VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Bailey · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:15 pm Post subject: Another Humming problem...

So I'm trying out a new room... a walk in closet... and I seem to be doing something wrong. I don't remember having this problem before, although most of the time I use a noise gate. The computer is in another bedroom, but I still hear a humming in the headset even before recording.
new room
All levels are at zero, using Behringer UB802. Mic is MXL 990.
_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 W00T

.gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo." Ninja

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject:

Hi Bailey,
The link is just taking me to the login page of webs.com. You might want to check into to it.
Good luck!
John
_________________
John Weeks Voice Overs
www.johnweeksvoiceovers.com

Bailey · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks John. They must have changed the rules. I'll leave it open for awhile.

I checked and found out my problem was a ground loop.

This is a new recording... same room.
Both Files... new_room and new_room2
_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 W00T

.gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo." Ninja

Mike Sommer · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:59 pm Post subject:

That was one heck of a ground loop.

The room sounds ok, not great but workable.

What's lacking is the sound chain. You certainly need an upgrade.

Note: Up grading the sound chain may reveal problem's with the room.
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Bailey · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:22 am Post subject:

Thanks Mike.

Mike Sommer · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:40 am Post subject:

The preamps on the mixer sound awful, and I can't imagine the mic and sound card doing you any favors either.
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Bailey · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:53 pm Post subject:

My first question about...

Mike Sommer · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:49 pm Post subject:

Everything in our audio chain, contributes to the quality of our end audio.

Let's look at it this way: You have a $60 mixer. The threshold of audio quality coming out of this mixer is not that good, nor would I expect it to be. It's a little noisy, and not very flattering on the fidelity end of the spectrum. Your voice just kind of sits there.

When it comes to preamps, we pay for quality. For folks that are just starting out in VO, the quality between a $100 preamp and a $500 preamp may not be that noticeable, and the same with a $500 and $1500 preamp. But it is there. It can be subjective, but once you hear it though a quality system you'll begin to understand exactly what I'm talking about. There is a big difference from a $500 preamp, and the preamps found in audio interfaces and in prosumer mixers.

I'm not expecting everyone to run out and spend $10,000 on treatment and gear. But you can work towards improving your audio by making good and informed choices, and taking the steps to get you where you need to be with: Treating your room, carefully choosing a quality mic, and getting a good quality interface/preamp combo that you can afford, or a good stand alone interface and a good stand alone preamp and working on your technique.

Investment into quality gear is a leap of faith. With that, we need to understand that
if there was a $150 preamp that sounded like a $2000 preamp, every studio engineer would be using it.

I'll say this again about condenser microphones. There are some very good cheap condenser microphones out there, and many of them are not that much different than the other- this goes not only for the sound of these mics, but what goes into them as well. For example a Neumann U87 capsule is tuned to within 4 octaves to meet spec. We can only begin to guess what's going on in a $200 Chinese mic.

What you need to do is tell me how busy you are in the VO world, and what your goals are. Form there we can work up a list of options, that will get you where you need to be.
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Bailey · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:40 pm Post subject:

These things set me to thinking the most about upgrading.

Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:31 am Post subject:

Then I take it that you are a hobbyist without the full zeal for the craft that would be needed to take you to the next step of full emersion of audio perfection?

If that is the case, then you are fine right where you are at. I don't see any reason to go any further, unless you truly want to improve your audio chain.

The SM58 is a good mic, but it is still going to need a preamp to bring it to life, along with a good interface.
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Bailey · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:01 pm Post subject:

Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject:

Just look at it this way, you only get out what you put into it. And if you're not willing to put anything into it, then you need to be happy where you're at.
_________________
The Blog:
http://voiceoveraudio.blogspot.com/

Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.