Recording tipps
When you plan to record a voice dataset to be used for a TTS model training you should check these tips and tricks:
- Use a good microphone and a quiet recording room setup (no computer fans, air conditioning, ...)
- Use a text corpus with cleaned numbers/abbreviations and good phoneme coverage
- Read in a neutral style, but with a natural speech flow and do not swallow up letters
- Adjust tone and pitch with punctuation
- Use a constant recording speed
- Check your recordings regularly in high volume for background noise
- Take breaks regularly and do not record more than four hours a day
- Record error free
- Investing in a quality interface and mic can make a big difference in quality. A 24 bit 96khz interface with a large diaphragm condenser can be had for about $200 USD.
- Record at the highest quality level practical. You can convert to lesser formats later, but you cannot up convert cleanly
- Review your work at regular intervals and compare with previous recording to ensure consistent quality
- Do not be afraid to ask for help! Getting feedback on your data early on can help prevent wasted effort.