Voice-overs?

[Bbzbz]

How would you go about doing an easy voice over on a computer?

[TheJoker]

Well first you need a decent quality microphone because otherwise it will just sound crap. You can get one that plugs directly into your computer or record your v/o externally and then import it. Some editing programmes have features that let you record v/o's straight into the timeline as the footage rolls, but you could always dowload a programme called AUDACITY, which is a free audio programme. Play your foorage as you record you v/o, this way you'll get the timings right and it will have more emotion.

[The_Count]

Would help if you said what equipment you allready have and what budget you have for new equipment. I could give you suggestions on how to spend thousands of pounds on getting a good set up for recording voiceovers.. but i'm guessing that's not what your after.

I'll reccomend getting a good microphone, but i could do with knowing if you allready have one or how much you'd be willing to spend on one.

Heres a few tips though:

1) sit in/stand in a closet full of clothes, this will deaden reverberations and give you a cleaner, 'drier' sound.

2) As mentioned, try and watch the footage as you do it, to help timing and whatnot.

3) Script it, but maybe just a rough script, Don Lafontaine was infamous/famous for never reading a script exactley as written.

4) If you cock up, don't think "that'll do". RECORD IT AGAIN, do a few takes and see which you like the best, nothing pisses me off more in amature voice overs than "ums" and "ers" and stutters and that.

5) Get someone with a good voice to do it, not a 13 year old kid with a cold or runny nose. I don't know how old you are, but if your young then maybe ask a parent or older friend with a better voice to do it for you.


Lemme know what equipment you have and what budget and i'll help more.

[kwano]

i plug my mic into my computer and talk
my dog sometimes ruins it...

[iggzy]

You need as close to a sound proof room as possible, and maybe put the dog outside. VO's can't just be done wherever whenever

[kwano]

You need as close to a sound proof room as possible, and maybe put the dog outside. VO's can't just be done wherever whenever


lol

[elscottomagnifico]

You'll want to keep your room as silent as possible to get out the background/excessive ambient noise. Then, you come to issues with the overall acoustics of a room

http://digitalprosound.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=89503

The Porta Booth is a pretty decent DIY recording space if you want to go easy, portable, dry recording space (you'll still have to keep background noise away - it's not sound proof)
-You can pick up the box from a local Target or Wal-mart (It should be in the home storage section)
- The pyramid acoustic foam can be picked up from a local shop, but if you have a hard time sourcing a single sheet you can use acoustic wedge foam (which comes in 12" x 12" sheets for fairly cheap).
-All together it shouldn't cost you much more than $25 or $30

All of this is no real issue though if you aren't starting out with a decent mic.

[psycho_cow_chick]

Would help if you said what equipment you allready have and what budget you have for new equipment. I could give you suggestions on how to spend thousands of pounds on getting a good set up for recording voiceovers.. but i'm guessing that's not what your after.

I'll reccomend getting a good microphone, but i could do with knowing if you allready have one or how much you'd be willing to spend on one.

Heres a few tips though:

1) sit in/stand in a closet full of clothes, this will deaden reverberations and give you a cleaner, 'drier' sound.

2) As mentioned, try and watch the footage as you do it, to help timing and whatnot.

3) Script it, but maybe just a rough script, Don Lafontaine was infamous/famous for never reading a script exactley as written.

4) If you cock up, don't think "that'll do". RECORD IT AGAIN, do a few takes and see which you like the best, nothing pisses me off more in amature voice overs than "ums" and "ers" and stutters and that.

5) Get someone with a good voice to do it, not a 13 year old kid with a cold or runny nose. I don't know how old you are, but if your young then maybe ask a parent or older friend with a better voice to do it for you.


Lemme know what equipment you have and what budget and i'll help more.

I agree with all of them but i have replies to them all.

1) How are you supposed to stand in a closet full of clothes while you are recording through a mic that plugs straight into the computer and you cant record like this unless you know the right timing of the footage your narrating.

2) This is very true you cant do a voice over if you dont know what you are overlaying it with.

3) Partly true, you dont have to script if you know what you are going to say. But script for very long narrations.

4) This is true for footage as well. Do a couple of takes then when editing choose which one.

5)Well my view of this is, if you are young that doesnt mean you are not aloud to narrate your video. It just means that you are a young gun trying new things and enjoying yourself. But for the sniffles and coughs that is 100% true.

[Flamekebab]

The recommendation I've read is to acquire a medium to large cardboard box, line it with either bumpy foam or packaging materials such as apple crate inserts (the bumpy ones?).

Once you've got that you can cover the remaining side with a towel, allowing you to get your head in the booth. Not sure if it works, I've yet to try it.

[The_Count]

I agree with all of them but i have replies to them all.

1) How are you supposed to stand in a closet full of clothes while you are recording through a mic that plugs straight into the computer and you cant record like this unless you know the right timing of the footage your narrating.

You don't stand in the bloody closet, just put the mic in it, the closet is just one of the ultra low budget forms of acoustic dampening that a few people suggest. The general idea is just have something to absorb reflections and keep the space around the mic dry. The OP stated no budget, so i'm trying to give tips for an idea of zero yen.

2) This is very true you cant do a voice over if you dont know what you are overlaying it with.

:eek:

3) Partly true, you dont have to script if you know what you are going to say. But script for very long narrations.

And how do you do that? oh yeah, script it. Its the ums and ers that just make me cringe in amateur VO's

4) This is true for footage as well. Do a couple of takes then when editing choose which one.

:eek:

5)Well my view of this is, if you are young that doesnt mean you are not aloud to narrate your video. It just means that you are a young gun trying new things and enjoying yourself. But for the sniffles and coughs that is 100% true.

Of course your not forbidden from doing it yourself, not as if the mic is gonna turn into Domo Kun and rip your face off if you give it a shot, its just if your thinking of putting it up online then people watching it are gonna view it as a "kids with guns" thing, except its "kids with mics" which makes me cringe harder.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/3316/domokunvo.jpg


:rolleyes: Pinch of salt, goes down wonders as an accompaniment to the digestion of this post. :rolleyes:

But your points are fair, it is difficult to use the wardrobe, or a box for that matter for acoustic treatment and have a monitor in plain view at the same time.

[kwano]

You'll want to keep your room as silent as possible to get out the background/excessive ambient noise. Then, you come to issues with the overall acoustics of a room

http://digitalprosound.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=89503

The Porta Booth is a pretty decent DIY recording space if you want to go easy, portable, dry recording space (you'll still have to keep background noise away - it's not sound proof)
-You can pick up the box from a local Target or Wal-mart (It should be in the home storage section)
- The pyramid acoustic foam can be picked up from a local shop, but if you have a hard time sourcing a single sheet you can use acoustic wedge foam (which comes in 12" x 12" sheets for fairly cheap).
-All together it shouldn't cost you much more than $25 or $30

All of this is no real issue though if you aren't starting out with a decent mic.



that's pretty awesome