Update: After getting things to sound reasonably normal when playing our podcasts, I thought I’d try the same thing from other computers. It turns out that the older sermons sound pretty good, and the “fixed” ones sound a little distorted. I think the problem was not in the recordings themselves, but in the machine playing those recordings. The computer I’m typing on now seems to play *all* digital audio so that it sounds a bit chipmunkish. If you’ve been hearing a similar effect on the older audio archives, then your computer may have the same problem. In light of this, I’ve changed the encoding process again to use the 44,100 Hz sample rate in our recorder. If you think this is not adequate, feel free to let me know.
I’ve finally looked into the slight distortion in our audio sermons. It made my voice sound slightly chipmunkish, but otherwise OK. Though I suspected the problem was a mistake on my part, it turns out to be a mistake on the part of our microphone recording device. The non-technical will be glad to know that I can apparently correct it, so hopefully future recordings will sound closer to normal.
The technically-inclined may want to know what the problem actually is. My recording device, a Zoom H2, seems to be using a sample rate somewhat lower than the rate it claims to use. Since I record this audio to compact disc, I use a sample rate of 44.1 kilohertz, meaning there are 44,100 digital samples taken per second. That’s the standard for audio CDs. However, when the CD has been made, or when your computer plays a file made with the incorrect assumption that the source audio was truly recorded at 44.1 khz, it results in some distortion of the sound. The effect is the same as with a tape recorder that runs slower than it should. When the tape is played on a correctly-running tape player, voices will be chipmunkish.
The solution for now is to have the recorder use a sample rate of 48 khz (an industry standard for DVDs and other media), which turns out to be a little lower than that as well. Then, when I encode that audio data for compression, I override the incoming audio file’s reported 48 khz sample rate with a sample rate of 44.1 khz. The result sounds much better in testing.
On a related note, I apparently upgraded some of the software needed to add a service to [the sermon audio archives]
- Farewell Sermon from Pastor Jacobsen
- To Let Go What Is Taken From Us
- I’m a Religious Extremist.
- Idols Can Be Microscopic
- Are You a Christian with a Business?
- ELS President Gives Local Talk About Lutherans
- Halloween Is About You
- A Message from our Synodical Fathers
- The Story of a Toe
- First…
- Concrete Lessons
- Dear (fill in the blank),
- Announcing a Major Change in Our Parish Work: Two Pastors!
- Truth and Life
- Practical Christianity
- Christmas Is Coming… Time to Start Preparing for a Great Service
- Let’s Try Sunday School 2.1
- Another Approach to Sunday School at Bethany
- A Visit to an Exploratory Mission
- Thought about Small Church Activities
- Dumbing Down Questions about Christ.
- What’s Wrong with Gay Marriage?
- Happy Hallowe’en!
- Great Books for Lutherans
- Why Christian Schools? (part 3)
- The Five God-given Purposes of Marriage
- Prayer for Friday Evening (ELH, p. 171)
- Laache was exceptional tonight
- Why Christian Schools? (part 2)
- Holy Week Services
- Why Christian Schools? (part 1)
- The Division and Order of the Ten Commandments
- Some Thoughts on the Creation Debate
- Ron Ahlberg
- Matins for Everyone
- Planning for Your Ultimate Future
- The New Financial Peace University Available at Bethany
- Classes Coming Up
- Marriage
- The Verse on Our Good Friday Cross
- Bethany and Concordia Online
- False Religion Pretending to be Science
- A Savior for the Whole World
- A Beautiful Christmas Gift Idea for Lutherans
- Scientists Defend Biblical Worldview against Bill Nye
- Devotions feed updated/fixed
- A Detailed Survey of the Bible
- The Sabbath Day
- Weekly Parish Schedule
- Prayer Requests
- Beginning of Listing Traditions
- Tuesday Bible Class & Other Events This Week
- Christmas for Kids 2011
- Share Your Traditions
- A Prayer of Thanksgiving
- Two Photo Montages from Bethany Pics
- Two Easy Points Disproving Darwinism
- The Home: The Most Important School for Christianity
- How Much is Enough?
- Luther’s Perspective on Using the Catechism
- Church Membership and the Church’s Children
- The Right Use of the Catechism at Home
- A Christian School Serves the Home
- The Powerful Influence of the Home
- Back to the Basics
- Being Prepared for Life
- Teaching them to observe all things, whatever I have commanded you
- Christ is Risen! Let Us Receive His Word!
- Is the Bible not Practical? Sometimes It’s Too Practical!
- Parish Scheduling
- Divorce Rate Among Christians Lower than Previously Thought
- Addiction and the Sinful Flesh
- Too Much to Think About
- How Advanced Was the Ancient World of the New Testament?
