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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:33 am Post subject: mystery static

set up for phone prompts is mic/cable/mic port pro/computer.

i'm getting random static in my recordings, regardless of the mic, cable, or audio conversion. when i say random i mean that, for example, i've got 50 phone prompts to record the whole package. i'll set them up in my scripting software and record. when i listen back for quality control, i'll hear static in one or more prompts. but the prompts before or after the offensive one(s) are clean. doesn't matter the mic or cable--i've switched them around as a means of troubleshooting.

i've done nothing to resolve this but re-record what needs to be done. strange, though. in the past, i was able to bust out these jobs without having to listen back to the prompts. many of my jobs are large, so cutting out that step is something i really, really want.

thanks in advance for your hypotheses ....
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KaseyKruz · Club 300 Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Michigan

My first inclination is cell phone or wireless interference. Could you post a clip of the static?
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:38 am Post subject:

thanks, kasey. i will post, when it happens again. i just finished a batch and there were 6 of 57 with static, which i fixed so don't have the bad audio at the ready.

meantime, if it were wireless and/or cell phone -- both in the room with me -- what might i try to mitigate the problem? and if they were the problem, why the static at random and not throughout the session?
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KaseyKruz · Club 300 Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Michigan

If the cell or other device were the culprit, those could be left a further distance from any equipment or cables. My smart phone will try to transfer information at the oddest times, like for a weather update or whatever, and if it is near my stuff, I will hear it loud and proud. Also, with a USB device, if the connection isn't great, that could cause a crackle or two.
I'll give a listen when you post a sample...
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:25 pm Post subject:

given, when you try to replicate it, it won't occur! i just tried and audio was as clean as temple square.

thanks for the suggestions and i'll keep the smartphone out of my studio. i've tried all the usb ports so it may not be that.

and i've replaced, moved, and checked cables and ensured there were no crossed wires, as it were, but still ---> random crackling. would the router close to the equipment be una problema?
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KaseyKruz · Club 300 Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Michigan

Interesting...post a sample when you can, that could speak volumes...
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:16 am Post subject:

i recorded this today. cell phone off. most other files were clean, but if they weren't, they sounded like this or just staticky without the prestissimo. this is recorded and converted for telephony.

icky
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KaseyKruz · Club 300 Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Michigan

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 12:32 pm Post subject:

before the conversion.

and, thanks for your email. just back after a long session off-site. and what you suggest, kasey, about isolating various pieces of equipment, is something i've done -- among mics, cables, usb ports, etc. my suspicion is it's the mic port pro, but don't tell anyone that Gasp

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JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

My suspicion is that your buffer settings aren't right in your DAW, for your Mic Port Pro. Trying adjusting them a little more conservatively. I get bursts of static and weird digital artifacts on my laptop recordings & playback when they aren't set right.
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KaseyKruz · Club 300 Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Posts: 336 Location: Michigan

Mike Sommer · Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:39 am Post subject:

First thing we need to know is the sound chain from mic to computer including DAW and OS.
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:10 pm Post subject:

audio tecnica or re-20 or shure sm7b to 6' (new) cable to mic port pro --> to usb port of windows pc with xp. the usual occurrence is recording to vox studio, but will happen with aa 1.5, too, with the craptacular sound blaster live! card
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JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

georgethetech · Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 9:07 pm Post subject:

Never can get the SoundCloud player to work on my Macs.
Feel free to drop it in my dropbox.
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