Looking for feedback
Hi Everyone,
Was hoping to get some light shed on my audition submission. I was told it was rejected because it was over compressed, however, the f/x busses were clear and deactivated, so there was zero processing/effects on the track. I use a Rode NT1 w/ a Focusrite interface and was recorded in an iso room that is fully acoustically treated, I use Reaper as my DAW. Is it the delivery and they just used the "over compressed" as the reason? Or is it something in my editing process? I just split and clip the areas not needed. You can listen to the track at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iHWB0Hzo6IdbLT0SFkcmokU1vWUvoL0z/view?usp=sharing
Thanks for your time and help!
Jim
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Hi Jim,
Not a Bunny Manager, just a pro riding the boards.
I think that what might be going on is maybe your gain is up to high (this can cause the recording to sound processed). Try pushing up the input volume on your computer and lowering the gain on your pre-amp. You're also riding the mic pretty close and getting a lot of plosives and sibilance. Try backing off a little and adding a pop filter if you don't have one.
Good luck.
Adam
Hi Adam,
My gain at the moment is at 9 o'clock, so I will play with lowering it some more. I have a metal pop filter on the shock mount, maybe I will use the foam pop filter I have over the mic itself and see where that goes. I appreciate the feedback! Have a great day!
Jim
Hi Jim and Adam! :)
So, listening to the recording, I agree with Adam's comments. I believe you're recording a bit too near to the microphone's capsule + with a bit too much gain.
Also, the editing has a lot of mistakes since the breathes are too high and distracting. There are several plosives and mouth noises that sound too loud.
Reading that you have the gain at 9 o'clock could be a bit too much. I suggest you lower it all the way and try putting it up again little by little. Also, I do 100% suggest you switch to a net pop filter with a boom. With these ones you can adjust the distance it is from the mic and will help a lot to reduce pops and mouth noises.
Hope this helps :)
Hi Angela,
Thanks for the reply. I have reset my interface gain to almost off lol (around 7 o'clock), seems much better. However, they do not want any processing on the track, so you going to hear some breathing. I usually get rid of it by using the Waves NS-1 plugin very so slightly. I think my biggest thing was the gain because I am usually am 6-8" away from the mic. Maybe they will let me try again. Again, thanks for the feedback!!
Adam and Angela,
Does this sound better? Worse?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1otBCcB8ZKLmQhPEcfh_y-_EtY-e06XL4/view?usp=sharing
Hi Jim,
Let me start by saying that this sounds much better. I think that the distance to the mic is a lot closer to where it needs to be. I'm not hearing the heavy plosives like before with the "p's" and "b's" but still getting to much of the "ch's" or "s's". That could be an issue of warming up your mouth a little better and focusing on physically changing the way you pronounce certain words.
About breaths and mouth noises. Don't use a plug-in because it effects the whole recording and makes it sound processed. Instead, what I do is amplify. I use Audacity and I'm sure there is something similar in Reaper. I Highlight the area that has an unwanted sound and I amplify by -10. Then I repeat if needed. By doing this I can usually get away with not having to use the fade tool because it is a small progression of sound level drop. It also doesn't sound as drastic a level change as completely silencing the pause breaks. I know it sounds like a lot of work but as you become more proficient it gets easier. I learned about this technique in a tutorial I found on YouTube.
Oh. Also. What type of headphones do you use?
Good Luck.
Adam
Hi Adam,
I am glad it sounds better. Let me ask your opinion, is it better to speak directly to the mic, or have it off axis left/right? I will look into 86'ing the plugin and editing it the way you describe. It does seem like a lot of work, even if you are proficient at it. However if it increases the quality of the track, then the time is worth it. My headphones are AKG K240 MK II's. Again, thanks for the help!
JIm
Hi Jim and Adam!
Again, I think Adam's comments are spot on. I'd add, though, that the recording sounds super boomy. Did you make any other changes, removed a pad on the mic or something? This is usually caused by the acoustics of the space and/or by the proximity of your recording.
