Will my audio pass QC muster?
Hello! I have a booking for a project to record 40 minutes of finished audio, and I want to make sure- before spending hours of labor time in production- that the finished audio will not be rejected by the QC department. I submitted a sample to the client earlier today, and they specifically requested a quieter noise floor. So, in the interest of accommodating that request, I have produced a new sample using the Studio One "noise floor" Expander plugin. I also removed the 4 second pauses by simply trimming the audio from those spaces, and I normalized to -3db, and adjusted the peaks to get rid of hot spots.
I would be most thankful for any feedback I can get on the subject of how to master the audio so that I can satisfy the client's request while at the same time making sure the finished work will pass the standards the Voicebunny QC department will have.
Thanks a million!
Geena Towne
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l190nqwknvfmxhn/CyberH%C3%A9ros%20-%20Femme%20-%20EN%20-%2011-14-2019-%20%28sample%202%29.wav?dl=0
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Hi, Geena!
Good to read you again, especially in lieu of preventing a bunch of potentially rejected work and the loss of time entailed.
Would you please share the raw audio file and what settings you're using in your gear? I remember you eliminated the preamp you had been using and are now only resorting to the Apollo. Have you downloaded and/or are using the UA app to manage the interface?
I'll be around and very vigilant about your response, hoping we can sort out the client's request and give the final touches to your audio quality =)
Cheers!
- Héctor.
Hello Héctor! Thank you SO much for responding. I was hoping you would. You were a tremendous help last time, but I had hoped to get some additional input because it sounded like you had more valuable info on the subject, having more to do with the post-processing perhaps. I will make a link here with the raw audio as you suggested.
To answer the question about the UA app, I simply followed the instructions that came with the unit when it arrived. There was a download, and it seemed pretty simple and straightforward, but maybe there was something more to it that I haven't discovered? It seems to function well, and does a great job shaping the signal, but I have a feeling there may be untapped potentials I have yet to delve into. For all intents and purposes, it does what I need it to.
I use Studio One and Audacity to adjust the waveform, normalize and clean up the noise floor.
Sorry if I'm being confusing, but this link is the first sample I recorded, and it was recorded without any plugins or anything, so it is the "rawest" sample.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/04gjkorro7qe1ib/CyberH%C3%A9ros%20-%20Femme%20-%20EN%20-%2011-14-2019-%20%28sample%201%20raw%29.wav?dl=0
Hey Geena!
Thank you for that sample and for that willingness to improve! The white noise situation with your setup is highly atypical, as an Apollo and AKG mic like yours should deliver super clean, crisp sound.
So, first things first: I downloaded the aforementioned sample and processed it with nothing but Audition (which has a 7 day trial in case your interested and it's super affordable in case you decide to subscribe.), using a noise print capture and fine-tuning the noise reduction tool settings (which I've saved as a preset too.)
Click here to download the file.
Now, I'm very interested in your microphone and Apollo settings. Are any pads or switches engaged? What is the gain setting you're using in the Apollo?
Please share pictures if possible and let's get this sorted out once and for all!
I'll be live for the next 5 hours =)
- Héctor.
I do not believe there are any pads or switches engaged. Let me see what info/pictures I can gather. Thanks so much!
Oh yeah. I forgot about the back of the mic. Hopefully these photos provide more information, and let me know if you need to see any other tabs or anything.
Ok, so here are some photos, and as I was uploading them, I noticed they're a little blurry, so tell me if you're having trouble reading things. I'll see if I can change the resolution or something.https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3e2stqutdvgoj4q/AAAYiHpEKb8iAwbv4mgB0hYZa?dl=0
Most illuminating, Geena!
Do us both a big favor and disengage the two pads currently active (the buttons in the back of your mic.) Just as I suspected since our very first interactions, you have a high-pass filter (cutting frequencies 80 Hz and below) and a very aggressive 18 dB padding on. Turn both of these off and run some tests.
We should be able to hear two things: a fuller voice (with low range clearly present) with a much clearer quality and no noise floor audible. You'll have to adjust the gain on your Apollo's knob. Have your headphones ready for this will require fiddling there. If I had to guess, setting the knob at around 33% of the gain the Apollo is capable of should be enough.
Don't apply any noise reduction or effects other than normalization and come back with the best sample you're able to record now. Ah, yes! Get your pop-filter ready and be prepared to adjust your mouth-to-mic distance, since we'll be leaving the low-frequencies in your signal pass.
