Loud background noise
Hi!
The below recording was rejected because -
Loud background noise is impacting your recording and adversely affecting the quality of the deliverable.
Do you hear anything or have any tips/suggestions? Thanks!
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Hi Max,
There's loud background noise throughout the recording, it could be coming from a laptop fan but it's hard to tell. Make sure to record as far as possible from any noise source in the room. If it's not a fan, it could be coming from the recording equipment itself. Could you please share with us what equipment are you using?
The computer & it’s fan are 10feet away. Blue yeti mic with Apple in ear white headphones
Do you mind sharing what computers the team uses? What speakers and what headphones? Thank you!
Hey Max,
Great voice and nice delivery. I do hear the background noise though as Sebastian mentioned.
Just a suggestion: I use some sound absorptive material around my hard drive (external) - not close enough to prevent ventilation, but between the drive and my record position.
Are you using a laptop or desktop and does the computer have a cooling fan?
Regards,
Joe Brown
I am using a desktop that is about 10feet away outside a closet. The inside of the closet is insulated with Roxul. What does the background noise sound like?
Max,
Roxul is what I use as well - it's great. The noise sounds like white noise, or a computer fan, but I can't imagine that would get through since you're in basically in a separate room. Do you close the door on the closet?
I wonder now if it's electronic rather than acoustic. Probably not the Blue Yeti. What interface do you use? Or is the mic a USB mic?
Best,
Joe
yes I close the door and its a blue yeti - USB mic - I use Mac OS X 10.11.6 with Audacity
Hi Max,
I think the USB mic is the problem. It's really hard for a USB mic set up to achieve the low noise floor that VB requires. The computer is handling the mic voltage (not sure its enough), the mic pre-amp function, the AD/DA conversion, and the recording. Tough assignment to achieve those low noise floors. If I were you I'd try a computer interface such as PreSonus, MOTU, Focusrite Scarlet Solo, (and many others) plus a phantom powered condenser mic with XLR balanced connector.
I am betting that will solve the problem. Sorry to recommend spending more $, but I do think th USB mic is the source of the noise problem. Let's see what Sebastian, Angela or Oscar think.
Best,
Joe
Hi Joe,
Thank you for your help. I did recently upgrade to a AT2020 mic and a Scarlett Solo 2nd Generation interface. I run it all through Audacity 2.3 on my MAC. Please find the below 30sec recording. I think it sounds very "hollow"/ not good. Any suggestions on how to make sure my settings on Audacity and computer are the best they can be?
https://soundcloud.com/lundmaxf/untitled/s-2p5za
Hi Max,
Just listened to the track and yes indeed there is a hollow sound, but I think it's an acoustic problem, not electronic. Sounds like you might be off axis from the microphone's pickup pattern? Or there may be hard reflective surfaces nearby - the desk, your computer screen (you mentioned your desk and computer were 10 feet away) - walls (I know, treated with Roxul). Are floors and ceilings also treated? What about headphones? Do you wear while recording (I don't) and if so how loud are they? If you do use headphones, make sure the volume is quite low.
Without seeing the setup, it's hard to determine the source of reflections. Maybe post a couple pics of the recording space.
The other problem with the track is loud background noise - sounds to my ear like an air handling unit - your HVAC. (Really obvious in the pause after "companies" and "your challenge...") Was the HVAC running during the recording? For my own performance booth, my HVAC must be off - otherwise the noise is audible.
For levels (I don't think that's the problem, but possibly), maybe post some pics of your settings. In Audacity, under preferences, does your Scarlet Solo appear as the device being used?
Also check out some articles about signal levels for audio gear. There are many, but here is one:
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/understanding-signal-levels-audio-gear/
I'll admit to being a little stumped here. You have good gear, what sounds like a good record booth, and still audio problems persist. The VB managers will likely have other suggestions to consider.
Keep at it. You'll figure it out.
Max, I don't know your experience level, so apologies if these questions are far below you:
1] You are using the AT2020 as a side address mic, and sure you're addressing the correct side, right?
