VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Jeffrey Kafer

Has anyone else noticed that long-ish files (over 12 minutes) start to get slightly muffled sounding in Audition? I noticed that when I punch-in a correction, the new part is noticeably brighter than the areas I'm punching in to.

Anyone else know what I'm talking about?
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Jeff
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Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

Frank F · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 2:18 am Post subject:

Listen closely, it is not the program causing muffling. It is you being of a different presence and sound.

Test one: Record your 12 minutes. Stop and immediately do a pickup after the end of the last piece of audio recorded.

No change in sound should/will be noticed.

Test two; Record your 12 minutes (or use the recording from Test one). Stop the recording. wait three minutes, and record something of a similar read (this is just a test) after the original 12 minutes of audio.

A change in sound WILL be noticed.

Why? You have relaxed your vocal chords, you have moved slightly into a different position in relation to the microphone, your mindset is different, you are hearing things... any, all, or even more issues could be the reason for a change in sound.

The program does not change, you do. The program only accepts 1's and 0's, it cannot change, but you can.

Toodles

F2
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I agree Frank, but if he has low memory could that be strangling the system as it accumulates those 1s and 0s?
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 11:44 am Post subject:

It can't possibly ME!!!!

It must be a bug in the program.
Maybe I need a new preamp.
Or better cables
Or a new mic.
Or a different monitor.

I actually like it when the problem is me. I can fix it a lot cheaper.
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Jeff
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Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

JBarrett · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject:

While it's possible for the human component to be the culprit in the sound difference, could it not be affected by a pre-computer component in the signal chain as well?

I recall reading that Jeffrey is using a tube preamp. In the instructions for a tube pre that I purchased last year (and have hardly used), it recommends giving the unit time to warm up. Could a recording sound slightly different if such gear is used "cold" instead of "warm"?
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 2:15 pm Post subject:

I never turn my pre amp off. It's been warming up for about 3 years now.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

^Well that's not very environmentally friendly of you, is it? Wink

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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject:

not really, no. But I don't imagine it sucks up much juice. Besides, there's no off switch. I'd have to unplug it each time.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

Frank F · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 3:41 pm Post subject:

Lance,

No. it will change the "sound" of the audio file. Low memory or low storage space can cause problems, but they would manifest differently; not in actual sound quality.

Toodles

F2
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jrkaiser · Guest

Could it possibly be that you are saving at a lower bit-rate and when you record a pickup the lower bitrate is making you sound muffled?

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:59 pm Post subject:

No, because then the pick-up would also be muffled. I'm pretty sure Frank is right.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

jrkaiser · Guest

Yes, Frank is correct... I see a lot of people save, edit, save, edit, in 128 or even 64k stereo MP3 and think they have a fantastic product... but each time they edit that file it sounds worse.

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject:

This is when I wish there was an "I agree with Frank" button on this board!!

Jeff, when I do long recordings, especially strings of numbers/airports/cities/types of alcohol (ok, not really the last one), I pause and say something completely different or even just laugh every 4-5 minutes so that my voice doesn't go into a slump and cause the problem you are talking about. This keeps thousands of files consistent over many sessions. It hadn't occurred to me that it would be helpful for long-form narration, too. Yum!
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Mandy. Good suggestion. I'll give it a shot.
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Jeff
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Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com