QC Setup | Part 2
I got rejected 5/6 times in a row for 'boxiness' again... after I trusted my QC issues had been previously resolved:
- Here is a link to the work I did with QC agent Samantha Hutton to resolve boxiness in my studio. She was very kind. https://help.bunnystudio.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360010285979-QC-Setup
- 7 projects have passed QC control over the past few days with some in the process of being approved by the client.
My trust in QC is wearing thin again. To pinpoint it, I would say it's Voicebunny's QC inconsistency. What I find most curious is that of the 5 times Juan was rejecting my recordings for boxiness, 1 of them he chose to let through? Boxiness can't appear and then disappear from one take to the next - this is a telling sign of inconsistency.
I would love it if Juan could take a listen to the approved clip by Samantha in the link above - that way I feel we can bridge this mysterious issue.
I'm going to take a wild guess and say that the problem may lie in the fact that Voicebunny QC agents have different over ear headphones - some favor mids and some favor bass. As artists, we can't see QC members setup so we can't be assured that our audio is being received consistently for all QC agents.
Look, I'm a reasonable guy. I enjoy working through this site and I'm keen to preserve our relationship. I'm determined to get things resolved in a kind and professional way.
Thank you
Sam
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Hi Sam,
I'm sorry to hear about your projects getting rejected for boxiness again!
Would you be kind enough to send me a few (or all) project links to the ones which were rejected?
I would like to share it with the QC team, in order to give them some feedback since we are constantly aligning and refining our QC standards.
Best wishes,
Samantha
Thanks so much Samantha. You've been a darling helping with all of this. I felt our work together created a good working solution.
It seems that when I work during the evening (morning in the U.S.) the QC becomes harsher and inconsistent. Though there are more projects available then, I've started feeling a bit put off.
I've decided to abstain from competitions because I seem to have had particularly rotten luck with QC in this area. I also understand that it's more difficult to grab hold of speedies during the U.S. day because artists with higher stats are piled onto the site. Totally fair.
These six spots were basically all done in succession. The first approval was either a 'merciful approval' or a 'mistaken approval'. Either way, inconsistent.
Approved
https://bunnystudio.com/voice/projects/#/timeline/53C7CCE713E126EBE60E
Rejected
https://bunnystudio.com/voice/projects/#/timeline/738AE75E3DE35B4D8626
https://bunnystudio.com/voice/projects/#/timeline/58663168CAB01FED3C68
https://bunnystudio.com/voice/projects/#/timeline/65EF232F5477CF41BEB8
https://bunnystudio.com/voice/projects/#/timeline/2222E55C460461042FF0
https://bunnystudio.com/voice/projects/#/timeline/75D0D143E8F3F82181B7
Hello Sam,
Thank you for your kind words! :)
Reviewing your rejected projects this is what the team commented:
I had a listen also to the projects, and I can see where the rejections may have come from.
You do have a lovely bass-ness to your voice, which at times, the low frequency in the recordings sounds almost boosted.
Would you mind recording further away from your mic, and tilting your head slightly off-axis, and uploading the sample here?
Also just to make sure in future boxiness doesn't become an issue again, it would be great to get a better understanding of your set-up and recording methods.
I never asked in the last thread, how do you read your scripts for recording? Do you have your laptop/tablet in the booth with you?
To your raw recordings what edits/processing do you use?
I believe you mentioned high pass filtering and low pass filtering, can you let me know to what levels? (Hz, -3dB? Etc.)
Completely understand your frustrations, being a voice actor myself I've had my fair share of comments and quality issues to deal with throughout the years, which at times were quite tiresome. So I'm determined to make sure this doesn't happen again to you!
All the very best,
Samantha
Thanks Samantha, yup this struggle is real!
Below are two clips. I usually take a snap of the script and read it off my phone. Laptop is outside the booth.
