New Submissions/Old Rejected
I'm not sure why my previous submissions were rejected, but I'm guessing because they had background tracks that were not supplemented with raw samples as well. Angela, please check these and let me know if these are up to par. Thanks!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ferxaw9eycq99l6/AAB9F8cw9qqRf_8sTtx6RFjxa?dl=0
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Hi Bowdy!
Thank you for your so enormous and awesome patience! I'm sorry it took me a while to get back to you here.
So I checked 3 files from the ones shared. Let me share my comments:
Microchamps 441: The voice has a lot of hiss and there're some background noises, like a computer's fan I could imagine. it also sounds has a slapback echo that is also impacting the voice a bit. I also noticed from this clip that, if you haven't checked out your other samples, you wouldn't know which voice is yours. As there are 2 voices in the clip, with 2 different quality standards and performances, it's challenging to determine who is you. Also, the editing of the conversation is a little unnatural. Sometimes the clips overal a bit and it can get overwhelming. I would use this as a sample as it is. If you want to use this script, I would take the other person's voice off and only leave yours. There are also some editing clips here at the beginning.
Skype 1 and Rumble Final sound super distorted to me. The overall volume of the clips is way too loud and I honestly couldn't go over the full clips because of this :( In Rumble Final, to me the music is a bit on top of your voice which distracts me from your performance. The voice here sounds very sibilant, but this could be because the mastering or the mixing process with the song boosted the high-frequencies as it does sound very brigh overall.
In Skype 1 the voice has a lot of room echo here. Like the slapback from Microchamps but a bit more prominent and, the same bright nature of Rumble final but to a lower extent.
I would say that the main issue would be about acoustic treatment and cleaning of the clips. The less processing you have to add to achieve a clean recording, the better! you could check the space you're recording in and move things around a bit. Add some blankets, or maybe get some extra absorbent material for areas that may be uncovered right now. If you're recording in the same room as your computer, you may want to get as far away as possible and try to cover it to avoid the fan's noise to get in your mic. I have a desktop computer and I have liquid refrigeration which keeps my comp super silent! this could be another option for you? These are all guesses as I haven't been to your space, but these all could help you find where you could improve. I invite you to check our webinar on acoustic treatment. We went a bit more in depth on the problem and you could find some insights or suggestions you can use: https://help.bunnyinc.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115000007524-Acoustics-101
Hope this helped and sorry for the lengthy response!
Thanks for the notes. The Skype recording was the final recording which was aired internationally. I've kept the volume of all of these below -3db per the upload spec requests.
Regarding Rumble Final, it is all raw, except for the music which has it's own settings, so I think if I reduce that music it should clear up the issues. Should I reduce even further below -3.7db (its max) you think? The hiss sound you're finding to be loud for you could be coming from speaking too close to the mic. DeEsser isn't doing much and EQ won't do any good.
I personally would suggest you share them without the music. For samples in our system, it's much better for them to be clean files where your voice can be heard perfectly.
What about you share with me just the voice clips? This way, I'll be able to give you further guidance.
Let me know!
Hi Angela, here is a new link: Please check these. I have stripped my VB account's samples down to just these samples attached. I have fixed most of the issues you mentioned, except I have chosen to leave music in for Rumble Jar & Skype. Rumble Jar is raw + its music background, which I also created, and Skype is the only format I have, which is as it went out internationally. The rest are also raw, and with no music. Please review so I can get you to re-activate my account so I can be eligible for jobs again. Thanks!
Files: Microchamps, Ready Player One, Rumble Jar, Siddhartha, Skype, The Te of Piglet, Yosemite.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ferxaw9eycq99l6/AAB9F8cw9qqRf_8sTtx6RFjxa?dl=0
Hi Bowdy
Thank you for sharing! Let me go ahead and give you general comments on the recordings.
First of all, the voice has a slapback echo giving your voice a boxy and thin sound. This gives the impression as if you were recording in a small space that may not be acoustically treated correctly. Also, the recording has a lot of plosives which could be cause by recording too near to the mic's capsule of without a pop filter.
I can also pick up a lot of hiss noise in the recording. This could be either coming from the equipment or the space so I suggest you review both!
Also, the recordings have very different levels. For example, Piglet and Ready Player One have very different levels. Piglet sounds a bit too low and Ready Player One has excess gain same like Siddharta.
Can you let us know how you're recording? Which equipment you have (mic, interface, preamp, etc.) and how you have your studio setup in regards to acoustics.
Hi Angela, thanks for the quick response. First I'd like to note that I realized that my bounce settings were off, causing these to vary in level. So that should be fixed. I have updated all of the tracks in the link below.
I am using a Duet as my interface with a Sterling Audio ST 170 mic with a pop-filter. The space is a large walk-in closet (10x8) converted to audio booth with 4 corners of trapping insulation and 3 sides of audio insulation around the mic. Sometimes the computer can contribute to a grey sound in the background, but that's not what you're hearing, that's likely just environment sound or something I'm not aware of. I think.
Folder -> 2.21 Updates: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ferxaw9eycq99l6/AAB9F8cw9qqRf_8sTtx6RFjxa?dl=0
Thoughts on the tracks & space?
Hi Bowdy
The issues are the same in the files. I believe you re-exported the files instead of re-recording them. The gain inconsistency is still present. I believe this is not from the exporting but from the recording itself as, for example, Siddharta has much more plosives and mouth noises than Ready Player One. Yosemite also has a lot of mouth noises and plosives but not to the same extent as Siddharta.
