Sports-commentator LoRA v2 — listening evaluation

13 configurations + real-audio ceiling · n=32 per cell · judged by gemini-3-flash on the same 0/1/2 prompt used to filter the training data · 456 clips, 0 unparsed
Headline: the task is saturated, and the LoRA is not clearly needed.

The base model with no LoRA scores 1.750/2. Real human Mediathek sports commentary scores 1.775/2 — statistically the same thing. So the ceiling for this metric is ≈1.8 and the base model is already at it. There is very little headroom for an adapter to occupy.

The best configurations reach 1.969, i.e. slightly above real recordings. Two cells clear p<0.05 raw, but with 12 comparisons against base the Bonferroni threshold is p<0.0042 and none survive it. Treat the ranking below as suggestive, not established.
configurationmean judgesdrated 2 vs basep (perm)after correctionn
r64_e11.9690.17497 %+0.2190.027p<0.05 raw32
r64_e81.9690.17497 %+0.2190.027p<0.05 raw32
r32_e11.9380.24294 %+0.1880.08132
r32_e81.9380.34897 %+0.1880.12032
r32_e21.9060.38494 %+0.1560.23232
r16_e21.8750.33188 %+0.1250.33732
r16_e81.8750.33188 %+0.1250.33432
r32_e31.8750.33188 %+0.1250.33632
r16_e11.8440.44188 %+0.0940.57932
r16_e31.8440.36384 %+0.0940.53532
r64_e21.8440.50791 %+0.0940.60132
r64_e31.8120.52788 %+0.0620.80132
REAL Mediathek1.7750.52482 %40
base (no LoRA)1.7500.43375 %32
Validation loss did not predict this — for the third time on this stack. The training log said epoch 1 was best and epoch 8 badly overfit (r64: 4.4237 → 5.4369, a 0.905 regression). The listener disagrees: r64_e1 and r64_e8 score identically at 1.969. Whatever epoch 8 lost in validation loss, it did not lose in how the audio actually sounds. Rank on generation-side metrics, not on loss.
Why a 0–2 scale was the wrong instrument here. Every cell lands between 1.75 and 1.97, and 75–97 % of clips get the top score. The scale is compressed against its ceiling, so it cannot separate configurations even where real differences exist. A follow-up should use pairwise A/B preference against base rather than an absolute rating — that stays sensitive when everything is already "clearly sports commentary".
What is solid from this line of work is the data filter, not the LoRA. The literal WER × quality formula put 602 of 1,000 candidates at exactly score 0 (60 % had WER 0.00) and therefore selected the half with worse transcription. Replacing it with a Gemini listening filter kept 820 of 1,000 at the top rating, and a blind judge scored the corrected selection higher on 3 of 5 dimensions (commentator-likeness +0.43 p=0.024, euphoria +0.63 p=0.003, broadcast-likeness +0.53 p=0.009). That result is properly powered and stands.

Listen — 4 clips per configuration

Ordered by mean judge score. The blue block is the no-LoRA base; the green block is real human commentary. These are the first 4 clips of each cell, not the best — picking the best would flatter every row equally and tell you nothing.

r64_e1 mean judge 1.969 · 97 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 11.9 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 11.5 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 7.3 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 10.2 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r64_e8 mean judge 1.969 · 97 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 9.4 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 9.4 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 9.0 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 10.2 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r32_e1 mean judge 1.938 · 94 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 12.2 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 7.2 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 8.6 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 9.4 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r32_e8 mean judge 1.938 · 97 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 7.7 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 12.2 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 7.9 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 11.7 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r32_e2 mean judge 1.906 · 94 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 12.1 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 11.8 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 6.9 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 11.9 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r16_e2 mean judge 1.875 · 88 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 10.5 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 13.0 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 7.3 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 8.6 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r16_e8 mean judge 1.875 · 88 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 11.9 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 8.8 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 6.7 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 8.1 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r32_e3 mean judge 1.875 · 88 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 7.5 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 12.0 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 9.8 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 11.7 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r16_e1 mean judge 1.844 · 88 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 12.0 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 12.2 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 7.3 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 11.0 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r16_e3 mean judge 1.844 · 84 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 12.2 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 8.0 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 8.5 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 8.3 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r64_e2 mean judge 1.844 · 91 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 9.4 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 9.5 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 9.0 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 10.2 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

r64_e3 mean judge 1.812 · 88 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 9.5 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 2/2 · 9.4 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 16.0 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 1/2 · 10.2 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!

REAL Mediathek commentary (ceiling control) mean judge 1.775 · 82 % rated 2 · n=40

judge 2/2 · 11.4 s · athletics
Hat sie noch mal einen Konter? Nein, hat sie nicht! Es gibt zwei Medaillen! Es gibt zwei Medaillen für die deutschen Diskuswerferinnen: Claudine Vieter und Christin Pudens. Aber welche Farbe
judge 1/2 · 16.0 s · athletics
Ja, und gerade man hofft und hofft und hofft, aber man weiß auch ganz genau, naja, auch so eine 216 in Köln kann ganz schön wehtun, ja, auch wenn man sagt, ja, das war ganz locker und ich ha
judge 2/2 · 12.7 s · athletics
Wir haben es gesagt, Final Litzkämpfer war davon befreit. Überraschend hier im Halbfinale Patricia van der Weken, die Luxemburgerin, aber hat sich in diesem Jahr wirklich deutlich gesteigert
judge 0/2 · 11.9 s · badminton
Ja, den Aufschlag von Matthias Christiansen können die Holländer aktuell ganz gut kontrollieren. Sie schaffen es da immer wieder selbst zu Punkten, indem sie eben die Aufschlagssituation für

base — no LoRA (control) mean judge 1.750 · 75 % rated 2 · n=32

judge 2/2 · 11.9 s · football
He's through, he's one on one — and he's buried it! In the last minute of the final! This entire stadium has lost its mind!
judge 1/2 · 8.9 s · athletics
She's flying down the home straight! Look at the clock, look at the clock — world record! I cannot believe what I have just watched!
judge 2/2 · 11.8 s · boxing
He's caught him flush and he's down! The champion is on the canvas in the final round! It's all over! It is all over!
judge 2/2 · 9.4 s · tennis
That's championship point saved, and another one! She has broken back from two sets down! This crowd is on its feet and it will not sit down!