Voice dubbing/insertion?

[diverdowndh]

I hope this isn't a silly question but I have some pics and videos that I took with my underwater camera (I know, this is a video forum...). I'm using Sony Vegas to put it all together in a presentation with music. My question is this - does anyone add narration or voice into their presentations and how would you accomplish this? What I'm looking to do is narrate with something like "Tiger Cowrie" when the pic or video appears...

 

[JeffG]

Hook a mike up to your PC. Record your voice. Add the resulting wav file as an audio track for the output video.

 

[diverdowndh]

A) any mike?
B) what software will record it? Is there something installed w/Windows?

 

[diversteve]

A) any mike?

Pretty much. I picked up a decent Sony Stereo mic for about $20 at Best Buy.

B) what software will record it? Is there something installed w/Windows?

Sound Recorder - but it has a length limitation as I recall (2 minutes?). You might have another utility if you bought a separate soundcard.

 

[Empty V]

Is it done? Sometimes
Is it done well? Not usually. A lot of it, IMO, comes off as pretty cheesy.

The USB mics work really well and have gotten pretty good in the last few years. If you're on a mac you can use Garage Band to do it, a lot of podcasting is done with that program. Windows used to come with a simple wave editor but I think they stopped bundling it years ago. I'm sure you can find a program on Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews - Download.com that will suit your needs free of charge.

Billy

 

[DaFireMedic]

A) any mike?
B) what software will record it? Is there something installed w/Windows?

A. I do voice overs for training films at work. I use a Peavey vocal mic (my wife sings) and it gives me a much nicer sound than my Rode Videomic (external video microphone that mounts on my camcorder). I just adapt the mic to the 1/8" jack on my computer and record into Adobe Audition. This method works well and is cheap. Just pick up a low to mid end vocal mic from a music store. It doesn't have to be anything expensive.


B. There is a free software program that does a very good job of recording audio called Audacity. Its pretty much the program of choice among low budget indie film makers. It gives you some basic but useful tools to record, edit, and fine tune your audio, including removing some background noise. I've used it and I know others that have as well.

Note: Make youself a homemade pop filter with a nylon stocking. Real easy, there are many tutorials on how to make one if you Google it. A pop filter will really help your voice overs in that it eliminates that gust of wind sound every time you say the "P" or "B" sound.

 

[marshallkarp]

I second that for Audacity. Use it quite a bit. Here is the link to my latest dive video, my encounter in Fort Lauderdale with a big green moray eel, so you can sample my voiceover style:

Fort Lauderdale Eel Reef Dive

Also, you can learn more about underwater video by going to the Underwater Videographer podcast.

 

[PerroneFord]

If you've got a full blown copy of Vegas, you should also have Sony Acid. This blows away any freebie out there. It's one of the stronger audio programs on the market. But buy a good manual because it's pretty tricky.

And a decent microphone is worth it's weight in gold for these types of things.

 

[Rick Inman]

I do lots of VO, but use a bit more expensive software and hardware (Pro Tools & AKG & Sennheiser condenser mics).

However, even with a cheep mic you can get good results if you isolate the voice. IOW, if you record in the same room as the computer, there will be fan noise. Actually, unless you isolate, there will be LOTS of noise. The human ear learns to filter out all the non-stop extraneous sounds around us that play out all day. But the mic picks up all of it. Also, acoustics play a huge part in the quality, and most hard, bouncy computer rooms sound like garbage.

On a shoestring, this is what I would do:

Buy or borrow a good mic (Ebay, used, condenser, or even an SM58 is better than nothing).

Buy an interface so you can bring XLR into your computer (or even work it down from 1/4" to the 1/8th" inch most sound cards use, via Radio Shack [Augh!! I can't believe I said, Radio Shack!!])

Run your wire into a closet filled with clothes. You would be amazed how much better the VO sounds recorded in a close closet, and many excellent pro audio people have used this trick when they first started out (meaning, they were too broke to build a recording room). But get out of that square, hard, noisey room. Even tossing a big wool coat or blanket over your head is better than nothing.

Unplug refrigerators, air conditioners or any appliances that have motors running. Those motor sounds transfer through walls up through mic stands and wreck havoc with the recording.

Shoot the neighbor's dog.

Record with any software that uses at least 16 bit, 44100Hz (Sonar is a good one mid price, but there are lots of them for even less).

Keep the mouth of the VO person close to the mic. You can't get too close as long as you don't overdrive the mic (or clip in the software).

With digital, let the level bounce to zero at the highest levels.

Use a compressor plug-in. This can make the difference between armature and pro sounding audio when used properly. On VO's, I'm not afraid to really squish it.

Get Home Recording Magazine and read it. There are lot good tips for the DIY VO person.

That's my free advice, and it's worth what you paid.

Have fun!

 

[JeffG]

or you could just video tape yourself talking and extract the sound track.