MP3 file sounds normal, Audacity file v distorted! Why?

[BonnieVO]

New user and voiceover, on a steep learning curve and could really use some advice!

Initially, made some demos and all worked fine. Using Windows 8.1 on a new lenovo laptop with Audacity 2.1.0 (.exe installer), and a Focusrite Scarlett Solo pre-amp.
When I listen to the MP3 files on mediaplayer they are normal, but when playing in Audacity they are distorted in various ways, it had been a constant flickering sound, now I just sound drunk!

Have attached an audacity file to give you an idea....

Any advice please?

[DVDdoug]

Can you attach the problem MP3? It's the MP3 that doesn't sound right in Audacity, right?

We can't listen to your AUP file... The AUP file itself doesn't contain any audio. It's just a list of instructions for Audacity.

[BonnieVO]

well you've taught me something there for starters!

the aup files and the mp3s are both distorting when played through audacity, whereas the mp3s are fine when I play it on mediaplayer.

what am I doing wrong?

much appreciated!

[kozikowski]

It may not be the problem you think it is. The clip you provided is pure and clear here. I performed a simple volume change and got it to pass ACX Audiobook conformance (attached, last sentence).

No clue why it's appearing distorted or damaged there. Windows is famous for "helping you" with your audio whether or not you want the help. This may be a problem for the Windows elves. I'm a Mac elf.

Koz

[kozikowski]

The AUP file is a list of instructions of what Audacity should do with all that stuff inside the _DATA folder. That's where the actual show is. You need them both and they both have to be in the same location or folder to work.

Don't fall in love with MP3 files. Those are good for submission, posting and listening on your personal music device. They're terrible for production. Do all production and archive work in WAV (Microsoft). Then, after everything is perfect, make the MP3. Each time you edit an MP3, the quality gets worse. You can go from a perfect WAV to any other format, but you can't generally come back.

Koz

[kozikowski]

You may have found this already, but Audacity Projects (AUP) do not save UNDO. Once you save a project and exit, the UNDO system clears.

Koz

[BonnieVO]

Wow - thanks a million for all that super helpful info Koz. Did not know about the UNDO thing! - eek so much to learn.

Especially happy about passing the ACX test-hallelujah! and that was totally raw. great. something's going right at least!

Hmm...to sort out this baffling distortion.

Windows elves? any ideas?

[kozikowski]

They are going to ask you about your playback system. How are you listening to the work? Model numbers?

What are the settings in your Audacity Device Toolbar?

http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/de ... olbar.html

Does it misbehave when you listen on headphones? Earbuds may not be very helpful, but some in-ear earphones might be OK.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Just based on our experiences so far, the work probably sounds fine on other machines? That can help narrow it down. "It sounds fine on my mum's machine and Koz's, but not mine..."

Koz

[kozikowski]

Especially happy about passing the ACX test

If you have a reasonable microphone and recorder and a studio-ish quality room, there's no reason not to produce audiobook quality material straight-away. Some people produce ratty work and then go through pages of effects and filters to "clean it up" in post production. ACX specifically tells us not to do that because it can make a voice sound funny and unreal.

When I get back I'll tell you the steps I did to make it conform.

Koz