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.
• There's a wealth of information on the internet about recording. For instance, https://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Newbie_Guide_to_Recording from Librivox is a useful guide with numerous sub pages of information. Some is audio-book specific, but the majority is useful for anyone recording voice.