Thank you so much! You answered the question that I've been searching for! I was afraid my -74db wasn't quiet enough. But now I feel a bit relieved. I would actually prefer it quieter, but for now, I guess what I'm working with is passable. Thanks again!!!
Glad to help! Yeah it’s definitely one of those things I’ve spent far too much time worrying about for something that’s not a tremendous factor overall. -74dB is awesome!
This comment right here helped me so much. I've been stressing about the noise floor as my studio is in a closet that goes up into an attic so the stairs behind ne have a high ceiling and can make it more echo sounding. I put up foam panels and I've been trying to mess with and get this right but I was afraid ot wouldn't be good enough to make my demo or to do any type of professional work. But now I feel more confident
I use the Analyze>ACX Check in Audacity often while I do most of my recording and production on Adobe Audition. I also use the AA Amplitude Statistics as I am editing, but is there a method for checking noise floor, RMS and Normalization all in the same window like Audacity has?
Good question! In Audition, the Aplitude Statistics window has all of that info, it's just labeled more 'technically' I suppose you could say. "Peak Amplitude" = The Normalized Peaks Minimum RMS Amplitude = Noise Floor
Hey, Jay! I recently discovered your channel, and there's great stuff here. Keep up the great work! One question that I can never seem to find the answer to regarding this topic is about where your gain should be when measuring your noise floor. Here, you say where you can get a usable level. I have always assumed that leaving my gain right in the middle or at 12:00 is probably the best place to set it when measuring my noise floor. However, in real life, I usually set the gain around 1:00 for most things. Do you have any thoughts on this? Is there a certain place where your gain should live based on your interface when measuring the noise floor? Is it whatever gain setting gets you -12 to -18 dB at conversational level? I would love to know your thoughts!
Hey! Thanks for the kind words, and glad you're finding it helpful. Great question, and I'll do my best. Some of this you may know already, but I'm going to start from square one. ;) Your noise floor will indeed be relative to where your gain is set while you're recording, but will also change depending on how much you boost your audio in post. If my levels when recording are too quiet and I need to boost by 10dB after, my noise floor will also go up by 10dB. I have a video that goes into more depth on "SETTING YOUR LEVELS" properly (which I think will explain things better than I can here), but in my professional experience most of the time you'll want your peaks to be bouncing between -6db to -12dB. That gives you the best balance of headroom and lower noise floor. For you, how loud you speak normally, and how sensitive your microphone is will determine where your gain knob ends up to get the appropriate level. Hope that helps! Let me know if any other questions pop up. and glad to have you here!
Just what I wanted to know about, @AlexMittsVOID! @@jaymyersvoiceover - given I always deliver with an integrated LUFS target in mind, I've always figured a recording that was in the -23 LUFS ballpark (+ or - a LUFS) was good, and if my noise floor was below -60 dB (true peak), I was in good shape. Does that make sense to you, Jay?
I'm sure if this is what you're getting at, but I'll give it my best shot: Regarding interfaces, each of them have built in microphone preamps which can give your signal noise. If you are using a higher quality interface, it will have a higher quality preamp, and will likely have a cleaner signal. All to say, I'm talking about individual bits of equipment generally. Let me know if that answers your question!
"Audio intercase" cute! Seriously, though, helpful and interesting video. D'you reckon cables carrying audio signals - not just electrical power - can cause interference with mic cables? Making sure a mic cable never crosses a patch or headphone cable in my recording room sounds like a herculean if not outright sisyphean task.
Hey hey! Yes it’s my Apollo solo with no DSP processing (ie no c-vox) and minimal EQ and compression in post. Essentially bare bones. For the u87 I’ve got my gain set to 38 dB and then normalized to -3 dB. Which adds between 5-7 dB overall.
To note one important thing I didn't cover here: **COMPRESSION,** which can affect your noise floor after it's applied.
Isnt it funny all the things you think of AFTER doing something.
Thanks for opening the door! I've seen too many noise floor explanations from inside a booth without the outside noise comparison!
Glad to hear it was helpful! Thanks for taking the time to let me know :)
SUPER HELPFUL!!!! Thank you so much for your expertise.
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much! You answered the question that I've been searching for! I was afraid my -74db wasn't quiet enough. But now I feel a bit relieved. I would actually prefer it quieter, but for now, I guess what I'm working with is passable. Thanks again!!!
