Rejection- not professional quality equipment
7th time unlucky- Rejected.
Hi QA team! This is my seventh time rejection. I really had two issues to deal with my voice reel submissions- “boxiness” and “white noise”.
Thanks to Gabriel - I took the feedback very seriously and changed my microphone from RODE- NT USB to RODE NT - 1A (spending extra) and bought some professional acoustic foam to soundproof my room. Got another feedback from Gabriel yesterday mentioning of boxiness- which was due to my microphone placed too close to the wall. I changed the position of microphone and submitted revision. Now my project is rejected mentioning the equipment was not professional quality.
I took all feedback seriously and made changes as per advised but now I am stuck.
I know I have spent extra couple of hundred pounds to buy all my equipments and soundproofing and it’s definitely professional quality.
Please can you help?
Regards
Shubhita
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Hello Shubhita! How are you??
Hope you are doing fine! I know it can be frustrating, but we are here to help you :). I would appreciate if you could attach the last sample that was rejected in order to be able to screen it and let you know my thoughts about it.
Also if you can, it would be nice to have some pictures of your actual recording space to see how it has evolved and see if there is room for improvement.
Looking forward to hear from you,
Kindest regards.
Gabriel
Adding to my previous comment, I would also appreciate if you could tell me which Audio interface are you using to connect the mic to your computer :).
Thanks!
Hi Gabriel,
Thank you for replying back. I must say you've helped me a lot and really appreciate you giving me another chance to submit revisions rather than outright rejecting it. :)) (That made it a bit less scary)
As mentioned, when you suggested of white noise, I changed my RODE - USB to RODE nt1A. I use Focursite scarlett solo as my audio interface. - so that solved the issue of white noise.
Regarding Boxiness... I did understand my mic was placed too close to the wall so I moved it a bit. I have very limited space to play with (as I am recording from a closet) and now have foam padding covered by moving blankets, carpet, cushions and blankets all around. Just to make it soundproof.
Please see a link below to my recording submitted recently. Let me know if you cant access it.
https://www.transfernow.net/y7gC0i092020
Thank you so much for your help.
Regards
Shubhita
Hello Shubhita, how are you?
Thanks a lot for the updated information :). I was listening to your sample but unfortunately it still has some issues. I'm a little bit confused because the gear that you got should be good enough in order to be able to deliver a professional quality. However, the voice over you attached sounds like if it was recorded with a not so good microphone or if as the audio was over-processed.
May I ask you if you are using any processing in your audio? As I mentioned above, it sounds as if you were over doing a type of noise reduction plug in or something similar. Your voice is lacking some energy and content on the mid-higher frequencies and that is why the sample was rejected with the comments that your equipment was not professional at all.
Please let me know this. Also, I would appreciate if you could tell me which DAW are you using to record and describe me the process you are following in order to be able to rule out what might be happening in this case.
Looking forward to hear from you :).
Have a nice week.
Gabriel
Hi Gabriel,
Thank you for replying back. After we spoke last I ordered microphone isolation shield too. I recorded something today. Its a raw piece with mouth clicks removed - used fade process. I do use hard limiter and Noise reduction process, which I am not using on this demo.
I use Adobe audition for my recording. Let me know if this is what you were looking for? Thanks for helping me here :)
I really need to know if I am doing something really wrong here and correct it before its too late. :D
https://www.transfernow.net/pegoo0102020
Thank you
Shubhita
oh Gabriel Lol,
Got rejected again :(( - I never had these many rejections not even when I was dating. :)) - Sorry just down to my wits' end so rather than getting frustrated having a laugh here.
After you said my voice was booming,,, I lowered the gain as it was set too high and then recorded and normalise it to -3dbs. I dont know what went wrong this time. The QA team said - boxiness and mouth clicks. Can you please check and suggest? Its better you give me feedback here rather then people rejecting me, lol.
Here's my sample:
https://www.transfernow.net/qEq1Dy102020
Waiting for your feedback.
Thnaks
Shubhita
Hello Shubhita! How are you?
Hope you are doing wonderful. And I'm so sorry to hear that, but I'm happy that you are still committed to improve the quality of your recordings :).
First of all, I was listening to the previous sample before the last rejection and definitely there was an issue with over processing your audio. The processing that you were doing was significantly deteriorating the quality of your recordings and was making them sound as if the audios were being recorded with a low quality mic. Please try to avoid any processing unless you are really aware of what you are doing. It is better to try to tackle the issues directly from the source instead of looking to fix out things afterwards with processing that might mess up the quality of the audio, as we could identify in your case.
I was listening to your second sample and even though it isn't still there 100%, I can notice some great improvements comparing them with the first ones you were sending. Taking that into account, I think it is better if we manage to resolve the other issues first before re submitting any applications :).
I have to agree that there is still some boxiness issue going on. I was checking our thread but it seems you haven't sent me yet some pictures of your recording space. If it is okay with you, please upload some pictures of the space so I can give you some advice on how to manage this boxiness situation.
Looking forward to hear from you!
Hope you have an amazing weekend.
Gabriel
Hi Gabriel,
Thank you for replying back.
I am sending you few pictures of my working space - my storage area. :))
So it is under the stairs storage so the roof is slanting - the mic is sitting on a wooden cupboard covered by moving blanket There are cushions behind and at the side of mic and are covered by moving blanket. I have microphone isolation shield behind the mic and mic is at 20 degree angle from me, I face the cushions while recording. There is no covering on the left wall but the lightbulb and the wall is covered with long winter jacket while recording. Behind me is a wooden door which has winter jackets hanging and on top of that the door is covered by moving blanket. The floor is covered with carpet. My laptop and Scarlett solo are kept outside the closet.
Let me know if I need to make any changes, Shall I buy acoustic foams and stick them on door and all the walls? I do not turn the lightbulb on thinking they might distract the recording. Do you think keeping gain too low can also effect and cause boxiness?
Have a good weekend and thanks for your help.
Regards
Shubhita
Hi Gabriel,
How are you?
I finally made it!! After series of rejections and revisions, this morning I received the project again and was accepted in one go,
I am really thankful to you for spending time with me and giving me feedback so I can improve. :))
Until next time.
With love
Shubhita
Hello Shubhita!
I'm sorry for my delayed reply! And I'm really glad you finally made it. I was listening to the audio of your audition and sounds pretty neat!
Thanks a lot to you for being part of your community and for being super committed to deliver excellent professional results.
Until next time, hope you have a great end of your week :).
Gabriel