GENIUS FORUMS

Lads and Lassos,

I'm working on my own podcast project and would like some feedback on a test podcast I've uploaded (under 8 minutes so don't freak). My intention is to record 30 minute monologues of various topics but I'm hoping to keep the file size of the broadcasts as small as I can (so as not to exclude those that have download limits or are still stuck with dial up) without unduly sacrificing sound quality. This will require some experimentation on my part no doubt. I basically just want them to be of a listenable quality. Disregard the actual content; it's of no real consequence - it's really just the sound quality that I need some feedback on. I only have onboard sound so I'm not sure judging my own system is appropriate. Anyway, if some of you can be bothered I'd appreciate the feedback:

http://geniusrealms.com/moti/podcasts.htm

I'd particularly like suggestions on how to minimise or remove excessive "SSS" sounds in the speech. I find them oddly distracting, but it could just be me.

Dan Rowden wrote: I'd particularly like suggestions on how to minimise or remove excessive "SSS" sounds in the speech. I find them oddly distracting, but it could just be me.

You need micraphone foam cover. Buy or make one.
The foam sleeve(cover) is meant to reduce the "sssss" and popping sounds caused by pronouncing "S" or "P" when speaking into the microphone.

I noticed a little roughness in the sound at first, and then either it improved or I ceased to notice.

Overall a nice warm feel to the podcast. Bodes well.

The intro music sounds like a cross between elevator music and the Little House on the Prairie theme. It's not bad, but kind of sleepy. Try the one Cloudy suggested at SW, it's better.

The sound quality seems good. It's better than a lot of what I hear elsewhere.

As for the content, you're pretty good at pretending not to be reading an essay. :)

The music's just a filler for now. It's the theme from Chariots of the Gods. I'll find something more suitable before I get going with it. As for reading an essay, that's a lot harder than I thought it would be. It's very difficult to get natural intonations going that way. In writing scripts for these shows I'll to try and write them in a rather vernacular fashion. Either that or I'll just write a rough sketch, speak off the cuff and do a lot of post editing.

Thanks for the feedback to this point. If that sound quality of acceptable I'll be happy as I'll be able to keep the files size down quite well.

So what do you think of Erich Von Daniken, then?

A weirdo right up there with Zecharia Sitchin, but I was into that sort of shit in my teens and the theme from the TV series stayed with me.

I listened to it and didn't find anything wrong with the sound quality. It was loud and clear.

Dan, how about Chariots of Fire as the background music?

I considered an excerpt from Jean Michel Jarre's "Oxegene" but I've just had a virus drama and I'm a bit iffy about obtaining music from the usual channels :)

Music-wise if not Chariots of the Gods or Chariots of Fire how about Ben Hur?

If humour has an evolutionary dimension, that will eventually be funny :)

Dan Rowden wrote: I basically just want them to be of a listenable quality. Disregard the actual content; it's of no real consequence - it's really just the sound quality that I need some feedback on.

My computer sound system is quite good, as I use it for recording music. There are definitely artifacts in the recording of your voice. To me it's enough to be distracting, but it's not enough to interfere with understanding the content. I certainly wouldn't go any lower with the bit rate.

I'd particularly like suggestions on how to minimise or remove excessive "SSS" sounds in the speech. I find them oddly distracting, but it could just be me.

There is a specific device for just that purpose. It's called a "de-esser." You should be able to find a plug-in for whatever software you are using. However, I did not hear excessive sibilance. (It could be your speakers.) You might try just playing around with a bit of EQ in the 2k - 10k range.

I think Mr. Hodges just volunteered to be the sound guy, Dan. ;)