Glad to help! Yeah it’s definitely one of those things I’ve spent far too much time worrying about for something that’s not a tremendous factor overall. -74dB is awesome!
This comment right here helped me so much. I've been stressing about the noise floor as my studio is in a closet that goes up into an attic so the stairs behind ne have a high ceiling and can make it more echo sounding. I put up foam panels and I've been trying to mess with and get this right but I was afraid ot wouldn't be good enough to make my demo or to do any type of professional work. But now I feel more confident
Your vid’s are so helpful thank you so much
Glad to hear! Thanks for taking the time to write 😊
Hi Jay. I just wanted to compliment you on your channel; you have a very comfortable manner. I too narrate audiobooks, and I enjoy your videos
Thanks for the kind words Tom!
I use the Analyze>ACX Check in Audacity often while I do most of my recording and production on Adobe Audition. I also use the AA Amplitude Statistics as I am editing, but is there a method for checking noise floor, RMS and Normalization all in the same window like Audacity has?
Good question! In Audition, the Aplitude Statistics window has all of that info, it's just labeled more 'technically' I suppose you could say.
"Peak Amplitude" = The Normalized Peaks
Minimum RMS Amplitude = Noise Floor
Hey, Jay! I recently discovered your channel, and there's great stuff here. Keep up the great work!
One question that I can never seem to find the answer to regarding this topic is about where your gain should be when measuring your noise floor.
Here, you say where you can get a usable level. I have always assumed that leaving my gain right in the middle or at 12:00 is probably the best place to set it when measuring my noise floor.
However, in real life, I usually set the gain around 1:00 for most things.
Do you have any thoughts on this? Is there a certain place where your gain should live based on your interface when measuring the noise floor? Is it whatever gain setting gets you -12 to -18 dB at conversational level?
I would love to know your thoughts!
Hey! Thanks for the kind words, and glad you're finding it helpful.
Great question, and I'll do my best. Some of this you may know already, but I'm going to start from square one. ;)
Your noise floor will indeed be relative to where your gain is set while you're recording, but will also change depending on how much you boost your audio in post. If my levels when recording are too quiet and I need to boost by 10dB after, my noise floor will also go up by 10dB.
I have a video that goes into more depth on "SETTING YOUR LEVELS" properly (which I think will explain things better than I can here), but in my professional experience most of the time you'll want your peaks to be bouncing between -6db to -12dB. That gives you the best balance of headroom and lower noise floor. For you, how loud you speak normally, and how sensitive your microphone is will determine where your gain knob ends up to get the appropriate level.
Hope that helps! Let me know if any other questions pop up. and glad to have you here!
Just what I wanted to know about, @AlexMittsVOID! @@jaymyersvoiceover - given I always deliver with an integrated LUFS target in mind, I've always figured a recording that was in the -23 LUFS ballpark (+ or - a LUFS) was good, and if my noise floor was below -60 dB (true peak), I was in good shape. Does that make sense to you, Jay?
Thanks
Of course!
With audio interface is there a whole package you’re talking about or individual pre amps etc? I’m newbie
I'm sure if this is what you're getting at, but I'll give it my best shot:
Regarding interfaces, each of them have built in microphone preamps which can give your signal noise. If you are using a higher quality interface, it will have a higher quality preamp, and will likely have a cleaner signal. All to say, I'm talking about individual bits of equipment generally.
Let me know if that answers your question!
"Audio intercase" cute! Seriously, though, helpful and interesting video.
D'you reckon cables carrying audio signals - not just electrical power - can cause interference with mic cables? Making sure a mic cable never crosses a patch or headphone cable in my recording room sounds like a herculean if not outright sisyphean task.
No headphone cables and the like are usually okay in my experience. Also if you simply get quality xlr cables you’ll almost never have an issue.
@@jaymyersvoiceover Nice, thanks for the informative reply
You're like a young Bill DeWees!
Great video! Jay, is this with your Apollo, and are you using C-vox? Or is that your natural floor?? And what is your input level? Thanks, man.
Hey hey! Yes it’s my Apollo solo with no DSP processing (ie no c-vox) and minimal EQ and compression in post. Essentially bare bones.
For the u87 I’ve got my gain set to 38 dB and then normalized to -3 dB. Which adds between 5-7 dB overall.
@@jaymyersvoiceover Thanks! I must get a booth… Your Studiobricks is awesome. I was just pricing one. Holy cow…
They ain’t cheap for sure.