Audacity is a free open source digital audio editor and recording computer software application.

 

 

 

 

Technical Tips for Coaching / Recording VoiceOvers

1. Find a very, very quiet area or organize for authors to take home the microphone and spit guard. Emphasize finding quiet private spaces with the least amount of distractions and most silence possible. Air fans, ceiling lights, phones and a multitude of other sound distractions need to be minimized. What is the quality of sound can be determined with a sound check - no noise, no echoing, no background sounds.

2. Use external microphones as the internal microphones generally pick up A LOT of unnecessary background (white) noise. TEST any direct recording to confirm the need for a microphone or not for your device!

3. Use a spit guard to eliminate natural mouth sounds like “pha- pha” found in many of our speech patterns. While these are generally ignored in real life speech – extra side sounds can really be annoying and distracting in sound tracks.

4. Break the text into several natural chunks in order to record and save EACH one separately. Each check should have an emotional mood or tone identified so authors can connect to the feeling of their reading before they record.

5. DO check the voice levels for each voice recording session. This is done within the Audacity or other recording software. Now is the best time to ensure the voice quality will be clear and audible TECHNICALLY! Normalizing later will actually increase the white background buzz or humming noise if the voices are too low or soft when recording.

6. Coach and rehearse the text-to-voice process before going to the microphone. Voices should be well -articulated (speedy, slurred or mumbled voice readings do not create quality listening for others) using well-delivered pauses, incorporating emotions, and overall encouraging the author to PERFORM the meaning NOT just say the text. Words that are simply read or even well recited do not create that important conduit for viewers to connect to the content and meaning of the message. If the author reveals a connection to their message through their voice delivery – then the opportunity to communicate meaning and impact is increased for the viewer. Performed voices are memorable!

7. IF USING AUDACITY - When each recording chunk is satisfactory – select all and "normalize" the voice to optimize the volume and clarity. Normalizing can be found under EFFECTS menu. This feature gives a depth and clarity worth the time and effort - not found in many other audio recording programs.

8. Now you are ready to save using a file naming protocol. Unless you have taken time to install the mp3 plugin, export as a .wav file. Ready to go!