I wouldn’t record silence for noise reduction at all. If you use noise reduction within the original recording say between words. Capture a half second free from snaps etc. it works quite well and you won’t hear any difference in the speaking. I do vary how the percentage of noise reduction depending on how bad the background I get is. To each their own but noise reduction is a useful tool used correctly. Granted not having the noise to begin with is ideal but sometimes the recordings are just not great when I get them 😳. I need to check my noise floor personally like you mentioned for my own stuff.
My noise floor instantly improved when I went from using a Rode NT1 to a Sennheiser 416. Now it’s below -60 dB whereas before it was around -54. Now if only my neighbor’s rooster would shut up! 😅
Yay! Way to go on the noise floor. I recently created a double wall for my vocal booth because there were tree removal services AND a house being built beside my house. I'm like a dog with a bone... IT WILL BE QUIET lol!
@@anthonybrooks3039 Both the 416 and NT1 produce low self noise. The Nt1 however is a large-diaphragm condenser mic which picks up more room noise whereas the 416 has a tight polar pattern and the short interference tube picks up more voice and less room noise.
In the DAW "Reaper", I have had good luck, with the build in noise reduction plugin called "ReaFir". If you over do it of course, it doesn't sound natural. But I have used it with good results.
That's great! I mostly recommend avoiding noise reduction to beginners because some people think you can just apply it without understanding what it does and it really messes up the quality. If you find a way to use it that works well for you that is awesome! I still think getting the cleanest quietest noise floor to start with is the best option so you don't even need it, but you need to work with what you have.
Well there are no silly questions! And you're right, it does kind of start at 0. On computers we use a different scale with 0 being the clipping point of audio. Everything below 0 (in the minus scale) allows audio not to clip. -5dB has 5dB "head room" until you get to 0. In the real world an acoustic dB of "0" is the quietest that sound can be. But we have a different scale in digital audio. So really, the dB scale could be defined as the scale downward from clipping, or, 0dB. The answer is very technical and I'm not an audio engineer, and there are actually many answers. dB is also a reference to how you are measuring audio. There are many, like: dB, SPL, dBfs, dBm, dBu, dBV, and they all have their own unique ways of measuring audio. Anyway. if anyone is an audio engineer feel free to rip this apart and explain it in a different way LOL Here's a link to a reddit post to learn some more: www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/dkourt/why_do_we_measure_db_in_negatives/
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover Interesting, thank you for taking the time to explain! Trying to wrap my head around it still but will take a read of the link too. :)
I would never use -20 dB for a noise gate. If your noise floor is 55 dB (as an example), gate it down by 5 dB and you'll hit that 60 dB figure. Also, Noise Reduction can be over-used too because too much of it does produce audible artifacts in the form of distortion. If you really need to use it, shoot for 6 dB or so and no more.
Good note!! I actually don't use my noise gate anymore. I played around with it but don't actually need it based on the other sound deadening materials I use in my space.
1. "You want to be 6 to 8 inches and no further than that" what about closer? What's being "too close"? 2. I'll be honest...It would have helped exponentially more on the software side if you actually demonstrated your tips in real time with how you hone in every one of the adjustments. For example I need these adjustments to work live on Zoom not in post production.
I'd suggest consulting a coach. "Uncle Roy" is probably the VO industry's top audio consulting coach. There are just so many variables to really comment on this. Depends on what DAW you are using, and your setup. I mentioned tools available in most DAWs. I'm not an audio expert but have worked out a system that works for me by consulting with and audio engineer which I can't recommend enough. Best of luck!
Graci, Katelyn! Best tipe for me was the reminder to have my vocal level between -12db and -6db. Probably makes sense to have a DAW that can show me that before I start the actual recording.
Yes! It is definitely helpful to check your levels before you record. The nice thing is, once you set them you can pretty much leave them as is. Unless you have a job that requires you to be a lot louder than normal. Most DAWs have this feature so you can probably search for tutorials online on where to find that in your DAW. Best of luck!
Bravo! I am a newbie to VO....though studying and picking up small jobs. You just shed so much light on soooooo many things I have been doing incorrectly. 😔 Thank you & keep up the great work! 👍🏾
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover I look forward to watching more of your videos. I am still a newbie! Did two demos but still have a ton of technical questions :) Thanks again!
I would say the same thing about distortion. It is in every DAW as well, but should you use it? You just need to learn about and understand each function and tool within your DAW and what it is doing to your audio overall before you use it.
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover Well you use daw functions to make your voice sound better, which distortion would not. Gotta figure the techies behind every daw put things there for a reason. For me there are no “Do nots.” Use whatever it takes to produce a product you’re happy with.
