COMPLETE The Talking Handkerchief by Thomas Knox -ck

Solo or group recordings that are finished and fully available for listeners
Post Reply
Carolin
Posts: 42448
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:54 am
Location: the Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Carolin »

The Talking Handkerchief, and Other Stories by Thomas Wallace Knox (1835 - 1896).

This project is now complete! All audio files can now be found on the catalog page for this project: http://librivox.org/the-talking-handkerchief-and-other-stories-by-thomas-wallace-knox/
This is a collection of 22 stories of action and adventure. We follow the narrators as they escape pirates and cannibals, overcome natural disasters, and are attacked by wild animals. Cunning plans are executed and daring escapes are accomplished, all in the particular style of the 19th century adventure story.

Thomas Knox was an author who had travelled around the world by the time he wrote the stories in this volume, and who was no stranger to any of the geographic areas in which he set his stories. ( Carolin)
    1. How to claim a part, and "how it all works" here To find a section to record, simply look at point 5. below at the sections. All the ones without names beside them are "up for grabs." Click "Post reply" at the top left of the screen and tell us which section you would like to read (include the section number from the left-most column in the reader list, please). Read points 6. to 8. below for what to do before, during and after your recording.
    2. New to recording? Please read our Newbie Guide to Recording!
    3. Is there a deadline? We ask that you submit your recorded sections within 1-2 months of placing your claim. Please note that to be fair to the readers who have completed their sections in a timely way, if you haven't submitted your recording(s) after two months, your sections will automatically be re-opened for other readers to claim, unless you post in this thread to request an extension. Extensions will be granted at the discretion of the Book Coordinator. If you cannot do your section, for whatever reason, just let me know and it'll go back to the pool. There's no shame in this; we're all volunteers and things happen.Please do not sign up for more sections than you can complete within the two month deadline.
    4. Where do I find the text? Source text (please only read from this text!): https://archive.org/details/talkinghandkerch00knox
    5. Please claim sections (the numbers in the first column below)! If this is your first recording, please let me know under which name or pseudonym you'd like to appear in the LibriVox catalogue. We can also link to a personal website/blog.

      Prospective Prooflisteners: Please read the Listeners Wanted FAQ before listening! Level of prooflistening requested: standard

      Please don't download or listen to files belonging to projects in process (unless you are the BC or PL). Our servers are not set up to handle the greater volume of traffic. Please wait until the project has been completed. Thanks!

      Magic Window:



      BC Admin
    6. BEFORE recording: Please check the Recording Notes: http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6427#6430

      Set your recording software to:
      Channels: 1 (Mono)
      Bit Rate: 128 kbps
      Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
    7. DURING recording:
      No more than 0.5 to 1 second of silence at the beginning of the recording!
      Make sure you add this to the beginning of your recording:
      START of recording (Intro)
      • "Section [number] of The Talking Handkerchief, and Other Stories. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit: librivox DOT org"
      • If you wish, say: "Recording by [your name], [city, your blog, podcast, web address]"
      • Say:
        "The Talking Handkerchief, and Other Stories, by Thomas Wallace Knox. [title]"

      END of recording
      • At the end of the section, say:
        "End of Section [number]"
      • If you wish, say:
        "Recording by [your name], [city, your blog, podcast, web address]"
      • At the end of the book, say (in addition):
        "End of The Talking Handkerchief, and Other Stories, by Thomas Wallace Knox. "

      There should be 5 seconds silence at the end of the recording, or 10 seconds for files longer than 30 minutes.

      Please remember to check this thread frequently for updates!
    8. AFTER recording
      Need noise-cleaning?
      Listen to your file through headphones. If you can hear some constant background noise (hiss/buzz), you may want to clean it up a bit. The new (free) version 1.3.3. of Audacity has much improved noise-cleaning. See this LibriVox wiki page for a complete guide.
      Save files as
      128 kbps MP3
      handkerchief_##_knox_128kb.mp3 (all lower-case) where ## is the section number (e.g. handkerchief_01_knox_128kb.mp3)
    9. Example ID3 V2 tags (just leave those blank!)

      Please ignore tags for Genre and Track Number - these will be filled in automatically at the cataloguing stage.
      Transfer of files (completed recordings) Please always post in this forum thread when you've sent a file. Also, post the length of the recording (file duration: mm:ss) together with the link.
      • Upload your file with the LibriVox Uploader: https://librivox.org/login/uploader
        Image
        (If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
      • You'll need to select the MC, which for this project is: Carolin
      • When your upload is complete, you will receive a link - please post it in this thread.
      • If this doesn't work, or you have questions, please check our How To Send Your Recording wiki page.


      Any questions?
      Please post below
Carolin
Carolin
Posts: 42448
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:54 am
Location: the Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Carolin »

These stories will be perfect for anyone into those old adventure stories :)

All readers and a dpl are most welcome!
Carolin
Carolin
Posts: 42448
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:54 am
Location: the Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Carolin »

this is moving out to readers wanted :)
Carolin
Michael4469
Posts: 9
Joined: January 31st, 2017, 12:01 pm

Post by Michael4469 »

I would like to claim section 1, The talking handkerchief. This is my first narrative attempt.
Thank you.

