Trying to clean up audio for ACX audiobook submission but the end result sounds like I’m talking in a telephone booth. It just doesn’t sound quite “right.”
-Audio passes ACX Check. RMS is -21.03 dB, Noise floor is -66.99dB.
-Use Macro Mastering filter with noise reduction: 12,6,3/ Graphic EQ, 20/ RMS normalize: independently, -20
Limiter: 0, 0, 10, -3.5, soft limit
-Microphone is Blue Yeti Condenser with pop filter sock.
-Gain dial on microphone set a little higher than .25 percent.
-I record in a small walk in closet inside a tent of blankets.
-Microphone is at a 45 degree angle from my head and I talk into it about 6-8 inches away.
When I listen the .wav file on my MacBook speakers it sounds okay, actually. But when I listen to it on my Sony headphones it has the telephone booth effect.
I have checked that the yeti is the input recording device in both my mac’s sound settings and also in audacity.
The yeti is set to cardioid, and I talk into the side with the “Blue” logo.
Problem: I cannot find how to view settings on the yeti to make sure that there are no default enhancements selected. I go to:
System Preferences > Sound > Input (select Yeti microphone).
There are no other options in this box to view additional details on existing yeti settings.
Record it, stop, cut it to 11 seconds or shorter, and export the WAV. Do not run any patches, filters, or other software.
The speakers on my MBP are nothing to brag about, but I bought a small MacBook Air and was shocked at the improvement in speaker sound. They don’t use speakers. They use powerful compression drivers behind the keyboard.
Did this used to work and turned to mud when you updated to 3.6.1?
You can’t always tell from the software what you’re recording. Do the scratch test. Start a recording. Scratch the Yeti above the name and then the microphone in the MacBook. You may need to look up where that microphone is. My Air is the two tiny holes to the left of the left-hand Shift Key. I think the MBP is behind the left-hand grill.
There was a very recent posting from someone with odd voice problems and he found “communications” sound settings in his machine. This is over and above the Audio Enhancements which everybody already knew were there.
Also see: Leaving Skype, Zoom, Meetings, Games, etc running in the background while you’re trying to record clean voice. Kiss of death.
There was a poster whose new headset (headphones and microphone) had built-in voice processing that he can’t turn off.
There was another poster with a special effects sound interface (microphone mixer with sound effects). The complaint was his voice sounded “funny.” Or not “clean.” It’s true.
I went onto the manufacturer’s promotion page and sat through a presenter demonstrating how to use the buttons and knobs to play sirens, bells, and swoosh effects. His voice sounded “funny,” too. Even better, he went on to demonstrate a different microphone system and his voice immediately cleared up.
Sometimes we can tell from the blue waves on the timeline what’s wrong. Your sample will not let us download the file, and besides, it’s after processing.
As a fuzzy rule, the Yeti microphones do very well. They’re really popular—and no, they don’t have any “settings” other than the knobs. You do have an odd knob, though. Home microphones tend to be quiet. I would have guessed a “Gain” setting of much higher. Your test will show that. Remember, do not apply any corrections after you read it. Just export the WAV file and post it no matter what it looks like.
Sorry for the delay. Thank you for your patience. Below is the voice test. The .wav file I uploaded initially was too large, so I upload this .aup file instead.
Some updates:
I am actually using version 3.5.1 because I wasn’t sure how to navigate the new settings for mastering.
It’s my opinion that the volume isn’t loud enough. Remember when you said the Gain is set at about 0.25? Well, your volume is about a quarter of where it should be.
Boost the Yeti Gain knob and speak until the Audacity blue wave tips reach 0.5 occasionally and/or the bouncing sound meter reaches between -6 and -12.
If you’re speaking straight-on to the Yeti, you might try position B or pushed off to one side and scootched closer.
Your top posting seems to say you’re using the Audiobook Mastering Macro and you’re using multiple other tools and stiff noise reduction. That may be where some of the distortion is coming from. 12, 6, 3 is heavy noise reduction and can create distortions.
Post your louder Catskill Cows clean and I’m going to master it here.
