Please critique my audio quality
Hi Team.
After a few rejections, I've gone all out and spent a few $$s trying to get a better sound.
Setup:
- Audacity
- Focusrite Scarlett 2I2
- Shure SM7B
- Klark Teknik MIC BOOSTER CT1
- Moderate acoustic foam immediately in front of me
Eventually I intend to migrate to a wardrobe with the MIC so I can soundproof better.
I'd be keen to hear feedback on the recorded quality of my Shure SM7B. As I've not had one before I'm not sure if what I am getting, is the best?
Also, how is the room noise? Server immediately to my right was shut down during recording.
Some samples here (Unprocessed apart from Normalisation as well as with Noise Reduction applied)
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/CheeseMaster_Demo_Unprocessed.wav
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/CheeseMaster_Demo_NoiseReduction.wav
Thanks!
Grant
Wellington, NZ
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Hi Grant,
Thank you very much for reaching out, we hope you're having a great day.
This is a great recording, there's a lot of potential here and very little for us to work on.
There are two particular things that we can improve:
Please, give those a read, try to apply those suggestions, and give it a go again.
Also, just to be on the safe zone, make sure you're using a pop filter, and if you are, try positioning the mic at a slight angle so the air of consonants such as "T", "P", "B", doesn't hit the mic's capsule directly.
Let me know what you think, looking forward to your new sample!
Thankyou Johnatan
I see what you mean about the plosives. I'm using a SM7B with the standard pop filter. I'll ensure I back off the MIC a bit.
I'll work on another sample tonight and attach it here. I'll need to throw a duvet over my head as I'm at the limit of what I can do for acoustics in the current enviroment. I'll post a photo showing the setup this evening. I hope this will be resolved when I move to a treated wardrobe :)
Cheers,
Grant
Hi Johnatan,
I went crazy and did 3 new samples. Backed off the mic a bit and added a plush duvet over my head.
The below samples have been edited and only normalisation used to -3db
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/CheeseMaster_Demo2.wav
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/CheeseMaster_Demo3.wav
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/CheeseMaster_Demo4.wav
Let me know what you think.
And some photos of my current recording enviroment:
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/IMG_1455.jpg
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/IMG_1456.jpg
Cheers.
Grant
(Wellington, NZ).
Hi Grant,
Thank you very much for these samples and pictures, they do help.
The first thing we noticed, mouth noises are way better here, thank you for working on that.
Now, there is a small issue with hiss noise, it is small, yet it could be noticed by our team and they could add a rejection. Do you think you could use a mild noise reduction plugin to see if it helps with that?
Hi Johnatan,
Here's the same samples with noise reduction applied. Please let me know what you think?
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/CheeseMaster_Demo_2_NR.wav
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/CheeseMaster_Demo_3_NR.wav
https://thecheese.co.nz/studiopc/demo/CheeseMaster_Demo_4_NR.wav
Cheers,
Grant
Any further feedback?
Hi Grant,
Thank you for your new submissions, we are still noticing hiss noise on your recordings, especially on Demo 2.
How about you try and increment the settings on that plugin.
We are getting there, don't get discouraged, keep up the amazing work!
Hi Johnatan
I'm confused.. considering I note this is stated when uploading samples (bold highlights my point)
So noise reduction is not frowned upon? If this is the case, why isn't it the same for other processing?
Hi Grant,
That's a great question! Here's the thing, we find it better to make that statement and then clarifying, instead of leaving it out in the open. Why? Because experience tells us that some Pros, especially those that might be getting starting on the VO path tend to overuse this resource, leading to some artifacts or even damaging the audio.
So, no, it is not frowned upon if you do it mildly, gently, and to the point that it doesn't become obvious nor noticeable on your deliverable.
Does this make sense?