My name is Michael F. Plueger Sr.
Carolin
Posts: 42448
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:54 am
Location: the Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Carolin »

Hi Michael, welcome to Librivox :thumbs:

I have signed you up, your personal catalogue page is here https://librivox.org/reader/11469

I see you have completed your test recording, so you can go right ahead with recording. I hope you will enjoy the story!
Carolin
Michael4469
Posts: 9
Joined: January 31st, 2017, 12:01 pm

Post by Michael4469 »

Section 1 sent for listening. Time = 38 min 3 sec.
Link =https://librivox.org/uploads/carolin/handkerchief_01knox-128kb.mp3

Advise sought:
1) Used noise reduction, amplification, Bass boost...not really satisfied with results, or if any were needed or helpful
2) Is "appending" the best way to go when continuing a narration from day before, or when repeated a section needing correction, or should I just add new tracks, and let them all fall in place when extracting to a zip file...any suggestions certainly appreciated...

Thanks...Mike
Carolin
Posts: 42448
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:54 am
Location: the Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Carolin »

thank you michael :)

someone will listen to your section shortly and give you feedback.
Carolin
Twinkle88
Posts: 4225
Joined: January 25th, 2016, 8:38 pm
Contact:

Post by Twinkle88 »

Michael4469 wrote:Section 1 sent for listening. Time = 38 min 3 sec.
Link =https://librivox.org/uploads/carolin/handkerchief_01knox-128kb.mp3
I will PL shortly. :)
Carolin
Posts: 42448
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:54 am
Location: the Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Carolin »

Thank you :thumbs:
Carolin
Twinkle88
Posts: 4225
Joined: January 25th, 2016, 8:38 pm
Contact:

Post by Twinkle88 »

Michael4469 wrote:Section 1 sent for listening. Time = 38 min 3 sec.
Link =https://librivox.org/uploads/carolin/handkerchief_01knox-128kb.mp3
Wow, that was quite a story!! You did an excellent job reading it -- I enjoyed listening. :)

I have just some minor PL notes:

- Too much silence @ 0:00: You have nearly three seconds of silence before you start talking, but there should only be around .5 to 1 second. Seems nitpicky, I know, but it's easy to fix if you click the "Zoom In" button on Audacity.
- Missing chapter title @ 0:31: It sounds redundant, but you need to include the chapter title in the intro, like so, "The Talking Handkerchief, and Other Stories, by Thomas Wallace Knox. The Talking Handkerchief."
- Somewhat long pause @ 9:50
- Too much silence at the end: You have 12 seconds of silence, but there needs to be just 5.

Also some things for future reference, but don't need to be fixed now:

- You file should be named like this: handkerchief_01_knox_128kb.mp3
- You have absolutely no background noise, but your voice sounds a little bit distorted. It may improve your sound quality if you applied less noise reduction to your recordings next time.
- Some areas of your recording are much louder than other areas. This can be improved with just a few steps (using Audacity):

Hit Ctrl + A to select your entire recording
At the top, click "Effect"
Then click "Compressor..."
Phil Chenevert advises using these settings, which I find to work well:
  • Threshold: -20 dB
    Noise Floor: -40 dB
    Ratio: 2:1
    Attack Time: 0.18 secs
    Release Time: 1.0 secs
Leave both boxes beside "Make-up gain for 0 dB after compressing" and "Compress based on Peaks" unchecked
And click "OK"!

This quiets the loudest parts of the recording, so now you can amplify the quiet areas, without making the louder parts too loud (confusing? :lol: ):

Hit Ctrl + C
At the top, click "Effect"
Then click "Amplify"
Type in +2
And "OK"!
Twinkle88
Posts: 4225
Joined: January 25th, 2016, 8:38 pm
Contact:

Post by Twinkle88 »

Michael4469 wrote:Advise sought:
1) Used noise reduction, amplification, Bass boost...not really satisfied with results, or if any were needed or helpful
2) Is "appending" the best way to go when continuing a narration from day before, or when repeated a section needing correction, or should I just add new tracks, and let them all fall in place when extracting to a zip file...any suggestions certainly appreciated...
Like I said, your level of background noise is nice and low, but using less rigorous settings for your noise reduction may be better; your volume was good; I'm not really sure what "Bass boost" does. You probably don't need to, but I guess if you want to keep using it, that's fine.

Sorry, I don't know what "appending" means, but it seems to have worked out for you! :wink: But it's also okay for your recording to be comprised of different tracks -- just make sure they're not overlapping/spaced too far apart before you export. What I find to be easiest when I have to leave in the middle of recording and come back later, is to open my file in Audacity, then hit Shift + R. This allows me to record where I left off, without making an additional track.
Carolin
Posts: 42448
Joined: May 26th, 2010, 8:54 am
Location: the Netherlands
Contact:

Post by Carolin »

thank you so much :D
Carolin
scribblings
Posts: 8
Joined: February 16th, 2017, 12:35 pm
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Contact:

Post by scribblings »

Hello!

I would love to do chased by wolves! (11)

Let me know if this is ok.

Matthew.
Last edited by scribblings on February 18th, 2017, 5:26 am, edited 2 times in total.
Freelance writer, aspiring author and student from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Voiceover is a new 2017 passion project.

Check me out at www.scribblings.blog/about
Michael4469
Posts: 9
Joined: January 31st, 2017, 12:01 pm

Post by Michael4469 »

I have sent the redo version of Chapter 1, The Talking Handkerchief. (Chapter name added, and extra space deleted.

https://librivox.org/uploads/carolin/handkerchief_01_128kb.mp3

Time 37 min 54 sec.

Thank You
jftocanada
Posts: 124
Joined: May 9th, 2016, 11:39 am

Post by jftocanada »

Hello Carolin,

May I claim section 17
thank you

sincerely,
jftocanada
Post Reply