Feedback Please
Hello,
Recently I was deactivated for sound quality reasons. I love working with VoiceBunny and I'm trying to get things set up to your specifications again. This link goes to a file with four different snippets of the same text, with varying differences in sound. Can you please tell me which if any of these is acceptable for your quality standards? First, second, third or fourth, and if none, then what can I do to fix it further?
Thank you so much for your time.
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Hi Jason!
Thank you for sharing.
I listened to all the snippets. However, none of them matches our quality standards.
All of them have a very high level of hiss noise that is consistent throughout the recording. The only exception of this would be #3 which has the silent sections edited making the hiss to be noticeable when you're speaking and right before snippet #4 plays.
Also, #3 and #4 have a lot of sibilance and some distortion due to overcompression.
I would say the problem is coming from a combination of inappropriate acoustic treatment and issues with your microphone. Which microphone are you using to record? I believe the mic is making your voice sounds metallic and thin.
Let me know!
Hi Angela,
I'm not sure what is getting lost in the transfer from here to there. I deliver many many files per month to numerous clients who use my files for training, broadcast, etc...and continue to come back with no issues at all with the sound. Honestly, the third snippet is the one that I thought you would like it has zero equalization. The fourth snippet is the one that I have used continuously to garner 70 client favorites, 133 bookings and a feedback rating over 4.9. in just the few months I've been working with you. (I'm sure you can see my stats) I've been averaging well over $1k per month the last couple of months, so it saddens me that there is some sort of glitch between here and there. The sound is perfect coming from my speakers. I'm working out of an acoustically treated whisperroom recording booth, using a Neuman TLM 103 microphone which creates national broadcast quality sound. I'm truly confused by your description of what you're hearing. At this point there is nothing else I can do. Can you download and email me a file of what you are hearing?
Can you please give a listen to the two samples in this link and provide feedback? test_4 is actually using a different mic than test_3.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gtjz7q06z7apr2l/AACG9qpxW2VZjk56VLiMVkC-a?dl=0
Hi Jason
Thank you for sharing the new files.
Can you let us know which preamplifier and interface you're using? Both recordings, despite being different microphones, have very similar issues so I don't think it's the microphone anymore. If you can share with us the specs of your gear it may be easier for us to pick up where the problem could be coming from.
This could also be a result of incorrect processing. Can you try to share the files without any processing at all? No gate, no EQ or compression? Just regular editing. This way we could also see where could things be going wrong.
I'd also like to mention that treating a space doesn't always mean it's treated properly for the problems it may have. Sometimes, very absoprtive spaces can causes boxiness, for example. You could try positioning your mic differently in your space or review which materials you're using to isolate your cabin. Sometimes, switching the microphones polar pattern or just moving to face towards another direction can make the sound to change a lot.
Hope this helps!
Hi Angela,
I'm using a WARM Audio WA12 Discrete Mic Preamplifier with a Focusrite saffire 6 USB interface. I have uploaded a file labeled "No Effect" This is straight from the mic to the digital audio editor (Adobe Audition C6). No gate, no compression, no equalization etc. There is another file called "Test 6" which I set a floor level, gated to just get rid of room noise, and then carried on with my editing. Please let me know if you hear any unwanted noise in "Test 6".
Thank you so much for your time. I know that this will not only help my here, but in my other business as well, and I appreciate it.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gdn3twzj998sr3t/AAC5MBnt-aln0a7Xw-CbCkJZa?dl=0
Hi Angela,
Actually, I just had a phone conversation with my guy that helps with sound. Please check out Test_7 in the above link. I think we might finally have it with that one.
Hi Jason
The file Test 7 sounds still quite boxy and there's a bit of room echo as well. It's also a bit over compressed or filtered, so I would say the problem could be with the space you're recording in. The booth could be too small or not isolated properly. As mentioned above, a space may be acoustically treated, but it could not be treated appropriately for some applications. Have you tried recording outside of the booth and checking how the voice sounds? It could include some hiss or background noises, but the voice should sound a bit clearer in regards to frequency response.
I'm sorry for the inconveniences here!
Did you listen to Test file 6? This is increasingly difficult when we can only exchange one message per day. Can you share with me a file from somebody that does meet your qualifications so that I can hear the difference?
Just kidding. Don't listen to test file 6. :-) I think I've discovered the problem. I had placed an aluminum rack in my recording booth to hold the laptop. We've discovered that "booming" noise was a product of that...we think. Please listen to test files 8 and 9 and tell me if either of those are hitting the mark. If not, we are stumped. Thank you again for your time, and great ear.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bke8dv3fzhs3gb1/AABMFpj1LGxuoxkcChY0AJE5a?dl=0
Hi Jason!
To me, Test 9 sounds so much better! It really does. It's a little bit sibilant though. Would you mind adding a de-esser to your processing chain? Also, I'd take the compressor down a notch. I'll ask our QC manager to give it a listen and give you his thoughts!
Hi Angela,
That's great news! Here is the same file with a de-esser added.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gc9sc7932zubzop/test_10.wav?dl=0
Hey Jason!
Thanks for you audios.
I think the compressor is not helping. You can hear it at the end of the sentence: e.g history, help, delivereD, stateS, how it's lifting undesired parts of the audio. It's also lifting the noise floor and there are no transients. It's also affecting the frequency spectrum, so it's quite bright and aggressive on the ear.
I suggest you avoid using the compressor for now, and try raising the volume through gain or automatization and let's see how it goes.
Best,
Juan
Juan/Angela,
This will be my final attempt. The file at this link has two takes. The first take is with zero compression, zero equalization and gate only...and in my opinion sounds terrible. The second take has a very slight amount of equalization and compression and is what I would be comfortable producing. Do either of these takes meet your qualifications?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/utoll0t29wq2xr0/Test_15.wav?dl=0