Trouble with recording N sounds

[devilsproof]

**Edit: I just found out that the mic I'm using has some kind of noise suppression and I think that's what's causing the difficulties? I made a makeshift "pop filter" out of some stuff lying around and suddenly Ns have actual volume to them????? There was definitely something the mic wasn't liking. I'd use a different mic all together, but the microphone jacks on my computer refuse to work right.

I've been having a problem with recording where the N sounds are always so much quieter than the rest of the audio. I end up amplifying them in audacity until the waveform looks comparable enough to the rest of the audio, but I'm not entirely sure if that's what I should be doing? I have included a screenshot of an edited file and a completely unedited file of the same strings (different pitches though)

Since I'm asking about N sounds, should I remove the pauses that happen when recording? I try not to pause, but it still happens. I've noticed some nasty sounds with Ns when I actually used the vb sometimes and I am not sure if this is potentially the cause? Screenshot included showing an example of pauses

 

[Dangosan]

"Long" (as in forming a syllable on their own) Ns are formed differently than regular Ns. Try pulling your tongue back to its base in your throat as tightly as possible.

 

[Kiyoteru]

I've been having a problem with recording where the N sounds are always so much quieter than the rest of the audio. I end up amplifying them in audacity until the waveform looks comparable enough to the rest of the audio, but I'm not entirely sure if that's what I should be doing? I have included a screenshot of an edited file and a completely unedited file of the same strings (different pitches though)

Since I'm asking about N sounds, should I remove the pauses that happen when recording? I try not to pause, but it still happens. I've noticed some nasty sounds with Ns when I actually used the vb sometimes and I am not sure if this is potentially the cause? Screenshot included showing an example of pauses

Quiet recordings are normal, and I would advise against selectively amplifying those syllables. They're also quieter in normal singing vocals, and amplifying them would make them unnaturally loud. In fact, one of the advantages of VCV over CVVC is that certain sounds that are quieter (n, i, u) will still be quiet when they're supposed to, instead of being automatically amplified by UTAU.

As for the pauses, it should be alright as long as you have a few lines that still have smoothly connected pronunciation. Use those lines for your OTO entries for [a ん] [i ん] [u ん] [e ん] [o ん] [n ん].

 

[devilsproof]

"Long" (as in forming a syllable on their own) Ns are formed differently than regular Ns. Try pulling your tongue back to its base in your throat as tightly as possible.

Thank you, I didn't actually know that. I'll try that and see if it yields better results.

Post automatically merged: Feb 9, 2025

Quiet recordings are normal, and I would advise against selectively amplifying those syllables. They're also quieter in normal singing vocals, and amplifying them would make them unnaturally loud. In fact, one of the advantages of VCV over CVVC is that certain sounds that are quieter (n, i, u) will still be quiet when they're supposed to, instead of being automatically amplified by UTAU.

As for the pauses, it should be alright as long as you have a few lines that still have smoothly connected pronunciation. Use those lines for your OTO entries for [a ん] [i ん] [u ん] [e ん] [o ん] [n ん].

I see. I was a bit worried because of how quiet they seemed and thought my mic just wasn't picking stuff up right (an issue I'd been having in general). I'll definitely remember this for when I go to re-record and make the other pitches I have planned. I'll be re-recording anyway due to a minor change in microphone just to keep everything cohesive.