LibriVox

[ClassicalZen]

Please review -- feedback welcome! (Am I posting in the right location?)

47 seconds:
http://upload.librivox.org/share/uploads/tests/Test_Map_History_11-09.wav

Thanks!
-- Marynna

[RuthieG]

Oh, no-one has answered you while I was asleep, Marynna!

You have a lovely voice. There are a few technical issues, but that is just what the test recording is here for, so here goes:

1. Your recording is in .WAV format. It needs to be an MP3. Have you installed LAME? If not, see this page in the Wiki. Once you have installed LAME, and Audacity knows where to find it, you never have to do this step again.

When you have LAME properly installed you will be able to export your recording as a 128 kbps MP3, which is the file format required by the Internet Archive, which hosts all our recordings.

2. Your recording has considerable DC offset, but don't worry, this is easy to fix. DC offset occurs when the recording is not centred on the middle line. It's simple to fix, just select the whole recording (Ctrl+A) and click Effect | Normalize. Check the "Remove any DC Offset" box only, and click OK. (Instructions for Audacity - other software should have a similar option.)

3. The volume is just a shade low:

• Check that your input volume is set as high as it will go in the recording software. (If you are using Audacity, this is a slider at top left next to a picture of a microphone.)

• Try and increase your input volume on your computer. If Windows XP, this means click Start | Control Panel | Sounds and Audio Devices | Audio and finding the Sound Recording volume slider. Other operating systems should have something similar.

• You will notice then, that the sound wave you produce is much bigger. Aim at getting nice big peaks - between 0.5 and 1 in the Audacity window (without hitting the upper and lower edges of the window, which causes distortion).

4. There are two places where, if you look at the sound wave, you will see tall spikes. This is where your breath has hit the microphone full on and made a noise. It prevents you from amplifying the whole recording. Just make sure that you are not speaking directly at the mic - if it's a headset mic, try moving it slightly up or down. If it's a desktop mic, try moving slightly to left or right.

Try making these adjustments, and post another little sample. You will soon be up and running!

Ruth
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[Cori]

Lovely to hear you, Marynna. Ruth's faster on the type than me ... so I'll just add: if you've any questions, just ask and we'll help wherever we can. (And also, if you see this thread first, could you look in the Weekly Poetry project too -- Dii has a couple more questions for you.)
_________________
Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing: Aristotle. . . My Saying--Doing--Being

[ClassicalZen]

Ruth and Cori,

Thank you so much! Ruth, I really appreciate the detailed feedback and guidance. I'll make those corrections and post a new test.

Thanks again!
-- Marynna