Upload quality

Erik Sheppard · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006, 17:47 (GMT) Post subject: Upload quality

I have a tech problem and was wondering if anyone else was experiencing the same thing. Many times when I upload a file for an audition it plays back distorted with a slight echo or Darth Vader kind of quality. I always make sure to upload an mp3 with the proper settings (41,128 etc.) and have even tried using different converters. The good folks at voice123 have tried to help on various occassions but it still keeps happening. Curiously, this doesnt occur when I upload demos to my profile although they supposedly use the same conversion process on their end. Does this happen to anyone else? It is driving me absolutley insane. If I was looking to hire a voice talent and I heard an audition that sounds like some of mine have, after the distortion, I would certainly look elsewhere. Everything sounds great before the upload.

Freddie Molina · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006, 19:51 (GMT) Post subject: voiceoversavvy.com

Dear Erick,
As you know we are still in the Beta testing of this tool and not a lot of talents are expected to visit us until the official release is done, so I’m going to take the liberty of trying to help.

We are contacting the tech department of Voice123 to let them know the specifics of this issue, this way they can work on it and get back to us with some recommendations..

In the other hand we are aware that Voice123 is going to have an upgrade done to the playback quality soon, at this point any talent on Voice123 will be able to upload and playback at 96 kbps ( very close to CD quality ), that should resolve any playback issues of this kind.

Anyway, we’ll keep you posted on our findings with Voice123 about your demos.

Erik Sheppard · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006, 21:15 (GMT) Post subject: Thanks Freddie

Thanks for the reply. I look forward to all the changes and upgrades to come. By the way, here is an idea: As most of you who have been talents here for a while know, after a bidder replies through the system you usually wind up sending a lot of e-mails back and forth through your personal address. How cool would it be if we could get e-mail addresses from voice123? talentsname@voice123.com. Just a thought.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure, Freddie will work tirelessly for you have any problems.

Freddie Molina · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006, 21:19 (GMT) Post subject:

That is a great idea, for a fact I will bring it up to them. TY

Carol Goode · Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006, 16:28 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey Eric...just wanted to let you know you aren't alone. I've had the "echo" problem also--in uploading auditions. Looking forward to the improved quality.

Linda B · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 19:54 (GMT) Post subject: Upload quality

Hi Erik-

I was experiencing a similar situation with my demos after Voice123 went to 64kbs for our audition samples. And I agree, Freddie was a star in working with me on figuring out a solution! What I've found to work the best at this point, is to record at 44.1/16 bit mono with a sample rate of 64kbs. Using 128 seemed to cause a problem. I also don't do too much with the EQ or normalize the file to a full 100% (I do between 92 - 95%).
I find the less I do to mess with it, the less there is to be distorted by the conversion/compression process at the other end. Hope this helps!
My best,
Linda B

Nathan Lowe · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 20:38 (GMT) Post subject:

Erik,

Let me suggest a couple things to include when you post a technical question:

what DAW you are using (PT, GarageBand, Soundforge, &c);
whether your inital recording is a mono or stereo file;
what your inital sampling rate and bit depth are when recording;
what file type you use for the inital recording (aif, wav, SDII);
what program you are using to create your mp3s (PT, iTunes, &c) – which in some cases can be different than the program used to initially record the file;
what bit rate your mp3s are - this is different than the bit depth of the inital recording;
whether you preview your track in another program (iTines, Windows Media Player, &c) before you submit it to V123.

Also, try and be as specific as you can with the symptoms – a "Darth Vader" sound can mean several things. Do you mean that the pitch is lower than the way you originally recorded it, or is it the right pitch, and that it just sounds mechanical? What do you mean by "echo-y" — literally like you are in a large room or bathroom with natural sounding reverb trails, or more of a digital repitition or studdering or other artifact?

Including this info will really help other responders assist you - by narrowing down the issue, we can more quickly pinpoint the exact cause and offer suggestions!

I would recommend doing this for all posters of technical questions.

I for example record using PT at 88.2/24, bouncing down to 44.1/16 as a stereo interleaved file using PT's mp3 option. The bit rate I use for the mp3 varies depending on the file size - sometimes at 320Kbps if the file is small, all the way down to 128Kbps or 96Kbps for larger files. Once I upload a track, I find I never have any problems when I preview it on V123's end.

