My head is in a vice Uncle Fester

Colin Campbell · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007, 20:02 (GMT) Post subject:

OK, I've got a minute. The difference between a gate and a downward expander....

A gate is like a real "gate." Open or closed or in the case of audio... on or off. When you talk the gate is open. When you stop the gate is shut. Problem is you notice that too much. It sounds funny. I hear a lot of that effect on here and I don't like it.

A downward expander takes quiet sounds and makes them quieter. It is a lot more elegant.

Most mic processors use a combination of downward expansion and compression. What this means is that there is some "threshold" level, say -10 db. Above that level the audio is compressed. Below that level the audio is "downward expanded." Then the overall level is increased with what is called "make up gain." So the loud gets louder and the quiet gets quieter.

Make sense?

Bob Bradley · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 74

Here's another note on removing breaths. If you highlight the gap between phrases where your breath is heard, and then use your Amplitude effect to drop it waaaay down low, when you play back your file without the breath sound, it's going to sound like the gap between phrases is too long (because of the silence). Therefore...you can actually snip a piece of silence out of that gap, and your pause will still sound totally natural. Simply silencing your breaths won't sound right...you have to compensate for the extra silence you've added to the read by snipping a little (not all of it) out.

Bob

Amy Snively · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 1028

That's what I do. I take the breath down low, and often can snip a little out. You can feel, even hear a little, that I am human and breathing, but it's not a big distracting gasp.

Caryn Clark · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 1000

Wow, do I have a lot to learn. This thread is very helpful. I have to play around and see if I can do these things.

THANKS!

Alan Simmons · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Mar 2006 Posts: 220

This is one of the most helpful threads (other than the VO Tips series) I've read. I struggle with the little things sometimes. I love learning this stuff!

So, on the downward expander, when you adjust (increase) your make-up gain, doesn't it just bring up your quiet background again? Or is it such a subtle adjustment that it won't affect it that much?...

Colin Campbell · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007, 20:54 (GMT) Post subject:

That's a great question Alan. Had to think about that. My answer would be that the make-up gain is not enough to overcome the expansion. I'll have to go back and read my Symetrix manual and see what they say about that.

Don Randall · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007, 22:01 (GMT) Post subject:

Todd Ellis · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007, 18:21 (GMT) Post subject:

George - if you haven't downloaded the "Gain Applet" for the Blue - it might help from the git-go.

http://www.bluemic.com/update.php

btw - i recommend this for anybody using the Blue Snowball - really helped me in my remote set-up.

Heather Ruby · **Voice Talent** Joined: 08 Sep 2006 Posts: 188

Wow. I've learned a lot on this thread. Thanks, guys. It's obvious I'm not doing enough tweaking to my audio, and in fact only use a little preset EQ button in my Mac garageband that my Mac guy helped me set up. If I place my filter and mic correctly, I minimize any pops but still occasionally overmodulate.

I'm just waiting patiently til July when Adobe FINALLY makes Audition for Mac available in their new Creative Suite.

Todd, I've heard great things about the Blue snowball. I got this Samson USB mic fairly cheap, and its been working great.

Todd Ellis · Posted: Tue May 01, 2007, 11:55 (GMT) Post subject:

when you say you "delete the extra space" i hope you don't mean you're cuttinhg out "breath sounds". if you delete them completely your pacing will be off and the end result will sound choppy. instead - if you have breath sounds apply a -12 to -14db cut. this will reduce the sounds while leaving the normal pacing of the script.

jmho - but - normalizing is ok - but make sure your audio is clean - otherwise you are just amplifying everything - good, bad AND ugly. better to get what you want going in (level-wise) try to peak around -6db when you record and you should be fine.

most of the clients i work with want dry audio - everything set to 12 O'Clock, no EQ no compression, no nuthin' ... your mileage may vary.

George Karnes · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 905

Todd-
Thanks.
What I mean cut out is long pauses and parts where I say the same line over and over. I have started applying 6-10DB cuts as you mentioned.

On that snowball app, doesn't the little switch on the back of the mic do the same thing?

Heather Cooper · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 472

Fabulous, fabulous thread!!! I have learned so much!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your posts!!! respekt

Todd Ellis · Posted: Tue May 01, 2007, 18:24 (GMT) Post subject:

George - no it doesn't. the switch on the back changes the pattern. download the applet - you will see a HUGE difference, i promise.

Maggie's Voice · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 588

Joe J Thomas · **Voice Talent** Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1521