1 minute test - KatieMama [OK]

[KatieMama]

https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test_katiemama.mp3

Audacity, Mac, USB microphone

Thanks in advance for your help!

[InTheDesert]

https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test_katiemama.mp3

Audacity, Mac, USB microphone

Thanks in advance for your help!

1 Minute Test Feedback:

Welcome to Librivox and thanks for posting your test file. We look forward to you joining the community!

Reading Feedback:
You have a bright, pleasant voice.

Technical Feedback:

• 00:00 The volume of this track is 81.67dB. LV requires the overall volume for the track (measured by ReplayGain - you can try this tool if you want to check the volume) to be between 86-92dB (with 89dB being the ideal). The easiest way to fix this automatically is to use the 'Loudness Normalization' effect (set to -19LUFS in 'perceived loudness' mode) in recent versions of Audacity before exporting the track as an MP3. If you use RMS normalization, set it to -21dB. Another way to fix it would be to use the Amplify effect set to 7dB. Since the volume is so low, amplifying it sufficiently would increase the background noise a lot. Did you accidentally have the microphone slider lower than intended or were you further from the microphone than you should be?
• 00:00 Note (no change needed): I think I would tend to describe this audio as 'overprocessed'. It's hard to describe what it is exactly - it can sound metallic or like there is a little reverb. Or that the 's' sounds are very prominent but other consonants are muffled. The cause is usually applying too many effects - particularly noise reduction which can rip out the mid-tones which give clarity. 2-6dB of noise reduction are usually all that is required. It could also be caused by exporting the file too early as an mp3 instead of performing your edits on the original recording. This can also be caused by the microphone itself (inbuilt microphone on a laptop, phone, tablet). If the quality of your microphone makes you think it should sound better, make sure you have selected the correct microphone as your recording input and that you're not using a different microphone that is available on your device accidentally. If you have a high quality microphone and you're not running post-processing on the file, the most likely cause is that you're speaking into the wrong side of the microphone No change needed this time but it might be something you want to look into for future recordings.

Once you've tweaked these settings, upload the file again using the same filename (uploading to the same filename is important when you are submitting Librivox files) and post in the thread and I'll check it for you again!

[KatieMama]

Thanks so much! I'll have a fiddle with it over the next few days and try again!

[KatieMama]

Hi there,
I've had another go - I used the amplify function as you suggested, and I think the background noise is OK. I'm not sure why my mic is so quiet. A couple of the 'p's sound a little funny at the beginning, but not towards the end, so perhaps I just breathed too much initially?
Thanks for your help - is this better?
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test_katiemama.mp3

[InTheDesert]

Hi there,
I've had another go - I used the amplify function as you suggested, and I think the background noise is OK. I'm not sure why my mic is so quiet. A couple of the 'p's sound a little funny at the beginning, but not towards the end, so perhaps I just breathed too much initially?
Thanks for your help - is this better?
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test_katiemama.mp3

Technical Feedback:

• 00:00 Your plosives (p, b, t, d, c etc. sounds) tended to 'pop' in this recording which generally means you are speaking directly into the microphone rather than at a slight angle. This can easily be improved with a change in microphone placement or using a pop filter. It can also be improved in post-processing by applying the High Pass Filter effect set to 120Hz and -12dB.
• 00:00 Note (no change needed): The volume of this track is 91.13dB. LV requires the overall volume for the track (measured by ReplayGain - you can try this tool if you want to check the volume) to be between 86-92dB (with 89dB being the ideal). The file falls within the outer ends of that range and so doesn't need to be changed but watch that it doesn't end up outside the range. The easiest way to automatically set the volume is to use the 'Loudness Normalization' effect (set to -19LUFS in 'perceived loudness' mode) in recent versions of Audacity before exporting the track as an MP3. If you use RMS normalization, set it to -21dB. Another way would be to use the Amplify effect set to -2dB.

Once you've tweaked these settings, upload the file again using the same filename (uploading to the same filename is important when you are submitting Librivox files) and post in the thread and I'll check it for you again!

[KatieMama]

Hello again!
How's this?
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test_KatieMama.mp3
Thank you!

[InTheDesert]

Hello again!
How's this?
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test_KatieMama.mp3
Thank you!

Success! You are ready to record!

[KatieMama]

Hello again!
How's this?
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test_KatieMama.mp3
Thank you!

Success! You are ready to record!

Woo hoo! Thank you!