mistletoe
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I Am A(n): Aspiring Voice Actor, Creator/Producer, Writer, Singer, Musician
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Post by mistletoe on Jan 7, 2018 11:30:45 GMT -8
I recently purchased a solid microphone (Rode NT1-A) along with a Neewer Microphone Isolation Shield to help improve my home setup, which it has done: my mic quality is clearer than ever, there is little to no background noise nor reflection noise. However, after scrutinizing my demos recently I noticed something that worries me greatly, something that would no doubt hinder my chances of gaining certain roles - there is an audible white-noise hiss behind the entirety of anything I record. Here is a typical audition of mine to demonstrate (headphones recommended) : drive.google.com/file/d/1-SIX4sKzQsPMiwMFl632QxLXU8e21rKm/view?usp=sharingThe other items in my setup aren't that good, my mixing desk, laptop and software are nowhere near adequate. This is what I use: Behringer Xenyx 302 USB Mixer My laptop is an old Toshiba Satellite c855 My sound card I'm not certain about, I went in to device manager and found "Realtek High Definition Audio" and "Intel (R) Display Audio" under Sound Controllers. I use Mixcraft Software to mix/record my auditions. Now I know for fact that it's not the Mic or the Isolation Shield as this problem proceeded my purchasing of these items. What I'd love to know though, is what is specifically causing this static hiss? Which item in particular (mixing desk, laptop, software) do I need to prioritize when it comes to my next wave of upgrades? OR is it simply a software problem that I can fix from here?
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Post by cbdroege on Jan 7, 2018 23:05:35 GMT -8
HArd to tell the source from listening, but if you've tried otehr things and can't find it, it might be EM interference from nearby power lines or poorly shielded wires in the house (especially if it's an old house) We can't usually hear that, but mics can pick it up (or it can even get picked up by the wires and such without the Mic's help.) If that's the case, you just need to find the exact frequency and remove that frequency from your recordings (Use a 'notch filter'). It shouldn't harm the rest of your recording. If you're in the US, start at 120, and try frequencies around there.
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Post by benedict on Jan 7, 2018 23:16:30 GMT -8
That's some odd noise. Just looking at your file in Audacity, it looks like the noise has most of its power over 7.5kHz, but there's a spot in the recording with very little noise right around 11.5 seconds in. Can I ask what processing you're doing on the file? It almost looks like a gate closing, but it's right between two spots of dialogue. There's another spot just after with no dialogue, but the noise is present.
Reading through the specs on the Behringer mixer I'm tempted to point fingers there, but I wouldn't rush out and buy a new interface until you have a chance to verify that.
If you have some spare bits and pieces lying around, I like to keep an XLR plug with a 150 ohm metal film resistor soldered between pins 2 and 3. This lets you measure the input noise on your preamp/input combination. Leaving all your other settings the same, replace the mic with the 150 ohm load plug and record. What you'll get in the file is the noise of your system minus the mic. If all the noise disappears, that points toward the mic or the cable. If the noise is still there, it points toward the preamp/input end.
As far as software goes, Audacity always provides a good sanity check. It's free, and does a really good job with VA. If you record two tracks, one in your current software and one in Audacity, and the noise disappears in Audacity, something's likely weird with the software. But I can't think of anything in the digital end of things that would add the noise I saw in your file. That really looks like something in the analog end of the chain.
Sorry for rambling. I'm short on sleep at the moment.
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Post by Lady Stardust ★ on Jan 8, 2018 0:28:22 GMT -8
I'm not super tech-savvy, but that particular hiss reminds me of what I dealt with back in the day when I used microphones that plugged into my computer's sound card.
You could try different software if you want, but I kind of doubt that's it - it sounds like it's coming from either the preamp or the computer, if you said the issue was there before you got this particular microphone.
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duffyweber
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Posts: 220
I Am A(n): Professional Voice Actor, Semi-Professional Voice Actor, Audio Engineer
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Post by duffyweber on Jan 8, 2018 7:38:52 GMT -8
Are you running any sort of noise-gate/noise reduction on it?
The sound card oddly enough, isn't a factor. For your purposes of recording, if you're using the USB interface, the interface IS your soundcard (and the Realtek is only what you're using, presumably, for LISTENING.) If you're just outputting the monitor to the phono port of your computer's sound card, you need to stop that. (Though I doubt it highly - the sound quality you've got there is a little too good for that to probably be the case.)
It's weird. It goes away and comes back. I think you might have either a bad cable or an odd noise filter.
Try this: Record in Audacity (to rule out the software). If the hiss is still there, is it solid or intermittent?
If it's SOLID, or GONE, then it's a software problem. Try using noise reduction in Audacity to completely remove it (highlight 5-sec pure silence with the hiss. Tools>noise reduction. Get profile. Highlight whole track. Tools>noise reduction. Click OK.)
If that works, it's your software.
If it is intermittent, you have a REALLY weird problem. (I notice the Behringer 302 has slide switches. Try bumping them while using monitor phones to see if you can produce the noise. If so, you've got a bad switch contact or something.)
You might also want to check XLR cables for bad connectors, or if they're brushing against any extension cords or large metal objects (though most modern cables are made so that EMI is never a problem, it's possible. Bad connectors, though tend to be a much more likely cause of something like this. Check for places the cable moves/bends/connects.)
Let us know what you find out! = )
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duffyweber
Member
Posts: 220
I Am A(n): Professional Voice Actor, Semi-Professional Voice Actor, Audio Engineer
Pronouns: Any OK
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Post by duffyweber on Jan 8, 2018 7:41:23 GMT -8
Also! Can you send us a RAW recording? One that you've recorded that you haven't done ANYTHING to other than hit "Record," talked, and saved? I'm still wondering if this isn't a noise filter issue.
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mistletoe
Member
Posts: 21
I Am A(n): Aspiring Voice Actor, Creator/Producer, Writer, Singer, Musician
Pronouns: he/him
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Post by mistletoe on Jan 10, 2018 9:20:16 GMT -8
This particular recording does indeed use compression and de-esser fx and this is hissing is amplified by those fx. But it is still there even when not using them. I will try some of the tips listed by all y'all tomorrow and post my findings. I did actually go ahead and buy a new desk anyway because the Behringer I have is low-budget as all hell, might be best to let you know what's going on once that arrives.
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Post by benedict on Jan 10, 2018 11:36:51 GMT -8
Yeah, compression will exacerbate noise, especially if you're bringing up the overall level in the process. When your new interface arrives, I'd be curious to see a raw file off your new interface and another one off the Behringer. Ideally set the gains on the interfaces to get your average signal around -12dB to -9dB on both and do a straight recording to WAV. If you can leave about five seconds of silence at the beginning and end of each track, that can be really useful for analyzing noise.
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