Making your reading sound Great

tovarisch · Post by **tovarisch** » January 19th, 2017, 6:24 am

Had a few of those too...

Well, if you do notice them, you just re-read the last paragraph. If you miss, you re-record later.

lurcherlover · Post by **lurcherlover** » January 19th, 2017, 6:34 am

I usually cover my SR's with very loud and resonant belches ... some have called me Sir Toby Belch ...

But yes, if you think you have made a click or tongue slap, just immediately repeat the word(s) and edit. It's only sound after all, and no one has died as a result!

lurcherlover · Post by **lurcherlover** » January 20th, 2017, 2:56 am

If anyone would like to see some videos of how to record, edit and process audiobooks - go to https://www.openbookaudio.com/blog

There are also the same videos on youtube made by Matt Armstrong. I have found these videos quite useful.

carolb · Post by **carolb** » January 20th, 2017, 3:04 am

There is also a wealth of video information here at Librivox:

http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Instructional_Videos

Carol

lurcherlover · Post by **lurcherlover** » January 22nd, 2017, 12:57 pm

I mentioned moderate or even better light doses of compression in a previous post but I've been trying a couple of plugin compressors on Reaper and as I read somewhere all compressors alter the sound somewhat, and some a lot. They also introduce artifacts and I have noticed clicks and some pumping on some compressed files.

So now my own personal preferred method is to not use compression, but try not to have too great a dynamic range. Where I do have a small section or word which shoots up too loud, I find it better to zoom in and reduce that part of the waveform - which is easy to do in Reaper - by a few dB (usually by 4-6dB).

JosephMcWombie · Post by **JosephMcWombie** » March 4th, 2017, 2:02 pm

I am seeking opinions on a most correct workflow order of Audacity effects when processing my audio. Currently I use noise reduction firstly as a non-negotiable, and then compression (if at all) and lastly either normalise or replay-gain/amplify. Normalise and replay gain/amplify appear to do pretty much the same thing. So let's say:

noise reduction>compression>normalise

I have heard it said that compression should be applied before noise reduction. Also, are there any essential effects I have missed besides the in-between things like de-essing, noise gate for breaths, equalisation, etc?

tovarisch · Post by **tovarisch** » March 4th, 2017, 2:58 pm

My approach is usually simpler. I normalize first (using ReplayGain) and then reduce noise. I don't compress. Nobody has complained so far.

Post by **TriciaG** » March 4th, 2017, 4:07 pm

JosephMcWombie wrote:I am seeking opinions on a most correct workflow order of Audacity effects when processing my audio. Currently I use noise reduction firstly as a non-negotiable, and then compression (if at all) and lastly either normalise or replay-gain/amplify. Normalise and replay gain/amplify appear to do pretty much the same thing. So let's say:

noise reduction>compression>normalise

I have heard it said that compression should be applied before noise reduction. Also, are there any essential effects I have missed besides the in-between things like de-essing, noise gate for breaths, equalisation, etc?

Part of it depends on your audio.

* I don't de-ess, because I don't need it.
* I don't do noise-gate for breaths, because I don't breathe like an asthmatic rhinoceros.

* I don't amplify/normalize, because my input volume is fine without it.
* I DO compression, but very light, just to tone down a couple "blasts" of vowels I may have. (Threshold -13 dB, ratio 2.5:1 or 3:1 depending on where it happens to be set.)

If (1) your noise floor is relatively low and (2) your wave forms aren't close to clipping, compressing before or after noise removal won't make a difference:

(1)
- Select a portion of your audio where you're not talking, like you'd do for noise removal
- Go to Effect/Amplify, but don't do it.
- The number it shows you (the maximum amount you could amplify) is your noise floor. I just did it, and on my laptop mic, it's -50 dB.
- Now go to Effect/Compressor. Mine has the Noise Floor setting at -40 dB, which means that it won't affect anything quieter than that. Since my noise floor IS quieter than that, it doesn't affect it.
I'm not sure how much of an effect it would have if your noise floor is, say, -30 dB or something. After all, the threshold is set for, in my case, -13 dB. I had THOUGHT the compressor only affects wave forms that go above that, so I'm not sure what the noise floor does.

I'm no expert, as you can see. BUT in either case, if it's the noise floor or the threshold, a fairly low background noise won't get caught by the compressor.

