Dangit! Running ACX check ruins my Noise Floor!

[Trebor]

... but for some reason, the following entries all have RMS issues being too low (and registering differently than when I run my ACX check in Audacity)

If you switch waveform view to db, you can eyeball the RMS ...

pale blue is RMS volume.

approx -21dB.png (11.51 KiB) Viewed 42 times

[sharcmerman]

Thanks Koz. Working on installing and enabling the new ACX-Check plugin. Here's the closing credits file as submitted.

Closing Credits.mp3

(101.02 KiB) Downloaded 4 times

[kozikowski]

Closing Credits.

You didn't master it. It's way too quiet.

I just applied the three mastering tools, it got a little louder, and then both of the ACX Checks pass.

Screen Shot 2020-06-18 at 17.57.17.png (38.55 KiB) Viewed 39 times

Screen Shot 2020-06-18 at 17.57.36.png (20.22 KiB) Viewed 39 times

Koz

[sharcmerman]

For the Closing Credits file, I definitely did run the three mastering tools before doing ACX check for those results in my previous screenshot. It's possible that I used Punch-Paste to apply room tone on either side of the words "the end" and maybe that room tone wasn't properly mastered.. I ran the ACX macro again and got these same results you did, then exported as mp3 and submitted to the site. Attaching a screenshot of the analysis there.

Screen Shot 2020-06-18 at 8.46.20 PM.png (1.43 MiB) Viewed 35 times

Still I'm confused about the other two files (Opening and Retail Audio Sample). Is it possible that copying a chunk of a recording, then pasting it into a new project, as I did, results in that clip losing its mastering?

Having a little trouble getting the new ACX check file to *enable* as a plug-in, or I'd report back about whether I'm getting different results there as well.

[kozikowski]

whether I'm getting different results there as well.

The two Audacity ACX Check versions report almost identical readings. That's not going to matter. Stick with the old one for now.

I need to think about this for a bit.

Koz

[sharcmerman]

Koz. Apologies for the run around. I think I realized the problem.

I had the volume on the track turned down. I had it set this way because if you recall, my gain is turned way way up, and the track seemed to be peaking too high. For these short files, I tried turning up the "volume" in audacity a few clicks and the ACX website accepted them. I guess I should have tried submitting to ACX before toggling that volume setting.. Am I wrong to think the red peaking (pretty constantly) would be a problem I should get ahead of?

[kozikowski]

Screen Shot 2020-06-18 at 19.33.09.png (33.33 KiB) Viewed 34 times

See where it says go to that address for instructions? Go there and post the address/URL on the forum. I don't know enough about their help system to know what that is.

Koz

[sharcmerman]

Here it is. I'm currently reloading all of my files at +0.0 volume to see if the system accepts them all. So far yes.

https://audible-acx.custhelp.com/app/an ... /a_id/9996

[kozikowski]

Thank you for the address.

Remember what the White Queen said to Alice? When she was younger she could believe six impossible things before breakfast?

Most of the last five or six forum messages have been impossible.

+0.0 volume

Set where? Some of the volume settings in Audacity are "magic" in the Lewis Carroll sense. They appear to do things and then they don't really, or they don't do stuff and then change things later when you're least expecting it. It is not good to be doing production with those tools. They're impossible to follow, particularly if something goes wrong.

Stick with actual Effects and tools that change the blue waves when they work.

Did you resolve "The End?" The corrections that ACX recommends are impossible. So they're not getting the files that we think they're getting.

Koz

[sharcmerman]

Ha - There's no use in trying! One can't believe impossible things!

Yeah it was the gain on the audio track right under "mute" and "solo." Adjusting it back to zero, exporting, and submitting all files seem to be golden now. Point taken, and I'll stick to utilizing only "effects" moving forward.

I really appreciate the help. I wouldn't have completed this project without your support so thank you so much, Koz!