voiceover mic

[p.mc]

Hi all

 

I'm trying to do a voice-over using a beyer dynamic mic to a music track using mixcraft's multi track software on my PC (which has a soundblaster X-Fi extreme sound card in). But I find that I have to get pretty close to the mic which of course accents the pops and whistles. But what's more annoying is that, if I set the softwares Channel fader just before clipping, and the master fader the same (so I can get max volume when mixed down) it's still to low in my opinion because when I multi track the underscore music (which has to be a bit quieter) and then mix down the two to an mp3 file, then I find I have to whack the master fader on my amp right up to get the right volume for the performance..."Phew!! I hope you got all that."

 

Any advice?...or maybe use a different mic and set up?

 

All comments would be appreciated

 

 

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

I must also mention that the mic input vol pot on the PC is also near full, in case someone thinks of this... <_<

[5catfish]

you really need some sort of channel strip/ pre-amp / mixer before going into your sound card to get the best from the mic..... also your going to need some compression for voice over work.

[Bobbsy]

In professional voice over work we tended to change the mic to suit the voice--but most commonly I'd use some form of large diaphram condensor--the Neumann TLM103 was my workhorse but sit down before checking the price!. Frankly, you could probably get almost as nice quality for much less with something like an SE2200A.

 

For any serious voiceover work, you're going to need a pop shield--one of those round rings filled with something like nylon stocking material. The good news is that these are very cheap to buy--even the Maplins version seems to work fine.

 

Frankly, you need a much better sound card. The Sound Blaster is really only a gamer's card and pretty useless for recording work. I'd have a look at the EMU range--great value for money and nothing like the SB even though EMU is also owned by Creative.

 

Like others, personally I'd want to have a small mixer of some sort in the chain to provide an easy system to monitor and control levels. If you go with a condensor, it'll also provide the phantom power you need.

 

As Scatfish has said, compression is almost always used in VO work. However, depending on what you're using as an audio editor, I much prefer recording without compression then applying it as needed in the edit--far more control this way.

 

One final comment is that, with Voice Overs, you need to be very careful about your room acoustic. Things that would pass un-noticed when you can see the person speaking become glaring problems when you listen critically. A more sensitive condensor mic will also show up room problems far more than a relatively dull dynamic.

 

Bob

[StevieR]

One of THESE from Shure may be of help and a good investment...

 

Steve

[jamesperrett]

Chances are you may need to also watch your mic technique. Try talking across the mic rather than straight into it. This will reduce popping from your p's.

 

Cheers

 

James.

[Bobbsy]

One of THESE from Shure may be of help and a good investment...

 

Steve

 

For what you'd pay for this unit (around £110 street price) you could have an excellent 2 channel (or maybe even a 4 channel) audio adaptor with a far better spec in terms of the noise floor.

 

(You can get an EMU0202 for about £60 or an 0404 for around £80. if you can use a PCI card. If it must be USB, the two channel EMU is about £80 and the 4 channel about £150. All strike me as far better value than the Shure device.)

 

Bob

[p.mc]

One of THESE from Shure may be of help and a good investment...

 

Steve

 

For what you'd pay for this unit (around £110 street price) you could have an excellent 2 channel (or maybe even a 4 channel) audio adaptor with a far better spec in terms of the noise floor.

 

(You can get an EMU0202 for about £60 or an 0404 for around £80. if you can use a PCI card. If it must be USB, the two channel EMU is about £80 and the 4 channel about £150. All strike me as far better value than the Shure device.)

 

Bob

 

 

Sorry my sound card should have read "creative x-fi platinum fatality champion series" I also have a Behringer Xenyx 1832 fx mixer, but I never thought of using it between the mic and X-fi interface.

Do you think this will give me a better mix ?

[Bobbsy]

Yes, I'd try your Behringer mixer. The weakest part of Creative sound cards tends to be there very bad mic inputs. Using the mixer would allow you to go to the line in and bypass at least one potential source of trouble. Using the mixer will also make gain adjustments for your recording a lot easier.

 

I'd also get one of THESE to help you tame your problem with breath noise and pops.

 

Finally, I had a read about your Mixcraft software and the spec says you have an inbuilt compressor. I'd use this to even out your levels once you have the VO track recorded.

 

Bob