- The Tradition of Christmas
- Gullixson Ordination Photos #2
- Gullixson Ordination Photos #1
- The Decline of Youth Work
- A Reliable and Favorite Bible Commentary Now Online
- Understanding the Third Commandment
- Lutherans Accused of Abolishing the Divine Service
- God’s Forgiveness Transforms Us into Saints
- God’s Word via J.S. Bach
- A Brief Response to Christian Zionism
- Using the Ten Commandments
- Marriage and God’s Image
- Correction: The Ten Commandments (Updated)
- ELS Member Highlights Anti-Marriage Bias in Federal Legislation
- News and Plans
- What is Soul Cafe?
- Take Some Time For You
- Pictures from 2009 Christmas for Kids
- 107
- Largest American Lutheran Church Body Splits
- Martin Luther on Living a Holy Life
- Forgiveness Is God’s Gift for Your Neighbor
- Your Pastor Could Be Prosecuted for Doing His Job
- June News
- Invasion of Chipmunks [updated July 25]
- When the Culture Has Become Hostile to Faith
- The Economy of God’s Grace
- More Lutheran Family Fellowship Photos
- Lunch with Ron at Bethany
- Thank you, Martin Luther
- Some photos from the 2008 Northwest Mission Rally
- Activities
- Incongruity
- Jesus’ Own Church Attendance
- Lutheran Family Fellowship
- How do People Pick a Church?
- The Blog of Veith
- Good Lutheran Talk Radio: Issues, Etc.
- Questions and Answers About Moms from 2nd Graders
- Bethany’s 2008 Confirmation Class
- Congratulations to Bethany’s Confirmands
- Help for Sunday School Teachers (and others)
- Mother/Daughter BBQ
- Mormonism
- What is Intelligent Design?
- Another Excellent College Choice for Christian Youth
- The Journey to Faith
- Purpose
- Good Friday
- Wilt thou love God as He thee?
- Death, Be Not Proud
- Daily Devotion Texts Online, Too!
- Worship that Attracts Young People
- Transfer of Web Site to Dreamhost Provider
- Revealing Question to Ask Your Pastor
- Worship at Home: Family and Household Devotions
- The Value and Importance of the Way We Worship
- Addressing the Risks of MySpace
- One Christian has sinned against another. What will happen now?
- Confirmation Class is Tough on Parents
- Where to Find LYA Photos
- Pendleton Pics
- Changes in Vacation Bible School for 2007
- Prayer
- Baptisms at Bethany!
- We Need a Frame for Fine Art
- Freedom of Religion May be Eroding in Oregon
- More to read about the “Jesus Family Tomb”
- “Documentary” about the Tomb of Jesus
- Sledding Trip to Little John Snow Park
- Here’s a Great Sermon
- A Gem from the Large Catechism
- February 2007 Newsletter from the Synod President
- Free Shipping on Concordia
- The Value of the Catechism
- Altar Guild Schedules for 2007
- New Edition of the Book of Concord
- The “best” Christian music and hymns
- January Newsletter from the Synod President
- Observations on present-day Fundamentalism
- Do you consider your fellow church members to be friends?
- Confession and Life
- Home
- Farewell Sermon from Pastor Jacobsen
- To Let Go What Is Taken From Us
- I’m a Religious Extremist.
- Idols Can Be Microscopic
- Are You a Christian with a Business?
- ELS President Gives Local Talk About Lutherans
- Halloween Is About You
- A Message from our Synodical Fathers
- The Story of a Toe
- First…
- Concrete Lessons
- Dear (fill in the blank),
- Announcing a Major Change in Our Parish Work: Two Pastors!
- Truth and Life
- Practical Christianity
- Christmas Is Coming… Time to Start Preparing for a Great Service
- Let’s Try Sunday School 2.1
- Another Approach to Sunday School at Bethany
- A Visit to an Exploratory Mission
- Thought about Small Church Activities
- Dumbing Down Questions about Christ.
- What’s Wrong with Gay Marriage?
- Happy Hallowe’en!