@Ryan McQuen I agree 100%. A quiet recording space where you get as close to -60db is essential. My point is, not everyone can reach that holy grail or anywhere near because life gets in the way, that’s why there are noise reduction options in daws and plug ins. So, let’s not say “never use them.” Audio experts invented them for a reason and they can help produce professional sounding results.
@Ryan McQuen Yes - this! I would recommend other plugins over noise reduction though. Izotope RX has some great options like spectral de-noise. But yes, let's not plan to band-aid over chronic problems. Let's fix the chronic problem. Poor audio quality will limit your career as a voice actor.
Like your intention to help but you are WRONG. Maybe you just tried a crappy noise reducer! Check out Waves Clarity Vx Regular and Pro... both are miraculous at reducing all kinds of noise on the entire track and leave just pristine voice. This is the plugin now being used by Hollywood sound designers and it is powerful. Check out the vids and then update this outdated advice!
lol, thanks for the COMMENT! When giving tips to people brand new to the industry (and audio editing), often you can look at an issue like a noisey background and apply something like a noise reduction plugin and go way overboard and it will sound terrible. I know some big pros in the industry who like the noise reduction tool in AA. When you are dealing with minor noise reduction, it can be a great asset. When you're brand new to the whole idea, I would always suggest that people fix their noise issue at the source, and be very sparing with the many plugins available to them. My 2 cents ;) you don't have to like it. Peace!
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover I agree always best to start with not recording noise. That said, In the city it can be hard to get a -60db noise floor and the aforementioned plugins literally make it a non-issue-without any loss of voice clarity or tonal quality. $200 million productions like Dune wouldn't be using them on Timothy Chalemet's voice if they sounded bad. And they are not removing "light noise." They are removing super noisy gusts of wind hitting boom mics and much more! If you haven't seen the video demos of the aforementioned plugins I highly suggest taking the time to watch and hear is possible today. Wishing you much success!
@@Gnosis2078 Thanks! This video is definitely directed toward beginners. We've all been beginners and there is a tendency to bandaid things by using effects - and using them too heavily. So I'm really focused on helping people learn they need to fix the problem at the source. I'll definitely check out that tool though! Thanks for the comments!
Hi Leah, I made a blanket statement to never use noise reduction as a lot of people new to audio editing treat it as a bandaid quick fix when there are many other things you can do first. If you listen to my interview I did with Larry Hudson he chats a bit about noise reduction and you can check that out as Larry is a proponent of noise reduction - with the caveat that you need to get your noise floor low enough that when you apply your noise reduction it is barely noticeable. If it is just taking your noise floor from -55dB to -60dB that is when you want to use it. I recommend shooting Larry Hudson a message, or "Uncle Roy". These are 2 great resources in the VO industry who can do a studio consult with you. My long answer to your question is this: Follow all the steps I provided in the video to make your audio as clean as possible. Try to mitigate noise in your room. Create some kind of booth for yourself. Add as much noise absorbing materials as you can. Then I would use a high pass filter (accidentally called it a low pass filter in the video). This is a setting in your EQ settings. You want to do what is called a "roll off" for your very low frequencies. These are those annoying rumbles when a car drives down your street, or your air conditioner and fridge are on. These low frequencies (from 0kHz to about 75 kHz or 100 kHz if female) are not in the spectrum of where your voice lies. So we just get rid of those completely. This can sometimes be that last final trick to get you to -60dB WITHOUT impacting the frequencies that your voice lies within. There is also the factor of "self-noise" in your microphone. My Neumann TLM 103 has self noise of 7dB. The Rode NT1 is 4.5. These are usually so minimal that it doesn't matter. But mic quality plays a role in giving you clean audio. Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk haha! I also love using IZotope RX to do some final polishing, but Audacity should give you all the tools I mentioned in the video
I wouldn’t record silence for noise reduction at all. If you use noise reduction within the original recording say between words. Capture a half second free from snaps etc. it works quite well and you won’t hear any difference in the speaking. I do vary how the percentage of noise reduction depending on how bad the background I get is. To each their own but noise reduction is a useful tool used correctly. Granted not having the noise to begin with is ideal but sometimes the recordings are just not great when I get them 😳. I need to check my noise floor personally like you mentioned for my own stuff.
My noise floor instantly improved when I went from using a Rode NT1 to a Sennheiser 416. Now it’s below -60 dB whereas before it was around -54. Now if only my neighbor’s rooster would shut up! 😅
Yay! Way to go on the noise floor. I recently created a double wall for my vocal booth because there were tree removal services AND a house being built beside my house. I'm like a dog with a bone... IT WILL BE QUIET lol!
Not sure how you would of determined that idea considering the fact that the nt1 is the only mic with the quietest self noise.
@@anthonybrooks3039 Both the 416 and NT1 produce low self noise. The Nt1 however is a large-diaphragm condenser mic which picks up more room noise whereas the 416 has a tight polar pattern and the short interference tube picks up more voice and less room noise.
