Listening test....need listeners please!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Slackmaster2K
  • Start date Start date
Well these sound files are quite out of the ordinary. Any who, I listened (after 6 Budweisers) and I think that Audio File # 1 is the best sounding.
 
I don't know why, but the second one sounded strangely unique to my ears...I'm probably wrong. :p

Isaiah
 
The 1st one sounded the best.
The 2nd one sounded alot like the first but with more plosives.
The 3 one sounded kinda week in comparison to the first two (laking in the bottom end).

So C'mon, what's the big secret? :D

-tkr
 
Behind Curtain Number 1...

Slack

Clip #1 sounded the best to me. Speech is a lot harder to record
well (for me anyway) than music, in spite of it being a form of music unto itself. It sounded cleaner because there was no "trailing aftersounds" following the letter "S" in all the words.

Clip #2 seemed to sound better than #3 because all "trailing
aftersounds" were in the following, not leading, words. By the way- interesting choice of words for this test. Clip #3 placed the "trailing aftersounds" words in the lead.

Clip #1 seemed to have some more "headroom" and depth
than the others too, but I may be wrong. I would hazard a
guess that what you did was something simple, like adjusting
a parameter rather than adding something. Either way you
really have my attention.

Faithmonster
 
Sounds like you were varying the attack time on a compressor... clip #1 being the least amount of peaks being chopped (if any), #2 somewhat more so, #3 too much - sounds overcompressed.

#1 is the best sounding to me... #2 is ok, but not as good as clip 1... #3 sounds completely squashed.

Bruce
 
Ok, this is good...and interesting!

Nobody's guessed what I changed on each clip. Technically this isn't exactly fair because the pitch of my voice is higher in the second two clips, which in side-by-side listening should give them an advantage. I used a pop filter to ensure that my mouth would be in the exact same position for each clip (by touching my nose to the filter).

Anyhow, I'm going to let a few more people listen before giving it up. Stay tuned, this is pretty cool.

Slackmaster 2000
 
To my ears, (listening on cheapo harman/kardon PC-speakers) clip #1 sounds the best. Open and a nice high end.... #2 and #3 sounds about the same on these speakers, but after a few tries, clip #2 sounds better.. #3 sounds strange..
 
I like #1.

#2 sounded funny.

#3 just sounded bad.
 
All three sound like some some pervert trying to proposition someone. Really the last thing I want ot here comming out of my speakers at work is testicles and syphylus.

We really could have used a parental advisory on that one.
 
The words testicle and syphilis don't work very well when proposition someone....well, not usually.

Neither word is technically rude. I have testicles. I also have a penis. Girls have ovaries and a vagina. Some people have chlamydia, others have gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes...but hopefully not all at the same time.

Oops, I guess I should have warned you that I was going to say words that I should have known would offend you. Next time I'll consult my Telefunken manual.

If you're looking for parental advisory, I suggest you seek out your own parents. I'm sure they'd be more than willing to filter out the horrific goings on of every day life at the homerecording bbs for you.

It's too bad you're censoring yourself, there is a specific and quite interesting point to this entire ordeal, and you might even learn something.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Hmmm.

I liked 1&2 they sounded the same to me.

#3 sounded like crap.
 
one was the worst.

2 was definitely the best, imo. It had more sheen, and sounded more present than 1. It sounded as if you miced maybe a little closer. I was trying to double check this by listening to the background, but 2 had the same amount or just slightly less than one.

3 was similar to 2, but I think it had less body.

peace


definitely sounded like the same preamp and converters. Also the same mic. I think the main difference was positioning

Now tell me how utterly wrong I am
 
well,

you said that you miced from the exact same distance. I did not read previous posts so as not to be swayed.

I think the difference was the cable you used.

Cable number 1 sounds like radio shack cable.
Cable number two sounds like monster 1000
cable number 3 tries to sound like cable number two by removing some low end.

By the way, when I listen really loud on these headphones, they ALL sound the same. I have to pull down volume to hear any differences
 
I'm not going to tell you which I thought sounded best or worse, you've already heard that from the majority. You want us to guess what you did to these takes, so here's my shot.

I'm guessing No.1 has nothing extrodinary done to it, but that no.2 has been autotuned a little higher than 1 and no.3 a little lower.
 
Singing into the front, back and side and adjusting the gain (and aiming away from your computer)? I listened to them quickly this morning, I think I like #1 the best but the different vocal inflections etc make it harder to judge.

No idea.
 
Cyan Jaguar got it...except buddy, I don't agree with you at all about clip 2! It sounds ok at first, but is totally lacking in body and texture.

All three clips were done exactly the same way. V67 to an ART Tube MP to the Delta44 (balanced) recording at 24/48. I positioned my head in the same place each time using a windscreen as a guide. All I did was switch mic cables on each clip.

Clip #1: 10' Canare Quad Star w/Switchcraft connectors

Clip #2: 10' Quantum Audio Designs Q-3100 with garbage lightweight connectors

Clip #3: 10' Local music store cable with Neutrik connectors. I can't identify the cable, but it could very well be DiMarzio instrument cable, since that's what they're hot on. It came in a Peavy package.

The difference to me is phenomenal. I thought that different cables would mean very subtle differences in sound that only a goldenears could hear, but when you jump from junk to something decent the difference in sound is tremendous!

Clip number 1 sounds best hands down to most people, including my girlfriend who I did a blind test on. I made the cable from a chunk of Canare that ametth sent me and Switchcraft A3F & A3M XLR connectors. My welds weren't so good though, and I may redo this one (got a new iron today).

Clip number 2 sounds big at first because it's just.....loud.... but it quickly grows cold. The cable is this free piece of crap that I got free from Abe's music when I ordered the V67. The cable looks cheap and feels even cheaper. I'm suprsied that it sounds better than the cable I used for clip 3 though!

Clip number 3 sounds really dull. The cable appears to be of decent quality, and has good Neutrik connectors. I remember buying this cable because it was their top notch stuff....I guess.

Here's the clincher (unless you didn't like clip #1):

Cable #1 cost: $13.00
Cable #2 cost: $11.95
Cable #3 cost: $19.99

You can't tell me that it's not cost effective to build your own cables! Especially when you can get Canare or Mogami quality for the same price or less than the crap you can get at the music store. (switchcraft connectors were $3 male, $5 female)

I'm going to be ordering some Mogami soon to try out...it runs about $0.60 a foot for the quad so a 10' cable would be 1 dollar more than comparable Canare.

Oh, and I'm going to replace the cable between the ART and the Delta tonight, but I don't think it'll make much difference. If it does, I'll be sure to mention it.

Thanks to ametth for sending me the hunk of Canare!!!!

Slackmaster 2000
 
that is so simple, but I never would have guessed it!

Slack, that was an education in itself.

I really didn't think that cables made THAT much difference as
long as they weren't "shit-grade". Switchcraft connectors are
pretty much a given, they're military-grade and damn near
perfect, but Canare or Mogami cable? If you and Ametth
would post where the rest of us can buy Canare or Mogami,
I'd really appreciate it.

My wife's Jack Russell terrier chewed the hell outta every last cable in its reach, until it got hold of a nice big fat orange one
still plugged in to the wall...

I really like iguanas. Now she wants a f3*@%n' parrot.

Faithmonster:rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top