Recording voice/speech

[Mark M]

I know this isnt a straight forward question but basically I want to record some voice clips to use on our telephone on hold music including special offers etc and not just the your call is important to us. The on hold music plays off CDs and getting it all onto a CD etc isnt a problem.

 

I know someone who has a very good microphone voice and has compared and worked on stage all his life but Im wondering how I should go about recording it? Any tips would be greatly appreciated and also any info on editing and adding anything to the voice after its recorded which can make it sound even more professional.

 

Thanks

[Bobbsy]

Well, two tips:

 

First, for recording of straight voice, the acoustic of the room you're recording in is important--you want it as near totally dead as possible. I've known of BBC radio reporters in hotels hiding under their duvets or in the clothes closet (with clothes) to make it quiet and echo-free.

 

Second, you'll probably want to add a fair amount of compression during your editing to keep all the voice above the background noise you'll get on the phone, especially if it's being mixed with music. Intelligibility is key here.

 

Probably the easiest way to do this is on your computer--for your needs, probably downloading "Audacity" which is freeware would be fine. However, one thing I would do is beg/borrow/steal/buy a decent sound card rather than using anything inbuilt on any computer. The mini-jack mic inputs are universally terrible.

 

Bob

[MarkPAman]

So many ways you could do this - depends what kit you have available.

 

I have used (in no partticular order):

 

• Portable Minidisk recorder & mic (though getting it from there into the computer is less easy)
  
• Zoom H2 or H4
  
• Laptop with sound card & mic(s)
  
• Mic with flash card in it
  
• Laptop with USB microphone
  
• Various video cameras.
  
• Cassette recorders!!!!
  

and others I've forgotten about

 

Once on the computer, almost always Adobe Audition for editing (free trial available).

 

Audacity is a free editor.

[charlyfarly]

Since this is for telephone a quality VO microphone like a RE20 will be overkill, any regular mic like a SM58 will suffice. As Bobbsy says, a clean voice recording in a dead as possible environment would be advantageous.

If you want to combine the music with the voice try using the Audacity "ducking" tool.

Also worth mentioning that you should have a PRS for Music MOH License if using music that you yourself have not composed (with the exception of Out of Copyright material of course!).

[Mark M]

Thanks for the input guys.

 

Ive got plenty SM58s so if I can ues one of them then great! Not sure on the sound card as yet but will look into my options on that front.

 

Will download Audacity and have a play around and see what sort of results I come up with.

 

Re the PRS licence, we already have one :)

 

Whats the best way to achieve a dead envirnoment? Cupboard with a duvet or similar?

[Bobbsy]

Whats the best way to achieve a dead envirnoment? Cupboard with a duvet or similar?

 

Well, the BEST way is to spend thousands of pounds on professional acoustic treatment....

 

....but, failing that, a duvet in the cupboard can work pretty well if you're doing short takes and can put up with a stuffy atmosphere.

 

Another technique that can work is to line a big cardboard box (with one side removed) with foam rubber, sit it on your desk and put the mic inside. When recording, the voice talent leans inside. You know it's working if, when you lean in, you can hear an eerie change in the room sound. (This works best if you can set up your desk so there's something soft BEHIND the voice as well....curtains or a filled bookshelf...to avoid relections from that end.

 

Bob

[Mr_Jules]

I used to create a sound booth using two upright-turned sofas with the talent in the middle.

[Mark M]

Whats the best way to achieve a dead envirnoment? Cupboard with a duvet or similar?

 

Well, the BEST way is to spend thousands of pounds on professional acoustic treatment....

 

....but, failing that, a duvet in the cupboard can work pretty well if you're doing short takes and can put up with a stuffy atmosphere.

 

Another technique that can work is to line a big cardboard box (with one side removed) with foam rubber, sit it on your desk and put the mic inside. When recording, the voice talent leans inside. You know it's working if, when you lean in, you can hear an eerie change in the room sound. (This works best if you can set up your desk so there's something soft BEHIND the voice as well....curtains or a filled bookshelf...to avoid relections from that end.

 

Bob

 

 

 

Thanks, and as you gathered I meant best in my ever decreasing budget :)

[johndenim]

I can only imagine people trying this at home with up turned sofas, standing in cupboards and sitting on their beds with duvets on their heads!

;)

 

This looks pretty cool though.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d174/977stinkytinky/portaboothfullfront2.jpg

 

Website here.

 

http://www.harlanhogan.com/portaboothArticle.shtml