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Permalink Reply by Evo Terra on July 28, 2008 at 7:32am

Can't hear a thing, Mike. Open this up in a program like Audacity and see if you have any waveform at all.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sharpe on July 28, 2008 at 11:32am

There is sound there.. but it looks like I set the Volume too low.. And that is off the file I uploaded..

I had really loud hum that I tried to remove.. I know it affected my voice, quality a slight bit..

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Permalink Reply by Edward G. Talbot on July 28, 2008 at 11:46am

Mike -

Evo is right - the sound is nearly inaudible. I can sort of hear noise there, but when I open it up in Audacity, the waveform looks about 5% of the level it needs to be at.

Ideally, you need to remove the background hum from the source, not using software. What kind of hardware and software are you using? I tried two different USB mikes on two different computers and I always had a hum (even when I had my computer behind a closed door from the mikes). So I eventually got a cheap mixer and a standard compressor mike and I just had to fiddle a little with the "gain" on the mixer to get a pretty clean background.

- Ed Parrot (Edward G. Talbot)

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sharpe on July 28, 2008 at 2:52pm

I've can get access to some very good hardware, whist I can get it for free, I need to Book the use for it in advance.

The problem is: Am I a Good enough reader for Podio Books?

If the Audio is not good enough to work with.. I do have another set up to use..

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Permalink Reply by Edward G. Talbot on July 28, 2008 at 3:03pm

Ok, I understand, you just want us to evaluate your reading before you worry about sound quality. Unfortunately, we can't evaluate the reading unless you send us a version with the volume at more normal levels, because we pretty much can't hear it. So if you have a way to do that and post another file, go for it.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sharpe on July 28, 2008 at 5:21pm

I'll get it done in the next few days..

Meanwhile.. here is a copy of what I said...

Part A Prelude - Years in her Future

The siren screamed. Had they blown their cover? The red flashing lights indicated that some thing was not right. Trey looked down and saw a red dot projected on to his foot. The red dot was the type made from weak laser beams that are used in security systems; such as the one that has just signalled intruders in the building that Trey was in.

Makaio yelled, "Trey, we'd better split! You grab that piece, and I'll draw them off!"

Yeah, I know that Name is a bugger to pronounce.. But he's a very minor character.. Trey is the Hero...

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sharpe on August 8, 2008 at 7:04pm

This is UNEDITED AUDIO.. using my Blue tooth head set! There has been no effects applied at all!

I record this at 2:50am when I'm resonbly calm..

Attachments:

• test1.mp3, 551 KB

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Permalink Reply by Evo Terra on August 10, 2008 at 2:06pm

OK, Mike. I've listened. And I've also gone back through this discussion trying to figure out how to respond to your question. If I've captured what you are asking, you have doubts whether your ability to narrate will do justice to the work at hand.

Going ONLY on the last file you uploaded, I'd suggest that you're going to grow quickly frustrated with the amount of editing required to get recordings to an acceptable level. Please understand that this isn't really a problem with your "voice", but more your pacing and presentation. The recording illustrated great difficulty getting through the first sentence, and at a point when you were "reasonably calm", whatever that means. So assuming that was your best foot forward, my advice would be a re-evaluation.

Having said that, we completely leave the issue of "good enough" up to the author/producer. We only have tech specification requirements that have to be met. The content of the files -- including the quality of narration -- is up to you. If you think you are up to the task and can meet our tech specs, go for it.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sharpe on August 10, 2008 at 3:20pm

You know what weird is that, only just over an hour later I had a 6 way chat with Tee Morris and PJ Balantine, and apparently Seth Hardwood's backside.

I think I did fine there.. Better check with them. I was the Brit staying up Late to 3:30am in the last 10pm? feed. You may better check with Tee..

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Permalink Reply by Edward G. Talbot on August 10, 2008 at 2:58pm

Hi Mike -

I'll follow up on what Evo said - I largely agree with him. I would say that you're not comfortable enough reading at this point. You certainly could release the book, but as a listener, it would be very hard for me to follow. I can point to specifics - reading too fast, which makes the words hard to understand; It didn't seem like you were really able to get through a full sentence without stumbling (and believe me I sometimes feel that way when I'm recording). Obviously we edit out mistakes, but I'd say that until you can put together say 20-25 seconds of speaking that flows well, trying to edit it will prove nearly impossible.

As I said, it just sounds like you aren't comfortable reading it - I could be wrong, that's just my impression based on what I heard. In order to record what winds up being hours and hours of audio and having it sound compelling, you have to get pretty comfortable reading. It takes time and a lot of practice. I did dozens of hours of test recordings before starting the "real" recordings, and I still think that there is a noticeable improvement from Episode 1 to Episode 7 or 8.

Some people are naturals at this, but many of us have to work and work and work to get it to sound good.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Sharpe on August 10, 2008 at 3:57pm

I'm rarely comfortable reading aloud. I do have speech problems, and some of it is stress related. I've lost several jobs because of this.

I usually find it easier to speak to someone who can see me and I can see them.. See the reply to Evo's post..

I've done a bible reading more than once in church, and that was said to be good. I don't have any recording of it. I don't know if it was true or not.

I'm more a fan of the Tee Morris style podiobooks (Billibub and MOREVI: Remastered), and I know can't do 'Lana justice if I do her.

The Books are in what I call "stated Limited 3rd Viewpoint," or in the case of the Fall, we sit on 'Lana until the Climax.. (Lana: "Hey, my lap is only built for one! and I really hate dribbles instead of bang." Sorry, been writing her recently.)

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