I think the NT 1-A doesn't have pad, but if it does, let's try turning it in. If it doesn't, I say you should add an equalizer and add a low cut at around 80 Hz. I believe this should clean the recording a lot. We prefer if you don't use any processing, but I believe it could be quite tricky to get rid of it any other way.
As per the breaths, I don't like the amplify option personally but it's OK if you want to try that out. I almost always clean them by manually cutting and fading in and out. It is a lot of work at first, but you get so used to it, you end up doing it by habit super, duper fast. I prefer this method because even though it's more manual, it gives you a lot of control on how long your fades are and where exactly you want the reduction to be. It also allows you to sometimes find other problems and even changing the distances within one space and another.
Now, in regards to the recording directly, I prefer off-axis and a bit farther away from the capsule. I have a pop filter with a boom so I usually adjust the distance with the pop filter and locate myself a bit to the top-right. Like this, I have my noise outside of the capsule to avoid a nasal sound. My voice is very bright and sibilant, so this is basically the only way in which I can reduce my sibilance! Try that out and let me know :)
Hi Angela,
I made no other changes than lower the gain on my interface. Is recorded in a 5'x4' booth that has 2" foam and thick packing blankets on the walls and ceiling. I am just about to revamp my set up, wondering if my monitor placement by the mic is a factor. Also putting a blanket/town on my desk. I have the NT1, and it does not have a pad. I will play with mic placement and see what happens. Thanks for your feedback!!
Thanks for letting me know, Jim!
Let's hope all the tips help :)
Hi Adam and Angela,
I am a little confused and hope you might be able to help me out. I have attached a file I did for a client that knew exactly what he wanted. This is the 3rd version with revisions that he wanted and he said was perfect. With out me saying anything, what is your opinion of the voice over?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TKZBtOS1RxkmCjtnG1Izd7OxTqa3_J8L/view?usp=sharing
Hi Jim
Thanks for sharing. The file sounds heavily processed. Maybe for this client it was OK, but the file definitely sounds very processed and filtered. I would, 100%, toss any processing you're adding as I do believe it's highly degrading the quality of the recording. You can notice it all over the recording, especially on the breath noises which sound as if they were digitally generated.
I believe I mentioned this before, but it's very important to treat problems from their cause instead of using a noise reduction and/or filtering to get rid of issues!
Well that's even more confusing. There is zero processing on that file, none on the input channel and none on the output. I edited the track like Adam suggested. I was more concerned about what I thought was the boominess of my voice, which I got by being closer to the mic and talking a little softer, per his request. With everything going on, the only thing I haven't changed out of the chain is the Focusrite interface, NT1 mic, and Reaper. Are you actually hearing the breath noises, or looking at the file wave forms? I don't hear them. And after editing them, I don't see the wave form either.
Hi Jim
Thank you for letting me know. Are you not adding anything in Reaper? Like a debreath, denoise, or a process of the sort? The recording sounds degraded as if it was being filtered massively which changes a lot the frequency composition from the recording. If this is not the case, maybe the capsule of the mic could be broken and/or the cables could be failing as well which could be causing an interference in the data transfer.
Would you mind letting me know if you're adding anything to the file in the post-processing face?
Hi Angela,
No processing at all. All cabling in new, the mic and interface are not a month old.
Hi Jim
Thanks for letting me know. However, I double checked and the filtering is very noticeable to my ears. I used 2 different heaphones and the problem is still present. I believe there could be something wrong there. Is there a way in which you can check them with a technician or change the cables? If you have another set?
The other situation that could be present is that the space and/or microphone is not the right fit for your voice. The space could be way too absorptive and the high frequencies are being absorbed completely. Or the NT1-A maybe a bit too dull for your voice and is not giving the correct boosts to the right frequencies.
