A Question concerning creating an Audio BooK

[amicus]

Even in a radio studio there is background noise, evident when one opens a microphone and is wearing headphones; you can hear the hum of machinery, air conditioners, even computer fans and coffee makers....

After making a handful of youtube video's, I am searching for a more professional sound without renting a sound proof studio and came across a suggestion, somewhere, for a portable recording device, with headphones, for presence and a quality microphone attached to the headphones.

There are some musicians here, xssve is one that comes to mind, and perhaps others familiar with what is available on the market in terms of portable recording devices, small enough to take into a fairly soundproof closet or small room with minimum ambient noise.

Any suggestions?

Amicus

 

[Stella_Omega]

You aren't making audio books, you liar.

That said, it's pretty much impossible to filter ambient noise from the microphone imput. But you might be able to use a program like GarageBand for mac, or one like this for pc:
http://www.thegaragedoor.com/roadcrew/garageband-for-pc.html to engineer a bit of the noise away.

 

[Verdad]

I've heard one of your youtube offerings, Ami, and you did have problems. By the sound of it, the problem is that your current microphone is too light and lacks decoupling between the microphone element and the body of the microphone. Hence it's indiscriminately sensitive to what happens in its immediate surroundings and catches everything, from its own cable moving to the air hitting it as soon as you open your mouth.

To solve the problem, you do need a new mic, but I don't know if a portable recording device is the way to go. It would probably solve your current problem, but these devices are typically intended for recording ambiance and would lend unwanted attention to the room. They're typically stereo, while for voice you need mono.

Possibly a better solution is to get a USB mic from a respectable manufacturer, intended for the use you have in mind—such as this one. It’s a good mic, it’s intented for voice, it’s easy to use due to being USB, and it allows you to plug the headphones directly in it. It’s “cardioid”, which is to say it has a heart-shaped sensitivity pattern, catching best what’s in front of it. That is usual for voice microphones and alone goes a long way toward reducing the background noise. Add a few bucks for a microphone stand (to further decouple the mic from the surface of the desk) and a pop filter, and you should be all set.

If by any chance you still find you have an unacceptable amount of background noise, there are reflection filters such as these, which you can put behind the mike, further killing whatever comes from that side. You can easily improvise one by using a piece of acoustic sponge.

Before shelling out, of course, do check with someone who does the same thing you want to do and see what they use.

 

[Liar]

I do some voice recording work, and my equipment is a USB mic pretty much like the one Verdad linked, except mine can switch between cardioid and bidirectional, but you won't need that. It doesn't quite kill enough background hum, especially since the PC it hooks up to adds to the noise. Some additional post processing in an audio editor is needed. Goldwave is my weapon of choice for that, but it takes a while to learn how to tweak the knobs just right.

 

[amicus]

Thank you, Verdad, some very useful information and a different perspective.

Over the past week or so, I have done a lot of reading and listening, still accumulating information.

I have used dozens of microphones, some very similar to the one you recommended, in radio and television studio's and I think I subconsciously want the 'presence' provided by headphones, although, audio books are a different venue and I am still undecided.

I temember a little old lady who listened to my radio program...she counted the number of times I, 'flicked my bick', and lit a cigarette during a four hour show. That kind of ambience seems to have no place in an audio book, at least the ones I have listened to thus far.

I am as yet undecided as to whether to attempt as professional a sound as I can achieve, or approach the whole project from a different point of view, injecting my personality into the reading of the books. More like storytelling around a campfire where the ambient sounds become part of the reading...probably not acceptable and certainly not were I reading for other writers, but for myself and my stories, just not quite sure yet.

I try to keep in mind that the primary purpose is to entertain the listener without any distracting extraneous sounds, but in listening to some audio books, the reader becomes abstract and just a voice and I find myself wondering what the reader looks like and who he/she might be.

The first two books I am going to attempt are both with male character first person point of view, with, of course, the third person omniscient as narrative. I am still contemplating how to voice the female characters. I am finding it a challenging mental exercise in just visualizing the process before it happens.

