Voice recording settings for a reading-along book

Audio and Graphics
#1

Hello All,

I’m working on a reading along book. And I’ve been having a lot of troubles recording the narration. 

The book has 26 pages each one is around 1 minute. The problem is the size of the final files and quality. 

I’ve recorded in Audacity and Garageband, (to compare sound quality). Later I exported the files to .m4a 

Up to here the voice narration sounds good.

But when I add the recordings .m4a to the app, the narration in my app (iPad) sounds very bad. Same narration in mp3 format sounds good in the app, but I know I shouldn’t use mp3.

I’ve been playing with the settings, 32Kb-11Khz, 64Kb-22KHz, 128Kb-22KHz, 128-Kb-44KHz, all combinations with Variable Bit Rate, Constant Rate, Average Rate, Optimize for voice, etc.

Some files sound good, but different files with same settings sound really bad.

Any advice?

cc

#2

Well, if mp3 works for you, then why not just use it? It works across all platforms too.

If you are worried about the patents, I think you are a little too late. To the best of my knowledge, all mp3 related patents expired back in 2017 ( https://www.osnews.com/story/24954/us-patent-expiration-for-mp3-mpeg-2-h264/ ).

The fact is that speakers on most phones just aren’t that good and the playback quality won’t be anything special. Small differences in quality are unlikely to even register.

#3

@ccopca 

Quick questions:

  1. Are you recording in stereo or mono? Mono should be fine for voice and will reduce the sound file size significantly.

  2. I assume you have a good mic and a pop filter and all that?

#4

Thank you for your answers.

sporkfin,

My recordings are mono and I do have a good mic. I don’t know if the problem is with the encoder or just the mix of m4a/voice/iPad is hard to get good quality.

XeduR,

Yes I wasn’t using mp3 because of the patents. Good to know!

So far for my app, mp3 format sounds perfect. I’ll forget about the m4a business and record all in mp3.

Thanks for the help!

cc

#5

Well, if mp3 works for you, then why not just use it? It works across all platforms too.

If you are worried about the patents, I think you are a little too late. To the best of my knowledge, all mp3 related patents expired back in 2017 ( https://www.osnews.com/story/24954/us-patent-expiration-for-mp3-mpeg-2-h264/ ).

The fact is that speakers on most phones just aren’t that good and the playback quality won’t be anything special. Small differences in quality are unlikely to even register.

#6

@ccopca 

Quick questions:

  1. Are you recording in stereo or mono? Mono should be fine for voice and will reduce the sound file size significantly.

  2. I assume you have a good mic and a pop filter and all that?

#7

Thank you for your answers.

sporkfin,

My recordings are mono and I do have a good mic. I don’t know if the problem is with the encoder or just the mix of m4a/voice/iPad is hard to get good quality.

XeduR,

Yes I wasn’t using mp3 because of the patents. Good to know!

So far for my app, mp3 format sounds perfect. I’ll forget about the m4a business and record all in mp3.

Thanks for the help!

cc