Inconsistent Quality Control
Finally decided to post something as today was about as frustrating of a day as I've had on Bunny. Background - Been on the site 3 months and after a rocky start and trying to figure out the Quality control challenges of the site, I found my grove and have had the vast majority of my work approved with no QC issues. But today was a day reminiscent of those early days. First and foremost, I record in the same place with the same equipment set up and settings EVERY day. Nothing changes. I'm also careful how far I speak from the mic. I am ALWAYS consistent. My day-
- Job #1 - So today I start the day by successfully auditioning completing a job that was approved by the client
- Job #2 then gets revision requests by noting overcompressed and over-processed. Mind you same setting as Job #1. After a few takes it's accepted and approved by client.
- Job #3 - This one is a head scratcher in many ways. Same QC as Job #2 and while basically recorded at the same setting as my first take of Job #2, nothing is noted about over-compressed/processed. Instead I'm asked to revise as it doesn't sound young enough. So I give it a take with a younger tone and it is accepted....but ultimately rejected by the client! Fate would have it the job popped up again and I was allowed to apply. I did and got the audition. So I used the same version I first submitted (that one that didn't sound young enough). And it was accepted by the judge and get this..also the client! I can't even wrap my head around that.
- Rest of the day went ok with only one job requiring a revision due to distortion noted. Different Judge and an issue no other judge noted.
- Last job of the day was QC by yet another QC and he threw the kitchen sink at me from boxiness (saying not an acoustically good environment/small space), volume (asked for at -3dBFS) and mouth noise. Side note - this judge always has these issues and no others do....
Think that sums it up pretty good and exactly what I went though way back. How can the same judge request revisions for one job but accept the another simultaneously with the EXACT same settings? And how can I successfully do over 150 jobs and the same judge keeps rejecting me for saying I don't have an acoustically good environment yet it works for all the others? It's consistently inconsistent and how is that fair to the pro's who are scratching and clawing to do work? I'm always consistent and basically having to alter my gain and normalization to the tastes of individual judges; and when that happens it results in more revision requests because I don't know what to expect any given job. I'm curious if all the judges are using the same equipment and looking at the same things or are they given free will to do as they please?
I also want to throw in that I was professionally trained and while always learning and growing in this business, I have shared multiple rejections with the company that trained me. They have a Grammy winning sound guy and every rejection he has listened to has noted that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the recording; and is baffled it doesn't work for a site that typically pays less than $15 a job.
I will end my rant on a few good notes. The Bunny Support folks are phenomenal and have really helped me keep my sanity. Daniel is a saint in my books and always there to give input and assistance where he can. And all the frustration noted, when Bunny does work and it's clicking, it's a blast and one of my favorite sites to do work! Maybe I'll get to a point where I'm doing more high paying jobs, but for now, I love the excitement and experience.
Would love to hear from other pro's that are going through the same thing or can share any thoughts or comments. Realize we are all competing against each other, but in the end, we are a community and there seems to be plenty of work on this site to go around!
Chris
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Hiroshi - I appreciate the explanation and do apologize if my frustration comes across in my post, but it's frustrating. So last night it happened again with you and the crazy part is I was just short listed for a job using the same set up with another site that pays 20x what this one did. Regardless I'd like to try what you suggested. My problem and please anyone chime in is that I do not know how to accomplish what you said with my set up. When I received my training, they provided me a standard template. I always use that. My equipment is a Scarlett box and Pro Tools. If you or someone can help me figure out how to make those adjustments through those two component, it would be helpful.
Hey Hiroshi. Are you able to take the conversation offline as many of my still remaining questions surround not understanding my version of ProTools and what you are explaining. For instance, I don't see those knobs on mine. I use a "sweetener" track to do all my recordings from the place I trained and don't have a ton of experience yet with ProTools. If you are able, my email is cklancir@gmail.com and would really appreciate a way to get this resolved. Thanks! - Chris
Hi Hiroshi. So I worked with the company that trained me and figured out how to adjust the equalizer. Was a little different than your version, but I did it. Please review this job I was just approved for and let me know your thoughts on the issues we have been discussing. Many thanks!
Speedy Work for SAIC - Hiring Surge DC Metro - Feb10-Mar7 2022 - Mission d6f3b5a6-0060-4016-aed4-c19af20bc4ec
Hi Hiroshi -
Really appreciate the continued feedback and tips. In the end, I just want to be at a place where I can send in auditions with no concerns on the audio quality. So again forgive me for being a bit new, but I often have adjusted the gain for Bunny auditions when there have been requests for revisions. Typically I keep the gain between 10 and 11o'clock and have lowered it to 9 o'clock for audio revisions. I just don't know how much a turn of the knob equates to the 1-2 decibels. I also know other factors play into where you set the gain including type of mic (I have a 3-Zigma CHI lollipop mic) and distance to mic. Typically I have the pop filter an inch from the mic and I speak about an inch or so from the pop filter. I also wonder sometimes I do my reads louder and more animated and curious to that impact on gain and sound quality. I'm a sponge here so please dispense your knowledge and wisdom and thank you in advance!
Chris
Hi Hiroshi - So after your prior email I did share with the company that got me the equipment and training. I believe we identified the problem. When they trained me, they told me I always normalize to 90% after recording my audio clips. When I started having some Bunny site tech issues/revision requests, there were time I was told to reduce to -3dbs. What I started to do was normalize to 95% in order to do that. Always seemed like that would do the trick and have continued to normalize to 95% on all jobs. Now that we have adjusted other items, I'm told that normalizing to 90% should completely eliminate what you are describing. I will give that a shot on any next audition.
Chris
Hi Hiroshi, So after some successful recordings using the new settings things have been fine until you rejected another recording last night. Regarding your last correspondent on lowering the clip gain after recording, the tutorial you sent me did not help as my version of Pro Tools (Pro Tools First) does not have that view option in my menu. So with that, I have simply been using the settings you recommended and normalizing to 90%, which is what my company said should eliminate most of the issue. What is frustrating to me with your rejection last night is 1) Two prior recordings in the day were approved by Bunny judges AND the client (using the EXACT same settings); and 2) You simply rejected my recording without allowing me a revision. With the issue you noted, I would have simply changed the normalizing to 95% to achieve what you were looking for; but again you didn't give me that chance. Feels like I'm back to square one with you and have done just about EVERYTHING you have asked and can possibly do. Interested to hear your feedback....