9:20 is a high pass filter....or a low cut filter.
Yes! Thank you for this comment. I wish I could put a little note on the screen. One of those "oopsies" you can't fix arg! lol :)
In the DAW "Reaper", I have had good luck, with the build in noise reduction plugin called "ReaFir". If you over do it of course, it doesn't sound natural. But I have used it with good results.
That's great! I mostly recommend avoiding noise reduction to beginners because some people think you can just apply it without understanding what it does and it really messes up the quality. If you find a way to use it that works well for you that is awesome! I still think getting the cleanest quietest noise floor to start with is the best option so you don't even need it, but you need to work with what you have.
My question is, how can anything he at a negative db? I dont understand this. Surely it should start from 0? Sorry if this is a silly question!
Well there are no silly questions! And you're right, it does kind of start at 0. On computers we use a different scale with 0 being the clipping point of audio. Everything below 0 (in the minus scale) allows audio not to clip. -5dB has 5dB "head room" until you get to 0.
In the real world an acoustic dB of "0" is the quietest that sound can be. But we have a different scale in digital audio.
So really, the dB scale could be defined as the scale downward from clipping, or, 0dB.
The answer is very technical and I'm not an audio engineer, and there are actually many answers. dB is also a reference to how you are measuring audio. There are many, like: dB, SPL, dBfs, dBm, dBu, dBV, and they all have their own unique ways of measuring audio. Anyway. if anyone is an audio engineer feel free to rip this apart and explain it in a different way LOL
Here's a link to a reddit post to learn some more: www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/dkourt/why_do_we_measure_db_in_negatives/
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover Interesting, thank you for taking the time to explain! Trying to wrap my head around it still but will take a read of the link too. :)
I would never use -20 dB for a noise gate. If your noise floor is 55 dB (as an example), gate it down by 5 dB and you'll hit that 60 dB figure. Also, Noise Reduction can be over-used too because too much of it does produce audible artifacts in the form of distortion. If you really need to use it, shoot for 6 dB or so and no more.
Good note!! I actually don't use my noise gate anymore. I played around with it but don't actually need it based on the other sound deadening materials I use in my space.
Hello Katelyn ! Just passing by, I have a question. What's the Taylor Swift reference here ?
1. "You want to be 6 to 8 inches and no further than that" what about closer? What's being "too close"?
2. I'll be honest...It would have helped exponentially more on the software side if you actually demonstrated your tips in real time with how you hone in every one of the adjustments. For example I need these adjustments to work live on Zoom not in post production.
I'd suggest consulting a coach. "Uncle Roy" is probably the VO industry's top audio consulting coach. There are just so many variables to really comment on this. Depends on what DAW you are using, and your setup. I mentioned tools available in most DAWs. I'm not an audio expert but have worked out a system that works for me by consulting with and audio engineer which I can't recommend enough. Best of luck!
Your first point lol I almost brought 2 noise reduction tool cus I hate it
I have many plugins that make noise is worst then the room that I can. Control
Wonderful tips. I watched so many videos on this particular topic but this one was the best of them all. Simple, straightforward, and accurate....
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and comment!
Graci, Katelyn! Best tipe for me was the reminder to have my vocal level between -12db and -6db. Probably makes sense to have a DAW that can show me that before I start the actual recording.
Yes! It is definitely helpful to check your levels before you record. The nice thing is, once you set them you can pretty much leave them as is. Unless you have a job that requires you to be a lot louder than normal. Most DAWs have this feature so you can probably search for tutorials online on where to find that in your DAW. Best of luck!
I am enjoying your videos. I can't wait to see your recording space.
Thank you Karyn! That is a great idea! I should do a video showing my whole studio space :)
wow, how you only have 700 subs ? nice video quality. and your voice is mesmerizing , thanks !
Bravo! I am a newbie to VO....though studying and picking up small jobs. You just shed so much light on soooooo many things I have been doing incorrectly. 😔 Thank you & keep up the great work! 👍🏾
You are so welcome!
Very informative video especially when applying tools and the effects.
Thank you for the support, I'm glad it was informative :) :)
Love to you from Prince George ,BC! Thank you for your video!
Thanks for this great video!
You're welcome! Thanks for listening :)
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover I look forward to watching more of your videos. I am still a newbie! Did two demos but still have a ton of technical questions :) Thanks again!
Oops, not low-pass filter. That would be a high-pass filter. Because it passes frequencies above what you have chosen to roll off.
Yup! Totes right - can't change it now though, LOL
Hey Katelyn. You’re awesome dude. I enjoyed you’re video but it was also very informative. Wish you the best. Your voice is also very pretty
Thank you so much!
that's good lesson dear
Thank you so much!
You are great teacher
You are great teacher
You are great teacher
Thank you for this! Very helpful!
