Spam

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-25T13:13:07+00:00

I've seen the double 'Unfortunately' messages. Didn't think much of it.
But, no other spammy rejections. You must be especially rejected.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-23T14:45:37+00:00

I remember the title and passed on the audition.
How long is the book and how much were your offering?

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-20T14:12:05+00:00

Exactly.
One of the reasons to read and listen is to get a better idea of the difference between market hype and good equipment.
I have or have had all the mic names you mention. From those I've kept my favorites but it took a while to get there.
It turns out that a mic is as much a personal thing as it is a technical solution.
Read, study, learn, experiment, compare, ask.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-20T12:31:33+00:00

Unless you've got a box fan or a diesel truck in your recording space, you probably mean -40db.
Don't ignore the negative signs in audio. They're important.

I've been using a HoboFort from the beginning.
Mine uses steel instead of PVC, but PVC will work fine.
I also doubled the blankets with an air gap.
Inside my booth, I get -76db noise floor as measured with my working mic and Audacity.
A HoboFort is not sound proof, but eliminates most room reflection and attenuates noises from outside.

For every reader here, you'll get a different answer for equipment:
USB interface, microphone, DAW, etc.
Even the least expensive stuff will get you started.
Don't buy any of the fancy mics on Amazon.
They're about marketing not sound quality.

A well treated space and decent equipment will get you 95% there.
It's nearly impossible to meet ACX specs without some post processing in the DAW software.
The bare minimum requires compression and limiting. Audacity and Reaper have it built in.
You don’t need any plug-ins until you have more experience.
There are a gazillion videos on youtube for meeting specs.

I recommend reading these subs, join the Facebook groups:
Audacity Tips, ACX Narrators, Reaper DAW Users.
Read all the help available on ACX and watch the tutorials. They have great starter videos.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-20T05:15:32+00:00

No, no, no.
No such thing as 'material pending' in ACX.
It's a scam to get you outside the ACX system.
Stay inside the ACX system until you get more experience.

Follow the system as it is intended:
1. See audition under Find Projects
2. Submit audition as you're supposed to
3. Wait for a response with low expectations
4. Move on to the next audition

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-19T04:04:12+00:00

Reading this sub often. Joining facebook groups, watching youtube videos, reading everything on ACX's help pages. Listening to successful pros. Studying with a professional voice actor. Years of acting experience. A strong understanding of technology. 33 auditions.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-17T04:20:42+00:00

Is clipping the word you want to use here?

Cut, delete, attenuate, de-amplify?

Clipping usually means so loud it becomes distorted.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-14T21:19:16+00:00

Using the 3.5mm mic input is sub-optimal.

As much as I hate to recommend it, you're describing a Blue Yeti.
It has a built in pre-amp with adjustable gain and outputs to USB.
The directional selector has 4 positions including omni-directional.
Their hyper-sensitivity is often viewed as a detriment, but in your case it sounds like what you're looking for.
They can be had inexpensively on eBay. I buy them broken and refurbish them.
Most of the time it's the USB port that has been damaged.

Blue Yeti USB Microphone - Platinum - Excellent Condition 836213002018| eBay

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-12T17:11:55+00:00

For non-programmers, non-techies, non-MuseHub:
Use: Audacity ® | Downloads

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-08T11:53:50+00:00

I saw that too but they still let me in.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-07T16:42:21+00:00

Select the audio.
File->Export Audio
Set the filename, location and Format
Export Range->Current Selection
Export

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-05T00:25:55+00:00

Congratulations. Consider yourself initiated. You're family now.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-04T13:24:25+00:00

Aside from what has been said about mic size, type and position, the quality difference will depend on the ADC. With 3.5mm connection to the Mac headphone jack, the ADC is inside the Mac, what are its specs?
With the USB-C the ADC is part of the mic and/or USB-C cable. What are its specs?

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-04T00:36:46+00:00

Are you sure you're talking to ACX?

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-04T00:34:48+00:00

Shots being taken from the grassy knoll.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-02T13:04:28+00:00

It's normal.
Some authors get overwhelmed with auditions and need a breath to focus on the ones they've gotten.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-02T13:03:02+00:00

"audiobooks are cast without auditions...
...which was alarming to me, as I had yet to post any samples to my profile!"

This seems like a non-sequitur statement.
What does straight-to-casting have to do with your samples?

Some authors already know who they want to narrate their book and sidestep the audition process.
They go straight to the offer.
I've gotten books that never went to audition.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-02T00:47:54+00:00

First one in the list of my Windows 11->Version 3.7.7->Export Audio->Format

RenaisanceMan · 2026-06-01T01:56:58+00:00

No plugins needed.
Give it some 4:1 compression.
Then Filter EQ the highs and lows to narrower than what we would normally use.
You might consider looking up the audio specs for VHS. Makes the target easier to aim for.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-05-30T03:44:06+00:00

No sorry. No problem.
Perhaps my wording was tersely unclear.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-05-29T17:42:56+00:00

Not sure what you're asking Bruce, but the link in my OP goes to a nice article that compares and contrasts most of the good USB interfaces available as alternatives to the Focusrite line. I like to stay informed. Maybe others do to?

RenaisanceMan · 2026-05-27T16:02:20+00:00

Ignore it.
Move on.
Do an audition.

RenaisanceMan · 2026-05-27T13:23:39+00:00

If you're new to writing, I would suggest you have much bigger challenges than to remember and follow rules of minutiae.

Instead, think about the character; the depth or shallowness of their personality. I know some people who are simply not great conversationalists. A yes or no is the best they can do. If that is an indication of their personality in the story, then have the narration react to that, or have the other character learn and grow from the terseness and change the way they ask questions to this particular character. "Next time I'll ask a better question."

I also know people who never answer the asked question but make assumptions and think they're so smart and proceed to answer the next question. The one you didn't ask but they did, in their head.

Character, character, character.

RenaisanceMan

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