My revised submission was immediately rejected
Hi
I sent an initial sample for my application. It came back with a lot of feedback as below. I then went to work on this feedback, ensured all this was addressed, assured myself that the second revised submission was audibly clear and passed the ACX check in Audacity for acceptable voice quality. Surprisingly, the revised sample was also rejected within a few minutes of submission. I've attached a link to both samples and would like to understand why the same feedback was given in both instances.
1) Room Echo - The acoustic conditions in your recording space are not ideal. Proper treatment to prevent room echo and reverberations is a must when trying to achieve professional results. Please re-record in a room/studio/booth with proper acoustic treatment where this won’t be a problem.
2) Mic Technique - Summing to the previous issue, your voice sounds removed from the microphone, which only augments the audible room echo. Remember to speak closely into your microphone, to always use an appropriate pop-filter and to check your levels while recording. For a VO artist, the microphone is an instrument.
3) Mouth Clicks/Noises & Breaths - Your deliverable is affected by these sounds, which should be always edited out carefully and seamlessly. Please, after re-recording, make sure you take care of the noises corresponding to the start and/or ligatures of words/sentences.
4) Distortion/Clipping - Your submission presents severe acoustic distortion, with an audibly and visibly clipping signal.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19hK8XnY2E4dY-Xqo0dIfse63vny3o2VC/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdnL_kgp90dqiJXdNDVt5Jt1ublYKbD_/view?usp=sharing
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Thanks Hector for looking at this over a weekend. Much appreciated.
I cannot thank you enough for making me realize my previous sound quality and how I'm able to perceive the improvement myself.
I installed Reaper and already I'm comfortable with it. I used some of the presets recommended by Mike in the Booth Junkie Youtube channel. Please let me know what filters you used and I'll be happy to keep improving. I'm very keen to get to the requisite quality and get started with Voice Bunny on some real projects soon!!!
Have a great Sunday!
Jagannathan
Hello Hector
I'm back to troubling you :-)
I experimented with some more adjustments to my earlier setup, based on your suggestions. I've attached three different recordings for your review. Please note that I have not done any editing of mouth clicks or any other noise. I wanted to narrow down on a setup that is decent enough for me to move forward to the next step.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sW3j6zx_GsSOr2jPoJuj0NigiAw0WfRb
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tT-r4Ej2mszOveBrSwJoXm81TIrTakU6
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1bf7I62aLmjdmwG-_IjpQUREmkWL9AFne
Please review and let me know which of these files is of acceptable quality.
Also, I'm now comfortable with Reaper and if you could send me your tutorial and presets, I can apply these on my audio before I send you my next file.
Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Jagannathan
Hi, Jagganathan!
It's always a pleasure and never a bother, brother! Thank you for coming back with those samples! The winner is the third link (VoiceBunny Test 21-Apr-2020-03-21-apr-2020_2239_01.wav)!
Duly noted about the mouth noises! I don't mean to assume but I'm inclined to think that this file is totally raw, with no processing whatsoever either? If so, please keep these settings, they are the golden ticket!
I'm already working on that tutorial and the presets for you, so stay tuned.
Just in case the sample I selected as the best was not completely raw, pleas let me know and upload it as such. =)
Have a great day!
Thanks a lot, Hector.
Yes, all three files are raw. I increased the input gain a wee bit on my interface and put it through the basic three FX plugins that was recommended in Mike's Booth Junkie videos. No other processing applied.
Regards
Jagannathan
Hello Hector
Hope you're doing fine. While I wait for your tutorial, is there something I can do with my application to Voice Bunny? Or would you recommend I wait?
Hey, Jagganathan!
I'm sorry for the delay, please excuse me, things have been hectic around here. I hope everyone near and dear to you is doing fine!
Could you please upload the VoiceBunny Test 21-Apr-2020-03-21-apr-2020_2239_01.wav audio (your best one out of the three past samples) without the plugins suggested by Mike Delgaudio? I would love to work on your presets without any other processing coming in the way.
As soon as I have that I'll complete the tutorial and the presets for you =) I'm super glad to know that you're becoming more and more comfortable with Reaper and its workings! Hopefully, you'll appreciate what a great DAW and toolbox it is in our trade.
Thanks as always for your patience!
Hello Hector,
Thanks for the reply. I'll send you the raw file by tomorrow. Held up in some long meetings at work (working from home obviously :-)) One clarification I wanted meanwhile...Once you send me the presets and I send you a processed file using these presets, what would the next steps be? Of course, I'm assuming the next file I send you is of acceptable quality :-)
Regards
Jagannathan
Hello Hector,
Here's my raw file with NO FX applied. Looking forward to hearing from you.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-eXz3B5Ei6YP3J-86WIbqjRbMlNLCkJL
Thanks
Jagannathan
Hi Jagannathan,
You've come a long way and it's been great seeing how much you and Hector have accomplished.
