Balancing two very different remotely-rrec tracks to produce an even sound quality podcast mixdown

[unauthorizedrob]

Hi Guys

We have used a remote online recording service (Squadcast) to conduct interviews for a new podcast that I have been editing.  The advantage is that this gives us split tracks, which I can edit and process individually before doing my mixdown.  The disadvantage is there is no embedded timecode, so the tracks can slip out of sync and I have to be very cognizant of my edits in the multitrack session.  There is also the risk of a significant disparity in audio quality, with our local host track, recorded on a high-quality microphone and pro headphones, is much better than the remote subject, who may be using a crappy computer mike and headphones that allow some bleed-through from the host, which sounds like an echo.  In trying to even these out, I fear that I am messing up the quality of the subject's voice.  I have used Normalization, Match Loudness,  and Speech Volume Leveler, as well as some RX7 tools like Voice De-click and de-reverb, but may have overdone that processing. 

I would really welcome your guidance.  I've enclosed a link here to the most problematic interview;  am I being paranoid, or is this uneven and hard to listen to?  

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zsfzbeut9pd3mzf/DALE_BELL.wav?dl=0


Thanks!

Rob

[Mike Russell]

It sounds to me like you've possibly overdone it on the DeReverb effect as everything sounds quite processed in terms of noise/echo reduction. Can you try dialing this down a little bit?

Are you using any noise gate too? It sounds like some of the quieter words are tailing off at the end. This would be the sign of a noise gate with a threshold set too high.

I'd go for something like the Compressor in the Dynamics effect in place of the Speech Volume Leveler. The latter can suck up the noise floor especially if you're recording in a less the acoustically perfect room.

Here's a video that may help you get started with the effect I recommend:

[unauthorizedrob]

Thanks!  I will try this and report back.

I follow your tutorials religiously, BTW.  Thanks for your guidance.

Rob