These are the 2 things I could guess could be happening, but I do feel some odd filtering there. I'm sorry for the inconveniences.
Hi Angela,
I have changed out my interface, xlr cable, usb cable and using a friends NT1 mic. Any better?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jIITayjheViDyfueG6j8k9HrAH7lSH7a/view?usp=sharing
HI Jim
Are you using any type of filtering? The voice sounds very filtered, especially during the breathes as if you were using a noise reduction plugin. Is this take raw?
Hi Angela,
No filtering, no nothing, raw. Bought a new tower as the old one was starting to run slow. New DAW (Audacity), interface (Scarlett 2i2), cabling, and my friends NT1. Clean slate, no processing what so ever on this track or the master. Not worried about the breaths or noise floor at this moment, just the recording. Is this now clean? Again, thanks for the help!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uDpU8youTm4s1Pq38RTPbkxs4e1ZkOMN/view?usp=sharing
Hi Jim
I'm listening to the recording and the hiss is very, very high. It could be generated by the interface or by the microphone so it's possible that there's something not working fine with your interface. I suggest you try the other preamplifier of the interface or try lowering the gain down completely and the increase little by little until you have good levels.
OK. Here is a new track with a new Behringer Uphoria interface. Wondering if this Scarlett interface is the issue,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C008BUbeDt9jQtIzoNE0gWzUFqoTyMGM/view?usp=sharing
Hi Jim
The hiss is still there but what bothers me the most on this one is the excess gain. The volume is way too high which is also boosting any noise that's been present. Can you please reduce the gain from the preamp and share a new sample? It could help if you can share the same script with both interfaces so we can review if that's the issue!
Here is the same script with the Focusrite interface.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gW7J4KPd1wREtQhegB1gIIe_UMkidc8o/view?usp=sharing
Hi Jim
Thank you for sharing. This recording also has excessive gain. This one is quite distorted and also has a lot of hiss noise in the back. However, the most critical issue is the excess gain which is making the recording sounds as if it was overcompressed or limited and without dynamics.
There are also a lot of mouth noises and plosives which could've caused by recording too near to the microphone's capsule.
Hi Angela,
Have been revamping my system with some new gear, as well as better treating my area. When you get a chance, please take a listen to this sample and let me know if you think the outcome is better than before. Thanks, and as always, i appreciate your help and feedback.
Jim
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17Ab_u6FErQBV2OiEtSiknRlpq-07uyqY/view?usp=sharing
Hi Jim
The recording souds very filtered and I can pick up some hiss noise as well. Can you please share a raw recording? It's hard to be able to review it when it's so processed.
Well, I thought is was unprocessed, To be sure, here is the raw file.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rYQ8nBG2O10uQXlYEbL0JZw843Enfddd/view?usp=sharing
Hi Jim
The file still sounds processed. If you listen to the recording, you can pick up that the 'p' sound barely sounds which is a clear indicator of either a denoiser/noise reduction or a filter being added. Also, the recording has a sound aura behind all the breathing areas which is a distinct trait of excessive noise reduction. Are you 100% sure you're not adding anything?
Hi Angela,
Yes, sure there is no processing on it. Have had a tech go thru my system, after the changes in gear and DAW were made. He says all is the way it is supposed to be. I am wondering if it has to do with transferring the file from my computer to Google Drive. The files I have sent directly to the tech, other producers, etc. have all said that the file is clean, although raw. Have a client that I send a raw file to every week and he edits & produces the track, I just record it. He says it is fine, so not sure what is going on. Anyway, thanks for all your help. No need to keep beating this dead horse. lol I appreciate all the time you have put in this. Hope you have a great night!
Hi, Jim
I do hear a filtering problem (it's better than the one from Friday), but it's noticeable in the high frequencies. For example when you say 'and received the award of excellence for doing their part...etc', the 's' sounds muffled . Can I ask at what sample rate/bit rate are you recording at? It could be an issue with conversion or recording settings.
-Seb