I'm listening! =)
Ooooh boy. That does make a lot of sense. I had set that high pass filter like that when I was trying to get rid of a low rumble, but I think my equipment was all different then. And the pad was from when I was doing a very loud videogame monster character. The tricky thing about the AKG4i4 is that you can forget those buttons on the back. Also, I tend to think of those pads as the same as having reduced gain and forget that they actually cause you to have to crank up the gain. Ok. Thank you for the input. I will adjust accordingly and see what we get. THANK YOU A MILLION!
Don't forget to post, Geena!
I'm biting my nails here, so eager to hear your sound without those switches cramping your style!
Cheers!
Ok, so I just recorded this, and I normalized it, but did not apply noise reduction, and I think it may still have some noise floor to it. Is there something else I should do, or is this how you'll want the ideal audio to sound?https://www.dropbox.com/s/f2ra4zuhojzznut/CyberH%C3%A9ros%20-%20Femme%20-%20EN%20-%2011-15-2019-%20%28sample%203%29.wav?dl=0
We're getting better!
I'd recommend recording at a lower gain setting. If possible, shoot a pic of the Apollo and let's fine-tune its settings, so that we may attain the cleanest signal. If you're using the drivers and can control the gain level and other interface settings from the interface in your PC, try setting the recording gain at a maximum of -6 dB (with the ideal being somewhere between -12 to -8 dB.) If the signal printed seems too low, don't fret, for normalization will take care of that 😉
Try recording for me at those settings and upload a raw sample! We'll take care of any processing needs once we nail the signal-to-noise ratio that best suits your gear.
I'll be waiting :)
Actually, let me try that again. I just realized I have different volume and gain functions that are all controlled by the same dial and you have to check the different channels to make sure you just have the gain up on one of them and not any others. This might make the difference.
Nope. That's not really making any difference.
You go, Geena!
Don't be afraid of experimenting with your gear! It's a superb piece of equipment, capable of delivering the best audio quality without any signal noise in the right setting. I wish I could be there fiddling with the settings, hehe.
Click here to download an edit of the last sample you uploaded. Your audio should at least sound that clean, or even better because by cleaning it up I'm also eliminating some cool frequencies in your audio.
Just seeing your above comments now, so I'll try that.
Ok, so here are the photos that show my waveform is peaking around -12, and also where my gain dial is set. Then the other link will be the raw audio sample.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ht3h0bbktbrmkyw/AAA4yYkHvUyROde-R0XXEtTwa?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/631tsfe20krt389/CyberH%C3%A9ros%20-%20Femme%20-%20EN%20-%2011-15-2019-%20%28sample%204%20raw%29.wav?dl=0
Wow. Just listened to your edit. AMAZING. Believe me, I SO WISH I could have my own live-in audio tech to teach me everything. What you folks do is pure magic. Is teleportation possible yet? Lol! BEAM THEM UP, SCOTTY!
Way to go, Geena!
Now, the only thing I can hear is your computer fan or perhaps any other source of such noise. From what I can see in your dial, you could try going a little hotter with the gain and still get no hiss. The room noise is another subject, but we're getting there!
And thank you! Such kind words =) I really love sound. Good sound! And people who can deliver good sound (like you!) Hence my interest in geeking out on your gear and trying to help you achieve that sweet spot that will help us all out. So, stay with me and we'll make it.
Don't despair!
Ok. I'll go a little hotter on the gain, and brainstorm what I can do about the computer fan. Maybe I can create some kind of buffer.
Alright!
Yes, computer noise is tricky most of the time because cable runs are not long most of the time in any home setup. I'm afraid you'll be left to your ingenuity and the knowledge of your space for that matter.
The one suggestion I have is downloading Macsfan Control for Windows. It's a utility that allows you to monitor and tune your computer's fan(s). If budget/time/abilities allow, maybe getting a quieter fan for your PC (like a Noctua) or a passive cooling solution installed would be best in the long run.
I work with a dear old machine (2010 MacBook Pro) and use that app to set my fans at a low-yet-functional setting of about 2500 RPM when recording, making sure that I'm executing nothing else but my recording software at the time, so that the processor won't be as taxed and the machine won't have to work so hard hence needing more ventilation to dissipate that heat. Switching to SSDs over standard Hard Drives is also a good strategy in the long run because it's a double whammy: you get better read/write speeds and no noise from the heads of the HD spinning.
I'll be around, letting an ear to whatever you upload, so don't give up on me now! We might even be able to re-incorporate your lovely preamp if you want to!
Stay positive!
