Rejected due to "boxiness"
Hello!
I've recently been having an issue with speedies getting rejected at night (I'm PST) due to "boxiness". However, I never have this issue during the day.
While I don't hear the "boxiness", I reached out to support and they confirmed that the audio sounds boxy when running it through their standardized equipment and specialized applications.
I'd love to figure out what's going on and see if there's anything I can do to fix it with the current recording space I have.
Here is a Google Drive link with pics of my space as well as a speedie that was accepted and one that was rejected for "boxiness": https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13zqlCxsSoD7h2scEgIC2MkAFJWukDB0D?usp=sharing
Thanks!
Alex
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I am just listening via apple airpods and I can also hear it. It sounds like sound bouncing off a flat surface in your booth. I can hear it on the accepted file a little, but not as much. Have you tried moving the monitor out of being directly in front of you? Ie: so the foam is behind the mic, not the monitor.
BTW: They often will reject for no reason at all also. A reason I stopped submitting any voice overs some time ago.
Hi Grant, thanks so much for your response!
I moved the monitor to the side and covered it with a towel. Now the foam is behind the mic.
I recorded two new tracks that I uploaded to that Google folder: one reading about 12 inches from the mic and another about 3 inches from the mic. Do you still hear it?
Thanks!
Alex
Hi Alexander, thanks for reaching out!
Indeed, there is an issue with "boxiness" due to the small space you're recording in. Ideally, you would have a larger space and use thicker absorbing panels that better capture mid frequencies, as the acoustic foam you have currently only absorbs high frequencies.
One way to make the boxiness less noticeable is by recording up close, as you did in the '3 inches away' sample. I'll share this sample with the QC team to check if everyone agrees on approving this quality.
Additionally, there is a noticeable background noise, which might be coming from an air conditioner or electronic equipment. I suggest checking the source of the noise to address it and avoid future rejections.
We’ll be in touch with you again soon.
Best regards,
Steven.
Hi Steven,
Thanks for your response!
I appreciate you checking with QC on the "3 inch sample".
The background noise might have been the AC from my neighbor (I live in an apartment). Could I try turning the gain down and then normalizing the audio? Or could I use a slight noise reduction in Audacity?
Thanks!
Alex
Bump.