VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Skype has worked perfectly for me as a phone patch....but yesterday
during a session (first one with this new production house**** arghhhhh****

I started getting echo in my monitor inside my booth. It was echo of my read, and fortunately it could easily be edited out since it came right after the actual audio record, and it didn't happen during the entire session, but still I can't have this going on during sessions.

Again, the echo was of me and it was coming through my monitors (headphones) which I don't wear but prop up so I can hear them. Normally during a session the only thing that comes through the phones is the voices of the people on the other end.

I have a hunch that someone on the other end (it was a three way session; me, the producer, and the end client in Philly) was doing something that was causing this, but I'm not sure what since I know just enough about Skype to be dangerous. I know that Skype has worked perfectly for me until yesterday. Even with this intermittent glitch it worked great overall.

Anyone else experience this? I'm seriously considering going with a Telos One just for reliability, simplicity and not having to worry about things like this during sessions.

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Sounds like their monitor was on in the background causing your loop. Tell them to mute their mics when you read or listen on headphones.

Ed Fisher · Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 9:31 am Post subject:

+1 to what Eddie said.

If they have skype playing though monitors in the room and it feeds back into their microphone there will be a delay. They must either monitor through headphones (which if they have someone else in the room to approve the session they are not going to want to do) or simply mute their mic when you are recording. Or....a third possible option would be to have a switch where you can turn your headphones that you are using as a monitor on and off. But, of course, it they are in the habit of interrupting you during a read to re-do a line or pronunciation...that wouldn't work either.
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samowry · Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 2:14 pm Post subject:

Sounds about right. I love Skype for VO sessions, I just wish they gave ME the ability to mute the caller rather than having to remind them all the time. I wouldn't think it was that hard of a fix, but I'm sure our audio gurus here on the VO-BB would know more about that.

Until then, I always ask for them to mute, in the nicest way possible.

Good luck.

Bish · Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 3:40 pm Post subject:

Coincidentally, I was working with a fellow VO today to try and deal with the problem of phone patch/skype interference coming back on a read. The unfortunate fact is that if any channel is left open to a noise-maker (monitors or open headphones) within pickup range of your mic, you will get something that you don't want on your local recording. Sod's Law guarantees it. Now, it may have been slap-back this time, but it may have been an "uneducated" customer at the other end saying "this guy's nailing it" right in the middle of a read.

The only way to deal with it properly is to have the talk-back muted at source, potted down at your end, or only showing up on a pair of closed-backed headphones worn seated over both ears at such a level that there's no spill whatsoever (tight buds would work as well). Slap-back will always be an issue for messing with your head while you read, but this way none gets on to the recording. Of course, the type of mic and the location of the source can come into play, but better safe than sorry.
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georgethetech · Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 5:31 pm Post subject:

If you are setup correctly all the far-end loop-back in the world wouldn't end up in the recording... SUPER annoying, yes, but not on the recording.
And always use headphones for best results, even though Skype does a remarkable job filtering out echo.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

excellent input, thanks. I'm pretty sure the clients were not muting during takes and that was the problem.

Unfortunately the producer who hired me I think got spooked by the Skype experience and in the future I'll need to have a physical phone patch availability for him.....

....any suggestions for physical/old school phone patch setups, preferably and if possible without having to use a mixer?

Bish · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 11:03 am Post subject:

I often use a phone patch... but I use my Google Voice number to do it. Using the number from the computer, you can feed your main audio out to the "phone line", and if you don't want to use a return path on the mixer, just plug a set of cans into your computer headphone output. Works really well, and the Google Voice number was free!
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

georgethetech · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 2:11 pm Post subject:

Just keep using Skype and don't tell them... it's just a phone to them if you use a Skype phone number. I've done it this way for 5 years. Ignorance is bliss.
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If it sounds good, it is good.
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

that's true, but I have to make sure everyone on the other end mutes themselves when I'm doing a take----doesn't that give it away that I'm using Skype?

Ed Fisher · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:08 pm Post subject:

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

let's just say I think this guy is a little more old school when it comes to phone patches.....I was his first talent to ever use a Skype phone patch, at least I suppose the first to ever tell him that's what I was doing.

I just don't wanna give this client any reason to hesitate to hire me again, if I can help it.

But if there's no way to do a phone patch without a mixer then I'll just say **** it this is how I do things...Skype, take it or leave it. cool

Ed Fisher · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:34 pm Post subject:

I know of only one way of doing a "phone patch" without a mixer.

And it's very "old school."

It involves holding a phone to your ear while your are reading. Ninja

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georgethetech · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:45 pm Post subject:

If you hear slapback of yourself during a phone patch session or Skype, that's THEIR FAULT, not yours. That means they don't know what the hell they are doing, and no manner of tech on your end will fix it.
Good luck.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

sounddguy · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 3:48 pm Post subject:

A phone patch may have less delay (depending on how the call is routed) but you will still have the issue of hearing yourself if your send is playing on speakers at the distant location. If the distant producer cannot mute their end then you will need to mute your phones and they will have to wait until you finish each read to give you further direction.

As a studio engineer, I always mute the distant producer to the talent while they are reading ( still monitoring it myself).

The JK Audio Broadcast Host could do the job if you have a mic/line
feed from your mic preamp. (It does not provide phantom power).