VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

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

What's the best way? I can do it with compression (compander setting in AA)but am looking for a way without compressing the entire sound file.

"White noise" refers to the low level noise between words. I record at about 35 db into the Avalon 737, with the Motu Ultralite set at about 20 db (about as high as it will go) Then I usually have to amplify by about +3db.

Would a noise gate be the solution? The noise gate in AA is pretty useless in my estimation. Outboard or plug-in noise gate?

Edo · Guest

First of all, let me set something straight... Compression is NOT going to help you fight ambient noise in between vocal bits. They will become LOUDER. Compression lifts lower audio levels... alas no solution to your problem. I'd seriously consider a noise-gate only then with FAST attack end relatively slow release, else your audio will sound 'choppy' and that's probably NOT what you want. The best solution however is to find a way to lower your overall noise level. Have you tried replacing mic cables for better ones, seeing whether there is any other source that might cause the noise (fridges running, AC units, dimmers for a light section, CRT monitors near your audio setup and so on).

If driving your mic strongly through your 737 causes a lot of noise, you might want to find an easier setting that results in more signal-to-noise ratio, and then normalize the audio before sending it to your clients. And nowadays I could not say if outboard or plug-in noise-gates haven advantages... there are some very nice plugs around there these days, and you stay 'in the box'.

Good luck!!

Mike Cooper · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:42 am Post subject:

Hi! I think this is my first post in this forum, but for what it's worth...

If the noise sounds like "white noise" rather than hiss or the usual rumbles, then I had something very much like it recently, and it turned out to be a ground loop problem. Mine was only on my monitoring, but there's no reason why yours couldn't be on the recording, I guess.

Mine sounded like a sort of "whooshing, squelching, crunching" noise. Sounds exciting, but it wasn't as much fun as all that, honest. It was related to how much work the computer was doing, oddly.

Would it be worth posting a sample on the board?
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Edo · Guest

Welcome to the board Mike!!

Mike Cooper · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:09 am Post subject:

Hey, thanks Edo! Nice to be here Laugh

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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

Rob:

Customize the AA compander setting to almost zero compression.

Use the "Traditional" view in compander.

Set the compression ratio to 2:1
Leave threshold at -9
Expander at -45
Output compensation gain at +1
Now, go to Attack/Release
set Gain Processor Output gain to 0

Add and save as a preset.

This setting will sound very good. Inperceptable compression and it will get
rid of your noise. You can play with the Expander threshold from -40 to -50.
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Deirdre · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:07 am Post subject:

As others have said, the ideal is to eliminate the noise from the signal chain. I agree with Edo's "change the cables" idea. I had no notion how much crap I was contending with in my cables until I swapped 'em out for some really decent ones.
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Mike Cooper · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject:

I have to say, I agree. Try to get rid of the noise in the first place, rather than trying to eliminate it during the recording. The usual stuff applies: balanced connections if possible, decent gain settings, working close to the mic and so on.

But if it's really a "white noise" rather than the Usual Suspects, then that might take a bit more to nail down.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I'm away from the studio but will check my cables although I remember them being pretty high-end stuff that I got from Sweetwater. And my WhisperRoom is pretty well isolated from extraneous noise.

It's more, in my estimation, that sound of silence that isn't quite silent if that makes any sense, that becames audible(and visible) when recording levels are boosted either via input or by amplifying after the fact. Using the Compander compression setting in Audition usually completely silences the audible white noise between words(you can see the wave forms between words almost completely reduced to silence after applying Compander) When I get back to my studio I will check the cable brands just in case they are lower quality than I thought.

The "white noise" is more noticable with my Sennheiser 415 shotgun than with the Gefell M930---which is transformerless and thus very low noise to begin with.

NorthEndVoice · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject:

You mentioned you have a Whisper Room. There are a couple of ports in the wall of the room for routing cables inside. You might do a quick check to make sure that you don't have AC Power cords routed right next to any audio cables. This could certainly introduce noise. Route AC and audio so that they are apart from each other.

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

georgethetech · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject:

Mike Cooper · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:20 am Post subject:

Good point. It's worth remembering that there's "noise", in the electrical sense, in any circuit.

If it's noticeable between the words then there's a good chance that you'll also hear it while you're talking, too - if you start to listen for it. If this is the case then gating it out could actually have the effect of making it more noticeable, as it will "pump" in and out! Some background noise is often thought to be more comfortable for the listener than absolute silence, which is unnatural.

If it's broad spectrum noise then it could be hard to get rid of, but might sound more natural left in. But if it's narrow spectrum noise you might be better off trying to filter it out, either using a graphic equaliser or a notch filter in your software.

Then again, if no one's actually complained, you might be being paranoid (and most of us are guilty of that at some point!)
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

What are your current gate settings?

steveanthony · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject:

Rob,

For what it's worth, once you work with an M930, just about every mic you use after will sound noticeably noisier. The Gefell has just about the lowest self-noise of any mic. It is one sweet mic.

Steve