The Brewster

i've been meaning to ask some audio quality questions. I've gotteen some feedback that Ron and I have dramatically different volume when talking, namely, that I'm loud and Ron is super quiet. There are many possible reasons for this. When I do my edits (the odd numbered episodes), I'm really quiet in my PC's playback, so I have to turn myself up. It's possible that my PC is the only place this is happening for whatever reason. If that's the case, let me know. The other issue is that Ron tends to maintain a consistent speaking volume, where I tend to laugh loud and get excited and such before trailing off. That's just bad form on my part, and I need to work on it.

I'd like to get some feedback was to which episode set, or both, has problems, and what they are.

Do you normalize the levels in post-production? Most audio editing software has that capability. If not, you should try that.

tylertoo wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:27 am

Do you normalize the levels in post-production? Most audio editing software has that capability. If not, you should try that.

I know how, but what I've been posting sounds fine when I playback, so I'm trying to figure out where the problem is, since we have two different people editing.

Yeah, I wouldn't necessarily go by how it sounds to you (speakers vary, room acoustics vary, hearing varies) as much as what the levels look like visually in the final edit. All tracks should be within the same range.

tylertoo wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:35 am

Yeah, I wouldn't necessarily go by how it sounds to you (speakers vary, room acoustics vary, hearing varies) as much as what the levels look like visually in the final edit. All tracks should be within the same range.

That's what it looks like to me, but I had two people tell me that at times, I'm deafening and they can barely pick up Ron. So I want to know if lots of people are getting that. Hence the poll.

The volume level for you, Ted, usually seems to start off low (the first minute or so of the podcast), but them ratchets up and you both come across fine. Which is good, because I love listening to you two mull over all things BBA ...

Ted wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:40 am

That's what it looks like to me, but I had two people tell me that at times, I'm deafening and they can barely pick up Ron. So I want to know if lots of people are getting that. Hence the poll.

Hmm, that's odd. But probably not much you can do about it.

I actually just mute the podcast and mumble to myself for an hour or so.

I haven't noticed anything, but I guess now I have to go back and check.

Lane wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 19, 2020 12:06 pm

I haven't noticed anything, but I guess now I have to go back and check.

If you hadn't noticed enough to remember, i'd just say we're roughly even. I'm really only worried about people having to continually adjust volume, being deafened, or not being able to hear.

I'd like to vote for which option I prefer instead

Everything came over fine on my end...was wondering if you were going to touch on the UMEBA at all during the podcasts.

jtannehill wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 19, 2020 5:53 pm

Everything came over fine on my end...was wondering if you were going to touch on the UMEBA at all during the podcasts.

D'oh. Ron actually wants to from time to time. I'll admit to not wanting to have to know about the UMEBA. You guys have a lot going on and I don't want to put any more on my plate.

I took all nine options.

Wait, what was the question?

I listened to the latest episode with the level question in mind and found the levels to be fine. I do think there's a difference in the microphones, your voice comes through a bit muddier, less crisp, so that may be causing the perception that there's a difference in levels.

I didn’t vote. I’m not mentally stable enough to decipher such things.

Volume seems fine on my end, though I mostly listen on my phone. Do you guys use different editing software?

lordtoffee wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:14 pm

Volume seems fine on my end, though I mostly listen on my phone. Do you guys use different editing software?

No. When I got this laptop about two years ago, I noticed that everything I imported into or recorded with audacity was different than with the old one. This entire time it's been weird. I have no idea. My portion of any audio is always extremely quiet. When I import the exact same file on another laptop I own, it isn't. Whatever I produce sounds the same regardless of where it is played. So something about this laptop and audacity makes any audio that is recorded on it very quiet (I've tried different mics, different inputs, whatever). This doesn't affect the any non local track that is recorded. Other ends of skype calls, or discord chats, or g-chars, or anything is fine, regardless of whether i record it in audacity or import another file into audacity. Every time it's just the local track being quiet.

There are also some weird things that happen when I record audio with this laptop, in terms of feedback and difficulty getting it to recognize multiple channels. I have absolutely no idea why it is, and have never been able to figure out any settings that are different than what I've used elsewhere or drive of software issues. As far as I can tell, it's some crazy hardware thing that I'll never figure out. The only good news is that I'm probably halfway through the life cycle of this relative POS. So maybe the next one won't give me all these headaches.

Lane wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 19, 2020 12:06 pm

I haven't noticed anything, but I guess now I have to go back and check.

Me either nothing noticeable different.... maybe im just to old... or wearing a towel while I'm listening

I can't say that I noticed a difference. Maybe my filter is too heavy, maybe I don't stay awake long enough?