ACX Mastering

[lwitek]

Hi Koz,

I just tried to reproduce your fix and I still failed.

Audio Compressor
-- Select the whole clip or show by clicking just above MUTE.
-- Effect > Normalize: [X]Remove DC, [X]Normalize to -3.5 > OK
-- Effect > Compressor: Thresh -20, Floor -40, Ratio 2:1, Attack 0.2, Release 1.0, > OK
-- Effect > Normalize: [X]Remove DC, [X]Normalize to -3.5 > OK

DB Chapter 1 Results.png (10.8 KiB) Viewed 903 times

Did you apply any noise reduction effects?

Thank you again.

Laura

[kozikowski]

Did you apply any noise reduction effects?

No, I didn't. And RMS (loudness) isn't the only bad number. In my correction, the noise is -70dB which is expected and rational. The -207dB noise reading from your correction is not. The only reason that number passes ACX Noise is a quirk in ACX-Check. The way it thinks, any number quieter than -60 passes whether or not it's rational.

Are you working from DB Chapter 1 Edited.wav that I got from the hightail.com posting site?

Screen Shot 2016-12-03 at 16.37.00.png (40.81 KiB) Viewed 901 times

What happens if you hide your original work safely in custom folders, download DB Chapter 1 Edited.wav and apply the correction suite to that? Let's see what happens if we're both working from the exact same sound file.

Koz

[lwitek]

Hi Koz,

I just found page 2 of this post.

I downloaded the same file just as you suggested.
I ran these effects as follows:
Audio Compressor
-- Select the whole clip or show by clicking just above MUTE.
-- Effect > Normalize: [X]Remove DC, [X]Normalize to -3.5 > OK
-- Effect > Compressor: Thresh -20, Floor -40, Ratio 2:1, Attack 0.2, Release 1.0, > OK
-- Effect > Normalize: [X]Remove DC, [X]Normalize to -3.5 > OK

DB Chapter 1.png (11.2 KiB) Viewed 896 times

I see that Length of selection are the same... etc... Interesting that results are different. Your thought?

Thank you so much.

Laura

[kozikowski]

Are you using Audacity 2.1.2?

I need to read over that again and I'm running out of Sunday in California.

As we go.

Koz

[lwitek]

Hi Koz,

Yes Audacity 2.1.2 and the settings for the effects below.

aaaa.png (79.25 KiB) Viewed 892 times

Thank you, Laura

[cyrano]

My setup is as follows:
-Microphone Shure SM7B Dynamic Vocal Mic w/ Mic Boom Stand, Pop Filter
-Zoom R16 - Recorder/ Interface/ Controller
...

This combo is what lead to you low recording level. Think about changing the Shure to a higher output mic, or replacing the Zoom with a better interface or recorder. The result is noise (hiss) in your tracks. More work in post.

Most of these relatively simple interfaces fail if you combine them with a low output oldie like the SM7b.

See if you can borrow something like an Rode NT1 or a CAD E100S to test with your voice, if you feel like changing.

[kozikowski]

Yes, but. That doesn't account for two of us working on the same sound file and getting different results. I need to get back home.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Open the DB Chapter 1 Edited.wav file you got from the download and Analyze > ACX-Check. I got the attached panel. I know of no reason they should be different.

Koz

[lwitek]

Hi Koz,

Yes I get the same stats as you per the following:

DB Chapter 1 Results unMastered.png (11.51 KiB) Viewed 886 times

So do I have the same check boxes as you as I have indicated below?

aaaa.png (80.85 KiB) Viewed 886 times

Thank you, Laura

[kozikowski]

You apply Normalize to -3.5 and remove DC and the blue waves get very slightly smaller.

Our compressors are the same. When I apply compression, the blue waves get very much smaller and the sticking up parts around 10 seconds almost vanish. (attached).

Screen Shot 2016-12-05 at 21.56.15.png (66.78 KiB) Viewed 883 times

Then I applied Normalize again...and now mine fails, too. Son of [email protected]#$%&

I can't make it pass without multiple different tools that I know I didn't need earlier.

I'm getting groggy.

Koz