Thank you for joining this space, we appreciate your effort! Your audio sample presents a very high degree of hiss (white noise) in addition to your voice sounding removed from the microphone.
Please, let us know what gear you're using, how it is connected to your computer and if possible include some pictures of your setup so that we can better assist you in solving these issues promptly. Also, it's best if all samples are submitted in a downloadable form (via any file-sharing service) in a mono .wav file with the Bunny Standard 44.1k/16-bit quality.
Thanks for the new sample and the details. I will be requiring pictures of your setup and screengrabs of your DAW's settings, as the issue with the waveform's amplitude is not resolved (it's super-low). It also presents a big spike at the start of the file.
Additionally, please upload the sample to a file-sharing service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) for we can't run analysis on your waveform directly on Soundcloud. The export settings should be as indicated previously.
Thank you very much for the pictures and the sample. It seems that we might need to work on mic placement and acoustic treatment relocation to address the audible 'ambiance' (slight echoes) audible in your recording. The most troubling part of this is the amount of white noise (hiss) present in your waveform:
This is not a normal occurrence when working with the gear you're describing. Please, share the settings of your Focusrite and try to relocate it to run tests, as it appears to be propped up on top of a speaker/monitor, which could be causing electromagnetic interference that translates into this hiss in your recording.
Follow this guide to try and produce a better sample:
B) Make sure that you're using a proper condenser microphone and recording equipment (preamp/interface): set them to a level that prints a signal of -9 to -6 dB maximum while recording.
C) Normalize your best recording to -3 dBFS Peak Level. You should not hear any noise (like a balloon letting air out [hiss]), your echoes should be minimal, and there shouldn't be any presence of ambient noise.
I'm a bit puzzled, those samples sound almost as if your mic's capsule was oriented in the opposite direction of your voice. Also, one should never record in stereo while capturing vocals. Your DAW's settings should always be in the highest sample rate/bit rate and in mono.
I'm still to receive from you the settings of your Focusrite and I would love to see in a clear picture how exactly is your mic positioned while you're recording.
Is there a chance you can share with us pictures of your recording space, I'm sure this will very helpful for Hector and the team to provide you with more accurate feedback regarding your specific environment.
Thank you for the pictures and the information about your gain settings. It's very strange for a mic like yours to produce such a signal with such gain levels, in any case, the audio should clip and not sound as low as it does.
Please, take the mic out of the plastic box as that will cause more harm than good. Also, verify that if your mic needs +48V of phantom power, this function is properly enabled on your interface. After making sure that phantom power is properly driving your mic, set the gain at no higher than 50%, and record some new samples, we'll take it from there.
Thank you for the new files, very illuminating they are. We only have use for the bare, raw, mono recording of your voice. Please try to re-record and re-submit a new file comprising nothing but your voice in a mono file. Remember that voiceovers are seldom recorded as stereo files, hence we must always open a session in mono to capture our voice and take it from there.
The good news is that taking the mic out of that plastic box and your new gain settings are working much better, with a marked reduction in white noise (although some of that hiss is still present). There's also a bit of signal noise, so you might want to check your mic input, try all the ports on your computer, and check your cables to determine where that bit of buzzing is coming from.
Additionally, try a better positioning of the pop-filter, as your VO displays instances of plosiveness. The filter must be placed at around an inch away from the mic capsule and your mouth-to-filter distance should be of at least 2 inches.
Finally, you should be able to manually adjust the levels of your voice (or through automation if it suits you best), to finally apply normalization at -3 dBFS Peak Level before exporting the file. Here's what that recording of yours sounds like after fixing all of those issues in post (as best as possible), compared to an everyday example of audios that we approve for clients. Try listening to the differences in sound quality and reading style.
Thank you for being patient, we're sorry about the delay. You dry audio sounds really good! The only observations would be that it has plosives/low-frequency saturation and mouth noises (tongue clicks, salivation). From the sound of your audio, it seems that you might be a bit too close to the mic. The recording level is fine, but you could get away with lowering the gain setting on your interface by another 1 or 2 dB, to be on the safe side and to have plenty of head room to normalize the waveform.
As far as room acoustics go, you seem to have everything under control! Please try to record any script correcting your mic-to-mouth distance, placing the pop-filter correctly, and setting the gain as stated above. Then scrub through the waveform and listen for mouth noises: clicks, salivation, cheek noise, and breaths. Mute those sounds carefully and use fades if necessary. If you need guidance this process, follow this link.
Normalize your final edit to -3 dBFS and submit the raw take (unedited) and the final edit so that we can listen to both and figure out whether you're ready for prime time or if any work would be left for us to do.
Thanks a bunch for the samples, they were very illuminating. I've jotted down some notes on screenshots made of the waveforms, so that my observations are better exemplified and maybe, result in a clearer explanation. The main issue is the hiss/background noise audible in the raw sample, which eventually results in them being audible after processing. Also, there's a weird instance of harmonic distortion at the end of the reading. I hope that this explanation helps you resolve the issues or at least shed some light on what needs to be fixed in order to obtain a recording of better quality.
