So sorry for all the trouble Koz. I appreciate all you have done.
Thank you, Laura
I think I got it nailed. Steve (senior elf) wrote a tool that fills in some of the absences in the current Audacity processing suite. It’s literally computer code. No graphics, no help and no guidance. I’m preparing enough info so you can use it. Starting from the download we have in common (DB Chapter 1 Edited.wav), I was able to process to this with just two tools.
It even sounds reasonable. I’m going to squeeze my processed work down to an MP3 for viewing and listening, only. For anything serious or important, we need to ship the WAV file around.
As we go.
Koz
I’m going to squeeze my processed work down to an MP3
Oh no I’m not. It’s too big. After I get the instructions together, it should look like this:
You may need to resize your browser to see the whole thing.
Koz
Effect (scroll down) > Limiter.
Do you have that tool? If you open it on a piece of scrap sound, the first selection should have four options starting with Soft Limit.
It’s better than even chance you may need to download that.
Let us know.
Koz
Hi Koz,
I have the limiter. Is this the only effect I need?
Thank you so much… Laura
Is this the only effect I need?
No. We’re going to make the second effect.
I need to shift gears.
Koz
========================================
;version 4
;control target “Target RMS level” float “dB” -20 -40 -6
;control mode “Normalize stereo channels” choice “Linked stereo,Independently” 0
(setf target (db-to-linear target))
(defun mean-sq (sig ln)
(let ((j 1) (total 0))
(when (> ln 1000000)
(setf j (round (/ ln 1000.0)))
(setf ln 1000))
(setf msq (snd-avg (mult sig sig) ln ln op-average))
(dotimes (i j)
(setf total (+ (snd-fetch msq) total)))
(/ total j)))
(defun rms-mono (sig target ln)
(mult sig
(/ target (sqrt (mean-sq sig ln)))))
(defun rms-stereo (sig target ln)
(mult sig
(/ target
(sqrt (/ (+ (mean-sq (aref sig 0) ln)
(mean-sq (aref sig 1) ln))
2.0)))))
(if (= mode 1) ;independent
(multichan-expand #'rms-mono track target (truncate len))
(if (arrayp track) ;joined stereo
(rms-stereo track target (truncate len))
(rms-mono track target (truncate len)))) ;mono
\
The above I’m calling “SetRMS” for lack of a better name. It directly adjusts RMS (Loudness) to ACX without all this beating about the bush with other tools.
In the above message, it’s all the text without the top and bottom blank spaces and equal signs. You will need to drag-select the text (computer code) and Copy it using your computer Copy command.
– Open DB Chapter 1 Edited.wav in Audacity.
– Select it all by clicking just above MUTE.
– Effect > Nyquist Prompt > Paste > OK. The little window should fill up with lots of parens, punctuation marks and semi-English words. > OK.
– Target RMS -20.00, Linked Stereo > OK.
– The show will sit there staring blankly at you for quite some time, but in the background, SetRMS is pounding away figuring out where to put the corrected blue waves. I have a reasonably fast machine and it took 20 seconds. If yours is slower, you may be able to make tea.
If you get a response panel or other error message, it failed.
The blue waves will get much taller and some of them may expand off the timeline window. This is normal. If you have View > Show Clipping enabled you will see a forest of thin red warnings. That’s normal, too. I’m using Audacity’s odd ability to gracefully manage over-range sound without damage.
– Effect > Limiter: Soft Limit, 0.00, 0.00, -3.50, 10.00, No > OK.
Limiter is a more finished tool than SetRMS. It has an annunciator panel and will tell you where it is in the process.
– Analyze > ACX Check.
Listen around 10 minutes at “Rob? You called him Rob!!” That’s where the tools had to do the most work. That was your theatrical expression phrase.
Koz
Incredible Koz…
Worked, first time, exactly how you spelled it out.
I’m embarrassed that my “theatrics” LOL at the 10 minute mark, seemed to create a need for all this “custom code”.
Thank you so much. I am going to try this for chapter 2…
I truly appreciate your help.
Sincerely, Laura
Hey Koz,
Chapter 2 results:
Audacity failed (closed) when it stopped responding during ACX Check the first time. But I ran it start to finish again… and it made it through ACX Check with the results above.
Amazing…
Thank you so much. Any suggestions for the next 13 chapters?
Sincerely, Laura
I’m embarrassed that my “theatrics” LOL at the 10 minute mark, seemed to create a need for all this “custom code”.
Yes and no. You should be able to announce expression without throwing the whole process into a tizzy. If you do get a tizzy, it means the process is brittle. The tool design was long overdue with or without “Rob.”
Does it sound OK? We should remember that one of ACX’s failures is “overprocessing,” where the correction processes can be heard. That and ACX stresses chapter to chapter matching. Can you listen from the end of chapter one to the beginning of chapter two without startling differences?
You have a very quiet environment which goes a very long way to making processing tools relatively easy to design. Most people arrive with wispy voices, low volume and noise (ffffff). The truly cursed also have traffic, computer and air conditioner noises.
Any suggestions for the next 13 chapters?
Repeat as needed. If you can crank out similar live readings, there’s no reason the same correction suite shouldn’t work for all of them.
A historical note, this exact process used to be built into hardware for FM station transmitters. The CBS Audimax and Volumax. The Audimax would set overall show volume and the Volumax would come up behind and clean up show peaks and other minor errors. Those two appeared in US FM stations for years.
Koz
Diane, the sister forum posting (that I confused) succeeded in passing ACX Quality Control and was sent to mastering and distribution.
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/need-help-interpreting-mastering-feedback-from-acx/44030/67
Koz
Keep us up on how it goes. You are now part of the development team for new software.
I got Diane to work using the older technique, but this newer software should be much easier to use. I will not be able to switch Diane over because of the need to keep the chapter sounds similar. Depending on how yours works out, her next book will probably use the new software.
Koz
Hi Koz,
FYI, I just recorded, edited, and mastered Chapter 3 and passed ACX with your same effects.
I am awaiting a response from ACX Tech Support team for Chapter 1 acceptance. I will pass on the news as soon as I hear from them.
I so appreciate all your help.
Sincerely, Laura
We are on the edges of our seats.
Koz
The ACX QA Team has passed the 1st Chapter. I will submit the next 4 Chapters which all passed the Audacity ACX Check after running your effects on them. Thank you so much Koz!
If they pass ACX Check, then they just have to make it through Human Quality Control. If your voice is normal, there’s no reason not to sail through.
Koz
Thanks for all your help, Koz. I submitted three of the chapters to ACX for their check and they all passed. As long as I don’t touch a single button (LOL!) I should be on track for the rest of the book. I REALLY appreciate all your time and help. Thank you!
Laura
and they all passed.
That’s a good thing. Now it’s the real work of reading for months.
Koz