Reinstate account - sound check
Please review this file and see if it meets your standards. And what do I need to do to get my account reinstated?
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7icrpy0v8w3meq1/AABZ-AsdGYY2u-U6Hk4Lbe7sa?dl=0
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Hi James
Thanks for sharing the recording! Let me give you my thoughts on it.
So the first issue I find, is that it has a lot of room echo and hiss noise in the background. I can also feel that the recording is quite processed with a noise reduction plugin due to how the noise sounds on the edits. Is this a 100% raw file? if it isn't, would you mind sharing the edited but unprocessed file?
Also, it would help us a lot if you can let us know how you're recording. Equipment, environment, etc.
Angela, thanks but I need your help. I'm getting mixed signals here. I opened a post earlier and when I had not had a response in about a week I re-posted this one, using the same link to the same file. Juan answered the earlier post today and said the following:
Hi James!
It sounds quite good! The only thing could be to re position the mic and/or pop filter to reduce the mouth noises to achieve a cleaner take. Besides that, the change in volume at the very end and a loud S at 0:39.
Best,
Juan.
So I guess I don't understand what I should do. Also there should not be an Echo issue.... I'm recording inside a 5x5 cube with sound blankets wrapping all walls. Also to answer your question, this is a raw file no processing, no compression, no de-esser, no enhancer, When recording my gain was peaking between -9 and -6 db and the only thing I did to the file was to normalize to -3db.
I'm using quality equipment, A Warm 87 Mic, to a 286s dbx pre-amp to a focusrite 2i2 digital converter. I have had to coaches of mine (Anthony Reece and Bill Dewees) listen to my samples and they are quiet pleased with the sound and said I should have no issue.
Also I use Adobe Audition and when I have the sample in audition, using my Beyer Dynamic DT 770 headphones I don't hear a hiss. Please help me I have been working hard to try and meet your standards, but I can't figure out why you are not happy with my sound. I get great ratings at other P2P sites, my coaches (good experienced and expensive coaches) tell me I have broadcast quality audio. On one site I did 5 jobs this week and got 5 star ratings and comments that I exceed my clients expectations --- but I can't meet your standards???? Not complaining, I just want to know what I can do.
A frustrated VO talent - James Thanks for your help.
Please review my samples:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7icrpy0v8w3meq1/AABZ-AsdGYY2u-U6Hk4Lbe7sa?dl=0
Hi James!
Would it be, by any chance, possible to review the previous samples? I'd like to compare them. If it's not possible, it's OK! Overall I believe the recordings all have too much gain. If you can lower it, it would be much better as using too much gain can create problems like distortions or even hiss problems.
I really like the 8seconds file! There's a bit of room echo and boominess that I believe can be fixed by repositioning your mic in the space. The boominess I believe is also caused by the nature of your space as you mention it's quite a small recording booth. but it definitely sounds nice and crisp. The s sound, however, sound quite filtered. Did you add any de-esser or filtering by any chance different from the previous time? This can be much more noticeable in 0:46 - 0:49.
The file Astoria has a bit too much gain making the voice to sound boomier than the previous file and also increasing the room echo I can. The problem with the 's' sound is still present. Maybe the distance from the microphone changed in this case which caused the difference in sound.
LouisandClark is definitely still distorted and with too much gain. I can pick up a lot of hiss noise in this file and the volume is definitely too high. You can compare it with the file 8seconds for reference so you can see the difference in tone sound. This one has all the problems I mentioned previously very strong. Same comments for the file Smazzit. The edits on this last one are also very harsh.
The file zLakeSuperior2 is definitely not ideal in any way. There's a lot of hiss, distortion, and sounds as if you used a completely different setup overall.
Hope this helped.
Here is a new file for review, let's see if this resolves the issue for you?
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7icrpy0v8w3meq1/AABZ-AsdGYY2u-U6Hk4Lbe7sa?dl=0
Thanks
Hi James
This last recording sound quite different from the previous you sent. Did you record under the same conditions? This file has a lot of hiss noise present when you speak. When you're not talking, the hiss goes down as if you were, perhaps, using a noise gate?
Thanks Angela,
I'm still trying to hear the hiss you are talking about. On the recording VB_20180408.mp3 I don't hear a hiss from either my studio monitor or from my headphones at 0 db and even when I increase the volume to overdrive the volume I'm not hearing a hiss. No recorded in the same room and same equipment but this time I used my shotgun mic. I have sent you samples from both my Diety shotgun mic and my Warm 87 and you hear hiss in both.
I just posted at the same folder a file called SoundFloor.mp3 which is totally un-editied, not normalized to -3db with silence for the first 15 seconds and then me talking after that as a test. The only thing I can think you are hearing is my soundfloor which is registering at -87db which I thought was way below broadcast quality at -60db. Please listen to this one and share your comments.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7icrpy0v8w3meq1/AABZ-AsdGYY2u-U6Hk4Lbe7sa?dl=0
Thanks for your help. -James
Hi James
When you're not talking, there's no hiss at all. However, once you start talking, a loud and consistent hiss noise appears. It's boosted when you do the 's' which indicates that it's digital and not coming from outside sources. It could be coming from the response of the capsule to your voice or maybe the use of excessive gain. At this point it would be quite complex for me to know where it's coming from as I'm not 100% versed in the equipment you're using, however, the noise is there.
Could it be a good idea to review the status of your equipment with a technician? Maybe there are some problems with a cable or the capsule of your mic. I'm sorry for the inconveniences.
Thank you Angela. I will work on Sound Engineering. I think I will reach out to a sound engineer like George Whitman and I will be back in touch with new samples in a week or two. Thanks
No problem, James!
Hope this helps and please feel free to let us know or share anything when you can!
Please listen to this and provide you feedback. I would really like to start working with VB.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7icrpy0v8w3meq1/AABZ-AsdGYY2u-U6Hk4Lbe7sa?dl=0
Thanks
-James