Please critique my one minute test [OK]

jtmartinsen · Post by **jtmartinsen** » July 17th, 2012, 8:32 pm

http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/tests/test_jtmartinsen.mp3

I would greatly appreciate feedback from experienced LibriVox volunteers as to whether this recording makes the grade. I'm using Audacity version 2.0.0 with a AudioTech AT2020 cartoid condenser USB microphone. I followed settings for Audacity from a LibriVox Wiki page for newbie reading volunteers. I have not read on a project yet and appreciate an invitation to volunteer on a project should someone think my voice and recording set-up are appropriate. Thank you in advance for your advice and perhaps I can look forward to working with you on a project soon.

jtmartinsen
Virginia, USA

Post by **TriciaG** » July 17th, 2012, 8:46 pm

Welcome!

Tech specs are all correct. Volume is great, and there are no plosives.

You do have a fair amount of white noise. You could try a light noise cleaning. Here are a couple resources:
http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Noisecleaning_With_Pics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFSg9o37HMw

My settings are as follows:
Noise reduction: 12-15
Sensitivity: 0
Frequency Smoothing: 150
Attack/decay: 0.03

Try that and see what you think.

As for invitations to record, chances are that you won't get any because we don't know what you like to read!

The way it works here is that you look in the Readers Wanted parts of the forums, find something you find interesting, and claim a chapter/section in the project thread. Things seem to work very well when the readers volunteer vs. the coordinators seeking out whom they want to read for them.

Hope this helps!

Back to your test: if you want to post another sample with noise cleaning, feel free. Post the link in this thread. Or if you trust yourself, you can go strike out into the wide world of recording.

jtmartinsen · Post by **jtmartinsen** » July 18th, 2012, 2:45 pm

Thank you TriciaG. I will try cleaning up the noise and I appreciate your providing the resources. I'll start searching the forums for a project that appeals!

jtmartinsen · Post by **jtmartinsen** » July 18th, 2012, 3:01 pm

http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/tests/test_jtmartinsen.mp3

Thanks again for the advice. This file sounds much cleaner!

Post by **TriciaG** » July 18th, 2012, 6:51 pm

Sounds great!

FYI, your volume is now at 87.6 dB, and we aim for 89. It's within the acceptable range, but if you're going to err on volume, err on the side of being louder.

jtmartinsen · Post by **jtmartinsen** » July 23rd, 2012, 7:52 pm

Thanks again. I'll make the adjustments to the input level. I'm going to find myself a project to volunteer on.