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Would love feedback on rejected audition and revision

  • Angela Serrano #830202147
      1

    Hi Chris

    Thanks for sharing!

    I am going to focus on the revised file so the feedback is a more accurate to what you are actually producing.

    First of all, the take is quite boomy and, on top of that it also sounds as if it was filtered as it now sounds quite nasal as well. How are you processing the file? I believe it's doing more harm than good :(

    I can also pick up several plosives that are impacting the overall recording. This is usually caused because you're recording too near to the mic. I suggest you get a pop filter and adjust the distance you have it from your mic.

    There's some hiss as well in the background. You can pick it up more clearly at the beginning of the file and, if my guess is correct, you're attempting to use a noise reduction filter to take it off. It does more or less of a good job, but it's filtering out some important frequencies as well.

    Can you let us know which gear you're using and which processes you're adding?

    Thanks!

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  • Chris Matthews #1510343890
      1

    Thank you for your feedback Angela.  I am a 100% newbie at this and I am grateful for the guidance.  I am not putting any filters or processing on after the recording.  I am using a Behringer Xenyx 502 mixer, a lexicon alpha audio interface and a MXL 770 condenser mic.

    I wonder if I've got my levels off in some way to produce the boomy sound?

     

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  • Angela Serrano #830202147
      1

    Hi Chris

    Thanks for letting me know!

    The boominess is usually produced by recording too near to the mic and when you record in a space that is too absorptive for its size. Low frequency waves are much longer than high frequency ones and recording in a space that is too small, may make the lower frequencies to remain in the space and be picked up at a much higher level. This is what we call a 'boost' in frequencies!

    You may want to record a bit farther away from the mic and adjust the positioning of your mic. Maybe you have it directed too much towards your nouse/mouth area. Try to direct it a bit lower more in front of your mouth/jaw area and leave the nouse a bit off the capsule. This will reduce the nasalness (if that word even exists!) and should be able to capture better the full spectrum that is coming out of your mouth.

    What about we try this new positioning and see how it works? :)

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  • Chris Matthews #1510343890
      1

    I am so grateful for your assistance on this.  So I just recorded this audio without really cleaning anything up.  This is the raw recording.  What do you hear now?

     

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/qwha3o2956lodv2/122717.wav?dl=0

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  • Angela Serrano #830202147
      1

    Hi Chris!

    Thanks for sharing!

    It does sound much better! It was listening to it and it does sound a bit nasal and boomy. I recommend you record a bit farther away from the mic. Other than that, it does sound much better!

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  • Chris Matthews #1510343890
      1

    Thank you Angela.  Would you mind giving me your thoughts on this recording?

     

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/b4hog85mxouiotu/122917_A.mp3?dl=0

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  • Angela Serrano #830202147
      1

    Hi Chris

    The recording has a huge amount of background noise. It sounds like a computer's fan and there's also a lot of hiss. The sound is still very nasal and boomy. Did you change places? 

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  • Joe Cullen Brown #3168004317
      1

    Hi Chris,

    First of all, great voice! Nice fresh sound. I listened to both takes and agree with Angela that the 2nd does sound a bit nasal.Not sure how close you are to the mic, but I work my mike about 4 inches away - capsule at eye level, with the carded pattern facing slightly down - about a 40 degree angle lower than horizontal. The sound source - your mouth - is in the sweet spot for the carded pick up pattern, but you are not talking directly into the mike. Voila - no problem with plosives.

    Also, cardiod pattern mikes have what is called "Proximity effect" - the closer you are to the mike, the boomer it sounds.It sounds like you're working the mic too closely.

    Of course, the farther away you move from the mike, the quieter your acoustic environment met be. 

    Good luck with it. I think once you get the technical stuff out of the way, your voice quality and interpretation will work well for you.

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