Would There Ever Be a Possibility...?

[Nogrod]

I see a problem coming though...

When we combine recordings made in different places with different equipment they will then follow one another (like what we shall soon hear there being Oddwen narrating and myself bringing Gandalf into the midst of it after which Oddwen will continue) and the different levels of background humming may sound nauseatingly disturbing.

Like there is the narration with midlevel humming behind it followed by character X with a clean background - interrupted by a humming "X said" - and then the voice goes to character Y who has a lots of background noise...

It all just goes on to say that you should try to minimize any background noises. The first thing is to get the microphone away from your computer as the computer makes a lot of noise.

Do not worry about there being gaps or silences in your recording. Those I can cut away easily.

[Azaelia of Willowbottom]

It's nice to see that things are happening! I won't have access to recording equipment until mid-May, more than a month away, but if that's not too late, I'll send some stuff in then. If it is, then best of luck/break a leg to all, and I'll be looking forward to hearing the final product/helping in any other way I can.

[Nerwen]

Re: humming–

Sounds the 50-cycle hum (or 60-cycle in America). This is very common and it means your equipment is not grounded properly.

You can try using different connections. However, most sound-editing programs have filters for getting rid of it.


As for sound effects– I have heaps, so I don't think that should be too much of an issue.

[Oddwen]

Re: humming–

Sounds the 50-cycle hum (or 60-cycle in America). This is very common and it means your equipment is not grounded properly.

You can try using different connections. However, most sound-editing programs have filters for getting rid of it.

I thought so - I have a very cheap microphone. It's the first time I've recorded on my laptop, I shall try again later on my Mac.

I tried a minimal noise removal effect on my original wav, but that made the rest of the audio sound like I was talking into a tin can. Which would, I suppose, be alright in Moria, but not under the darkening sky.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Nerwen

This is very common and it means your equipment is not grounded properly.

You can try using different connections. However, most sound-editing programs have filters for getting rid of it.

You're quite right Nerwen. But I'm afraid the basic problem we have faced this far is the hum that comes from the computer (computer's cooling system that is). If you listen to my two versions you can hear the difference as my Gimli is recorded with the mic on the table right beside the computer (and there's clearly audible humming in the background) while my Bilbo is pretty clean of any background hum because it was recorded about two meters away from the PC.

Filters are handy when the noise one wants to cut out is on different wavelengths than the stuff one wants to record (like the scratches from old LP-records or the hissing of old C-cassetes). But the humming of a computer is quite low and cutting those frequencies out will also cut those frequencies from the human voice leading up to this "tin-can" effect Oddwen speaks of as you now miss those important lower frequencies that add to the richness or fullness of the human voice.

Sure. The quality of the microphone makes a difference but unless the mic is really bad its main effect is just lower quality of tone. Better microphones produce clearer, richer, wider and sharper sound - not exactly the slang one should use I presume but those words describe the difference to me at least.

Originally Posted by Zali

I won't have access to recording equipment until mid-May, more than a month away, but if that's not too late, I'll send some stuff in then.

I'd say don't worry. This kind of project will take time even if we decide on just one chapter... as I think we should first concentrate.

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

You're quite right Nerwen. But I'm afraid the basic problem we have faced this far is the hum that comes from the computer (computer's cooling system that is). If you listen to my two versions you can hear the difference as my Gimli is recorded with the mic on the table right beside the computer (and there's clearly audible humming in the background) while my Bilbo is pretty clean of any background hum because it was recorded about two meters away from the PC.

Oh, that's what it is. In that case people to need to either keep well away from the computer during the recording, or use headset mikes. Also it's a good idea not to have the record volume too high, so the mike doesn't pick up hissing and background noise.

[Eönwë]

Ok, I think I'll rejoin

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

Ok, I think I'll rejoin

Good! I was just about to leave you a message saying it's too bad you're going to depart.