Sound not crystal clear - tinny

[BobinsUK]

Hello and thanks for checking this out.

When I record any audio its sounds like im talking in a cupboard. The sound is closed. I've changed the reverb settings and its still sounds tinny and closed in.

Win 10
Rode NT USB Mic
Audacity 2.4.2

Using windows softyware, it still sounds the same but I am unablke to change settings with that, which is why I want to use Audacity.


Regards


Andy

[DVDdoug]

I've changed the reverb settings

What setting is that? Audacity doesn't apply effects in real time, but Windows can. Reverb is more for singing/music than talking and of course you should only use it if you want the effect...

Make sure you've selected the USN mic as your Recording Device and scratch the microphone grill with your fingernail to make sure you're not recording from the mic built-into your laptop.

And make sure all Windows Enhancements are turned OFF.

[BobinsUK]

I've disabled the enhancements but it hasn't changed anything. I've attached a small file of me talking. Perhaps you (or anyone else) could work out what the issue could be? The room is about 13ft by 14ft. Blinds and no curtains. Just a regu;ar room.

[kozikowski]

You have all the symptoms of a broken microphone or recording system.

You noticed the odd sound. I noticed that the recording volume is a tiny fraction of what it's supposed to be. This is about what your Audacity screen is supposed to look like during a normal recording.



The blue waves get taller with volume. Your blue waves look like dead flat lines.

scratch the microphone grill with your fingernail to make sure you're not recording from the mic built into your laptop.

We need an answer to that one. Consult your instructions and find out where your computer microphone is. Start a recording and scratch it and then scratch the Rode.

https://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/cli ... hTest2.mp3

The Rode is a side-fire microphone. You speak into the side grill up from the company name. If you speak into it from any other direction, the volume will go down and it may sound funny.

The microphone doesn't seem to have any volume controls and that sometimes means there are controls built into a software package. And as DVDdoug above, Windows can get their fingers into it, too.

But that's not all. If you use Skype, Zoom or other community software, they can affect your microphone. Leaving Zoom running in the background while you're trying to make a good recording is a terrible idea. Close all other applications and restart Windows.

Koz

[kozikowski]

We usually go right around this because it's almost always the same, but where is the slider on the Audacity microphone control? It's supposed to be all the way up (+) on a USB microphone and it's usually automatic. Where is yours?

Screen Shot 2021-01-24 at 8.34.31 AM.png (5.36 KiB) Viewed 183 times

Koz

[BobinsUK]

I'll jump back on this later and update this post. I did reduce the volume manually on the MIC as, it picks up everything in the house. The MIC is set up on the desk with the front ofg it facing me. Moving the controls on the side has no effect in audacity. I have no other active mic's, unless I connect my headset, which I can do.

[BobinsUK]

We usually go right around this because it's almost always the same, but where is the slider on the Audacity microphone control? It's supposed to be all the way up (+) on a USB microphone and it's usually automatic. Where is yours?


Screen Shot 2021-01-24 at 8.34.31 AM.png


Koz

The slider was half way, I've moved it all the way across now. Still the same. I've scratched the MIC and Audacity poicks its up, showing its the active mic. I lowered the MIC volume in windows to about 20, as the MIC was picking things up all over the house. I've put it back to 100% and removed Enchancements in Windows.

Not sure of this is anything but the USB cable is about 5-7 meters long. I was thinking of trying a shorter cable from a printer.



Andy

[BobinsUK]

I've moved the slider to 100% now Koz and its strill the same. I should mention that I reduced the volume of the Mic in windows as it was picking up sounds all over the house. I've put that back to 100 too. I recorded a piece and scratched the mic, and Audacity showed the spike in sound, so the correct mic is use.

The USB cable is about 6-7 meters long, I was thinking of trying a shorter cable, just in case.


Andy

[kozikowski]

6-7 meters long,

That's not a good idea. 2M or shorter is just about right. That used to be a printer cable.

The only way to split your voice from the house noises is remove the house. This is why people record their voices inside closets, under beds, and backs of cars.

Here's one possibility.

viewtopic.php?p=369938#p369938

You have to get your voice up to good volume or the electronic noise of the microphone is going to mess with your sound quality.

The two knobs on the side of the microphone are for your headphone volume (plugged into the microphone) and the mix when you decide to sing harmony to yourself. Neither one affects your voice volume during a recording.

Koz