Mastering

[sonrisajones]

Mac OS 10.13.2 High Sierra

I have been learning as I go (aka hacking) the mastering process for my recorded book, which I plan to submit to Audible. Is there a place here in the forum where I can learn about the best techniques for this? I have been using the Filter - rolloff for voice, RMS normalization and Limiter - in that order.

Seems though that using Noise Reduction is necessary, (even though I have a very quiet studio space) which the ACX folks advise against over-using (makes clips sound “over processed”?)

Happy to hear any and all feedback / direction. Thanks!
Linda

[kozikowski]

learning … the mastering process for my recorded book

Have you already recorded it? The whole thing?

There is a new ACX Check analysis tool available.

If the one you used looks like this …

… then you have the old one. The new one has a much shorter info panel, works faster, and on longer performances.

Missing features

Seems though that using Noise Reduction is necessary

Not always. If you can pass noise by at least -65dB or quieter, then you can usually publish with no further work.

AudioBook Mastering version 4

dB or Decibel Relationships <— Quieter ———————— Louder —> -65dB, -60dB, -23dB, -18dB, -3dB, 0dB That’s all the audiobook dB specifications. — Maximum volume is 0dB. Sound gets quieter with negative numbers. — -3dB is the loudest audiobook peak sound value. — RMS or loudness needs to hit between -18dB (louder) and -23dB (quieter). — Noise value has to be quieter than -60dB. Noise is the troublesome one. Actual submitted performance background noise should be quieter than -65dB in real…

Both the forum and ACX allow you to post a short test before you start pushing tons of sound files around.

Record a ten second sample and post it here.

https://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/TestClip/Record_A_Clip.html

Do not correct or process anything. Raw voice as you normally perform, cut it to length, export and post it.

Koz