Audacity Forum

I actually need to correct what I said. I take everything back. The phone on airplane mode didnt fix anything. The problem the entire time was that my gain was set too high. The computer couldn't handle the usb mics and the audio interface couldn't handle the xlr mic with the high gain I had, which was almost maxed out. I didnt think that was a problem because the end recording was close to what ACX requires and I didn't need to amplify much, but apparently it was everything. I turned the gain right down and then just amplified the sounds like crazy, no more clicks. I couldn't have done this before when recording in my home but now I'm renting a studio with low noise floor so I can do it. What a nightmare this has turned into. Why cant people just read instead of listening to audiobooks? Ahahah

Tylertrue1 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 10, 2020 9:41 pm

Why cant people just read instead of listening to audiobooks? Ahahah

OMG turning off Low-rolloff for speech EQ before making my edits seems to have totally fixed the problem! seems too good to be true but so far so good. Thanks for the tip!

the end recording was close to what ACX requires

Nobody can read directly into ACX, or if you do, it's by accident. It is recommended that you record at a lower volume and let Audiobook Mastering make up the difference.

This is the current recommended goal.


Occasional recording tips up to about 50% or the bouncing sound meter just turning yellow.

turning off Low-rolloff for speech EQ before making my edits

Do your editing and production before Mastering if this works for you. Then, when you get a chapter working, apply Mastering. It's dangerous to apply the Mastering steps out of order, add any, or leave any out. They clean up after each other.

Cutting and pasting silence to cover up errors can be a recursive problem. If you edit after mastering, your silence has to have Low Rolloff, too, so it matches. If you edit before Mastering, then you should use raw silence.

Home microphones almost all have very low pitch noises and rumble. If you don't get rid of it in editing, your show may fail on really good sound systems or good headphones. "What's that thunder or growling noise in the background."

Also, not using Low Rolloff will throw the audiobook RMS (Loudness) and Peak settings off.

The three audiobook Mastering tools are a suite, a harmonious grouping.

And just when you thought it was safe, DeClicking and DeEssing work much better after Mastering.

Koz

Do your editing and production before Mastering if this works for you.

I think there is a misunderstanding. As far as I know, low roll-off for speech EQ is the first step for mastering an audiobook (followed by loudness normalization and limiter) for ACX. So for me, doing mastering first and THEN doing the editing seems to be the best solution to prevent pops and clicks from popping up when I delete, cut, or paste audio.

RodeMotu wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 18, 2020 4:31 pm

So for me, doing mastering first and THEN doing the editing seems to be the best solution to prevent pops and clicks from popping up when I delete, cut, or paste audio.

Use the low roll-off for speech EQ first, then do your editing, then do the remaining "mastering" steps after your editing is complete.

So the low roll-off EQ is a good bandaid fix for now but this is still really bothering me! I will link a video to the problem so you can see it and maybe give a better assessment? I have tried plugging into different USB ports, using different aux cables, reinstalling audacity, and using a completely different interface but the problem persists.

It won't show my edit toolbar in the video but the only actions I'm performing are "deletes" and one attempt at the end to try and paste clean noise over a spike. It just keeps making more spikes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij4Ty43oU3k

RodeMotu wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 20, 2020 12:16 am

... I'm performing are "deletes" and one attempt at the end to try and paste clean noise over a spike.
It just keeps making more spikes ...

Just before you hit delete, hit the "Z" button on the keyboard, that will adjust your selection to "zero crossing points". Then when you hit delete there should be a smooth join, rather than another discontinuity click.
https ://manual.audacityteam.org/man/select_menu_at_zero_crossings.html

[ BTW you should reset your toolbars: avoids wasted screen space].

So pressing Z doesn't seem to do anything, do I need to set anything up to make Z a hotkey or enable the zero crossing points edit you speak of?

EDIT: it looks like pressing Z does actually change my selection slightly when zoomed in, but the problem in my video persists. Deleting still creates a new waveform peak rather than just removing it.