- Great Books for Lutherans
- Why Christian Schools? (part 3)
- The Five God-given Purposes of Marriage
- Prayer for Friday Evening (ELH, p. 171)
- Laache was exceptional tonight
- Why Christian Schools? (part 2)
- Holy Week Services
- Why Christian Schools? (part 1)
- The Division and Order of the Ten Commandments
- Some Thoughts on the Creation Debate
- Ron Ahlberg
- Matins for Everyone
- Planning for Your Ultimate Future
- The New Financial Peace University Available at Bethany
- Classes Coming Up
- Marriage
- The Verse on Our Good Friday Cross
- Bethany and Concordia Online
- False Religion Pretending to be Science
- A Savior for the Whole World
- A Beautiful Christmas Gift Idea for Lutherans
- Scientists Defend Biblical Worldview against Bill Nye
- Devotions feed updated/fixed
- A Detailed Survey of the Bible
- The Sabbath Day
- Weekly Parish Schedule
- Prayer Requests
- Beginning of Listing Traditions
- Tuesday Bible Class & Other Events This Week
- Christmas for Kids 2011
- Share Your Traditions
- A Prayer of Thanksgiving
- Two Photo Montages from Bethany Pics
- Two Easy Points Disproving Darwinism
- The Home: The Most Important School for Christianity
- How Much is Enough?
- Luther’s Perspective on Using the Catechism
- Church Membership and the Church’s Children
- The Right Use of the Catechism at Home
- A Christian School Serves the Home
- The Powerful Influence of the Home
- Back to the Basics
- Being Prepared for Life
- Teaching them to observe all things, whatever I have commanded you
- Christ is Risen! Let Us Receive His Word!
- Is the Bible not Practical? Sometimes It’s Too Practical!
- Parish Scheduling
- Divorce Rate Among Christians Lower than Previously Thought
- Addiction and the Sinful Flesh
- Too Much to Think About
- How Advanced Was the Ancient World of the New Testament?
- The Tradition of Christmas
- Gullixson Ordination Photos #2
- Gullixson Ordination Photos #1
- The Decline of Youth Work
- A Reliable and Favorite Bible Commentary Now Online
- Understanding the Third Commandment
- Lutherans Accused of Abolishing the Divine Service
- God’s Forgiveness Transforms Us into Saints
- God’s Word via J.S. Bach
- A Brief Response to Christian Zionism
- Using the Ten Commandments
- Marriage and God’s Image
- Correction: The Ten Commandments (Updated)
- ELS Member Highlights Anti-Marriage Bias in Federal Legislation
- News and Plans
- What is Soul Cafe?
- Take Some Time For You
- Pictures from 2009 Christmas for Kids
- 107
- Largest American Lutheran Church Body Splits
- Martin Luther on Living a Holy Life
- Forgiveness Is God’s Gift for Your Neighbor
- Your Pastor Could Be Prosecuted for Doing His Job
- June News
- Invasion of Chipmunks [updated July 25]
- When the Culture Has Become Hostile to Faith
- The Economy of God’s Grace
- More Lutheran Family Fellowship Photos
- Lunch with Ron at Bethany
- Thank you, Martin Luther
- Some photos from the 2008 Northwest Mission Rally
- Activities
- Incongruity
- Jesus’ Own Church Attendance
- Lutheran Family Fellowship
- How do People Pick a Church?
- The Blog of Veith
- Good Lutheran Talk Radio: Issues, Etc.
- Questions and Answers About Moms from 2nd Graders
- Bethany’s 2008 Confirmation Class
- Congratulations to Bethany’s Confirmands
- Help for Sunday School Teachers (and others)
- Mother/Daughter BBQ
- Mormonism
- What is Intelligent Design?
- Another Excellent College Choice for Christian Youth
- The Journey to Faith
- Purpose
- Good Friday
- Wilt thou love God as He thee?
- Death, Be Not Proud
- Daily Devotion Texts Online, Too!
- Worship that Attracts Young People
- Transfer of Web Site to Dreamhost Provider
- Revealing Question to Ask Your Pastor
- Worship at Home: Family and Household Devotions
- The Value and Importance of the Way We Worship
- Addressing the Risks of MySpace
- One Christian has sinned against another. What will happen now?
- Confirmation Class is Tough on Parents
- Where to Find LYA Photos
- Pendleton Pics
- Changes in Vacation Bible School for 2007
- Prayer
- Baptisms at Bethany!
- We Need a Frame for Fine Art
- Freedom of Religion May be Eroding in Oregon
- More to read about the “Jesus Family Tomb”
- “Documentary” about the Tomb of Jesus
- Sledding Trip to Little John Snow Park
- Here’s a Great Sermon
- A Gem from the Large Catechism
- February 2007 Newsletter from the Synod President
- Free Shipping on Concordia
- The Value of the Catechism
- Altar Guild Schedules for 2007
- New Edition of the Book of Concord
- The “best” Christian music and hymns
- January Newsletter from the Synod President
- Observations on present-day Fundamentalism
- Do you consider your fellow church members to be friends?
- Confession and Life
- Home