Thank you very much for this new sample. Unfortunately, your room acoustics still need work as your voice sounds very hollow and distant from the mic. Another thing to work on is levels/processing. It seems that your sample was heavily processed with noise reduction/suppression, which can be heard in the quashed frequencies and artifacts. Overall, the loudest peak in this waveform is -9.79 dB, and when normalizing the audio to our standard -3 dBFS, the audio problems only become more noticeable.
Please, let us know how you're recording/processing your audios so that we can help you achieve a better sound.
It's great to see that you keep on working on improving your sound. While moving your setup to a closet is usually a sane idea, that does require some planning. Let's break it down.
I'd recommend you gather a lot more clothes. Think about it this way: you're aiming to fill both sides of the closet with the heaviest garments possible so that you can angle them in a 'V' shape (with the narrow end pointing towards the wall) so that your mic has both the room to breathe and the dampening of the clothes on either side. Also, try to pack some fabric, clothes, towels, or coats directly on top of the mic, to dampen the effect of the hard wood directly above the clothes' rack.
Give this a shot and send us a sample to hear how we can help you better!
Hi, Jaquan!
Thank you for joining this space, we appreciate your effort! Your audio sample presents a very high degree of hiss (white noise) in addition to your voice sounding removed from the microphone.
Please, let us know what gear you're using, how it is connected to your computer and if possible include some pictures of your setup so that we can better assist you in solving these issues promptly. Also, it's best if all samples are submitted in a downloadable form (via any file-sharing service) in a mono .wav file with the Bunny Standard 44.1k/16-bit quality.
Have a great weekend!
- Héctor Adolfo Ituarte (Bunny Studio QC Agent)
Audio Technica condenser mic (surrounded by foam and pop filter)
Focusrite interface
Studio Booth
Insulation and moving blankets
https://soundcloud.com/djlhs/output-1-2r/s-PV1EguO8ycR
Hi, Jaquan!
Thanks for the new sample and the details. I will be requiring pictures of your setup and screengrabs of your DAW's settings, as the issue with the waveform's amplitude is not resolved (it's super-low). It also presents a big spike at the start of the file.
Additionally, please upload the sample to a file-sharing service (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) for we can't run analysis on your waveform directly on Soundcloud. The export settings should be as indicated previously.
For reference sake, this is what a standard, professional-quality recording should sound like.
Finally, when you submit a new sample, read a script and try to portray your style and diction as best as possible.
Cheers!
- Héctor Adolfo Ituarte (Bunny Studio QC Agent)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y_6FEbQbvbApjy_be2ojvfwYz9sWvBkB/view?usp=sharing
Hi, Jaquan!
Thank you very much for the pictures and the sample. It seems that we might need to work on mic placement and acoustic treatment relocation to address the audible 'ambiance' (slight echoes) audible in your recording. The most troubling part of this is the amount of white noise (hiss) present in your waveform:
This is not a normal occurrence when working with the gear you're describing. Please, share the settings of your Focusrite and try to relocate it to run tests, as it appears to be propped up on top of a speaker/monitor, which could be causing electromagnetic interference that translates into this hiss in your recording.
Follow this guide to try and produce a better sample:
A) Try to improve your acoustic treatment/mic location. Follow this link for advice on how to solve room acoustic issues: https://help.bunnystudio.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/203461624-Tip-5-Basic-acoustic-treatment-is-not-rocket-science
B) Make sure that you're using a proper condenser microphone and recording equipment (preamp/interface): set them to a level that prints a signal of -9 to -6 dB maximum while recording.
C) Normalize your best recording to -3 dBFS Peak Level. You should not hear any noise (like a balloon letting air out [hiss]), your echoes should be minimal, and there shouldn't be any presence of ambient noise.
D) Scrub through the waveform and listen for mouth noises: clicks, salivation, cheek noise, and breaths. Mute those sounds carefully and use fades if necessary. If you need guidance this process, follow this link: https://help.bunnystudio.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360006728219-Why-should-I-use-fades-
E) Double-check: is your file the best version, with excellent quality? Go ahead and submit the revision, we're eager to hear what you can do! =)
Cheers!
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qBow3TTpOeIq5yyHIjdxHpCna-BuKDi1?usp=sharing
Hi, Jaquan!
I'm a bit puzzled, those samples sound almost as if your mic's capsule was oriented in the opposite direction of your voice. Also, one should never record in stereo while capturing vocals. Your DAW's settings should always be in the highest sample rate/bit rate and in mono.
I'm still to receive from you the settings of your Focusrite and I would love to see in a clear picture how exactly is your mic positioned while you're recording.
Cheers!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GsBRgBACy7nNlTV9oVbIh3DZYBHy_71L
gain is topped off.
Hi Jaquan,
Is there a chance you can share with us pictures of your recording space, I'm sure this will very helpful for Hector and the team to provide you with more accurate feedback regarding your specific environment.
I've upload pictures.
The Mic (Audio- Technica) in enclosed in a plastic container filled with acoustic foam and a pop filter.
The frame of the recording space is held up by PVC piping and layered with insulation and moving blankets.
