Multi-Band compression

Not sure I like Multi-Band compression. Just experimenting with the settings earlier in Cubase for an old track of mine using the built Multi-Band compression plugin that comes with Cubase 4:

Just uploaded one of the built in presets called Clear Vox and it made the recording sound very tinny in my opinion. Uploaded my experiment to soundcloud:

http://soundcloud.com/sera_music/multi-compression-experiment

WIT survey now on the WIT website:

http://www.womenintune.co.uk/index.php/performers-cd-2011

Market research survey

Hello, so now the DVD is finished and the mastering of the live WIT album is on its way. I have created a market research survey for the CD. Please take a look below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5H7T3M5

The results of this survey will be included in the report and will help the festival decide how many CDs to produce and whether to stick with selling the MP3 downloads.

DVD produced... and major project update.

The submission date for the project is very near, in fact in 10 days! I am collating research at the moment and finishing writing the report. The DVD has been produced, after many problems with the file formats. I created the DVD using DVD studio pro 4 on the IMAC in university and made 4 copies in total 2 Standard Definition and 2 copies in High Definition. Also one of the videos from the DVD is availble to see on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYXvYVai6fU

Below is a screen grab of the DVD's menu page:

Now all I have left to do is master the WIT album and write a report!! I have already mixed the album and allowed for a break before mastering. So far I am happy with the feedback about the tracks and in fact in my last viva Brian gave feedback saying the lecturers present for my Viva were impressed. Thank goodness!

Ducking Compression...

So yesterday and today I have been editing the voiceover for the Capoeira DVD. The lovely Mestre Maxwel master of the Ile De Capoeira group came to mine and we watched the movies together discussing ideas for the script and what he felt he would like to hear on the videos.

So far in the editing, I have been using a lot of volume automation not just to clean the voiceover audio but to balance between the voiceover and the background audio of the video itself. My plan is to blend these together and then to add to the video tracks in DVD studio pro when I compile the DVD.

I was wondering if there might be other methods of blending these two audio tracks together, so that the voiceover was louder than the background music/noise when it came in. Aha then I remembered ducking compression.... Would that work or would it fluctuate too much between the voice and then the music making the jump to one another to harsh??

Tutorial how to use ducking compression in Cubase 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNLBCPCgs-w

Capoeira DVD preparations on its way!

So after much frustration with file compatability I now have a trial version of Adobe master collection CS5 to create the footage for the DVD. For the past few days I have been editing the camera footage myself and Eleanor Thorne took of the local Ile de Capoeira group in Swansea University last November.

Below is a link to view the work so far on my youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MvLKzr3cOE

This is still in the process of being edited at the moment. I aim to add a voiceover to the footage this Saturday with local and experienced voice over artist Benesek, who also happens to be a member of Ild de Capoeira and a good friend!

Hopefully next week I will have finished footage to create the DVD...

DVD authoring and the .mts saga!

Well, easter weekend was rather frustrating but at least productive. My PC has now been upgraded to a 64bit OS and can finally run Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects CS5. Unfortunately though the 30day trial version from Adobe of the Creative Suite Master Collection has restrictions and one restriction is no Adobe Encore!!

For those of you who don't know, Encore is a DVD authoring software which I was going to use to compile all the footage of the Capoeira group, audio and video; into one DVD. Now that I do not have access to Encore, I have been exploring other options in case I am unable to get into uni and use the DVD studio Pro software they have installed on their systems.

The wonderful Natalie (who through all of this has had to put up with me worrying about whether I would get the DVD done), suggested looking for cheaper alternatives. So I did, and I came across this very useful review page with links to descriptions. Thank goodness!

http://dvd-authoring-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

However, despite the trial version having no Encore, the primary reason I needed to install it now was to gain access to Premiere Pro CS5. I have had an ongoing problem with the .mts file format I had filmed the Capoeira group in. I could not retain the HD quality when I converted it to a supported file format to use with an earlier version of Premiere, CS3 or Final Cut Pro on the Mac. With extensive reading of specifications and forums I discovered that there should not be a problem at all using CS5 to edit the raw .mts file. I needed to install the program asap to see if this was true and thankfully it is! Phew. I have now started to edit the footage and will be able to use this to create a DVD which will include the surround sound tracks, hopefully, fingers crossed, 6 weeks to go till hand in date!