rejected for a room echo
I was rejected for...
"There is an audible room echo (reverberation) impacting your recording. Please ensure you record in an acoustically treated space. If you already have acoustic treatment, it may not be adequate."
I use a preamp and this caused me to re-calibrate my inline sound treatment. My space is treated with minimal sound deadening applications.
I have installed some sound treatments and wanted an objective listen by one of the QC Team to the original recording that was rejected to establish a baseline and a follow-up recording post preamp adjustment and room treatment.
This is the rejected file... (I can hear the echo - oops.)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zKyo2go3CT4NC8_-UbyGP9fKMtKqqjUP
This is a file made just for the QC Team to see if the echo is gone.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=15FDz2z6Gd3IRdAK_5K9HyNqiu1TNsGdf
Please let me know if the adjustments are adequate and will work to fix the issue or if I need to keep working on the issue.
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Hello James
I think it has definitely improved. However, I'm still noticing some sound reflections (ie "SURprise" at 0:04). It is particularly easy to notice with the "S"s (for instance "Since" at 0:08) There may be some surfaces in the room that are not helping in here. Try to cover those areas with sound-absorbing materials so we can reduce that phenomenon.
There are also some plosives that can be corrected (ex. "projects" at 0:10). Recording a couple of centimeters away from the mic / placing it at a slight angle / using a different pop filter are all solutions that can work.
Once you've made some adjustments and you think the issues are no longer present, please send us a new recording.
Regards
Thanks Oscar...
I think I have done everything you asked. I have tweaked the preamp a bit more and given you another minute of me rambling with "S's" and attempted plosives.
My ear is curious about the sterile sound environment, I think I need to turn up the volume on the actual real world just a hair as the absence of a sound floor does sound a bit creepy. If that is a preference however, I'll leave it as is. Please let me know if I have achieved the environment the QC Team wants to hear.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-9coa4lBnbgk6RJNOlfoZuQZRQNWj-ax
Hi James,
Unfortunately, there's excessive hiss noise, room echo/reflections and even distortion in this recording. Could you give us a rundown of your equipment list? Maybe we can help you choose better components. In terms of acoustics, we recommend you find a smaller room to record in and have enough acoustic treatment in it so there are no room reflections audible when recording.
Interesting...
Currently from the end of the chain into the computer:
My room has acoustic treatment and I can add baffles and some more dampening in the corners if needed. I have never been told that the room sounded so bad.
Okay QC Team another tweak of the preamp...
Have a listen and let me know.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1EPrNvJg0JjOUk1QQxHKpHCkGAA_FkCO-
Okay QC Team I could not wait for you and I dove in ahead of you... Comparison to the last one this one is likely much better but not yet perfect.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tNTpszeY-mcw81ip5N3HYf4NIhAS-tqw
Hi James,
Could you try bypassing the 286 and connecting the mic straight to the Mackie? There's still some hiss that cuts in and out with every word.
The preamp on the Mackie should be less than halfway.
In terms of acoustics, the Kaotica does help but you'll still need to add some acoustic treatment or change the placement of the mic as we can still hear the room you're recording in.
Noted...
I am not going to bypass the preamp. I am filtering out a lot of noise from a computer fan and a family in the other room. Rejected for a room echo would be the least of my worries if I pull that piece of hardware out of the loop.
I created another recording after resetting everything. I went back to several references from class way back in the 1990's when I did this for radio prior to computers taking over everything. There were standards we followed with the big board and reel to reel tape. Hiss and crackle was minimized but still present in some cases for sure.
With this full reset I believe the other noise issues that were progressively identified are gone. Truthfully, I was simply messing with knobs and not truly doing things thoughtfully enough.
The room echo likely persists, although I couldn't appreciate it in my cans or on the monitors. That doesn't mean you won't hear it though, just like editing text, "the more eyes the better," evaluating audio, "the more ears the better."
Like I say in the audio file below while giving you the room levels, I have a plan to mute the sound reflection bounce and after that I will make another file for you.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=19P4snZKDu52AIRVPrlx4YlhO-kr4qt-O
I appreciate all this help.
Hello James
Completely understand what you're saying about the hiss that was present back in the day of analogue recording. Now with everything that the digital era has brought along, we've gotten used to not listening to any noise in a recording.
Regarding the last file you've shared, I can notice some of that background noise Sebastian's mentioned behind your voice. It's noticeable only when you're speaking, not in between phrases.
The echo has been reduced although there's still some. Remember also to avoid having any object that you consider might be particularly reflective as it may contribute to the resonance. A few more tweaks and it should be solved.
Once you've been able to acoustically treat some of the reflective surfaces, please share a new file with us. Here to help!
Thanks Oscar and Sebastian...
I will treat the space over the next few days. It makes complete sense as to why you are noticing the sounds when I am speaking. The preamp's expander gate opens when one speaks and lets the sound through but when there is no talking the gate closes and creates the silent sound floor.
The room treatment I am planning will address that I am sure. As the technology catches up with us I should be able to switch over to a solid state computer similar to my laptop and the fan noises will be eliminated. Then it will simply be dealing with environmental noise from the family, neighbors and those folks with mowers, chain saws and leaf blowers.
I will have a new recording for you in the next week or two.
Thanks for the help.