Finding the right equalization for my voice

[flynwill]

If you do "Analyze -> Plot Spectrum" on a section of your recording where you are not speaking, You will see that there is a lot of energy below 100 Hz. There is an upward trend from 7Hz down that I suspect is electronic "1/f" noise from the per-amplifiers in your Blue Yeti, but I suspect that a lot of the stuff between 20 Hz and 100Hz may be in your recording environment.

And sorry I should have explained it. The file is an equalization curve for Audacity's equalization function. If you bring up the equalization panel (effect -> equalization) then under "save/manage curves" you will find "import", select that, and choose the LF_rolloff_for_speech.xml file (assuming you have already got it downloaded to your computer somewhere).
You probably won't hear any difference after applying this filter to your recording, but it will make a significant difference in the measured noise level.

As for adjusting the "crispness" then I would probably just try a typical "treble" adjustment, put two points in the equalization curve at 1 kHz and 2Khz then add a bit of boost to everything from 1 kHz up. As they say in recipe books "season to taste".

[kozikowski]

Instead of writing this again and again, I posted instructions for preparing a clip.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/Test ... _Clip.html

Note the first two seconds are freeze and hold your breath. Yes, we can hear your pants and shirt moving. I makes measuring the electrical noise of the system very difficult.

"That's either microphone thermal noise, or your jeans could use a good washing."

Beginners always underestimate how sensitive this stuff is.

~~

We're not entirely sure what causes it, but many recordings arrive with a lot of church organ/thunder/earthquake rumble. Most of it is too low pitch to hear no matter whose headphones you use. Steve's rumble filter strips all that away and makes sure that your tools and filters are working just on your voice and nothing else. It's not a normal plugin. It's designed to be installed into Effect > Equalization. It's run with the "length" slider all the way up.

- Open the show or Generate > Noise> OK. It's just to get something on the timeline.

- Effect > Equalization > Save/Manage Curves > Import.
- Point at LF_rolloff_for_speech.xml > OK. (it won't open the ZIP. You have to decompress it)

- From that point forward it appears as a standard curve.

Open the show. Select the work.
Effect > Equalization > Select Curve > LF rolloff for speech, Length of filter: 8191 > OK.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Right. Crisp.

Effect > Equalization points from about 4000 and up affect brightness or crispness. Experiment. I prepared a simple curve attached. That's approximately what "voice" microphones do internally to sound brighter.

Koz

[MyNameisZee]

Hmm I think the rolloff does get rid of some of the ambient background rumble, so that's good. Now I just need to figure out what's up with my voice. It SEEMS like the microphone is catching too much of my voice (though I may be wrong), which is causing some strange distortion to these speakers that might not be able to handle it. Here is an edited sound byte (it's a bit of a rush job so if you notice anything let me know). If you can, compare it through your speakers to a notable commentator or podcaster (eg: Markiplier). There is a significant difference in quality compared to his. I want to figure out why that is. If you really don't think it's important, and that I should continue to prioritize through headphones, I'll do that.

[kozikowski]

I'm perfectly pleased to do that, but it may take a bit of time. The forum elves are all volunteers and sometimes Real Life gets in the way.

Koz

[kozikowski]

I'm very pleased you provided an example of work you like. Sometimes it's pulling teeth getting posters to tell us what they want to sound like.
Koz

[kozikowski]

This better? It's before and after. I can publish the Equalization curve.

Koz

[MyNameisZee]

I'm wondering if my hearing is off. Personally I think the Before sounds a little cleaner than the After. I guess I should clarify (to be sure), I don't want my voice to sound like the other commentator, rather, I just want the same level of quality coming from my voice. The one thing that seems to be recurring is that through speakers, my voice comes off as dirtier, with a little distortion. Perhaps it's the particular tone of my voice, or some issue with my microphone, I'm not sure.

On a side note, when I say speakers, I mean multiple types. I recently tried listening through the iPhone 6 speakers and got the same sort of distortion, although it didn't sound quite as bad.

Also, I do appreciate what you guys have been doing for me. I completely understand if I'm not a priority.

[kozikowski]

It is cleaner. I'm going with my first comment. I would have no trouble listening to a story in that original voice.

The reference you posted as an example has a more forward, sharper sound than you. I guess it helps that he's screaming into the microphone a lot of the time, but that's him. It's possible to accept the curve I made and change it so to hit it in the middle, be sharper than you but not as aggressive as him.

I can't tell. Do you want me to talk you into using your natural voice? Count me in. Other posters would kill to have your natural, clean presentation.

We do note, though, that there's no shortage of people wanting us to make them into actors. There's no filter for that. They still hire actual actors to be the voices in animated movies, obviously not for their good looks.

Emmet in the Lego Movie was voiced by Chris Pratt... because he can act.

Koz

[MyNameisZee]

Haha that's very nice of you to say. I don't particularly want my voice to change, but, I want to figure out why my audio samples come off dirtier than other commentators. It's no problem if you have decent headphones. (even iPhone earbuds make the sound quality alright, although not as good as my Sennheiser headset), but any speakers seem to be a problem, whereas for these other commentators out there, they don't have the same problem (eg: I can listen to that Markiplier video with no distortion through my speakers, but my own audio samples sound bad when played through the speakers). I'm wondering if it's because my voice tone is lower, and is resonating with the speakers more.

As for the equalization, most the issues that I've been having have been solved, or are in the process of being solved. So I guess the main point of this thread is now moot. I do appreciate the help, and if you have any ideas about the other problem, let me know.