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voicy1stef The Gates of Troy

Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: Lovely Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:11 am Post subject: What does this button do?Sound Forge Audio Studio question |
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Hi gang!
I've got SF Audio Studio 8 and I was having a little play around with it today. There are still things it does, that I don't know how to use yet (I've had it for awhile, but usually use basic everyday recording functions.).
For instance, I discovered that there's an 'Insert Silence' option under the Process memu. That's very handy for me as I've been actually recording the sound of silence (duh-h-h) when I wanted a period of no sound in a recording.
ANYWAY, my question is I've just discovered under 'Effects', a 'Dynamics' option. When I put this on -- 2:1 Compression starting at -18 dB, my voice recording sounded louder, clearer, better quality, and more powerful (a litle bit too loud). It was very interesting. When I tried -16dB, it sounded not so good.
Can anyone please tell me how exactly is this 'Dynamics' option to be used, and when would it be appropriate to use it?
AND, does anyone have any suggestions on how I could make an effect using this Audio Studio, if I wanted to make my voice sound like I was talking on the telephone. For instance in a commercial or radio play -- if I wanted the effect of someone talking on the phone.
Thanks guys, you're the greatest. (gold star, thumbs up and hugs!)
 _________________ Intuit and do it!
British-American voice artist based in England for the past umpteen years. I say, has it really been that long!
http://www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk
Podcast: Positive Affirmations and Audio Stories, on iTunes, Spotify etc. |
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Edo Guest
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: What does this button do?Sound Forge Audio Studio questi |
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voicy1stef wrote: |
Can anyone please tell me how exactly is this 'Dynamics' option to be used, and when would it be appropriate to use it? |
The 'dynamics' option is a compressor. You can use it to reduce your dynamic range between the softest and loudest signal in your recording. It is often used to provide a bigger than average perceptive volume. When all you actually do is raise the softer parts and thus reducing the 'gaps'. If your output is set to (for instance) -2dB, the output will stay the same. But since your recording gives a sense of louder experiece, it can sound a lot tighter. When do you use it? Only when asked for or when cutting a fully produced promo or spot to control overall volume and reduce peaks and lifting the weakest sound levels.
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AND, does anyone have any suggestions on how I could make an effect using this Audio Studio, if I wanted to make my voice sound like I was talking on the telephone. For instance in a commercial or radio play -- if I wanted the effect of someone talking on the phone. |
You could use a graphic EQ and cut everything below 1000Hz and above 2.5K, but for presence add some @8k as well. |
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voicy1stef The Gates of Troy

Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: Lovely Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:58 am Post subject: ,... |
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Quote: | You could use a graphic EQ and cut everything below 1000Hz and above 2.5K, but for presence add some @8k as well. |
Thanks for the guidance Edo. I'm really at the basics with this. Now, how do I do this graphic EQ...? Is there a setting that I should be looking for to carry out this procedure? Should I look under 'Effects' for Graphic EQ, or where would I find it?
As well as cut...1000HZ. At what stage is that done? I'm eager to move to the next level with flexibility and quality in recording, so thanks for any assistance which you can offer!
Stefania
 _________________ Intuit and do it!
British-American voice artist based in England for the past umpteen years. I say, has it really been that long!
http://www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk
Podcast: Positive Affirmations and Audio Stories, on iTunes, Spotify etc. |
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Edo Guest
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:38 am Post subject: |
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Hi Stefania,
I will get back to you... I just spent 10 hours on a plane to fly to Holland and I have a bunch of stuff to see to before I get back to work. I will post my suggestions sometime tomorrow when the jetlag sets in
(meanwhile other comments are welcome, share your thoughts everyone!) |
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voicy1stef The Gates of Troy

Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: Lovely Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:00 am Post subject: |
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Bless!
Thanks! _________________ Intuit and do it!
British-American voice artist based in England for the past umpteen years. I say, has it really been that long!
http://www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk
Podcast: Positive Affirmations and Audio Stories, on iTunes, Spotify etc. |
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bobsouer Frequent Flyer

Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 9883 Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:34 am Post subject: |
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Stefania,
While Edo is recovering from his flight home to Holland, I'll toss in a couple of thoughts for you. Now, I use the full version of Sound Forge 8, so the menu options may be slightly different in the Studio verion you're using, so you may need to poke around a bit to see if all that I say applies.
With the sound file open in Sound Forge Studio 8, look for a menu at the top that says Process. On the menu that drops down you should see a choice called EQ, with a little arrow to the right. When you click on EQ, a sub-menu flies out to the right with 3 choices. Click on "Graphic".
This should bring up a dialog box with 3 tabs near the bottom. Click on the tab for 10 band. Then grab the sliders for each of the 5 faders on the left side of the main group with your mouse and pull them all the way to the bottom. This will roll off all of the frequencies below 900 Hz. Leave the next two faders in the middle alone, but then the ones marked 7.2K and 15K should also be pulled all the way down. Click the Preview button and see if that sounds like what you want. If it is, click OK and in a moment your audio file will sound like it came through a phone line.
I hope this helps at least a little. _________________ Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express |
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Edo Guest
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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And a quick suggestion that works like a charm...
By far the best sounding telephone sound can be achieved by voicing through (don't laugh!) your headphones. Use them as mic and record with the headphone jack as your output as if it were a regular mic. Plug it in one of your interface's inputs and telephone talk away... This trick dates way back from my early teenhood when I couldn't afford any serious gear... always got the job done
BTW: I also own the full version of Sony Sound Forge, so the dropdown menu's can indeed differ from the 'studio' suite. I think I can't add much to what Bob said, so I'll just go and "enjoy" my jetlag some more. |
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bobsouer Frequent Flyer

Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 9883 Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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Edo,
Welcome home. _________________ Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express |
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Edo Guest
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Bob... Holland will always be my home, but in 4 weeks I'll be going back to Curaçao for it's my second home and has far better weather  |
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Lizden A Zillion

Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 8864 Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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But the coffee shops are better in Amsterdam.
(Yes, Mom...off to stand in the corner, now)
L. _________________ Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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voicy1stef The Gates of Troy

Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 1799 Location: Lovely Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:17 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Bob and all!
Those commands sound familiar to what I've got on my Audio Studio, so I'll give it a go!
You guys are so-o-o-o- wonderful!
wow! I want to try some of that Amsterdam coffee....maybe that'll be our next adventure after our Canada trip. to nip over to Amsterdam!
Cheers gang!
 _________________ Intuit and do it!
British-American voice artist based in England for the past umpteen years. I say, has it really been that long!
http://www.stefsvoice4u.co.uk
Podcast: Positive Affirmations and Audio Stories, on iTunes, Spotify etc. |
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Edo Guest
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:58 am Post subject: |
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Somehow it seems to me that Liz wasn't exactly referring to the coffee, Stefania  |
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davidmonteath Lucky 700

Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 755 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:11 am Post subject: |
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Nice and smooth.  _________________ www.davidmonteath.com
Sponsor of Voice APpreciation Indulgence Day 2010
Proud member of Self Appointed Voice-Over Experts Discussion Group - overenthusiastic pontification a speciality. |
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Lizden A Zillion

Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 8864 Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:50 am Post subject: |
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My threadjack notwithstanding....
Thanks Bob & Edo (& Stef for asking this!)...I've been playing with EQ & Compression for a ages... but never actually got the Why/What is actually is. I don't have a need for it usually in the work that I do, so when I have used it I've just been doing it "by ear"/on the fly...thanks for the explanation!
Yep, this place rocks!
L. _________________ Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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Rob Ellis M&M

Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:35 am Post subject: |
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Wait a minute....I never saw COFFEE on the menu at any of the Amsterdam coffeeshops.....?  |
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