Ideas?

[wbrock001@hotmail.com]

Okay, I'm recording video of a history class and procured a Zaxcom ZFR 100 using a Sanken COS11, and a Sennheiser 100 wireless using the standard mic. Please go to the link and listen to the two samples. No processing has been done other than a 24 to 16 bit conversion. You can see from the files that no particular clipping occurred.

The mics were placed with the Cos11 around 5-6 inches below chin on chest on button down shirt pointed straight up with the filter on it, and the wireless mic about 2.5 inches below.

http://whiterockfilms.com/howardtwoaudio.html

Can you hear the sort of strange jittering in the voice of one of the files? I will hopefully get some ideas on what is wrong...or rather how I may be using it wrong. The level meter on the ZFR never peaked while I was doing a level test, but I would say that he did get louder when he actually started lecturing. I had the limiter engaged on the ZFR just in case. The gain was set to 22db. Does it sound like the mic itself was being overloaded? I was going to run a test where I record at the same level and try to speak at near his level then turn down the gain and try again and see if that makes the difference, but I was hoping someone here could hear it and tell me exactly what was wrong. Thanks in advance!


Bill

 

[Allan Black]

Okay, I'm recording video of a history class and procured a Zaxcom ZFR 100 using a Sanken COS11, and a Sennheiser 100 wireless using the standard mic. Please go to the link and listen to the two samples. No processing has been done other than a 24 to 16 bit conversion. You can see from the files that no particular clipping occurred.

The mics were placed with the Cos11 around 5-6 inches below chin on chest on button down shirt pointed straight up with the filter on it, and the wireless mic about 2.5 inches below.

http://whiterockfilms.com/howardtwoaudio.html

Can you hear the sort of strange jittering in the voice of one of the files? I will hopefully get some ideas on what is wrong...or rather how I may be using it wrong. The level meter on the ZFR never peaked while I was doing a level test, but I would say that he did get louder when he actually started lecturing. I had the limiter engaged on the ZFR just in case. The gain was set to 22db. Does it sound like the mic itself was being overloaded? I was going to run a test where I record at the same level and try to speak at near his level then turn down the gain and try again and see if that makes the difference, but I was hoping someone here could hear it and tell me exactly what was wrong. Thanks in advance!


Bill

Audio 1 sounds like your problem could be your conversion 24 to 16bit. IMO record all jobs like that at 16bit, no point in going higher sound wise, and you save time, record space and problems like this occuring.

I think there could be more presence (in your face) in it. You could cut some slight bottom end out of it in post to get more presence. And if possible add a small amount of stereo room echo in post to make it more interesting. Folk listen to these projects on headphones.

No offence but if you went to the trouble of recording 24 bit you should also edit out all the stumbles and repeats to make it more interesting and coherent. If you haven't done much editing, don't lop out all the breaths and cut everything to close together.

You can hear where the lecturer looks down and pops the mic, use a pop filter.

Cheers.

 

[Steve House]

When you reduced the bit depth did you apply any dither in the process?

 

[wbrock001@hotmail.com]

yes, I did apply dither. I listened before and after and the gurgling seemed the same. I'm thinking he just upped his volume and the combination of that and the limiter...gurgled him out. I really just need to get more experience with this recorder. I'm glad I had the wireless as backup! Thank you for your suggestions. By the way...the zfr only records in 24bit, you have to use it's conversion app to get the filetype you need. If anyone is interested, since there seems to be little info on the zfr, I can post more samples as I get better at using it?