VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Drew · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:01 pm Post subject:

Frank gives good Skype
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject:

He do - he do...
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jrodriguez315 · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject:

I was going to ask question regarding ISDN alternatives for us po' folk. Would Skype fall into that category?
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject:

No - quality isn't good enough. Better than the regular phone, specially when you are using a good quality mic in your acoustically treated studio, but not good enough for anything requiring CD quality sound. I'll let the technical folks 'splain why. Certainly good enough for capturing interviews for podcasts.
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Deirdre · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject:

Joe-- this is a question that has been around the block about a thousand times here.

ISDN is what it is-- phone lines providing a studio-quality connection between remote points. Some kind of Codec is necessary at each end to convert the analog info to a digital data stream.
Hardware codecs include Primas, Zephyrs, Roadrunners.
Audio TX is a software codec.

Non-ISDN connections:
Source Connect appears to be a live-via-IP link for Pro Tools Users.
Frank is still working on something called iSpeek which is supposed to be studio quality via IP without any specific software compatilbility issues.

Skype is a low-bandwidth communication protocol.
Good for talking to distant studios (like a phone patch) while you record your own stuff in your studio.
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Drew · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject:

That's what I use Skype for---phone patch.

Does well for that purpose, but as stated above, not quite studio quality...yet.
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jrodriguez315 · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks Drew.

Yep, that's what I was thinking, phone patch of some sort. I know it won't approach ISDN for quality but I want to be able to have a client direct me while I record their copy and be able to offer that service from my (measly little) home studio. I was even considering having them call my cell phone and use my ear-piece so they can give me direction and listen to what I'm doing at the same time. I think Harlan Hogan mentions that in his book.

No, I'm definitely not ready for ISDN but I'd still like to be able to provide certain services remotely.

DB - Yes, I've seen many threads about ISDN. I haven't seen that many about Skype (Skype? what's Skype?). I just wanted to know if you can use it as an Ultra-Low / No-Budget / Food stamps version of ISDN in certain specific instances.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:43 pm Post subject:

Joe - you are still comparing apples to oranges.

ISDN is not a substitute for phone patch. Just erase that from your head. A speaker phone is a good substitute for a phone patch. Just ask them to be quiet on their end while you are recording.

With ISDN - the studio on the OTHER end does the recording. With phone patch, you are doing the recording, so there are no phone quality issues. The phone patch makes the playback a bit more clear for the listener than a speaker phone, but if you have things set up right and the speaker phone is close to the speakers and you have the volume up, then a speaker phone works fine.

However, if someone is not in a quiet room, a speaker phone won't work, unless they have the ability to mute on their end.
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Frank F · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:49 pm Post subject:

Thank you DB. iSpeek is closer than you ( Sleep

might think.

All right; the main reason Skype is not "of broadcast quality" is the codec (the audio encoding/decoding software). The Skype codec; although better than our phone system, is still very low quality at approximately 8 bits, 15kHz. Translated into English - this means that at best, the quality is almost as good as FM radio. This of course, all depends upon the bandwidth and if you are speaking Skype to Skype. If you are speaking to a regular telephone - all bets are off - you get telephone quality audio.

ISDN codecs send a compressed audio signal down specialized telephone lines of 16 bit, 15k (mono), and when used with two 'B' lines, it can reach up to 15k, stereo.

iSpeek, AudioTX, and SourceConnect will send a 16 or 24 bit audio signal with up to 20k resolution via the internet. Each of the aforementioned products use either .mp3 or .m4a coding. ISDN is able to use the .mp3 coding protocols, but is not available in all models of the genre.

I am really trying to make it brief, I promise. With that said, and now that I have confused you completely. Use Skype and the Skype Out ($30.00 a year unlimited calling to the US and Canada) for a Phone Patch and you are fine, it is not yet able to be defined in what is being touted as the "HD VOIP category". You will also requitre a specific program to record your Skype calls. I suggest to several people a software product called MXSkype, it works.

Toodles

Frank F
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jrodriguez315 · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks Frank. that is very helpful information, as usual.
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allensco · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:06 pm Post subject:

Thought I'd join the party. I'm "voiceoverallen" on Skype.

Frank F · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject:

I forgot... whoops, what is new? My Skype contact name is: iSpeekup. What else?

Frank F
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DaveChristi · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:41 pm Post subject:

COURVO · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:08 am Post subject:

FF's the SKYPE skipper alright....he even convinced me to go a bit further and invest in MX Skype Recorder.

No, it's not studio quality...as has been amply pointed out here...but it does provide you the opportunity to record ANYTHING you say on SKYPE...record conversations, and the like for posterity.

BTW, my SKYPE name is: (big surprise) COURVO

I'm putting all the rest of you SKYPE-types on my SKYPE contacts list, y'hear?

Dave C.
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TC · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:26 am Post subject: