Would There Ever Be a Possibility...?

[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.

[Nogrod]

Oddwen's clip is almost a page long and there's three hobbits, Gandalf and the narrator involved in it. We are going to make a trial with it tomorrow. Lommy comes over to my place and she'll record one hobbit's lines and I will do the Gandalf parts - and hopefully Greenie has time and enthusiasm to join us making another hobbit so Oddwen would have one hobbit and the narration left to her. I'll send it all to you all to hear as it's done. Then we can hear how different voices act together.

Matthew: If you can please make another go for Boromir (or whoever you want). Just lower the input levels a bit so that your voice doesn't break and try to get the mike (and yourself) at least a little away from the computer. Let's see if a second try brings better results in light of recording quality. You acted nicely already in the first clips.

Others: Keep those clips coming (just record a short passage of someone's lines and send them to me) and we'll get this thing going! Send me a PM to get my email address to send them into. Remember this is just testing so do not take it too seriously. But we need first to hear how your equipment works and surely we'd all like to share your voice.

I promised to send those "raw-materials" to Nerwen as well so that she could try out whether her software would produce better results.

Meanwhile - as the testing goes on - we should actually start the discussion what is the chapter we should try first and who should play which role.

I have no strong preferences to either question.

[McCaber]

I'd love to help out with this.

I don't have mic equipment, so I can't contribute to the voices. However, I can help with soundtracks, as that is more my area of expertise and I have the hardware to do it.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Matthew: If you can please make another go for Boromir (or whoever you want). Just lower the input levels a bit so that your voice doesn't break and try to get the mike (and yourself) at least a little away from the computer. Let's see if a second try brings better results in light of recording quality. You acted nicely already in the first clips.

I sent you three more takes as Boromir, the other day actually. Did you get them? I tried different mic placings, taking the chord as long as it stretched.