Voice over-HELP

M

mingusfingersus

New member
Hi everyone...I need some help with a short I will be shooting soon...There will be some voice overs that will be shot at locations (streets, subway), what kind of equipment would i need to record (one voice/two voices) i want the background to be present but the voices to be clear, I've heard of DAT, but just 'heard' dont know what i need for it. I dont have much money for this, so something cheap is a must. I know nothing about sound nor equipment for recording sound. Also, I want to record sound effects ala rain, traffic, doors being closed, etc...what can be used for this? and how? I'm new to film in general, so sorry if these questions sound pretty dumb. Thank you for any help you can give me.
 
Record the voices separately from the background noise. Use a large condenser for the voices in a controlled quiet environment and a small condenser for the background noise in the street. Cut or Roll off the bass on background noise track. Don't use a shotgun for voice over or background noise if you can help it (tend to sound nasal or honky in the studio, shotgun will work for background noise but I prefer less directional mic to pick up all the sounds).


Just my 2 cents!
 
still confused

still confused

what does the actual mic connect to? a DAT machine? How much will it cost? And if i am going to record a specific sound, such as a door closing, wouldn't I rather have a 'directional' mic or would it noit mack a difference?
 
The challenge is if he has a long take with sync required. Naturally, O.S. narrations or V.O. could be recorded in-studio or any dead space with the room tone from the location dropped into the timeline as a discrete track.

e
 
mingusfingersus said:
what does the actual mic connect to? a DAT machine? How much will it cost? And if i am going to record a specific sound, such as a door closing, wouldn't I rather have a 'directional' mic or would it noit mack a difference?
Click to expand...

Wait a minute! Ok, I think we need to start a little basic here.

Do you have a mixer?

If not get you a cheap Behringer or Mackie small mixer. You will use this mixer for its preamps to make the sound loud enough to barely peak the meters on your recording software or NLE.

Get a sound card that is capable of recording decent quality sound. M-Audio MOTU even a Soundblaster will do.

Get a decent microphone. Rhode, Behringer, Audio Technica NOT RADIOSHACK!

Get an XLR microphone cable.

Hook the Microphone to the cable...
the cable to the mixer ...
and the mixer to the soundcard...

Set your levels on the mixer and the Recording software so that the loudest your talent will be will just peak the meter without putting it in the RED.

Hit the record button.
Have the talent perform.
Hit the stop button.

Thats about it.

Now for a door slamming.... Where do you want the sound to appear to come from?

If you want the sound to sound far away.... Pull the mic away from the door... use a omnidirectional condenser. This will pick up ambient noise of the room and make the sound distant.

If you want it to sound very close, put the microphone close to the door jam and in this case you can use a cardiod dynamic because the sound will be loud (I always recommend a condenser though). I prefer condensers because you can hear a rat fart with them and you can't with a dynamic.

Cardiod is a pickup pattern of a microphone - heart shaped pattern
Omni is a pickup pattern that is sphere shaped like a circle
Dynamic is a coil type that generate its own power from a coil moving thru magnets
Condensor is a coil type that requires a battery or phantom power. These usually sound better and are alot louder than dynamic mics.
 
overlandfilms said:
The challenge is if he has a long take with sync required. Naturally, O.S. narrations or V.O. could be recorded in-studio or any dead space with the room tone from the location dropped into the timeline as a discrete track.

e
Click to expand...


If it's a VO, it doesn't matter. If it's ADR, then it does, and even then, record it in post. It's much easier
 
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