Just out of curiosity, can you share with us some pictures of your current recording space, I know Hector has helped you a lot to change the environment and this one is much better sounding.
Hello Johnatan (Interestingly, your name sounds like mine)
I have uploaded photos of my setup at this share. Please note that I've tried to force fit my suspension boom stand to fit inside my closet since I'm unable to buy a normal mic stand (because of COVID) Other than this one force fit, this is my setup. If the sound quality is good, I'll use the same setup with a proper mic stand eventually when I'm able to buy one.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1o6BGVfeutuD-g2dr-ST8HcxJzXqs4JCS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1o9MP76XxkrWHdvu8Jf8N083Jc6cvXX8N
Just to ensure repeatability of sound quality, I'm also attaching another recording I took today.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tyRve4KY7iApXsMgWKxhG591FDwzbnH6
Regards
Jagannathan
Hello,
I understand you are all very busy and you're doing this review as a favor. I'm keen to hear back from you and move forward.
Regards
Jagannathan
Hey, Jagannathan!
As always, I'm very glad to hear and read from you. Thanks for staying on top of the work needed to improve the quality.
I'm a little confused, brother. The previous sample (from Tuesday) sounded much better than the last one (from Thursday). From the pictures, I can see that you've set up the mic back in the closet. Was there anything else that changed much between samples, like distance to the microphone or any other things? The latest recording has much more audible reverberation than the previous one and I'm kinda scratching my head over here.
Let's try to replicate the mic and acoustic treatment conditions used to record the previous sample and take it from there. =)
Thank you for your patience and hard work!
Hello Hector,
Good to hear from you again. Well, let me admit. I was a little embarrassed to send you the pictures of my setup that produced the desired sound quality since I had used some building blocks to prop up my mic. So, in the last pictures I sent you, I replaced it with the boom mic stand and I kind of guessed that it might be causing the mic to jut out from the closet space and hence most likely the additional reverb that you heard in my last sample.
I am now unabashedly sharing the previous setup with the building blocks (now covered up a little bit :-)) I've recorded the same sample script yet again and I think it's the same quality I had earlier. Of course, this is raw with absolutely no processing/FX applied.
If this setup is good, I promise I'll buy a mic stand at the earliest possible opportunity. I'm actually in a COVID hot spot, so nothing can be bought online other than essentials. The mic stand is in the Amazon shopping cart but cannot be delivered to my house as yet :-(
Please review the setup and the new audio sample. Looking forward to hear from you. I cannot appreciate enough the effort you're putting on this, so thanks a ton.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pGY5nIZBYSDivx8losZVycm2re8ZoEXI
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1pBHbptPx__ENP3BW3lzjlyGNuiI-5OEL
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16O3P4uYPJqBjofUAtQya5NTb1DhUPSyN
Regards
Jagannathan
Hey, Jagganathan!
Thank you for that earnest explanation, brother! Let me tell you, there's no shame in being crafty! If it works, it works: whether it is made out of building blocks or not!
Covering the blocks may actually have an added benefit, as the cloth and cushion you're using are catching some of the energy in that plain. I'd recommend adding more clothes (or heavier ones) at both sides, maybe some more to hang behind the mic (covering that bare panel) and a bit more on the top portion of the closet, just to be sure no waves are bouncing back off of it.
As you mention, the reverb is back to where it was before! Now the only thing that worries me is the slight electrical noise (which we already had heard and solved before) that's present again in this sample, yet I know you'll have no trouble pinpointing the source of it.
Keep up the good work, man!
Hello Hector,
Sorry for the late reply. It was a busy week. I have now added more clothing covering the blocks, added a thick towel to hang behind the mic, and added another layer at the top as you've recommended. However, my ears are not able to find out the electrical noise you've mentioned. Can you please point me to where you are hearing it so that I can investigate it? As far as I know, I have eliminated all sources of electrical noise. The only noise that could possibly persist is the fan sound of my laptop - and I frankly don't know how to eliminate it if that's the only source. Maybe some noise filter to eliminate this? Please also send me the presets so that we can move forward. I'm keen to audition again for VoiceBunny and do some real projects.
Regards
Jagannathan
Hey, Jagganathan!
