Lows/Mids missing on Laptop Speakers?

[Marc Dunham]

I'm editing an interview video that uses audio from a Azden Wireless Lav to an H4N. There was some background noise and distortion in audio, however it didn't sound too bad when coupled with music on my office speakers and headphones. However when I play the audio through my MacBookPro speakers the audio is much lower and sounds as if the Lows and Mids have been removed completely. I'd just assume it was my laptop broken however it's only with this audio, music plays fine, other videos play fine, It's only with this.

I'm at a loss for what to do as I can't figure out why it's only through those speakers and not my externals. Anyone ran into this problem or know what I can possibly do? Thanks

edit: also its only the interview audio that has the issue, the background music still has its lows/mids so I know its not an export issue

 

[Marc Wielage]

If you can't use large, full-range speakers, use very high-quality headphones. Laptop speakers will lie to you.

You could probably use a dozen different cheap speakers, and they'll all give you different versions of "bad." None will be accurate.

BTW: Azden wireless microphone systems are very bad, in my opinion.

 

[Les C.]

When you're dealing with audio, I'd suggest powered studio monitors and a audio interface with quality DAC's.

You might contact Sweetwater.com and ask their advice.

I personally use RME's Fireface 400 and Mackie HR824 studio monitors (both of which have been superseded by newer units).

If you're not recording audio through the unit (using a microphone for ADR, etc.), there are probably cheaper alternatives.

JBL makes interesting studio monitors with a sub-woofer that will auto-calibrate to your room that are highly recommended.

 

[Marc Dunham]

I'm not worried about my audio monitoring that much. I'm worried about what people will eventually hear and see, and for this its web stuff, so a lot of people will be on speakers like my MBP's. It's not just "bad", I wouldn't be making a fuss over bad. I'm saying that for this particular audio on some speakers the lows/mids are basically all missing. Audio recorded with same equipment on a different day doesn't have this issue. So its not a monitoring issue, its something in my audio file I'm assuming. (Problem happens with the uncompressed and compressed files, so I ruled out compression)

 

[ericyoung]

This sounds like a phase reversal problem. If one of your stereo channels is phase reversed compared with the other, you will get selective cancellation of audio depending on the stereo separation.

Check you haven't accidentally selected phase reverse on some of your audio tracks in the edit.