Wanting to get reinstated.
Please help me figure out what I am doing wrong. This is the sample that I originally submitted that got me accepted into Voice Bunny world. I have an AudioTechnica 2020 USB mic. Thanks for your help.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hsb56krvvkykg8q/Sandra%20Parker%20VB%20Application%20sample.wav?dl=0
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i think it sounded great
Hi Sandra
Thanks for sharing. Let me give you my comments here.
There's a lot of room echo as well as hiss noise. The room echo is clearly coming from the space, however, I believe the hiss noise is coming from the microphone. Keep in mind that USB mics are not ideal for professional voice over applications. This is because USB microphones usually have low quality preamplifiers and AD/DA converters to keep the mics in the lower price range. This is not ideal for professional voice overs as the AD/DA conversion is one of the most important parts of the recording process. There are high-end studios that would even have a separate AD/DA converter just to make sure they're not adding unnecessary noise or degrading the quality in the conversion stage.
I can also pick up a lot of plosives and mouth noises. To reduce this, please use a pop filter when recording and try to locate yourself a bit farther from the mic's capsule. This will definitely allow you to reduce any extra noises and wind pops that may be created when you speak too near to the microphone.
What I would suggest is to get an interface and an XLR microphone. The AT2020 has an XLR version and I think it's a good microphone. However, you should also see if it's the best one for your voice as I also sensed your voice is sounding a bit thin and nasal due to the capsule. This is more perception of mine, but I would totally recommend you to review which mics you can get.
To learn more about microphones and about what I just mentioned, I invite you to take a look at our webinar recap on Microphones. There's no video of it, but you can read all the details we covered in it. You can find it here: https://help.bunnyinc.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/205414030-Microphone-101
Hope this helped!
Thank you, Angela, for your comments. I have put more sound-proofing material in my recording space and have hooked up my new Rode NT1-A with pop filter. I am using the Blue Icicle pre-amp, and am experimenting with different levels to address the hiss issues. Please listen to this sample which is from an audiobook that I am working on. Thanks again for your help.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1t35rrmivxjod93/Facing%20your%20demons.wav?dl=0
Hi Sandra
Did you add a noise reduction plugin? The recording sounds quite filtered which is not ideal as it degrades the overall quality a lot. Can you please bypass it and share the recording using the new mic?
Keep in mind that the Icicle is not ideal for professional voice over recordings. The Icicle is designed more for podcast recordings, online streaming (i.e. Twitch) and quick scratch takes, but it doesn't have very top notch AD/DA converters and connections which increases the noise floor a bit.
Hi, Angela.
I did use the noise reduction plug in on that recording. This link is to one without the filter. Thank you for your help and input.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fwsaxk6t70ujiw8/Alpha%20Farm%20sample.wav?dl=0
Hi Sandra
Thanks for sharing!
As I feared, the Icicle may be adding a lot of hiss to your recording. The noise is way too loud and present in the recording. You can pick it up at the beginning of the file right before you speak and it keeps stable once your voice kicks in.
The Icicle, as I mentioned, is not designed for professional voice over recordings. The components are not of the highest quality as it is meant for other type of applications where very high fidelity is not necessary. I'm sorry for the inconveniences presented!
Thanks, Angela.
I have order a new Scarlett that should be delivered tomorrow. I will send you a new link when I get it all set up.
Hi, Angela.
I have my new Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface. Please listen to this sample which is from a weekly Bible study podcast.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x7hrsetntmr2rjv/Bible%20Study%20podcast.wav?dl=0
Thank you,
Sandra
Hi Sandra!
The recording does indeed sound much better and hiss free, however, it still sounds over processed. Can you please share a 100% raw file?
Hello, Angela.
This file is 100% raw.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fwsaxk6t70ujiw8/Alpha%20Farm%20sample.wav?dl=0
Hi Sandra,
On this last recording you can hear the computer fan on the background. Can you move farther away and reposition the mic in order to reduce the amount of noise leaking in? How close are you to the computer?
Best,
Juan.
Hi, Juan.
My mic is about 12" from my computer. I usually de-amplify the spaces between speaking, but did not in the previous sample that I sent. Here is the same sample, cleaned up as I would normally do it before submission. I use the amplify filter, set to -75% .
Thank you for all of your help!
Sandra
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vqjz0b2xdfvgnqi/Alpha%20Farm%20sample%20with%20de-amplify.wav?dl=0
Hi Sandra
Thanks for sharing!
The de-amplify plugin is degrading the quality of the recording a bit as it makes the voice sound filtered. I do prefer the original sound from the raw take even though I believe it does need some extra tweaks.