(2)
The other consideration is clipping. I've noticed that if wave forms get really close to maximum, the noise removal effect WILL cause them to clip. I don't know why - I didn't think the noise removal amplified anything, but I've experienced it. *shrug* So if your volume is high, it might be better to compress before noise removal.

lurcherlover · Post by **lurcherlover** » March 5th, 2017, 1:46 am

I just reduce the actual high peaks by slicing before and after (in Reaper) at high magnification and reduce that bit by about 3dB. I never get clicks as i cut at the crossover point (zero crossings) but if I did, a very fast cross fade clears it up. It's more work but worth it. I then normalise (if needed) by an amount I think is right and check when i render the file that nothing has gone into the red.

SaraHale · Post by **SaraHale** » April 25th, 2017, 11:08 am

Hello, everyone!

I have just found a free online course on edX about Vocal Recording Technology. I thought it might be useful to you. The course started on April 17th, 2017. And it will end on June 7, 2017. If you are interested to know more or to enroll, please check the below link.

https://www.edx.org/course/vocal-recording-technology-berkleex-bmpr365x-2

Happy Recording!

JosephMcWombie · Post by **JosephMcWombie** » April 26th, 2017, 12:03 am

What a fantastic resource! Many thanks, I've signed myself up

SaraHale · Post by **SaraHale** » April 26th, 2017, 4:05 am

JosephMcWombie wrote:What a fantastic resource! Many thanks, I've signed myself up

You are welcome.

I guess I will see you there.

bubbaspeare · Post by **bubbaspeare** » April 27th, 2017, 4:54 pm

lurcherlover wrote:I just reduce the actual high peaks by slicing before and after (in Reaper) at high magnification and reduce that bit by about 3dB. I never get clicks as i cut at the crossover point (zero crossings) but if I did, a very fast cross fade clears it up. It's more work but worth it. I then normalise (if needed) by an amount I think is right and check when i render the file that nothing has gone into the red.

Hey lurcherlover, would you recommend Reaper to someone new to Librivox? My needs are not advanced, but I've just got hold of a mac, and after witnessing a Reaper demo on that platform, it seems fab! Why did you pick it over Audacity?

I did my Librivox test, got distracted, and still haven't done the short poem Librivox Admin recommend doing. Would like to give Reaper a try for that

Cheers

Bubba

lurcherlover · Post by **lurcherlover** » April 27th, 2017, 11:57 pm

bubbaspeare wrote:
lurcherlover wrote:I just reduce the actual high peaks by slicing before and after (in Reaper) at high magnification and reduce that bit by about 3dB. I never get clicks as i cut at the crossover point (zero crossings) but if I did, a very fast cross fade clears it up. It's more work but worth it. I then normalise (if needed) by an amount I think is right and check when i render the file that nothing has gone into the red.
Hey lurcherlover, would you recommend Reaper to someone new to Librivox? My needs are not advanced, but I've just got hold of a mac, and after witnessing a Reaper demo on that platform, it seems fab! Why did you pick it over Audacity?

I did my Librivox test, got distracted, and still haven't done the short poem Librivox Admin recommend doing. Would like to give Reaper a try for that

Cheers

Bubba

Yes, I certainly would try it. You can download it free and try it with no time limit and it has all it's full functions. It also has a users' group forum. Once you have the hang of it you will find it much easier than Audacity to use - although I have to use Audacity to convert to MP3 as I can't get Reaper to work with the Lame converter. (I record at 24 bit and render down to 16 bit and then import in Audacity to get to MP3).

Reaper can also be set up to the visual look that suits you best. and can be set up to slice, delete and crossfade in three simple and quick moves. You can't really lose, and I prefer it to Pro-Tools which costs five times more to buy and has to be renewed each year. Reaper is about $50 and that's for several years. (Unless you use it on an industrial/studio scale where it will cost a bit more, but for personal home use it's cheap). As I say, you can try it for months before buying it, and not lose out if you don't get on with it.

Post by **annise** » April 28th, 2017, 12:20 am

As far as LibriVox is comcerned , the big advantage in using Audacity is that it is free and most people on the forum can help you with any problems you have. If you aren't new to recording and use another program - go ahead with it. But if you are new , use what's on offer , find out how you record and then look for something that suits you .

Anne