My repeat 1 minute test [OK]

Paddy001 · Post by **Paddy001** » October 26th, 2024, 7:25 am

https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/Test_paddy001.mp3
Hi I am using Windows 10, with Audacity 2.2 and the built-in microphone, because both my plug-in ones have broken.
Is this adequate? It sounds clear, but lacking in bass tones to my ear.

Winnifred · Post by **Winnifred** » October 26th, 2024, 9:39 am

Paddy001 wrote: ↑October 26th, 2024, 7:25 am https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/Test_paddy001.mp3
Hi I am using Windows 10, with Audacity 2.2 and the built-in microphone, because both my plug-in ones have broken.
Is this adequate? It sounds clear, but lacking in bass tones to my ear.

Hi Paddy, and welcome back to Librivox!

Your voice is clear and pleasant, and your test meets all the Librivox technical standards, with one caveat. The volume is sitting at 92 dB, which is at the upper end of the acceptable range of 86-92 dB. In fact, the Checker (the plug-in we use to check these files) is saying it's actually out of range. I suggest lowering your volume slightly for future recordings.

I didn't notice a lack of bass tones (unless your voice is way more bass than it sounds.

)

For this test, please use Amplification to lower the volume by a couple of decibels (just put -2 in the dialogue box), and reupload the test. Paste the link into a response to this post and I'll come back to check it out.

You're almost there.

Cheers,

Paddy001 · Post by **Paddy001** » October 29th, 2024, 4:45 pm

Hi there,
I have re-recorded a repeat version, which is here
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/Test2_paddy001.mp3

I can't find a way to see the amplification I am getting in terms of decibels.

I found a limiter, where I can set variables like Threshold (-5), Make-up target (-1), knee width (2.0), and some smoothing settings.

The Analyse, Measure RMS tool gives me -19.7db. I have no idea what that means. Is this what you are aiming for? As you can see, I have no knowledge of digital sound manipulation!

Paddy

Winnifred · Post by **Winnifred** » October 29th, 2024, 5:13 pm

Paddy001 wrote: ↑October 29th, 2024, 4:45 pm Hi there,
I have re-recorded a repeat version, which is here
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/Test2_paddy001.mp3

I can't find a way to see the amplification I am getting in terms of decibels.

I found a limiter, where I can set variables like Threshold (-5), Make-up target (-1), knee width (2.0), and some smoothing settings.

The Analyse, Measure RMS tool gives me -19.7db. I have no idea what that means. Is this what you are aiming for? As you can see, I have no knowledge of digital sound manipulation!

Paddy

Hi Paddy,

The re-recorded version sounds good and the volume on it is acceptable at 91.9 dB, but now the bit rate has changed from 128 kbps constant (which was correct) to 113 kbps variable (which is not). You'll have to re-export the original file to MP3 and change the settings in that dialogue box to fix that.

I don't think the limiter is what you're looking for to adjust amplification. In the latest versions of Audacity, there's an Effect called Amplify, which you can set to negative numbers to reduce amplification.

If you're using the Measure RMS tool to check volume, aim for -23 dB RMS, which equals 89 dB in the Checker tool (same thing, just different scales). So you're close enough on that. If you wanted to adjust it down further, you'd bring it down only a decibel or two.

I've written a how-to on getting the correct settings in Audacity, but it's based on versions 3.4.2 to 3.6.4. You could take a look at that, but the screen shots may look different from what you see in version 2.2. But it might help you with adjusting your bit rate.

Is it possible for you to upgrade your Audacity to a later version? Not that it's essential, it would just make it easier to troubleshoot any issues that arise, as most of us are using later versions. This site has all of the older versions going back to 2.0. for free download.

It may seem complicated at first, but for most of us, getting past the 1-minute test was the hardest part of getting up and running on LibriVox. After that, we generally learned a little bit here, and a little bit there, as we needed to, and it all started to seem much less complicated. There's always someone willing to help out here when you have questions (and there are no dumb questions!)

In any case, if you can fix the bit rate on this test, you'll be ready to start recording. Please change that and reupload the same file and I'll be back to check it out.

Thanks,

Paddy001 · Post by **Paddy001** » November 1st, 2024, 4:47 pm

Hi there,
Sorry to be blasting away at it like this - third go now, but I am learning (re-learning!) my way round Audacity.
I believe I've got it more or less right, although it seems to be quite quiet on my machine.
My new sample is at
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test3b_paddy001.mp3
All the best,
Paddy

Winnifred · Post by **Winnifred** » November 2nd, 2024, 12:29 pm

Paddy001 wrote: ↑November 1st, 2024, 4:47 pm Hi there,
Sorry to be blasting away at it like this - third go now, but I am learning (re-learning!) my way round Audacity.
I believe I've got it more or less right, although it seems to be quite quiet on my machine.
My new sample is at
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test3b_paddy001.mp3
All the best,
Paddy

And that one's perfect! Your volume is at 88.1, so no worries.

You might just have to crank up the volume to listen to your own recordings.

Happy reading!

Cheers,