Thank you for your recommendations, they are most helpful.



ami

 

[squarejohn]

Even in a radio studio there is background noise, evident when one opens a microphone and is wearing headphones; you can hear the hum of machinery, air conditioners, even computer fans and coffee makers....

After making a handful of youtube video's, I am searching for a more professional sound without renting a sound proof studio and came across a suggestion, somewhere, for a portable recording device, with headphones, for presence and a quality microphone attached to the headphones.

There are some musicians here, xssve is one that comes to mind, and perhaps others familiar with what is available on the market in terms of portable recording devices, small enough to take into a fairly soundproof closet or small room with minimum ambient noise.

Any suggestions?

Amicus

Amicus, you must have ears as good as Superman's eyes. The first real job I had was with an advertising agency as a messenger boy. Sometimes I was sent to recording studios to pick up recordings with commercial messages. These were vinyl discs about two feet in diameter. Elvis Presley was just a rising star. The thing that struck me when I stepped into the studio was the dead silence. Actually, the silence was tangible--almost spooky. Even my voice sounded funny. This was only in the outer studio with a receptionist and a few chairs. The real studios were in other rooms. It's hard to imagine what is was like where they did the actual recording.

To get to your question, why not use a wireless microphone? Get the audio track that way, and just put it in with the visual track later.

Stella's suggestion sounds pretty good, but I like doing things in the simplest way.

I have a question. Why do radio broadcasters have to wear headphones?

 

[amicus]

Thank yoiu, Liar...I downloaded a program to edit and equalize the audio, but I have not yet tried to put it to use.

I wonder if anyone here has produced an audio book and if so, might you share your experience?

Amicus

 

[amicus]

squarejohn...I don't go back quite that far, but a radio studio can be most intimidating when one experiences it for the first time. More so, an 'announcers booth',... I used to record sound tracks for use between television shows and cue commercials back when 8 tracks were used...that was in Hawaii, a long time ago and I did fine until someone slipped in a promo for me to read that included as 26 letter word of a tiny fish...that was almost as funny as my first interview program when a girl crawled, unseen, under the table and unzipped and unbuttoned my pants and tugged them down as I was ahm, performing....smiles...almost as much fun as the time I partied all night, got to the studio at 6am and did the first hour with a cute little blonde named :Suzie'' sitting on my lap...only the engineer ever knew...he could hear her giggling when the mike was off....sighs...the good old days...

Behind the scenes in the radio biz can be interesting.... Oh, headphones provide a 'presence' so you can hear your own voice as you broadcast; it helps to 'get into the zone', removing yourself from reality and getting into character....

regards...

ami

 

[theravenfox]

While I wouldn't quite call them audiobooks, I've produced a "few" audio stories. LOL

I use a standard Logitech headset and Audacity, which is an open source editing program.

To cancel noise, amplify significantly, then do noise removal, then de-amplify down to regular levels. You may loose a bit of the depth of your voice, but not enough to warrent leaving the background noise in.

If that didn't make sense, it will if you download Audacity.

Hope that helped.

 

[amicus]

While I wouldn't quite call them audiobooks, I've produced a "few" audio stories. LOL

I use a standard Logitech headset and Audacity, which is an open source editing program.

To cancel noise, amplify significantly, then do noise removal, then de-amplify down to regular levels. You may loose a bit of the depth of your voice, but not enough to warrent leaving the background noise in.

If that didn't make sense, it will if you download Audacity.

Hope that helped.

~~~

Well, hello and thank you, you red headed fox...smiles...I think I am using a Logitech headset and I will download Audacity and see what happens. I wonder might you answer a question...after all technical necessities are done and gone and you are recording your story...where is your head and how does it feel?



ami

 

[theravenfox]

~~~
I wonder might you answer a question...after all technical necessities are done and gone and you are recording your story...where is your head and how does it feel?



ami

I record the story, enjoy the process in whatever why I feel like at the time (toys? fingers? a partner?) and AFTERWARD get into the technical stuff...after a cup of tea and sometimes a hot shower. Maybe a nap. LOL

If you need the download site for Audacity and the associated LAME file, I will get it for you. Just PM me.