The setting on the MIC amp was put all the way up 10
Hey, Jaquan!
Thank you for the pictures and the information about your gain settings. It's very strange for a mic like yours to produce such a signal with such gain levels, in any case, the audio should clip and not sound as low as it does.
Please, take the mic out of the plastic box as that will cause more harm than good. Also, verify that if your mic needs +48V of phantom power, this function is properly enabled on your interface. After making sure that phantom power is properly driving your mic, set the gain at no higher than 50%, and record some new samples, we'll take it from there.
Happy producing!
(Contains 6 Files)
Right and Left (For Each)
VO only
BG Music Only
and Full Concept
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1St1fSk6l0J62Le8eQecRcD9w13nogqPd?usp=sharing
Hey, Jaquan!
Thank you for the new files, very illuminating they are. We only have use for the bare, raw, mono recording of your voice. Please try to re-record and re-submit a new file comprising nothing but your voice in a mono file. Remember that voiceovers are seldom recorded as stereo files, hence we must always open a session in mono to capture our voice and take it from there.
The good news is that taking the mic out of that plastic box and your new gain settings are working much better, with a marked reduction in white noise (although some of that hiss is still present). There's also a bit of signal noise, so you might want to check your mic input, try all the ports on your computer, and check your cables to determine where that bit of buzzing is coming from.
Additionally, try a better positioning of the pop-filter, as your VO displays instances of plosiveness. The filter must be placed at around an inch away from the mic capsule and your mouth-to-filter distance should be of at least 2 inches.
Finally, you should be able to manually adjust the levels of your voice (or through automation if it suits you best), to finally apply normalization at -3 dBFS Peak Level before exporting the file. Here's what that recording of yours sounds like after fixing all of those issues in post (as best as possible), compared to an everyday example of audios that we approve for clients. Try listening to the differences in sound quality and reading style.
Have a good weekend and keep up the great work!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/125pDuTIEU3yav-AOFNUw1CXKsQJ1h_Wy/view?usp=sharing
hello
Hi, Jaquan!
Thank you for being patient, we're sorry about the delay. You dry audio sounds really good! The only observations would be that it has plosives/low-frequency saturation and mouth noises (tongue clicks, salivation). From the sound of your audio, it seems that you might be a bit too close to the mic. The recording level is fine, but you could get away with lowering the gain setting on your interface by another 1 or 2 dB, to be on the safe side and to have plenty of head room to normalize the waveform.
As far as room acoustics go, you seem to have everything under control! Please try to record any script correcting your mic-to-mouth distance, placing the pop-filter correctly, and setting the gain as stated above. Then scrub through the waveform and listen for mouth noises: clicks, salivation, cheek noise, and breaths. Mute those sounds carefully and use fades if necessary. If you need guidance this process, follow this link.
Normalize your final edit to -3 dBFS and submit the raw take (unedited) and the final edit so that we can listen to both and figure out whether you're ready for prime time or if any work would be left for us to do.
Cheers!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w2SH0aiOHB3zNTKlskcNVCi-zp-C2Z9W/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wSafIxWdKnQiIuJmREEKZABbgEThUyX7/view?usp=sharing
RAW
Hey, Jaquan!
Thanks a bunch for the samples, they were very illuminating. I've jotted down some notes on screenshots made of the waveforms, so that my observations are better exemplified and maybe, result in a clearer explanation. The main issue is the hiss/background noise audible in the raw sample, which eventually results in them being audible after processing. Also, there's a weird instance of harmonic distortion at the end of the reading. I hope that this explanation helps you resolve the issues or at least shed some light on what needs to be fixed in order to obtain a recording of better quality.
Cheers!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ffMgZhrO4BtxnLXqnvRDfxGIK37SDmFN/view?usp=sharing
Hi, Jaquan!
Thank you very much for this new sample. Unfortunately, your room acoustics still need work as your voice sounds very hollow and distant from the mic. Another thing to work on is levels/processing. It seems that your sample was heavily processed with noise reduction/suppression, which can be heard in the quashed frequencies and artifacts. Overall, the loudest peak in this waveform is -9.79 dB, and when normalizing the audio to our standard -3 dBFS, the audio problems only become more noticeable.
Please, let us know how you're recording/processing your audios so that we can help you achieve a better sound.
Cheers!
ok thank you for the feedback. Im going to convert my closet to a VO space. Will send pictures of the space. Using the link you sent earlier to ideas.
Hi, Jaquan!
It's great to see that you keep on working on improving your sound. While moving your setup to a closet is usually a sane idea, that does require some planning. Let's break it down.
I'd recommend you gather a lot more clothes. Think about it this way: you're aiming to fill both sides of the closet with the heaviest garments possible so that you can angle them in a 'V' shape (with the narrow end pointing towards the wall) so that your mic has both the room to breathe and the dampening of the clothes on either side. Also, try to pack some fabric, clothes, towels, or coats directly on top of the mic, to dampen the effect of the hard wood directly above the clothes' rack.
Give this a shot and send us a sample to hear how we can help you better!
Have a great weekend!