its close.

You can also try recording directly from the speaker through some heavy material as well. (microphone next to the speaker and not in-line.