Feedback: Over-Processing, White Noise/Room Echo
I've received an email requesting a sample for feedback. Both links are the same file, one is completely raw and the other is cleaned up slightly and the audio amplified. The email stated that some of my audio sounds over processed, with white noise and room echo. I record in my homemade booth with a Rode NT-1.
Raw File: https://www.mediafire.com/file/7r4f2z0qj4qeuk2/Sample_Feedback_Raw.wav/file
Processed File: https://www.mediafire.com/file/sprnp9ywpkr7soq/Sample_Feedback.wav/file
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Hi Liv, thanks for reaching out!
I was listening to your files and I noticed that the processing you are applying is adding some artifacts that affects the quality. It helps a lot reducing the background noise but is counterproductive in therms of quality.
So my suggestion is that you try to fix the problem from the source, in this case, try to identify the origin of the noise. It seems to be a fan or some equipment in the background, so would be a good idea to turn that off while recording your voice. That will help your recordings sound better without over-processing.
Please let me know what you think.
Best regards,
Steven Cifuentes
The sound in the background is my computer. It's basically a problem I'm stuck with as I've no funds to fix it and can't move it to another room. Would you have any other recommendations?
Well, knowing that, you can try a couple of things:
1) The microphone you are using has a cardioid pattern, which means it captures the sound from the front and rejects the sound coming from the back, so the first thing is to place the back of the mic facing to the computer so it captures less of that sound.
2) The other suggestion is to move as far as possible from the computer so the level of the background noise is reduced.
3) You can try using something as an “acoustic barrier” that blocks in some way the path between the computer and the microphone.
4)If you still need to apply noise reduction, the best way is to record some seconds of “room tone” and then use it to trigger the learn function of the noise reduction plugin, that way, the plugin will do a more accurate work. You can share with me the name of the plugin you are using for noise reduction to help you achieve a more natural result.
Hope this information can help you.
Best regards,
Steven.
I can try moving my mic to the other side of my desk, but that moves it closer to my computer, so not sure if that will decrease the noise coming in. Currently, I'm using Wavepad for my audio. No separate plug-in. I use the Auto Spectral Noise Reduction and Multi-Band Noise Reduction. Sometimes I'll do Normalize on top of that, depending on the audio.
I'm in a fairly small room and can't move the computer too far, along with shorter cables.
Hi Liv!
I shared your case with the QC team and we all agree to accept the quality of the processed file. Nonetheless, it would be nice if you can solve the matter of the background noise in the future.
Best regards,
Steven.
Hi, Steven! Thank you. I am working on reconfiguring my space to make it work better and will resubmit a new sample once things are set up as I like. Thank you for your time and help.