Cubase LE Help

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008, 00:27 (GMT) Post subject: Cubase LE Help

I put an audition up on the smash or trash and was told I sound like I'm talking thru a tin can. The file is attached. So, I'm here seeking advise.

Here are the particulars.

I do weekday weather forecasts under the handle David Crush for about 40 radio stations, some the music beds some without. All beds are canned and I just import them and adjust the level a bit so it fits behind my read.

Since I do so many forecasts, I built a template in Cubase that is strictly bare bones to my knowledge. I don't use fxs, chorus, modulation etc. I do have the EQ up across the board so my levels are strong enough to keep the stations happy. I haven't have any complaints since I adjusted the EQ and that's why it's up. I use a Marshall MXL-990 Studio Mic in a fairly quite seudo-studio. I have a foam masker mounted directly behind the mic so as to avoid any stray echoes.

Once recorded, I export the file as a dot aif file (Mac Audio) Stereo Interleaved, 16 Bit, 44.1kHz. Then convert it to an MP3 in ITunes and upload it.

I use that same template for all my auditions and export in the same format and convert the same way. Nothing changes except the read, weather instead of ad copy.

I don't do any post production because I wouldn't know what do to anyway. Do I need to add or remove something before conversion? Is stereo interleaved, 16 Bit, 44.1kHz good or bad?

Should I use gain rather than EQ? I've tried that and it sounded way over driven.

Does anyone have a Cubase LE template (dot cpr file) they use for auditions they would share?

Does anyone know of a web site that simply explains the basic DAW settings for a VO recording? I'm smart but I'm not sound engineer.

And finally, if anyone is really good with Cubase and would consider walking me through the settings, PM me and I'll call you.

Tks in advance....

Lance Blair · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008, 04:01 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Carl,

1.) Don't use the EQ boost across the board, it will just distort so much of the signal.

2.) What is your preamp...what do you use to power the mic, and what are the settings?

3.) What is the interface that you use to get the analog mic signal to be a digital signal in your computer?

4.) I have Cubase LE and SE3. As a voice talent, you shouldn't need to do anything to the signal, unless you get a gig providing voice mixed with music and sfx. Just get a nice level peaking between -12 and -6 and let your clients/stations deal with their compression, limiting, and EQ.

5.) How are you positioning the mic relative to your mouth, and what is your room like? Is the mic close to a reflective surface?

good luck,
Lance

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Step 1: Shut off the EQ. Do another cut without EQ and post it here. Don't worry about the levels just yet.

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008, 03:15 (GMT) Post subject:

Lance, good questions....

When I first started doing forecasts the stations were complaining that my levels were in the dirt even though I was seeing a good waveform in Cubase and talking fulling just over the top edge of the mic. I cranked the EQ and that shut them up. Hindsight sucks.

1.) Don't use the EQ boost across the board, it will just distort so much of the signal. Got it and make tons of since.

2.) What is your preamp...what do you use to power the mic, and what are the settings? I have a PreSonus FirePod twixt my Marshall MSL-990 and my IMac (Cubase). The FirePod is providing Phantom power for the mic and I have the channel setting at+2 dB

3.) What is the interface that you use to get the analog mic signal to be a digital signal in your computer?

4.) I have Cubase LE and SE3. As a voice talent, you shouldn't need to do anything to the signal, unless you get a gig providing voice mixed with music and sfx. Just get a nice level peaking between -12 and -6 and let your clients/stations deal with their compression, limiting, and EQ. I only use EQ and as you say, I let the stations deal with the rest.

5.) How are you positioning the mic relative to your mouth, and what is your room like? Is the mic close to a reflective surface? I speak in a normal conversational volume at or just below the top edge of the mic. I have a pop filter about 01.5" from the mic and I just touch it with my lips / chin. I'm on it but not in it if that makes sense.

Blair:

I don't have the file I uploaded originally, but here is a straight read, NO EQ. The level sound way to low to me, but hey, If I was the expert I wouldn't be asking the experts!

Step 1: Shut off the EQ. Do another cut without EQ and post it here. Don't worry about the levels just yet.

When I looked at the waveform for a forecast I did this morning, the peaks span -12dB up to -12dB down. Don't know if that's too much or too little.

Thanks for the great advice guys. Have a great weekend!

