Want some feedback before my second application......
Hi Guys!!! Im still completely new to the field and have only been studying and self teaching myself for about a month now. I applied for voice bunny about a week ago and unfortunately I was rejected due to echo and reverb issues. Ever since then I have completely replaced all my equipment to better quality and have made a homemade "Sound Booth" with some 2x4s filled with insulation foam and 1inch acoustic foam pads. Im using better microphone positioning and technique along with new cables which got rid of the ground looping noise. I have spent the last week going through all of the posts in this websites forums trying to develop a better "Ear" to what I should be looking for when I record. After listening to my first project application I can easily tell how inexperienced I was. My current DAW is Reaper and before I re apply I would love to hear your guys's feedback so that I can better improve myself.
Your friend and fellow future Bunny;
Ryan
First Application Sample that failed:
https://soundcloud.com/ryan-faris-793291949/voice-bunny-application-project/s-aYhyw
This is my updated audio now:
https://soundcloud.com/ryan-faris-793291949/voicebunny-feedback-sample/s-m7MKx
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Hi Ryan!
Thanks for sharing this recording. The new sound is remarkably better, really! I believe the volume is a bit too low, tho. Would you mind normalizing the file and share it again?
Ok its normalized with -0.3db.
https://soundcloud.com/ryan-faris-793291949/voicebunny-feedback-sample-1
Hi Ryan!
Soundcloud is saying that the track was not found. Can you please check it? Also please keep in mind we require the files to be normalized to -3dB not -0.3dB.
Thanks!
Sorry about that I do have it at -3 I just typed it wrong, idk whats wrong with the soundcloud so i reuploaded it to play it safe.
It should work now
https://soundcloud.com/ryan-faris-793291949/voicebunny-feedback-sample-2/s-CXi75
Hi Ryan!
Thanks for sharing it again. Who knows what happened with the previous Soundcloud link. I had another user with the same problem earlier.
So, listening to this one I picked up 2 issues that, funny enough, you mentioned them at the end which are the boxiness and a hiss noise.
In regards to the hiss noise, I believe it's coming from adding too much gain on your preamp. As you have the Cloudlifter, you don't need to actually use a lot of gain on your interface. I suggest you reduce it as much as possible. We usually recommend you keep the knob at around 12-o-clock, no more. Sometimes the sound will show a little too low in your DAW, but it's always better to increase the volume via normalization than to have too much gain from your preamp and add hiss or even distortion.
Now, in regards to the boxiness, I believe that maybe you have too many absorptive materials in your booth. What about you try switching the positioning of the mic in the space? Try locating it diagonally and a little bit outside of the booth. That could help. If you don't see any difference by that, maybe try changing the positioning of some of the foams you have. It may help as well!
Let's experiment with these solutions and see what we can do! My main concern is the hiss noise as the boxiness, even though present, is not that critical!
Looking forward to a new file, Ryan! :)
Okay so the issue I'm having right now is I tried it with the gain knob at the 12 o'clock position and yes it did start out really low, however when I normalized it and then try to edit out the white noise I can still hear it when my vocals are playing.
Heres that example
https://soundcloud.com/ryan-faris-793291949/updated-feedback-sample
Idk if maybe because I'm using such a strong dynamic microphone that -3db might be to high or possibly the gain knob needs to be even lower. Unless something else is causing the white noise that I'm unaware of.
Just out of curiosity I went ahead and just increased my gain manually without normalization in this track and my software had a much easier time removing the noise this way. Is normalization a must have? If so then I will have to figure something else out.
https://soundcloud.com/ryan-faris-793291949/the-better-recording-for-feedback/s-fen5s
Thank you for being so patient with me, I just want to make sure I get it perfect and not just good enough to get by. :)
Also in the second recording I am 3 inches away from the microphone and its still in the same position as that first recording.
Hi Ryan!
I agree with you and the second take sounds much better than the first one. I believe the first one is unprocessed as there's a lot of room echo as well in the file.
However, even though you're using a noise reduction plugin, I don't feel that it's impacting your voice's quality so let's go ahead and try working with that one and that level of processing. We usually don't recommend any type of processing, but it doesn't sound overprocessed so it may work.
I suggest you keep working on the areas where the noise could be coming from. Maybe you can try a different interface (maybe borrowing one if that's a possibility) and see if that's the source of the noise. For the room echo, this is 100% from your space, so I also suggest reviewing your acoustic treatment and dampening materials. You may want to review how the space is being treated or even change the space you're recording in. For example, I record inside my closet which I have full of my clothes, acoustic foam and a carpet + a Kaotica eyeball. This works really, really well so it could be a possibility!
I say reapply with this current settings! :) It does sound much, much better than the previous one and the sound to my ears is very clean!
Thank you so much for your feedback! I am 90% sure it is the Interface but it was all I could afford in order to have enough gain to actually use my Sm7b. I am using a noise reducing plugin but I am making sure that I am keeping it to a low minimal so that it won't effect everything. As soon as I have more income coming in I will upgrade but until then it will have to do. Believe me if I had a walk in closet I would absolutely be using it but ill just have to use more mattress's and blankets in my room for the time being. As soon as I get a better Interface ill post something here so you all can hear the difference. I wish you all good health and great success and can't wait to work with you all soon!!!
Thank you for letting me know, Ryan!
I totally understand the struggle. When you're just starting, things are a bit rough. However, as long as you're open to feedback and willing to make adjustments on the go, I'm sure you'll learn and improve in the blink of an eye!
I wish you the best, too :) Looking forward to future adjustments you make and also to see your growth! We're here to help so don't hesitate on coming here with new recordings, questions or anything you need!