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Why is there a noise reduction function in every DAW and various noise reduction plug ins available if you’re not supposed to use them?
I would say the same thing about distortion. It is in every DAW as well, but should you use it? You just need to learn about and understand each function and tool within your DAW and what it is doing to your audio overall before you use it.
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover Well you use daw functions to make your voice sound better, which distortion would not. Gotta figure the techies behind every daw put things there for a reason. For me there are no “Do nots.” Use whatever it takes to produce a product you’re happy with.
@Ryan McQuen I agree 100%. A quiet recording space where you get as close to -60db is essential. My point is, not everyone can reach that holy grail or anywhere near because life gets in the way, that’s why there are noise reduction options in daws and plug ins. So, let’s not say “never use them.” Audio experts invented them for a reason and they can help produce professional sounding results.
@Ryan McQuen Yes - this! I would recommend other plugins over noise reduction though. Izotope RX has some great options like spectral de-noise. But yes, let's not plan to band-aid over chronic problems. Let's fix the chronic problem. Poor audio quality will limit your career as a voice actor.
How did you learn about all of these parameters?
A combination of working with my uncle who is an audio engineer and my training through Edge Studio! :) Happy to help!
Ah I also trained with Edge! They are great. Lovely video.
The multimeter!! Thank you
Yes!! The multimeter is so helpful in logic! If you want to get forensic about it, Waveform stats in Izotope RX is even better!
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover perfect!
Like your intention to help but you are WRONG. Maybe you just tried a crappy noise reducer! Check out Waves Clarity Vx Regular and Pro... both are miraculous at reducing all kinds of noise on the entire track and leave just pristine voice. This is the plugin now being used by Hollywood sound designers and it is powerful. Check out the vids and then update this outdated advice!
lol, thanks for the COMMENT! When giving tips to people brand new to the industry (and audio editing), often you can look at an issue like a noisey background and apply something like a noise reduction plugin and go way overboard and it will sound terrible. I know some big pros in the industry who like the noise reduction tool in AA. When you are dealing with minor noise reduction, it can be a great asset. When you're brand new to the whole idea, I would always suggest that people fix their noise issue at the source, and be very sparing with the many plugins available to them. My 2 cents ;) you don't have to like it. Peace!
@@KatelynDawnVoiceover I agree always best to start with not recording noise. That said, In the city it can be hard to get a -60db noise floor and the aforementioned plugins literally make it a non-issue-without any loss of voice clarity or tonal quality. $200 million productions like Dune wouldn't be using them on Timothy Chalemet's voice if they sounded bad. And they are not removing "light noise." They are removing super noisy gusts of wind hitting boom mics and much more! If you haven't seen the video demos of the aforementioned plugins I highly suggest taking the time to watch and hear is possible today. Wishing you much success!
@@Gnosis2078 Thanks! This video is definitely directed toward beginners. We've all been beginners and there is a tendency to bandaid things by using effects - and using them too heavily. So I'm really focused on helping people learn they need to fix the problem at the source. I'll definitely check out that tool though! Thanks for the comments!
so if I am trying to get ACX audio check pass how would I avoid using noise reduction? I'm using audacity as my DAW
Hi Leah, I made a blanket statement to never use noise reduction as a lot of people new to audio editing treat it as a bandaid quick fix when there are many other things you can do first. If you listen to my interview I did with Larry Hudson he chats a bit about noise reduction and you can check that out as Larry is a proponent of noise reduction - with the caveat that you need to get your noise floor low enough that when you apply your noise reduction it is barely noticeable. If it is just taking your noise floor from -55dB to -60dB that is when you want to use it.
I recommend shooting Larry Hudson a message, or "Uncle Roy". These are 2 great resources in the VO industry who can do a studio consult with you.
My long answer to your question is this:
Follow all the steps I provided in the video to make your audio as clean as possible. Try to mitigate noise in your room. Create some kind of booth for yourself. Add as much noise absorbing materials as you can.
Then I would use a high pass filter (accidentally called it a low pass filter in the video). This is a setting in your EQ settings. You want to do what is called a "roll off" for your very low frequencies. These are those annoying rumbles when a car drives down your street, or your air conditioner and fridge are on. These low frequencies (from 0kHz to about 75 kHz or 100 kHz if female) are not in the spectrum of where your voice lies. So we just get rid of those completely. This can sometimes be that last final trick to get you to -60dB WITHOUT impacting the frequencies that your voice lies within.
There is also the factor of "self-noise" in your microphone. My Neumann TLM 103 has self noise of 7dB. The Rode NT1 is 4.5. These are usually so minimal that it doesn't matter. But mic quality plays a role in giving you clean audio.
Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk haha! I also love using IZotope RX to do some final polishing, but Audacity should give you all the tools I mentioned in the video