VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

...how do you do it?

I've recorded a couple of files recently in AIFF, and there seems to be a noticeably better sound quality than MP3(which is recorded at 44,100, 16 bit, mono).

So would it be better to save in AIFF(or WAV) and then "dumb down" a copy to MP3?
Until recently I've been recording everything straight to MP3.

Just wondering. Obviously the only problem with recording exclusively in AIFF is the amount of space that format takes up compared to MP3.

The difference I hear could just be my imagination. It's not a life or death thing, but if I can improve sound quality in a way that's feasible, especially for clients, that would be a good thing.

Yes, I have searched the archives. Smile

bobsouer · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject:

Rob,

No question uncompressed audio will sound better than compressed. I've added over a terabyte of hard drive space to my system so I do everything in WAV or AIFF format and convert down from there for the clients who want MP3 files. The only exception is that I'll do auditions directly to MP3.

Then I back everything up to an external hard drive every evening and archive to Data DVDs ever few weeks as a further back-up.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Deirdre · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

I record and edit in AIFF and convert from there.
Disc space shouldn't be an issue! Hard drives are so inexpensive these days.
_________________
DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

todd ellis · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

what bob & deebs said.
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

Jowillie · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject:

What Bob & Deebs & Todd said.
Sometimes I will encode down from wav to 32/128 mp3 for in-house sharing of large files.
_________________
Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject:

+1

Always work in the best source possible, uncompressed wav or AIFF. Heck that's what I deliver to my clients as well.
_________________
Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

Lizden · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

Yep.
I record in 16bit 44.1K .wav and convert to whatever file my clients want from there.

L.
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

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

A lot of my clients ask for 48 kHz 16 bit .AIFF, so I often record 48/16.

It's also good to record at 24 bit if your computer handles it nicely and if the down conversions work well. A lot of VST plugins and other processing (if you're doing that) work better if you just keep it simple at 16 bit.

Audition offers 32 bit and 16 bit recording options. Don't select 32 bit if you have a 24 bit soundcard as many people (like me) do. It's forcing a lot of digital water into a smaller digital funnel and it sounds like swill.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Edo · Guest

I always ask beforehand what the audio will be used for. If for video, it is my experience that 9 out of 10 times they need 48K... on my PTHD rig I have been recording @96k/24bit for years now and I'm very happy with the results. I've had no complaints ever, not even from the very serious gearheads... never had any flaws in converting down to 48/16 or 44.1/16. When on PT LE I almost always record in 44.1/16 and master to uncompressed WAV-files. For the rest... what Liz said.

Lizden · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:30 am Post subject:

Gee, Thanks Edo! Kiss

L.
_________________
Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

BenWils · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:57 am Post subject:

24 bit/48kHz recording and then I bounce using $20 Pro Tools Mp3 option and it sounds great always. It seems to sound a shade better than the iTunes mp3 conversion that I used to do way back when.
_________________
Ben

"To be really good at voiceover, you need to improve your footwork and hip snap."

Edo · Guest

All because the Digidesign MP3 Option uses a customized professional version of the Fraunhofer encoder/decoder. The team of engineers at the Fraunhofer Institute were the guys that actually founded the MP3 standard back then. Their encoders, together with "LAME" are the best MP3-encoders available today IMHO.

EDIT
@Ben: I assume you use a dithering plug-in on your masterfader when bouncing to MP3 Option?

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

I record in the 44100 stereo 32 bit float and then when I save, I save as mp3 at 192 Kbps instead of the 128. My daily news get put on over broadcast stations with nary a complaint.
_________________
Does life start at 40?

TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:47 am Post subject:

Like all the rest of the smart people here, uncompressed then exported to the format the customer wants. With storage space so cheap, really no reason not to do it this way.
_________________
Try to imagine a world where there is no such thing as hypothetical situations.

The Voice of Bob