I also agree with Linda B to a certain extent - if you don't know how to EQ or use compression, don't do it! Distortion is just one of the multitude of dangerous things that can happen to your recordings - don't forget, a certain amount of "compression" occurs when converting to mp3s from an aif or wav file. I put compression in quotes b/c we are talking about two different animals here - using a compressor on an audio track is really different than the data compression of file conversion — though one of the results of file conversion is a perceived signal compression. If you do know how to apply compression, EQ, and a mastering limiter - go for it! It does nothing but improve your recording, and puts you head and shoulders above those who can't/won't.

Best,

Nathan Lowe

— When possible, attach a copy of the offending file, so we can listen to it and maybe get an even better idea of the issue!

NAL

Dan Lenard · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 20:50 (GMT) Post subject: Bad Auditions in Beta

I too have some problems with the audio quality of the audition tool. Its not from the talents end. It clearly occurs after it is uploaded. It has nothing to do with your DAW, or software. An uploaded MP3 should not be recompressed, which I beleive the audition tool does. Talents should be able to just simply upload an MP3 unprocessed. Try something else Voice123.

Freddie, I hope you guys fix this soon!

Master VO

Nathan Lowe · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 21:28 (GMT) Post subject:

Dan is absolutely right in that the audition tool recompresses an mp3 - if that mp3 is not at 64Kbps and at 44.1 Khz. I don't believe a re-conversion takes place if the file is already at that bit rate - though I must say I haven't asked Freddie if all files are re-converted even if they are already at 64Kbps. Seems silly if this were the case.

Its not correct to say as a blanket statement, however, that the problem is only on V123's end - sometimes the way a file is submitted is frankly not correct - if for example a file is recorded at 48Khz and not converted to 44.1Khz, the pitch of the resulting track will be affected. This is but one of many many ways that the person submitting could be sending in an incorrect file type, resulting in a track on V123 that is not usable. This is why I suggested that we be given the most accurate and detailed report of the problem - including all specs (DAW and software included) - to rule out error on the submitter's part when someone posts a technical question. I was not being demeaning by suggesting this - I'm just not going to assume that every talent is submitting correctly every time. The fact that talents are submitting files that do not have difficulties (I being one of them) is a counter example to the idea that it is just V123's fault. That's all I'm saying.

Best

Nathan Lowe

Louis Tristan · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 21:36 (GMT) Post subject: echooooo

C Q this is C4 can you hear me?

Freddie Molina · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 21:37 (GMT) Post subject: Uploading quality

Hello guys,
We really appreciate your comments. We are aware of the uploading limitations on Voice123. Their development department is working on a new and improved tool that will help you deliver auditions on a much higher bit rate (96kbps), the main idea with this upgrade is to resolve any quality issues with the playback that can appear when converting and compressing high quality files to 64kbps mono and streaming them though the web.
This new tool will be released very soon and judging for the latest tests, it is going to do the trick.
Will keep you posted on any new information available regarding the uploading and playback tools.

Dan Lenard · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 21:40 (GMT) Post subject:

Nathan,

Taking lack of knowledge on how to create an MP3 I can certainly see where problems might occur. If V123 says upload your MP3 and it will come out the other end sounding great, that's wrong.

Perhaps they could be specific about what compression we should use.

Randy Price · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 21:48 (GMT) Post subject: DAN L is right.

I'm sure Voice123 did't figure the first thing they'd hear from the mobb was how bad their auditions sounded. Well I agree. If I were a client there's no way I could listen to more than a few of the auditioners before I got a headache. Not all of my auditions sound bad its hard to figure because my setting don't change. Whats the official word on the best settings.

RP

Nathan Lowe · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 21:48 (GMT) Post subject:

That, I totally agree with. Although, now that I think about it, doesn't V123 say that their files should be submitted as mp3s (or wav - never figured this out, submitting wavs never worked...) of 3Mb or less at 64Kbps? Can't be sure right now; not looking at the submission page... But, if they don't, they clearly should. Though I will say, like I did in an earlier post, I've submitted at a rate of 320Kbps and had no problems - a re-conversion from that resolution really should not cause peoblems - its the sampling rate and the bit depth of the original file that can cause the most problems.

Nathan

Freddie Molina · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006, 21:58 (GMT) Post subject: Uploading quality

Nathan is correct, when a file is uploaded on to Voice123 on Mp3, 64 kbps, Mono, 44.1 Hz (no larger than 3 Mbs), it will not be re-converted. This is why it is recommended do the conversion before uploading the file. Also agree that some problems might be related to the dept and sampling rate when recording. Most of the times doing a few minor changes on how the recording is done, can change the quality of your auditions.
Regarding the Wave format, they are too large to work properly. I will communicate this to the Voice123´s development department, that information should be corrected.