Waveform flatline... -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:Waveform flatline... Posted by: picven Date:12/7/2015 4:16:31 PM Hey all, I've recently decided to get into audiobook narration. My problem (at the moment) is that my waveforms basically flatline. I don't see any unless I make very loud sounds. I'm not sure if this is related to hardware problems, but I'll list that out too in case it is. I have a decent mic connected to m-track plus interface (I tried to connect to Black Lion Audio B12A mkII preamp then to the interface, but couldn't get any sound whatsoever - could that be because I use XLR cables from the mic to the preamp, but regular guitar cables from preamp to interface?)... I can see that my noise floor is below 60dB (a requirement), and from my green ears the audio sounds fine. I'm out of ideas!
Subject:RE: Waveform flatline... Reply by: rraud Date:12/8/2015 8:37:14 AM What Soundcard and input connector type?
Subject:RE: Waveform flatline... Reply by: Chienworks Date:12/9/2015 6:33:46 AM It seems like you just don't have enough gain. Are you sure at some point you're not connecting a mic level signal into a line level input? That would explain pretty much everything you're seeing. Some mixers use the same input jack for both functions and control which it is with a switch or a gain/trim knob. 60dB noise floor doesn't mean a lot if your signal doesn't go much above it. Signal to Noise ratio is far more important. Any volume adjustments you make will change the noise floor anyway, so you need to make sure your S/N ratio is high enough that the noise can still be 60dB below the signal, whatever their absolute values are. If your S/N ratio is high enough you can use SoundForge's Noise Reduction plugin to make it even greater. I get a lot of my voiceovers to a better than 85dB S/N even if the original recording was only 40, which means if the voice peaks at -5dB then the noise floor is -90dB, which in the 16 bit world is virtual silence.
Subject:RE: Waveform flatline... Reply by: Earl_J Date:12/25/2015 8:41:31 PM Here we go. . . I just now decided to give it a try myself through ACX... I've used Sony Vegas for years... but never gave audio a second thought; I simply used what I recorded and cut the DVD... (grin) * * * It's a whole new world now... * * * My first question: Do I need Sound Forge as a separate program...? Will the sound board function in Vegas work just as well? * * * If you're using XLR cables through the box, don't you need phantom power to the mic...? perhaps there is a button on the box to turn on the power to the mic... 48v (48 volts). . . yes...? * * * nice to see a discussion going here about audiobooks... it'll be fun. . . (grin)
Subject:RE: Waveform flatline... Reply by: Chienworks Date:12/26/2015 11:21:05 AM Phantom power would only be needed if they are electret mics without their own power source. Since the mic is unspecified we don't know if this is the case. Still though, that's a very good thing to check!
Subject:RE: Waveform flatline... Reply by: rraud Date:12/27/2015 10:11:13 AM "Do I need Sound Forge as a separate program"...? - That depends, many of us use SF in conjunction with Vegas. They do some of the same audio functions.. record, playback, render, ect., but neither is a substitute for the other. Personally, I don't think I've ever got though a post-audio job w/o doing something in SF. "Will the sound board function in Vegas work just as well"? - It should, and opening an event (from within VP) in Sound Forge should be fast and easy (providing SF is designated as the 'Preferred audio editor' in Options> Preferences> Audio

Subject:Waveform flatline...

Posted by: picven

Date:12/7/2015 4:16:31 PM

Hey all, I've recently decided to get into audiobook narration. My problem (at the moment) is that my waveforms basically flatline. I don't see any unless I make very loud sounds.

I'm not sure if this is related to hardware problems, but I'll list that out too in case it is. I have a decent mic connected to m-track plus interface (I tried to connect to Black Lion Audio B12A mkII preamp then to the interface, but couldn't get any sound whatsoever - could that be because I use XLR cables from the mic to the preamp, but regular guitar cables from preamp to interface?)... I can see that my noise floor is below 60dB (a requirement), and from my green ears the audio sounds fine. I'm out of ideas!