Complete newbie and recording an audiobook to ACX

[Gembo85]

Hi,

I am desperate for any help Ican get following a series of setbacks in recording an audiobook to ACX.
I have two primary issues:

1) Id like to ensure as far as possible I am definitely going to meet the requirements before I record another 16 hours of audio... I have a secured a noise proof studio and am working with the recommended rode Nta-1.
The recording needs to measure between -23 and -18 DB RMS (not even sure what rms is?!) and have peak values of -3, with a maximum noise floor of -60?
From what I've read in forums -60 is very hard to achieve, but I'm working in a completely noise proofed professional studio?
And how do I ensure the volume falls consistently between -23 and -18?

2) since I've switched microphones I'm now picking up a high pitching whining sound intermittently, particularly if I hit the table or likewise- possible vibrations off something? I've read a lot about feedback too- what are the obvious things I should check?

Would be so so grateful for any help,

[kozikowski]

Id like to ensure as far as possible I am definitely going to meet the requirements before I record another 16 hours of audio...

Ask them if they will allow you to submit a sound sample instead of several gigs of damaged show files.

(not even sure what rms is?!)

Root Mean Square. It's an approximate measure of loudness. The important measurement values are: Peak, so brief, emphasized words and sounds don't overload and get damaged, RMS, so overall volume stays constant from show to show, and background noise level. Fffffffffffffffff.

Yes, it's rough to hit all of those at once, particularly if you're trying to record a show with a microphone jacked into a laptop in your home office. That's not to say you can't do that, but it's not likely.

Fill out the info in that pink band at the top of this thread. Describe the computer, the microphone and what you did to make a studio.

And yes, we know what the specifications are.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Oops. Sorry. That doesn't work on this forum. Tell us the computer, operating system and which Audacity you're using. All three numbers.

Koz

[Gembo85]

It's a toshiba laptop, I'm on windows and it's audacity 2.0.6

I have connected the laptop to a Scarlett focus rite 2.i2 interface and then got a brand new xlr cable to the new ride nta1 mic. Using headphones for playback? The booth itself is a professional voice over recording suite - soundproofed, it just has no equipment in it x

[steve]

Id like to ensure as far as possible I am definitely going to meet the requirements before I record another 16 hours of audio...

We can't guarantee, but we should be able to get you in the right ballpark.

Your setup sounds good - particularly having a dedicated booth for the job (the recording environment is really important).

2) since I've switched microphones I'm now picking up a high pitching whining sound intermittently, particularly if I hit the table or likewise- possible vibrations off something?

That does not sound good.
How is your microphone mounted? Do you have it in a shock-mount on a sturdy floor standing mic stand?

[kozikowski]

Using headphones for playback? The booth itself is a professional voice over recording suite - soundproofed, it just has no equipment in it

I may know where your whine is coming from. You're in feedback. You do need headphones even in the studio.

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/wynonna2.jpg

The microphone should be isolated from the table or floor.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SP01

I made a shock mount out of plumbing supplies and post office rubber bands. It works a treat.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/pvcShockMount/shockmount.html

Next cycle, post a little bit of the sound you're getting. Erratic whine could be coming from anywhere. There are conditions where USB can do that.

http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 49&t=72887

Koz

[Gembo85]

The NTA-1 came with a shock mount which is what I;ve been using, and I have a stand too- though this is leaning slightly on the table to counterweight the microphone (otherwise it seems like its going to fall forward)

I've been using headphones, unplugging them whilst recording and plugging back into monitor- just inmc ase this was the source of the feedback.

Here's a sample of it, as I say it seems to come and go with the slightest vibration?

[steve]

I'm not sure that I'd call it "ringing", but it is certainly picking up vibration.

I have a stand too- though this is leaning slightly on the table to counterweight the microphone (otherwise it seems like its going to fall forward)

As an experiment, move the mic stand so that it is not resting on the table (adjust the boom arm if it has one to ensure that it does not fall over).
Does that make an improvement?

[kozikowski]

You have a hideous amount of very low frequency vibration and rumble. I can make it go to zero with Steve's "LF Rolloff for Speech" plug-in for Effect > Equalizer, but you'd be much further ahead if you suppressed it at the microphone or mixer. I need to step away for a minute.

Koz

[kozikowski]

The microphone is an NT1-A, not NTA-1 and it's Rhode.

The microphone has no provision to "roll off" the extreme low frequencies. It's going to relentlessly capture whatever is in the room. The 2i2 (not 2.i2) is not a mixer and has no provision to equalize or change frequencies, either. It's just a digitizer.

Now it's messy. Any performance is going to compete directly with that rumble unless you get rid of it. Shure makes an in-line rumble filter the A15HP.

http://www.shure.com/americas/products/ ... ass-filter
You can plug that in between the microphone and the 2i2.

You can also do it in post production the way I did it, but that means all your level meters and indicators during the performance are going to be wrong.

My mixer has provision to remove rumble on a button (attached). It drops everything below 80Hz.

I can't find the original rolloff plugin, so I exported mine (attached: LFRolloffForSpeech.xml)

Import that into Effect > Equalization and run the Length control all the way to the right.

I'm doing that on a dead run. Let me know where you get stuck.

Koz