No worries, mate, It's been pretty hectic here in the Bunny Trenches too! I'm glad to read that you have beefed up the level of padding with clothes and more fabrics, they will be very useful.
Here's a bit of your last audio with the levels raised so that the little electric noise is made more present. It could be an issue with the port or even the cable, so just a bit of experimenting (with the gain in your interface ridden all the way up) could reveal the reason for this. Once you figure it out, record a new sample with appropriate levels and we can work on your presets from there (as I'd need to listen for echoes and such to fine-tune them).
Looking forward to your new recording; hear you soon!
Hello Hector,
I've now recorded with more cloth around my earlier setup. To the extent I could comprehend, I have eliminated all sources of electric noise (the USB cable from my interface to the laptop looked a little loose) This is a raw file with no processing whatsoever.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BdMb_gpn4PLcd_h9fpWVvdn70GBblHKS
Looking forward to your review and the presets.
Regards
Jagannathan
Hey, Jagganathan!
You're sounding great, my friend. I'm very glad and proud of this progress. Your enclosure could still benefit from some more fabrics and/or sound-absorbing materials, but with this amount I think you could make the test without any problems. If possible, try to get your hands on the Waves NS-1, a very affordable and superbly easy to use noise suppression plugin which can help with low levels of echo when used at discrete levels on VO recordings. It's one of my favorites as it doesn't really generate artifacts as most NR/NS tools do.
Here's a Reaper FX Chain I've prepared for you, made with stock Reaper plugins. If you manage to purchase the NS-1 plugin you can use it in lieu of the ReaFIR plugin included in your FX Chain, with a maximum setting of -6 dB.
In your latest sample, the only major issues are a couple of loud vowels (which you can easily control by now) and the mouth noises/clicks, that will be eliminated at 95% with the gate settings I've made for you. The rest you can eliminate manually through careful editing or spectral edits. One cool tool is the dynamic split option available in Reaper, which can help you quickly split the silences from the spoken regions of your reading. You can later fine-tune the splits if the tool is a bit overzealous (which can happen quite often).
I've really got nothing else to test you on anymore! I think your next sample will be definitive to let us know that your training is over and that you're ready for prime time, mate!
Stay safe, stay awesome, and keep those good results coming!
Thanks a lot, Hector. I really appreciate the efforts you've put in to improve my voice quality. I'll send you another recording with the FX chain applied and also incorporating your other suggestions. Have a great long weekend and stay safe!
Jagannathan
Hello Hector,
If you can please help point out what you mean by a couple of loud vowels, (I am assuming you meant the "Creepy" and "Crawly" being Loud and stretched out - If that was your observation, I did that intentionally for emphasis) I can pay specific attention to it during my next recording and eliminate it completely. Thanks
Regards
Jagannathan
Hello Hector,
Hope you are enjoying the long weekend. I've given it another shot now, taking care of the following:
Removed the two long vowels - creepy and crawly (assuming that was your comment)
I used your FX chain on the raw recording
I edited out the mouth clicks etc manually. I tried the dynamic split but it's too eager as you indicated and it didn't please me.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1p9xZv2XaaLKXXtUerWyphkaz2Z0DYqaz
Hoping that this is good enough quality to go for a re-audition :-)
Regards
Jagannathan
Hello Hector,
I appreciate your review even over a long weekend. If I've come this long, all credit is due to you. You've patiently helped me and nudged me along the entire journey to get to where I am today. Thanks a ton.
One more question I had on your suggestions to get to 100%:
On the additional padding, would you recommend I install sound proof acoustic foam like this one inside my closet? https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B07BRPY9Y3/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=AX6N6WBU1YXRB&psc=1
I will reapply today to VoiceBunny and let you know.
Regards
Jagannathan (My nick name is Jagan)
Hello Hector,
I've requested for reconsidering my application. It said the following message:
Request received
Thank you! We have received your request for reconsideration. Our team will review it and if we feel you might be ready to work with us now, we'll send you a new test project. This process takes some time, so we appreciate your patience.
Hey, Jagan!
Our Bunny Managers are up to speed on your request to reapply and it shouldn't take long for you to be able to do so, so just hang tight, mate!
Thank you very much for the kind words, brother, they are much appreciated! This was a joint effort and the results speak for themselves, so kudos to you too!
Those panels were unknown to me until just now, but they seem very capable indeed! If you're able to purchase them from Amazon, at least you know that if they don't work, they will undoubtedly satisfy any return or exchange, which makes the experiment all the more worthwhile. If you do go ahead and try them, upload some samples making a comparison of how they work along with your existing padding and by themselves because they certainly look the part, it's all a matter of testing their effectiveness.