2] The mic cable you're using to connect to the Scarlet has XLR connector, right?
Sorry Max, Just still trying to figure out why your system is not producing great audio!
Best regards,
Joe
Hi Joe,
Thank you for the suggestions! Yes I re-worked my set up and was addressing the new mic the wrong way! haha Please find the below link to a re-recording.... Any other suggestions to make this sound even better is always appreciated. Thank you!
(no editing here for breaths etc. just a very quick read)
https://soundcloud.com/lundmaxf/untitled2/s-j0wJs
Max,
WWWAAAYYY better!! Hollowness gone! Good voice presence. I do still hear some of that noise I thought sounded like an HVAC running though. Hope Oscar or Sebastian (or other VB staff) weighs in soon, but you are definitely heading in the right direction.
Best,
Joe
Hi Joe-
Thanks again! Quick question. What software do you use? And when you submit your VO do you do any "Noise removal" or "Normalize" the track in anyway?
Max,
I use Pro Tools, but that certainly is not necessary. Your Scarlett and mic are doing the heaving lifting for good audio. Once it goes through analog to digital conversion (in Scarlet), almost any software can work for you.
Per normalization or noise removal, no. All I do is use a tool that brings my peaks up to -3.0 db for VB standards. The cleaner the better.
Best,
Joe
Thank you so much, Joe, for your awesome suggestions and comments. As always, it is very much appreciated.
I've not been able to access that last recording, Max. It says it's been removed.
Hi Oscar,
Please find the below link. Do you hear any background noise? And if so can you weigh in what could be a potential solution. To me this sounds pretty good.
(no editing here for breaths etc. just a very quick read)
https://soundcloud.com/lundmaxf/untitled2/s-5t0l1
Hi Max,
Good news and maybe not-so?
First the sound has improved a huge amount. But I do still hear background noise - low end frequency, possibly traffic? It sounds to me more like a fan or furnace running in the background (still). Spaces between sentences, when there is no breath, should sound pretty darn close to silence.
Have you done any level changing or space modifications since the last demo? And do you use a wave form analysis tool to check your recorded levels? I don't know about Audacity, but Amadeus Pro (around $30) can tell you peaks, clips, RMS power, etc. over your entire track. VB likes to have tracks submitted with peaks not exceeding -3db.
The problem might also be mic pre-amp level setting. On your daw, make sure it's peaking around say -5 or -6. That way you wont get clips, but the signal will also not be too weak. Whenever you boost a signal for mastering, you also raise the noise floor. So if you record too low, then raise it up a lot for the final output, you also raise the noise floor, possibly into an audible range.
Sry to be lond-winded, just trying to figure out where the nose is coming from. Again, I'm sure Oscar or Sebastian or another Management Pro will have some good ideas.
The voice quality itself is sounding good now.
Best,
Joe
Hello Max
I've noticed the background noise particularly well in between phrases and at the end of the recording, after "grow". It might be that you're giving it too much gain so it increases the levels those annoying noises, as Joe's mentioned, or that there's a faulty piece of equipment, or that your cable is not balanced...
It's difficult for us to know where that noise might be coming from exactly, so you'll have to kind of "play around" with your gear and your set-up settings, until you're able to find the source.
Which brings me to the other issues:
1. Loud breaths in between phrases (please use a fading tool)
2. Editing was too abrupt at 0:16 "days" (can be adjusted with fadings as well)
You're close to what we're looking for as you have a great voice and your performance is natural and fluid.
Hope that helps.
Best,
Oscar
https://soundcloud.com/lundmaxf/test-again/s-2cfri
Hi Oscar and Joe,
What are your views on this recording?
Hi Max,
Away from studio right now and have only my phone, so cant comment on recording itself, but I REALLY like the performance. Natural and believable.
Hi Max,
There's still a loud background noise throughout the recording. It especially audible in the spaces in between words.
There are also noticeable edit points, for example at 0:52. This can be solved using fade ins and fade outs.
In terms of performance, the read itself is great but your voice is breaking at times (for example in 'all' at 0:10).