1-Min Test Recording Submission

[CaitlinV]

First Recording Test here.
posting.php?mode=post&f=21

[GettingTooOld]

Hello Catlin, welcome, the link to your recording didn't get pasted into your message properly. Could you find it again perhaps, or can you confirm if this is the recording you made:

https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test_CaitlinV.mp3

[sjmarky]

Greetings Caitlin

I reviewed your test sample, and while it sounds good there are some technical changes needed. LibriVox requires audio that is 128kbps constant bit rate, 44.1kHz sample rate, mono, and between 86db and 92db, preferably 89-90. Your test audio volume is too low at 74.3db.

Make sure the the input gain slider in Audacity (upper right with the little mic icon) is well to the right. Then adjust the input gain on your mic so your raw recording has wave forms that peak at about the 0.5 marks in the Audacity window:


If necessary, adjust the volume level before exporting by going to Effects>Amplify and enter an amount, or Effects>Loudness Normalization, choose RMS and enter -23db.

You can pre-check your audio yourself by downloading the free Checker app: https://cgjennings.ca/projects/checker/
Passed with Warnings is a fail with regard to volume.
Go to Validation>Choose Validation Methods and check Background Noise. Be sure to leave several seconds blank at the end of your recording.

Please make a new test recording and post it in a reply to this message. I will come back and review it for you.

[CaitlinV]

Hi, thanks for the feedback. I installed Checker, and tried several different attempts, but still get 'passed with warning,' for volume. Oddly, i think it's showing the volume as too low? Checker showed my volumes as being high 60s or low 70s db's. I tried adjusting the slider with the mic next to it, and put it all the way to the right, at 1.00. (to confirm that it's the right slider - when you hover over the bar, it says "Recording Volume."
Then, I tried adjusting the 'loudness normalization' as directed, checked it, and it still says passed with warnings, but this time the volume was 85.9 db.
Any other suggestions?
thank you!

[sjmarky]

First, tell me what hardware setup you are using. Hard to advise unless I know what mic etc.

And upload the new test. The only one I have is the first one.

[CaitlinV]

Here's the latest test. I didn't attach it initially because the issue seems to be the same as the first test.
For hardware, I'm not currently using anything fancy. They're a plug in pair of sol republic headphones with a built in microphone.

here's the test linK:
https://librivox.org/uploads/tests/test5_caitlinv.mp3

This might not be the exact model, but it looks identical except that mine don't have 'v8' on them:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/394595279633?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=394595279633&targetid=1531876731358&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9022116&poi=&campaignid=19851828444&mkgroupid=145880009014&rlsatarget=pla-1531876731358&abcId=9307249&merchantid=223117629&gclid=CjwKCAjwyeujBhA5EiwA5WD7_Txi0FrUq0vcZ4emVGNCW-dh_UtK9HiVIhQdc7c_TPVD-pvGLMiHfRoCUu4QAvD_BwE

[GettingTooOld]

Hello again Caitlin,

Your recording sounds to me as if it is being recorded from a microphone in a laptop rather than a microphone attached to headphones. Look for something to select the input. It would have a list of your microphones.

The list may also contain any microphones which have been paired to the computer via bluetooth.

[sjmarky]

Yeah, you may not have the correct input selected. And what are those noises?

Check your setup and submit a new test.

[GettingTooOld]

The trick may be in the drop down menu under the slider with the mic next to it, if not it's in the preference menu.

Before you change that, it might be fun to play marco polo to find out where the active microphone is located.

Record the following text with actions to find it for yourself. "I'm patting the computer keyboard now, that might have been it, Now, I'm patting my pocket where my smartphone is...(tap tap tap) now, I'm patting around the screen, and now I'm patting the webcam I forgot about with a curtain rubbing against it, Now, I'm patting something else that GettingTooOld can't think of, and presto, when I play this recording back, my tapping is loudest when I tap near the microphone that is active. Now, off to find the preference menu."

It also helps if you smile at least a little after reading this voiceover text.

When you listen to the playback you'll find the answer.

It sounds like it is in your pocket or in the laptop keyboard. Perhaps in the pocket because you are generally going to be careful while reading not to fidget with the keyboard very much, so perhaps it's in a pocket. It's a mystery !

I can tell because something brushes up against the microphone repeatedly. The audio is somewhat muffled or unmuffled here and there, and the microphone is distant from your mouth Catlin. So I'm hearing a handsfree or phone or something paired, or it's in the computer, but audacity is not paying attention to the right one that you have.

I looked and found this guide. At the bottom of the page it has some pictures.
http://campbell.teachur.com/7thGradeFiles/Audacity.html

you goto preferences in the top menu and then devices and change audio device.