Audition tips from Nina: Audio

[MrTossboss]

안녕하세요

[yoyonothingtodo]

In general, using low-pass filters on acoustic instruments is a bad idea. A basic low-pass filter filters out sounds above a specified pitch (low frequencies pass through, thus "low-pass"). Very high frequencies (think very, very high) give an instrument its unique timbre and separate the tone of a gifted player from that of a mediocre one*.

I would advise simply normalizing the track and then adding a little (but not too much) compression.

*Would continue, but character count kills.

[TheArtistDLIVAHH]

Nina, also helps (sometimes) is if one has the capability to adjust audio

after with a limiter, down to -2db. Usually everybody mixes stuff @ 0db,

which is actually the halfway mark between quiet & LOUD. Mixing to

minus 2 keeps the distortion down OFTEN.

Great videos, and you're very good and funny too.

[ninaflute]

@TheArtistDLIVAHH Thanks!

[HerrWarja]

Hello Nina! I've watched all of these videos and you are very informative and funny at the same time! I know one of the pieces well after just one look at the notes tonight and I will probably have time to upload it before the deadline, but I am underage (17). I didn't understand the rules about underaged players. Could you or someone explain what I have to do?

[ninaflute]

@HerrWarja Go to the symphony channel and click the link for "Contest rules" (about half way down the page) it will give you all the information you need about how to audition and the age requirements. Good luck!

[HerrWarja]

@ninaflute Thanks for the fast info Nina. I need my parents permission, but does Youtube need signed document or something of ther approval or should we take care of that if I get a place in the orchestra?

[HerrWarja]

@HerrWarja edit *take care of that later (I mean)

[dansingai]

For the orchestral audition, do we play all three pieces or just choose one to submit?

[ninaflute]

@dansingai I will be posting a video to answer questions like this one, so stay tuned.

[gliderpilot99]

Is it better to use a good video camera and upload it or is a wecam ok?

[ninaflute]

@gliderpilot99 test the sound quality on the webcam's microphone and if it sounds good to you, go ahead and use that.

[gliderpilot99]

@ninaflute Thankyou

[Baggs4299]

Hi Nina, I'm using a version of Windows movie maker and I get some high freq. distortion that seems to happen wheon I import into the movie editing software. This is before even making the movie. I've tried the low pass filter for my wav files and for MP3 at various export settings and at various cut off frequencies (including as low as 1000 hz) and no luck.

[ninaflute]

@Baggs4299 hmm, I'm not sure about this one. I used to use imovie and now I use final cut express. I also sometimes record directly into quicktime. I wonder if there are input and/or audio settings on windows movie maker that can be adjusted? Good luck!

[Baggs4299]

@ninaflute Thanks for reply. I think that it's in the Windows movie maker. I think that even before it is finalized, it develope this hi freq sound anomaly. Maybe you can hear it. I'm even trying to play w/dark tone..... Search:

Catalina 22 Sailing 9.18.08

[clarinetfreak09]

To begin, I'd like to thank you for these very helpful tips! You are a stunning musician!

I have a question: Do you recommend playing the solo excerpt (for me, the Mozart Clarinet Concerto) with or without accompaniment?

[ninaflute]

@clarinetfreak09 The rules say that you should play WITHOUT accompaniment. Be sure to read all rules carefully before recording your audition. Good luck!

[doublebbassist]

Way to go Nina.you have so many ways to help people! BG

[ninaflute]

@doublebbassist Thanks for watching, Barry!

[leftaroundabout]

If it's the high frequencies that get distorted, this may be an aliasing problem: there are sometimes distortions in the original audio that are inaudible because higher than 20kHz. In a large high-quality audio file with 44.1kHz or more, these distortions are always carried along with the actual audio, but it's not really a problem because nobody can hear them.

When recompressing and downsampling such a file, however, it can happen that the distortions are "copied" into human hearing range.

[leftaroundabout]

Using a low-pass filter is exactly the correct solution for this problem, because this strongly attenuates any ultrasound distortions. Actually, most downsampling algorithms have such a low pass filter built in themselves to prevent aliasing problems; but at high high-frequency volume levels this filter may end up driven into distortion itself, which makes the trouble even worse.

[pyrioni]

The worst thing is that my cameras kill dynamics, when I play loud, my camera reduces it and when I play soft, my camera makes it loud, many people commented my videos that I don't have dynamics. I tried many cameras are the same.

[AURALR3VOLUTION]

(cont'd...)

-Adding a compressor on the instrument also helps. It balances out the levels and usually they have presets which are easy to use. If not, GOOGLE it =P

-With an equalizer you can cut out frequencies that aren't in use or unwanted noise. I.e. for a flute cut out the low end completely, or cut out the high's if you play bass. Careful not to do it too much or you might cut out parts of the instrument.

-Use audio software (Audacity [free win/mac], Garageband, Cubase, ProTools etc)

[leftaroundabout]

@AURALR3VOLUTION

these methods are greatly useful, if not necessary, when you want to make a pop-music production or for amplifiying spoken words etc.. But for classical instruments, EQing out problematic frequencies and strong dynamic compression are not really desirable because both tend to obscure the more subtle aspects of a player's performance. Compression, if applied too carelessly, litterally removes any dynamic nuances - that's what pyrioni's camera does, and it's not good at all.

[AURALR3VOLUTION]

@leftaroundabout U have a point, but at the same time cutting at 100Hz won't hurt a flute. In face it will get rid of low rumbles (if any) and give u a few dB's more in ur mix. Notching is also helpful when "cleaning up" (and/or mastering) a mix. With compression, ur obviously not gonna compress classical instruments like a guitar, but some compression brings out the richness of your tone, which is good when you want your instrument to "stand out" in your mix. It is a solo after all.

[AURALR3VOLUTION]

Hey everyone, here's some tips:

-first off when recording, make sure that when you test for levels you play as loud as u would during ur recording, and ensure that the sound doesn't clip. (usually indicated by a red light on the sound meter)

-Another thing that's helpful is using headphones to listen to the backup track and your instrument while you record so that the microphone doesn't pick up "leakage". An ideal spot which i personally use is my closet. It's a good sound absorber. (cont'd...)

[VirtualBilly]

nina's really pretty.

[vladiinsky]

:))))))))

[MrColePershing]

dougen

[chuchoteclas]

Nina is gorgeous i love you Nina i do !!!

[leftpassenger]

You could try to lower the higher frequencies with a equalizer, I think that might help.

[LukeVader77]

@leftpassenger Won't that distort the sound?

[leftpassenger]

@LukeVader77 If you would elevate the higher frequencies you would get distortion. Distortion happens when there's to much "volume". So theoretically speaking, you should have less problems when you lower the frequencies that tend to cause distortion.

[ninaflute]

@leftpassenger Thanks for the suggestion.