Yes, I've been wanting to get an SSD. I wonder if it is possible to get one for my desktop computer, or will I have to do it on the laptop? I know how to swap out the hard drive. I think I can do that on the desktop PC and it might just be around a hundred dollars or so to do it that way. In the meantime, I have placed a buffer between myself and the computer fan. Does it seem to make much difference?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7mqmembjbbswuo3/CyberH%C3%A9ros%20-%20Femme%20-%20EN%20-%2011-15-2019-%20%28sample%205%20raw%29.wav?dl=0
And my other question is this. I have some projects in queue now that I need to produce and turn in, and I wonder if I go ahead and do them using this current configuration, what would you have me do in terms of Normalization and Noise Floor? I assume QC department does not want me turning in completely raw files?
Well, we got answers to all your questions! =)
I can teach you in one post how to achieve a sound like this in a semi-automated way, just by downloading Reaper. This is one of my favorite DAWs, because it is lightweight, doesn't hog computing resources and it's so easy to use/customizable it can fit anyone's workflow. Ahhh it also has a 60 day trial period and it's multiplatform and super affordable.
We could also learn how to do at least the cleaning in Adobe Audition, but it's up to you.
And by the way, your buffer does make a difference!
I'd say you have about 50% less computer noise and the self-noise of your equipment (microphone+interface) is completely gone!
Hit me back so that I can draft that tutorial and tell you how to speed up your workflow in the Bunny way!
Cheers!
Also, I can't really get too into the weeds right at this moment because of my pending projects for clients who are patiently awaiting their deliverables, but you mentioned maybe adding my Preamp back in at some point. Of course anything that would give me a sweeter sound is definitely of interest to me. So, I am all ears on that subject as well. I might not be able to implement all the changes right away, but I will certainly work on them.
I get you!
If you download Reaper, I've already got an FX chain all set up for your files (so long as you don't modify it from what we've done today.) All you'd have to do is either record in it or drag your wave files onto its timeline, apply the FX rack and edit out to your heart's content!
I promise it's super easy. Meanwhile, I'm researching what else you'd be able to do because Studio One is superb and having UA gear, you should be able to use some of its amazing plugins as well.
Ok. I will download Reaper free trial for now. After that, I will see if I can get the $60 version. The $225 pricetag is a little bit painful at the moment, but I definitely want to try it out since you have an FX chain. To be honest, although I have gotten used to Studio One, there are some things about it that I don't love so much.
Superb!
Yeah, there's no difference between what you can do with the trial version, the 60 bucks version and the most expensive one. Reaper's developers have a trust system so to speak, where they just tell you that if you make less than $200K(?) as a business or it's just a personal use license, you're good to pay the $60.
I know Studio One is amazing in its own right, but for VO work is just a little... crowded? I've grown used to using Audition and Reaper, which come at fair prices and have pretty straight forward workflows for what VO demands, while not really taxing the system's resources on the job.
Click here to download the FX chain. Applying it shouldn't be difficult. Let me know if you need assistance in getting around the small learning curve to speed up your deliveries and I'll be more than happy to oblige!
Happy recording!
Cool! Thanks so much! Yeah, Studio One feels like it's more geared to music specifically, for sure (which I also do some of) but spoken word is more like my bread and butter, so... It's great to hear from you as to which one is ideal for spoken.
So, I've got Reaper installed and the FX chain is downloaded, but I'm not sure I know what I'm doing getting it loaded and ready to go.
O.K., let's get reapin'!
The first step is to insert a track, you can do that through the menu bar or by right-clicking in the track area. This is pretty straight forward. In that track, you can record in a very similar fashion to how it's done in almost every other DAW. You arm or enable the track and then hit record below, capturing your audio. Reaper saves everything in a raw state to a working folder from where you can retrieve those files for future edits if necessary.
If you're recording in any other DAW or you already have a file you'd like to work on, you just drag the WAV file onto the timeline of that track and voilá! Now, the next step is to enable the FX on the track. Click the FX button and a dialog should appear. Close that and choose to add the FX Chain I uploaded. By the way, I updated the file so please re-download. I included a bit of de-essing to take some harshness of those frequencies.
Once the FX Chain is loaded we can close that dialog and trim the file to suit our needs. By double-clicking on the waveform, we can access a panel where normalization is done in three clicks: click normalize (which will take the levels to 0 dB Peak Value), drag the slider to subtract 3 dB (in other words make it -3 dBFS) and click apply!
Now, right-click above the waveform to select its time range. Go to the menu bar and click render. Adjust the settings to suit your preferences (or in this case VoiceBunny's requirements) and render! You can even open the folder containing your new WAV file straight from the dialog.
Here's a quick video showing this workflow =)
Hope it helps you out!
You are an angel. The angel of reapin'! Lol