While you're waiting to re-apply, I'll be available if you need any more coaching or help, so keep in touch!
Cheers!
Hi Jagan,
We want you to know that the reconsideration process should take between 7 and 30 days after your request.
Our system will automatically send a new application project your way.
If past that time you haven't received it, please, let us know and we'll make sure you get it.
Hello Hector
Hope you and your family are staying safe. Since our last communication, Amazon delivered the acoustic foam and I've installed it in the same closet and experimented with different versions.
First version:
Same as previous settings.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TvHMYf6ZKvRa5Gh5lIMg9dPn9dv_UJNk/view?usp=sharing
Second version:
Removed previous cloth hanging etc and recorded only with acoustic foam installed on all sides.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xKvx_hmfw8v8GZo_9x1bAdKp4858LLa2/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/194RGc5Kclf4IHEll5dOp61WJLkFYZig-/view?usp=sharing
Third version:
Added cloth hanging back along with acoustic foam.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xK8zvoaIH7wLN6lxY1eNLHc0ZsnDee4D/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13YWyepwE9LibSxB3IU91ryBxz2omPmzl/view?usp=sharing
When you get a chance, please review and let me know your comments.
Regards
Jagannathan
Hey, Jagan!
Thank you for the wonderful pics and the samples, much appreciated, mate! I gotta say, that you might have to leave the foams in place and restore all of your previous paddings, as the 'original' sample is the best of the three.
The foam panels seem to work well, but they're not enough to absorb all of the energy in your voice. If possible, try to pin them to your previous padding materials instead of placing them directly against the hard surfaces, as the air gap between the hard material and the foams will serve as a buffer for the reflections when they bounce back and forth in the closet. If that's not possible, just leave them where they are and try to restore all of your previous materials to beef up the absorption of the problematic frequencies.
Use the 'first version' file as a benchmark as that is what we're aiming for =)
I too hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe; looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Cheers!
Hi Hector,
That's disappointing to know that the acoustic foam didn't help on audio quality. I somehow felt that the third sample with acoustic foam + existing padding sounded much better, but then you're the voice expert. Let me do some more experiments and maybe send you a few more samples, if you don't mind.
Still trying to salvage what I can with the acoustic foam, since that's not refundable :-(
Jagan
Hi Hector,
I'm back again to trouble you. I took some of your suggestions and played around with the positioning of the acoustic foam tiles and my previous padding. I also forgot to mention last week that I have now done away with my building blocks and did some DIY hack to convert my unused camera tripod to a mic stand (Not sure if you noticed it in my previous photo) One thing I wanted to check with you though on this setup - My mic is now positioned upside down rather than upright. Will it cause a difference in voice quality? And is that a possibility why the acoustic foam does not work as intended?
I also did a mistake last week. My project default template still had my old FX chain and not your chain. So, all my previous samples were not processed properly. I've now saved your FX chain as the project default template. I should also pay attention about the effects I'm using. That was careless on my part.
Now, here are my three files again.
With Acoustic foam and previous padding:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YjwHIwlJxkywOp2dAUaB28VEpm0-4n2T/view?usp=sharing
With Acoustic foam only
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gVXcZU5UC1OTd1JI_5QiAU8qceHAQw9F/view?usp=sharing
With Previous padding only (this is a file I recorded before I installed the foam but put it through the proper chain - I have not yet pulled down the acoustic foam)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14KAzDlw7nU9tZAUHrncMOLEg4s82ueeP/view?usp=sharing
Meanwhile, still waiting for the reconsideration request to be processed...
Regards
Jagan
Hi, Jagan!
It's wonderful to hear from you again and let me tell you, that the first file with both materials present (the foams and your previous padding) is sounding pretty sweet! I think we nailed it this time =)
My only comments on that sample are for you to remember to do the manual leveling on loud peaks (in this case @ [0:16.384] in the phrase "Joe's Pest Control") and to normalize the waveform afterward. You can also apply the same technique on lower amplitude parts of the waveform to attain uniformity overall.
About the mic positioning, well, it could affect but in reality, with your overall recording conditions, it's pretty much null. I wouldn't sweat it! By the way, kudos on the 'hack'! It's one I've used myself before and hey, it gets the job done!
As for the reconsideration, all we have to do is sit tight and let the system do its thing. In the meantime, if your down for it we could still practice here with some more recordings. Keep those settings and send over more practice reads so that we can fine-tune your skills and make sure that you'll be more than ready for primetime!
Congrats on the progress so far!
Cheers, mate!