I believe most of the problems here are caused by the space. I would highly suggest reviewing your mic positioning as well as the treatment you're giving it. I believe that the padding around the mic is not being enough. What about you try hanging some heavy blankets on the walls and placing a carpet below you? It could help while you determine which is the surface that is creating the extra reflections and slapback.
Hope this helps
Hi Angela. They should have at least sounded more stable in gain than the first batch, but I guess you're talking about inconsistency in gain between tracks - you want continuity between samples, I presume. Before I re-record all of them, I want you to listen to this new test of Siddhartha. I have dramatically changed my booth to take account for all measures.
Any tips after listening to this?: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/q4onb09wqjs7tn0/AAAPh6DS5PwlCGcBP7vTUBRCa?dl=0
Thanks!
Also, I have a very naturally projective voice in the low and mid-range, and more heady in the high, so often times distance from mic can vary within a given script.
Hi Bowdy
There's a lot of background noise and hiss as well as a lot of plosives. I believe you're recording way too near to the capsule. Please reposition the pop filter. It's the same hiss I mentioned before. As you're using good equipment, this hiss could be coming directly from the space. I really suggest you review how you're positioning yourself and the mic within the space and maybe analyze the possibility of making some material changes.
Hope this helps!
Hi Angela, ok check this test from today in dropbox. I distanced from the capsule and made some adjustments. The pop filter has always been positioned correctly but the frontal range of the mic was sensitive, so I adjusted that a bit and am recording into the side of it facing the diaphragm which seems to make a difference. In terms of line noise, I made the acoustics better in the room and have some new XLR cables on the way just in case that's an issue, but this is as good as I can get it for now it seems.
Also, would like to note that when I went to check other Voice Bunny artist's samples out, it is obvious that many are using a noise-gate to kill their line noise, which goes against the instructions to have it 'raw'. Some without noise-gates have a similar sound to this recording of mine below. Hopefully this is close, as I'd like to get samples up and activated. For samples in which I cannot re-record that were already produced fully, like Rumble Jar, and Skype, I hope those are eligible, but will re-record the other samples.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/anctwfhevc47kiv/AAD9Njn-OYB5SWt5uCespBI1a?dl=0
Hey Bowdy!
I think it sounds much better. There are still some bright spots, you may want to add a de-esser to control the extra energy. Also there are some slight plosives: 0:02, 0:12, which makes me think that you may want to increase the distance between you and/or the pop filter and mic.
Are you adding any processing to the chain?
Best,
Juan.
Hi Juan, I can push the mic further into the main shield area. My voice is projective so the pop-filter has always been slightly less effective than for others because of that.
No processing right now, just raw.
Here is a non-invasive deEsser on the sample: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bcndxgv2qdb2wum/AAAagK8DA7B7GKgtK7G3s4NHa?dl=0
Aren't VoiceBunny samples supposed to be raw with no post-production?
What are some next steps to get my account reactivated?
Thanks, B
Hi Bowdy
By the highest extent we really do prefer the recordings to be 100% free of post production. This is because most processes are too invasive and can damage the recording when not used correctly. However, there are cases like yours where just a simple de-esser can help a lot. For this, we could recommend it but it's not actually the rule but the exception.
Form my side, I still hear the sibilance and plosives Juan mentioned as well as some hiss. I do still believe the gain is too high on the interface so I'd recommend lowering it a bit. This could also be helping to the sibilance that's being picked up. What about you try setting it up at 3 o clock?
Angela, do you mean set the mic up facing 3 o clock? If so, that's what I'm already doing as I mentioned a couple comments ago.
I think this is the winner. Let me know what you think:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/woj03llcjmsdb7w/AAAHlT4vX0NKRNXhMsSk_sxpa?dl=0
There is one there with no DeEsser or additional gain, one with DeEsser only, and one with both.
Hi Bowdy!
Thanks for your audio, I think it sounds very good. Only thing would be to add a little more distance between the mic and the pop filter to control some plosives. Besides that, performance wise, I suggest you try a more natural and conversational tone. Some parts sound kind of rushed. Try to find a nice rhythm to engage the listeners more.
I think you have a great voice!
Best,
Juan.
Hey Juan. Thanks for the compliment :) Totally get you on the performance side. For these sample tests I'm trying to get the quality right. Once I get the OK, then I'll re-record the samples that I can with the best performances possible.
Here is another test for you guys. What are the steps to getting my page back up and running? I still want to showcase professional examples that were okayed and internationally aired by companies like Skype, to have as samples of capabilities. I can re-record a slew of them, but not all of them.
Let me know thoughts on this one -> https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ug8d6rd0rclejvc/AADTwgNua0X9vc6FXrm0Ce2Ga?dl=0
Thanks!
Bowdy
Two files there in that link above. One is low input, closer to mic, the other is probably less plosive to your ear, with normal input, further away from the mic.
Hi Bowdy!
The 3.15 Test 2 one sounds much better! There are still plosives so I do think you should record a bit farther away and use a bit less gain. If you're compressing, toss it away for good :)
As per the previously produced samples, please refrain from reuploading them. If they are the ones you already uploaded and were rejected, it means that they don't match our standards considering what we need to offer the client from the samples. The samples should showcase your voice and the quality you're able to provide to the client once they Book you, so samples that are produced and are limited for TV use, for example, will not work for VoiceBunny.
I highly suggest you record new ones under the conditions we have checked here and that you will be able to replicate if you receive a Booking from a client. Reuploading samples that have been already rejected may result in further rejections and the deactivation of your profile again. We wouldn't want that in any way
So! I have reactivated your profile as of now because of the quality of the samples you've shared here. Please, please, replace your samples with newly recorded ones under these conditions! Any previous one that we have already said no to, it's better not to reupload! :)