Lance Blair · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008, 05:36 (GMT) Post subject:

I couldn't listen to the new clips just now, but try this:

Place the microphone 4-6" from your mouth just slightly to either side on line with your ear, but have the face of the mic (and its diaphragm) biased/turned towards your mouth. Have the pop filter half-way between you and the mic. You'll have to increase the gain, but that's okay.

If you have a mic stand that can do it, try having the mic at least a little above your mouth even if it's hanging upside down: that can take away the boxiness of the sound and open it up a bit.

The way you're currently doing it, you're too much right on top of the mic in every way.

good luck!

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008, 05:45 (GMT) Post subject:

Cool, great tip and thanks a million.

I've got a bunch of forecasts to do in the morning so I'll give it a go. I'm willing to try anything to improve the sound, since that sells VO's!

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

What an improvement! It no longer sounds like you're in a box.

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008, 19:51 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey Chris,

I'm not in a pro studio so pushing my FirePod gain too high will start sucking in ambients and that can't be good. I'm up around +2dB and working a bit farther from the mic. It made recording more comfortable but I'm noticing that it's very easy to loose volume if I'm not real steady on my mic position. I'm trying to find the sweet spot for the different types of reads.

Thanks for the great advice and your willingness to share your talents. Thats what makes this a really great board.

Have a great week....tks again...cdh

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008, 16:55 (GMT) Post subject:

Talking into the top of a studio mic.....ROFLMAO...short for Rolling on Floor Laughing My A$$ Off! Probably labels himself as a voice over pro too!

I'm looking for that sweet balance between me and my equipment. Some voice overs are very dark and sultry, like that guy that does Lexus commercials. He's talking very low and close and has to get the levels up with equipment. Those way over the top, "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, Monster Truck Extravaganza" VO's are just the opposite. It's a careful balance and something I'm learning the hard way. Man do I hate the learning curve......

Thanks again....cdh

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216

Lee Kanne · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008, 23:16 (GMT) Post subject:

I've got an MXL 990 that I use occasionally and man, that mic is not that easy to work with. Let's not sugar coat it, it's not really a pro piece of gear....what do you expect for 60 or so bucks though.

I found that mic to record fairly hot...the best results I got was when I recorded off axis...if you start to approach the red, the signal starts to distort and it gets nasty... I would not suggest cranking the pre amp gain..

what I did was keep the pre amp gain at an average level, and played with the distances...the fewer peaks in your wave form the better..

to the give the signal a little presence and balls, I eq'd with a high pass filter @ 65hz, a little cut @ 250hz, a 5db boost around 2khz, sloping down to 0db @ 17khz...I added compressionwith about 3db of gain at a 4:1 ratio and a -17db threshold, and then a limiter...don't crush the signal with the limiter....this is the fx chain applied to the recorded signal..

also, you must dither your file if you've recorded at 24bit and then exporting as a 16 bit...

your results will vary according to your room and voice....

Carl Hedgepeth · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008, 23:27 (GMT) Post subject:

Ok Lee, I'll pull out my Dick Tracy decoder ring and sort out what you just said....LOL. Just kidding. I haven't used compression or limiters so it's off the to manual (gag) with a highlighter, sticky notes and a tall scotch!

You're right about the MXL-990 being hot. While it might not be considered a "Pro" mic, I think for the price it's very workable but the trick is obviously to find it's sweet spot and getting the processing parameters right.

Thanks to the tips. I'm constantly amazed at the level of smartness on this site. From technical to business savvy to great comedy, we're loaded to the max..... Very Happy

Lee Kanne · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008, 00:24 (GMT) Post subject:

hey Carl

it's not that hard...I've posted some jpeg's of my settings...it's not Cubase, just follow them as closely as you can.

record your signal dry and at a fairly normal level...then using your Cubase stock plugins, apply EQ, Compression, and Limiting, in that order to the track...you can also apply Limiting to the master output channel, or master fader, instead of the individual track...and of course, depending on how your station is handling the signal, you can back off on the limiter or eliminate it altogether...you can back off on the compressor too by lowering the threshold and/or the gain

on the master fader, apply the dither plug in...I believe in Cubase it's UV-22, and set it at 16 bit, then "bounce" or do a "mixdown" of the session and you will have a dithered 16 bit file..[/quote]

Chris Clementson · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 216