VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Jeffrey Kafer]

Just signed up for Skype (yeah I know, I'm late) and I'm impressed with the features they offer. Anyone else think that it could give Source Connect a run for it's money if they improved the audio quality (which is currently quite poor)?

BTW - skype name is Jeffrey.Kafer if anyone wants to add me.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

[Ed Gambill]

Currently the codec is limited to 12,500 Hz. Thom Wilkins and I did a bit of test regarding this.

We think that when they next up the bandwidth to 16,000 Hz and if there is no pre-emphases on the sound then it is very likely that Skype could give every other thing a run for their money.

Yesterday we had a 9 person teleconference and there were some drop calls, not sure why. It could be Operator Trouble. On those occasions when Thom and I have been on a call for some time it held up very well. No dropouts and not drop call.

Savoa has adopted Skype for holding scheduled meetings. We like it.

BTW I just found out that Sound Forge on my computer will record both sides of a conversation.
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Esse quam videri "To be rather than to seem"
www.SaVoa.org No. 07000 Member AES

[ccpetersen]

I use Skype to occasionally record phone calls and the quality is pretty decent -- but "professional" quality. I agree that the time will come when it will be.

Which version of Sound Forge are you using? Is it a plugin or a regular feature?
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Charter Member: Threadjackers Local 420

[Ed Gambill]

I have 9.0 and it is recording via the sound card in the computer now.

I have a UA25 I/O and will do a test tommorow.
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Esse quam videri "To be rather than to seem"
www.SaVoa.org No. 07000 Member AES

[Drew]

I have a few Realtor and marketing clients who have me produce and play overly zealous "infomercial" host for their webcasts. Short of having them set up their own home studios, I've insisted they, at least, download SKYPE and invest in a decent headset system when I record them. Far better than bringing them in on my phone patch. But not quite studio standard...yet.
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www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[Frank F]

Quality helps with Skype. Quality sound card, quality microphone, quality connection, quality Skype recorder.

Ed Gambill and i did a little test, I read, he recorded on his end in Sound Forge. Then he sent me the file as an .mp3 for mixing and to test the frequency using spectral analysis.

Here is the result (audibly), Click hear!

Results show frequency on VO is approximately 12,500 with some hash to 16,500 Hz.

Since there was a bit of phone noise I used a light Noise Gate and very light compression on the VO prior to the mixdown.

Toodles

F2
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

[Jeffrey Kafer]

surprisingly that didn't suck.

After I did the setup, I did the test call where they repeat it back to you and it sounded pretty much like crud. Passable for a phone call, but that's it.
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Jeff
http://JeffreyKafer.com
Voice-overload Web comic: http://voice-overload.com

[ccpetersen]

Sometimes Skype has some weird flutteriness you'll hear that breathes in and out during a call. That test sounded pretty good, although I heard a hint of chirpiness on the esses. Could have been the speakers on my laptop here, which are good, but obviously not studio quality. I'll listen again when I have the big rig on the desk fired up.
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Charter Member: Threadjackers Local 420

[Chuck Davis]

I've used it for phone patch with overseas clients when ISDN issues reared their ugly head.

The quality is much better than landline for sure. I've had some dropouts...but never a dropped call.
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Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com