First of all, the fan noise is, indeed, quite present. What if you change the mic's positioning? If it's complicated for you to position yourself farther from the computer, maybe you could try changing the position of the microphone so that it rejects this noise much better.
How are you treating the space? Or what are you using to reduce the noises?
My space is a 3’x5’ closet. I have heavy blankets hanging floor to ceiling in front of and behind my station. I have a blanket over the ceiling. The door is a solid wooden door with a heavy black out curtain in front of it.
I agree with you that the noise is coming from the computer, but am not sure how to fix this. I will experiment with a few things, like the mic as far from the computer as possible. I will try putting a small pillow or towel over the computer.
I will send a new sample after a few more trys.
Thanks so much!
Sandra
Hello! I have moved my mic as far from my computer as possible. Please let me know what you think of this audition.
Your struggling Bunny Pro,
Sandra
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5953l7qmqca6b80/Sandra%20Parker%20Educational%20Female.wav?dl=0
Hi Sandra!
Thank you for sharing.
The noise is still quite present but I believe this time it's because of some processing you're adding. Please, make sure you bypass all processes, or use a higher threshold on your compressor to avoid the take to be as compressed as it is now. This will ensure the quality is as clean as possible!
Also, please know I have reinstated your account right away. Please remove the 2 samples you have in your profile and add new ones with the new settings we just worked on. This will for sure be approved and you can start working as of now!
I know there are still some tweaks here and there to make, but you have come a long way and I know that your responsiveness and hard work to get where we are now will help you improve more and more as we go.
Hi Angela!
Thank you so very much for your help. I will work on everything that you have explained and perfect my skill.
Yours truly,
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
I've listened to your first and last sample and the improvement is outstanding!
I feel it's still a bit over-compressed or maybe the compressor settings are not correct as sometimes compression brings out some noises/mouth noises as well (for example at 0:22). That's very easily fixable though, try dialing back the threshold on the compressor and editing mouth noises in between sentences. Aside from that, it's good to go!
Hope that helps!
Hi, Sebastian.
Thank you for your words of encouragement. I am not applying any processing, so I'm not sure what to do about the compressor settings. Also, I have deleted the samples and now don't remember which ones I had uploaded. (what a ditz!) To edit mouth noises I have been using the applify plug-in, setting it to -75%. I have noticed that when I normalize, then the mouth noises are much louder and more noticeable. My DAW is Audacity.
I will upload a new sample for your consideration.
This has been very helpful! Thank you!!
I have just uploaded a new demo for your consideration. Thank you for all of your help!
Sandra
Baby Bunny Pro
Hi Sandra!
Can you please share the link to the file to take a listen?
Best,
Juan.
HI, Juan!
Sure thing. I am sending you a few.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5ajvnq54sj48bvl/Sandra%20Parker%20spotify.wav?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/55yfojsxxwoglca/Sandra%20Parker%20colorguard.wav?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vlgjqclq44j8rjp/Sandra%20Parker%20Susan%20Anderson.wav?dl=0
I moved my computer outside of my recording room. These recordings have only been normalized and cleaned a bit. No compression, noise reduction or any other processing was done. I look forward to your comments.
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for your audios. A couple of comments. In general there is still room echo in your recording. With a bit of noise in the background, the cuts and edits are noticeable throughout the audio. Also, there are some plosives and editing clicks here and there (0:03, 0:22, 0:41).
I think the next step would be to try to improve the acoustics to get rid of that ambiance and achieve a more present recording of your voice.
Best,
Juan
Hi, Juan.
Thanks for your comments. I agree with the plosives and edit clicks in the first link (spotify). However, I did not hear those same problems in the other two links that I sent you. Could you please comment on them?
I will continue to try to improve the acoustics.
Thanks,
Sandra
Please comment on this link. I have read the post about acoustic help and have tried a few more things to my recording space to eliminate the room echo. Thank you for your feedback. It is very much appreciated!
Sandra
https://www.dropbox.com/s/aq2v9gprmzmv4zs/heavy%20and%20light.wav?dl=0
Hello Sandra!
There is some distortion in this new audio, you can hear it clearly in "now your turn", 0:16. Where is this distortion generating? In what stage of the recording process? Also, the recording is a bit noisy, it has some mouth noises, and other clicks.
Best,
Juan
Hi, Juan!
Thanks for your feedback. Please listen to this audio that I created today.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/x7hrsetntmr2rjv/Bible%20Study%20podcast.wav?dl=0
Thanks so much!
Sandra
Hi Sandra!
Thanks for sharing. Earlier today I commented on another post you shared in the space. I believe the comments apply to this last recording (The Bible Study Podcast) recording.
There's a slapback echo that makes your voice sound with an effect. I'd suggest you to check the surfaces you have around you. Also, let us know if you're adding any processing :)