Subject:Making better narration - I'm not Morgan Freeman

Posted by: Rich Parry

Date:2/14/2010 7:05:35 PM

I wasn’t born with a voice like Morgan Freeman, but I’d like to sound as best as I can with what I’ve got. I’m making an amateur documentary using Vega Pro 9c for the video editing and Sound Forge Pro for audio editing. I got the VST SPITFISH plug-in to reduce “sibilance” but haven’t used it yet.

Are there things that I can do to a voice narration track to make it sound better. I'm not talking about analyzing every part of the audio track in detail. I looking for some general guidelines. For example, is it standard practice to add “compression” to a narration track? Is it standard practice to add low and/or high pass filters?

In case it matters, I am using the Zoom H4N for recording the audio. I also have a Samson CO1U USB condenser mike.

I am not a professional, I’m just looking for some general ideas for processing the narration track to make it sound better.

Thanks in advance,
Rich

Subject:RE: Making better narration - I'm not Morgan

Reply by: drbam

Date:2/14/2010 8:21:11 PM

Yes, compression is typically added to voice over tracks. But there's a lot more to it than that.

Starting with a good source recording is critical. If you aren't using something similar, a little thing like a "voice over box" will improve your sound 1000% and reduce the need for a lot of additional processing. Check out the link and also download the free booklet. Lots of useful info: http://digitalprosound.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=89503

Subject:RE: Making better narration - I'm not Morgan

Reply by: musicvid10

Date:2/14/2010 9:18:31 PM

Uhh, you didn't post a link to your human voice sample. It's kind of like musical talent. Either you've got it or you don't. No amount of technology can mitigate that fact.

Upload your voice somewhere. You will get plenty of honest responses here and some suggestions for enhancement if it is good enough.

Subject:RE: Making better narration - I'm not Morgan Freeman

Reply by: jackn2mpu

Date:2/16/2010 7:19:54 AM

Rich:
Since you're using a separate source for your audio (the Zoom), and then flying that into SF, why not just record in SF to begin with? Easily done.

As to getting a better voice, probably the best mic for voice work would be the EV RE20. That's the mic most broadcast studios use.

Jack

Subject:RE: Making better narration - I'm not Morgan Freeman

Reply by: Vocalpoint

Date:2/16/2010 11:00:02 AM

1. Be really honest about trying to do this yourself. If budget allows (or the project is really important to you) - think about handing this off to a dedicated resource

2. Equipment/processing cannot turn a bad VO into a really good one. A good voice is always a better start point - even with zero processing.

3. Definitely start by dumping the Zoom and recording right into Forge or right into Vegas for that matter. If the quality of your read is not quite there - at least you will have decent source material to work with.

4. You could always hire me :)

Cheers!

VP