[group] THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS STORIES - philc

[melissabuell]

Yes, I applied it to the different spots of noise. The Audacity version I have is different from the one in the video that you gave the demonstration. I tried to apply it by guessing...When I listened back to it, the noise was gone so I thought it was okay.

The noise reduction effect shouldn't be used multiple times like that. The process should be:
1)take one chunk of the track where you aren't talking and use that as the noise profile, then
2) select the whole track and run the noise reduction one time.
I compared your first and second uploads and your voice sounds better in the first one. I urge you to go back to that first version. Again, let me know if you haven't saved a copy of that version.

Previous recording, noise reduction removed (hopefully!). If this isn't right, I will start over again with a fresh recording. I'm sorry for the issues with this.
URL: https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_26a_dickinson_128kb.mp3

[HLinnae]

Here is ch 10, "A Story of the Christ-Child"

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_10_dickinson_128kb.mp3
Time: 12:19

Any feedback is welcome.

[loon]

Just finished chapter 14

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_14_dickinson_128kb.mp3

Everything is just right, except for the silence at the end. If you add 2 1/2 seconds of silence to the very end all will be well.

I was afraid as you were reading that Peggy would have some sort of childhood stroke or something, but it all turned around in the end. Huzzah.

[philchenevert]

Here is ch 10, "A Story of the Christ-Child"

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_10_dickinson_128kb.mp3
Time: 12:19

Any feedback is welcome.

I will put this into t he magic window for proof listening.

[loon]

Previous recording, noise reduction removed (hopefully!). If this isn't right, I will start over again with a fresh recording. I'm sorry for the issues with this. :?
URL: https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_26a_dickinson_128kb.mp3

All's well, except you added an 'a' into the file name. There are so many files flowing into the LibriVox servers for all the various books in progress at any one time - it's important go get the file name exactly right or a chapter will likely get lost. I'll rename this one and upload it again, then it'll be PL OK. It'll be there in a moment.

Phil, you can get rid of childrensbookofchristmasstories_26a_dickinson_128kb.mp3 at some point.

[loon]

I downloaded chapter 26 again to make sure I uploaded the proper version. Length is 13:29. Overall volume is 86.3 - near the low end but meets the spec.

Melissa, you're all set! Thanks.

[loupo]

That made me laugh.I thought it was one I could share with my teens to get them to be more Peggy! Sorry on the silence, I keep referring to half second bars. Doh!

Lou

Just finished chapter 14

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_14_dickinson_128kb.mp3

Everything is just right, except for the silence at the end. If you add 2 1/2 seconds of silence to the very end all will be well.

I was afraid as you were reading that Peggy would have some sort of childhood stroke or something, but it all turned around in the end. Huzzah.

[loupo]

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_14_dickinson_128kb.mp3

Here we go, Chapter 14 - 18mins 34 sec

Lou

[philchenevert]

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_14_dickinson_128kb.mp3

Here we go, Chapter 14 - 18mins 34 sec

Lou

[loon]

Here is ch 10, "A Story of the Christ-Child"

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_10_dickinson_128kb.mp3
Time: 12:19

Any feedback is welcome. :)

Heidi -

The volume of your chapter is too low - 'Checker' reports it at 85.5 dB but LibriVox wants 86-92 dB. You can't get quite to the middle of this range without a lesson in compression - but you can boost the gain enough to get into the allowed range.

Open your chapter again in Audacity and select 'Effect' 'Amplify...' - the Amplification box wil say something like 2.8 dB. Make sure the Allow clipping box is not checked, because we don't like clipping; it hurtses our earses, it does. Click OK and you'll see that your track has gotten taller (& louder), with the largest peak somewhere in the story just reaching the limit. Make your new .mp3 and upload that, which should then be fine.

feedback: as for your reading, I'm happy you are willing to read the story at the pace it deserves (and not rush through it, often my problem). Technical stuff: your background noise is pretty good - even after you amplify the chapter as requested above, the quiet bits will be lower than -70 dB. I hear a tiny, tiny bit of room sound (echos from nearby walls) in the recording. If you are using a headset mic there isn't a lot you can do about that other than maybe gather some pillows of other soft stuff around to adsorb some of the reflections from walls, desktop, etc. But that's only something to think about if you're going to be super-fussy.

[loon]

Here we go, Chapter 14 - 18mins 34 sec

Thank you Lou.
Chapter 14 - The Little Sister's Vacation - is now spot PL OK.

We're flying along: a quarter of the chapters in this book are now ready.

[zoesmama]

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_02_dickinson_128kb.mp3

Track Length 24:55.09
Hope this works well, let me know if you need any changes.

You're all set! Chapter 2 - The Fir -Tree - is now PL OK. Thanks.
Hans Christian Andersen does 'melancholy' in so many of his stories.

By the way, Audacity can warn you if parts of your recording are clipping - different versions of Audacity sometimes move things around in the menus, but in my version there's a 'Show Clipping (on/off)' toggle in the 'View' menu. With it on anything that's too loud - even if it's just for 1/44100th of a second - is highlighted with a red marking.

That's excellent! Thank you for the heads-up about the "Show clipping"... Yes, def. a melancholy story, clearly a lesson about enjoying the times in your life, too... Glad it's ok....

[loupo]

Hi hi,

would I be able to take number 31? Master Sandy's Snapdragon. I don't promise to do a particularly good Antique Scot's accent for King James but I'll have a good crack at the English ones

Lou

[philchenevert]

Hi hi,

would I be able to take number 31? Master Sandy's Snapdragon. I don't promise to do a particularly good Antique Scot's accent for King James but I'll have a good crack at the English ones

Lou

All yours Lou. And I feel confident that you will tell this story in a fine and fun fashion, with the type of accents only you can provide

[HLinnae]

Here is ch 10, "A Story of the Christ-Child"

https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_10_dickinson_128kb.mp3
Time: 12:19

Any feedback is welcome.

Heidi -

The volume of your chapter is too low - 'Checker' reports it at 85.5 dB but LibriVox wants 86-92 dB. You can't get quite to the middle of this range without a lesson in compression - but you can boost the gain enough to get into the allowed range.

Open your chapter again in Audacity and select 'Effect' 'Amplify...' - the Amplification box wil say something like 2.8 dB. Make sure the Allow clipping box is not checked, because we don't like clipping; it hurtses our earses, it does. Click OK and you'll see that your track has gotten taller (& louder), with the largest peak somewhere in the story just reaching the limit. Make your new .mp3 and upload that, which should then be fine.

feedback: as for your reading, I'm happy you are willing to read the story at the pace it deserves (and not rush through it, often my problem). Technical stuff: your background noise is pretty good - even after you amplify the chapter as requested above, the quiet bits will be lower than -70 dB. I hear a tiny, tiny bit of room sound (echos from nearby walls) in the recording. If you are using a headset mic there isn't a lot you can do about that other than maybe gather some pillows of other soft stuff around to adsorb some of the reflections from walls, desktop, etc. But that's only something to think about if you're going to be super-fussy.

Thank you, Rich. I've amplified the file and reloaded it: https://librivox.org/uploads/philchenevert/childrensbookofchristmasstories_10_dickinson_128kb.mp3

Thanks for the "fussy" feedback as well. I want it all. I'm using my laptop, so I'll try some pillows.