Recording voice over

MoBetta wrote on 4/29/2002, 2:42 PM
I am not an audio guy!!!!! and I am working on a documentary project. Mixing music on my audio tracks is not a problem, but I need to record some voice over: mix some with music and video track and some to use without background music(This is where the problem surfaces) . I would like to acheive the best results(without having to go to a studio) using my PC. So far I have used my DV camcorder as a recording device, using various microphones, but there is always a slight amount of "humming" from the camcorder in the background.

Any suggestions?

Greatly appreciated

MoBetta

Comments

Foreverain4 wrote on 4/29/2002, 3:04 PM
if you have a mic separate from your camera, try putting the camera in a different room as you are probably picking up noise from the camera itself. make sure that there is not computer running in the room. harddrives are noisy little fellas! also, make sure that the vent in the room for heating/ac is all the way open causing less restricted air flow and less noise. or maybe even turn it off momentarily while you record. generally, recording audio with your camera is not the best option, but these tips should help you a bit.

lynn
Foreverain4 wrote on 4/29/2002, 3:08 PM
also, in vegas, you can use the track eq and cut all the low frequencies below about 70hz. this will eliminate alot of noise in the room.
Former user wrote on 4/29/2002, 3:16 PM
I do voiceover for a living. Standard pro practice is to do "assembly". Record the voiceover separately on it's own track or better still - in another app (For example - I use Soundforge) I edit and process all the raw voicetrack in SF and bring the finished voicetrack product into Vegas for final assembly and playback.

And if you want good quality results - I can't tell you how important a real good mic is. Not that $49.00 special from Radio Shack and definitely not the mic on your camera. First rule of audio quality - garbage in = garbage out. It is much easier to dress up a good quality voicetrack than it is to fix a bad one.

You could always have me voice up your stuff for a small fee :)

Cheers,

Cuzin B
MoBetta wrote on 4/29/2002, 4:59 PM
The noise I get is not an "embiance" noise, I record in a room totally silent. It feels like an internal "humming" from inside my camcorder. I've also tried recording at the lowest gain shift level. It appears to help, but I am hoping for better results.

How about recording to a DAT recorder?

MoBetta
Chienworks wrote on 4/29/2002, 5:42 PM
You can record to most any device you want to use. You could even plug the microphone directly into your sound card. However, keep in mind that your computer generates quite a bit of noise too. If you can put the mic in another room, you can start the recording at the computer, then move to the other room to speak. This will eliminate having any other devices add extra noise to the recording process.
MoBetta wrote on 4/29/2002, 5:55 PM
This may sound basic......but as I said, I am not an audio man.... How do I control the recording into my sound card?

MoBetta
Chienworks wrote on 4/29/2002, 10:28 PM
Doubleclick the little yellow speaker icon in the lower right corner of the screen to open up the volume control panel. Click Options, Properties, Recording. You will now see a list of volume controls. Check the ones you will want to use for inputs: CD, Microphone, Line, Auxiliary, Video, Mixed Output (heck, just check them all). and click OK. You will now see a row of volume controls for each input. Select the one you want to use (microphone, if you're plugging your mic directly into the sound card, or Line of you're going through a mixer, DAT, or other external device). While recording in Vegas you can adjust the input level. Probably a good thing to shoot for to start with is to have the loudest peaks hit -3 to -9dB. You can always raise the level later if necessary, but if you clip (go above 0dB) it's very difficult and costly to fix.
MaxH wrote on 5/1/2002, 7:57 AM
Hi guys,
I am also using voiceover for the first time so this is all good stuff to me.
Should the voiceover be recorded in mono for best results?
Regards,
Max
Former user wrote on 5/1/2002, 9:50 AM
I do all of my voiceover material in mono. Much more control in the multitrack session for panning, effects etc....much easier editing as well.

Cheers,

Cuzin B
MaxH wrote on 5/1/2002, 11:28 AM
Many thanks,
Max
MoBetta wrote on 5/1/2002, 2:33 PM
....What are you using as your recording source??

MoBetta
Former user wrote on 5/1/2002, 8:37 PM
MoBetta,

If your question is directed at me...My voice goes into a Rode NTV tube microphone then to my Mindprint Envoice voice preamp and finally into my audio interface (Onmi Studio/Delta 66) via SPDIF. That digital feed goes straight into Sound Forge and is recorded to mono tracks for editing, processing and cleanup. I then bring the final bits into Vegas for assembly.

Cheers,

Cuzin B
MoBetta wrote on 5/2/2002, 12:01 PM
CuzinB,

...Yes my message was directed to you. Thanks for the info. You mentioned doing voice over... how do I get in touch with you to discuss that possibility...

MoBetta
Former user wrote on 5/2/2002, 12:14 PM
MoBetta,

Just pop over to my website: www.vocalpoint.ca and have a quick look around. The contact info is there if you are interested in using my services.

Cheers,

Cuzin B