What's Your Voice Recording Diagnosis Score?

What is a voice recording diagnosis?

A Voice Recording Diagnosis from audio engineer Lenny B examines five different recording quality factors. These five categories are critical to capturing professional-quality audio and include noise, acoustic treatment, equipment, recording level, and mic technique.

First, you submitted a raw (unprocessed) voice recording according to the instructions and guidelines. Lenny himself examines the audio, and a score is given for each of the five categories. High scores offer confidence that your recording meets professional standards. Low scores show you where your audio can be improved. Improving your audio recording setup and procedure allows for an enhanced raw recording, which allows for an even better processed recording. Detailed explanations for each category are described in further detail below. 

Why is it valuable?

The voice recording diagnosis score is valuable for several reasons. First, it isn’t easy to self-gage your recording quality with little to no experience and/or reference. Additionally, the subject can be complicated. Knowing precisely where and how to improve your recording can save you time, money, and frustration. The results of your voice-recording diagnosis can illustrate the exact things you need to improve to reach your voice-recording sound quality goals. Audio engineer Lenny B has an extraordinary perspective that is immensely valuable. By working with thousands of voice-over artists worldwide, he has specific references from some of the best studios, including home studios, from around the world.

Noise Score

The noise score is based on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being a complete lack of noise in your recording and 1 having so much noise in your system that it renders your recording unprofessional (and may result in you being passed over for auditions if you are in a competition scenario). A score of 7-10 can be considered professional.

Three different types of noise can find their way into your recordings. The first is what I call line noise. This is noise that is created by your equipment or the equipment connections. Poor connections may cause some line noise, gain staging issues, or poor/unprofessional equipment. One common issue occurs when using a dynamic microphone without a necessary inline preamp.   Room Noise is any non-voice sound created inside your recording space. It can be caused by things in your room, including computer fans, spinning disk drives, air conditioners/heaters, and more. The best way to reduce these sounds is to remove these items from your recording space and get them as far from the microphone as possible. Alternatively, you could move your microphone further from these items, creating noise. If you use a microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern, you might point the microphone’s rejection side (back) toward those noises.  Another type of noise is what I can External Noise. These are any non-voice sounds happening outside the walls of your recording space. For example, these might be noise generated by automobile traffic, passenger jets, car stereos, leaf blowers, etc. Isolating your microphone from these external noises can be difficult and costly. It can be achieved with a type of acoustic treatment called isolation. However, the best and most cost-effective way to avoid these noises may be to choose to record at a time of the day when these sounds are uncommon.  

Plugins, such as Clarity VX by Waves and Spectral De-Noise by iZotope, can reduce a modest amount of noise. However, no plugin restoration will sound better than preventing noise from being captured in your recording in the first place.

Acoustic Treatment Score

The Acoustic Treatment score is based on a 1-10 scale. A score of 10 means the microphone picked up a complete void of reflection sounds in all frequency spaces, and a score of 1 means substantial reflection sounds are making your recording unprofessional and must be improved. A score of 8-10 can be considered professional. 

The room’s acoustics have the most substantial effect on the overall quality of a voice recording, greater than any equipment or software. The room size (height, width, and length) and shape affect the sound. The best way to reduce the amount of reflections in a room is by adding sound-absorbing material. However, not all sound-absorbing material is equal. Specific material type, thickness, and placement of material can vary and offer different absorption effectiveness.

My Acoustic Treatment training course will teach you everything you need to diagnose the issue and enhance your recording space, including choosing the proper acoustic treatment for your room. The first chapter of my acoustic treatment course is free. You can see it here https://www.lennyb.com/acoustic-treatment-for-voice-over

Equipment Score

The Equipment score is based on a 1-10 scale. A score of 10 means that the quality of your equipment is not preventing you from achieving a better sound. A score of 1 means that you could obtain a much better quality recording if the quality of your equipment were better. A score of 7-10 can be considered professional. 

A processed voice recording sound can only be as good as the equipment it’s captured with. While most modern entry-level, inexpensive microphones and audio interfaces (preamps) offer acceptable sound quality, some can deliver less than optimal sound resolution. If you receive a low equipment score, you will likely benefit from upgrading your equipment. You can find a list of suggested professional-quality microphones, audio interfaces, and more here. 

Recording Level Score

The Recording Level score is either on target or needs improvement. A score of On Target means that your raw recording was peaking at or near -6 dB. If your recording level score needs improvement, I have compensated for the error in the processed example I sent you. However, improving your recording level moving forward would be best. I illustrate how to achieve the proper recording level here in one of my videos. If you’ve received a “needs improvement” recording level score, resolving the issue will result in an improved (processed and unprocessed) voice recording sound. If you need more clarity on this subject, you may find my Optimum Recording Levels For Voice-Over training course helpful. A score of 10 can be considered professional.

Microphone Technique Score

The microphone technique score is based on a 1-10 scale. A scale of 10 means that your technique is not interfering with the quality of your recording, and a score of 1 means that your mic position, performance, or equipment orientation somehow hinders the quality of your recording. A score of 7-10 can be considered professional.

One of the most common recording or microphone technique issues is not speaking into the microphone’s pickup pattern. Placing the microphone at the optimum distance from the mouth (usually 6-12” inches) can help reduce unwanted noise. Other issues include needing a pop filter or not aiming the microphone directly at the sound source.

Lenny’s Voice Recording Diagnosis service is available on demand. Please contact Lenny (via email [email protected]) to request your Voice Recording Diagnosis score. (Fees may apply)