Raw. Normalised to -3db. Different positions.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11AZWwDcgIrQauQUfVLFQenB4yeKl_6P1/view?usp=sharing
Minimal processing: high pass filter (low frequencies 100hz cut) and normalised to -3db
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YwTFxOe8k5mvP9tOupxMR8m9lbLp3hG2/view?usp=sharing
Sam, sorry for the late reply.
I've been reviewing your audio recordings with the team.
The best take of the lot was the final one where you have your head tilted, in the file titled: 'Minimal processing: high pass filter (low frequencies 100hz cut) and normalized to -3db'.
However, we all agree that there is some slight boominess still present in this take. So lets try to get rid of this!
Some slight subtractive EQ along with what you already did in the 'Minimal processing: high pass filter (low frequencies 100hz cut) and normalized to -3db' file should help.
Here is a screenshot from Protools EQ which will help you make further slight adjustments in your DAW.
Thank you for your patience, look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Samantha
Hey, no worries :)
Okay - I've taken a stab at it. The second one reduces the frequency more.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MGLBnfWf_SnogC22M_Hy56SR9G-4HCnq/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CsmBgcsFLpoU7gIgD5xh_KEspI_YQucl/view?usp=sharing
It's obviously quite a small nuanced adjustment, so if anyone on that side is willing to run it through their DAW and share the changed file here, I'd be open to that too?
Otherwise, I'll keep pushing forward.
The second one has sorted out the boominess! However, it does sound like some high frequencies are getting out of control.
Could you send a screenshot of your EQ settings in your DAW? It would be useful to see if we can help, as sibilance is starting to happen.
Thanks :)
Awesome! This is the level I applied to the second one
Thanks for that! :)
Just a quick few questions.
Are you using a limiter or compressor? Or is it just the high pass filtering (low frequencies 100hz cut) and normalization to -3db like mentioned above, nothing else?
Also, what microphone are you using?
Nope. On this round it was only the high pass 100hz cut and normalized to -3b with your suggest eq above :) I'm using and NT1A Rode Microphone.
Ah, righty.
Thanks for this. Just trying to figure out how with the suggested EQ it looks/sounds like it's increased high frequencies in your EQ.
Referring with the team at the moment, but will be back in touch as soon as possible. :)
Hi,
Looking at your picture again, it shows the EQing is -15dBS (which I know you mentioned you lowered it more in that take), which makes sense why the high frequencies are being elevated slightly, as this mixed with our requirements to normalize to -3dB, is most likely causing that problem.
The recording just above the (-15dBS EQ one) that was EQed to -3dBS like the Pro Tools suggestion sounds rather similar to the original audio sent which has slight boominess to your voice.
The audio in the -15dBs take is pretty much there, just very slight EQing is required to find that sweet spot between EQing -3dBs and -15dBs to stop slight sibilance from happening.
I know this all may sound quite taxing, but trying to eliminate any future problematic issues that could arise in your future works.
Coincidently, I just heard an audition from you for a speedy project titled: PS Voiceover, what did you do to that audio? Sounded great! Whatever you did there we agree that it's good! Think you may have found the right amount of EQing!
Thanks Samantha!
While I was hanging back I decided to try another plugin chain:
Parametric EQ (100hz cut)
Automatic click remover
ProQ3 - your frequency suggestion
Desser: 4410 - 6100hz ducking (for the sibilance)
I think I got it! I see Juan QC'd my last submission as well, so I'm going to take it that we've solved the problem :) Thanks so much for being so supportive and understanding! Hope this little resolution helps someone else along the way. Looking forward to getting my stats up over time so I can compete during peak speedy times.
Much love,
Sam
Excellent news Sam!!! :D
Ah yes, the new plugin chain certainly helped! Sounds like you have got it!!
Thank you for all your understanding, patience, and cooperation throughout all this!
It has, as always been a delight speaking with you and I'm sure your stats will be moving up in no time with your continuous quick turn arounds and great work.
Hope you have a lovely weekend!
All the very best,
Samantha :)