http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: narration - Recent Posts en Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:02:17 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-and-wedding-movie-opinions-needed-from-video-producers#post-45650 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:38:19 +0000 EarlC 45650@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Sorry, I am sooooooo open-minded about all things to market and product, but sounds to me like this one would be a hard sell - based primarily on the thought that wedding productions are so very unique and intimate to each B&amp;G, that some generic VO simply would NOT peg their personal situations enough for producers to be willing to invest in a library of this as opposed to, say, copyright free music libraries.</p> <p>Brings to mind, also, the old Rabbyte, etc. stuff where they developed some pretty decent animated sequences for 'the vows" "the ceremony" "the rings" 'the kiss" etc. but it quickly became cliche and cheesey to use them, when moving smoothly from wedding element to element without announcing it looked more professional.</p> <p>Just my opinion, of course. Hope others will see this and chime in as well. Keep thinking of things, there's a host of product and concepts just waiting to be developed, discovered, created, marketed and sold "out there."</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-and-wedding-movie-opinions-needed-from-video-producers#post-45617 Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:42:12 +0000 kaasis 45617@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hello everyone! I have an idea to offer for download professionally produced narrations by the same voice talents which you have probably heard somewhere on the TV, movies and commercials. These narrations would be ready for instant download for a fraction of the cost of typical narration when you have to hire a voice talent. The catch is that you won't be able to customize the script of what narrator speaks but you will be offered number of pre-recorded narrations which would be composed by professional writers. These narrations would have some generic speech with artistic elements probably which would suit for many different wedding movies. It would be like a music track but with speech and produced with intention in mind for producers to choose certain parts only in the speech which they want to add to their movie.I think it would be a great supplement for wedding movies for a reasonable price. My question is what is your opinion on narration in wedding movies in general (good/bad/ever use it) and what do you think about my idea? Thanks a lot!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-43527 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:44:00 +0000 Robo 43527@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Why dont you record to the camara to the computer using a LAV , Or A Stage mic. Then captrue into SoundBooth , I have done it this way without a clean room or a mixing board and it works and its not a hassle and no extra Cost.</p> <p>Does you Cam have XLR connetcters?</p> <p>Is the Voice over the only sound in the track or are you trying to do track recording with the Music?</p> <p>Is the IMac sound card Full-duplex?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-43345 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:06:46 +0000 Don 43345@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> a "snowball usb mic" or similar, may be all you need for a mic.</p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-43341 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:54:18 +0000 Trace1Media 43341@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> UPDATE:</p> <p>I was able to achieve the results I wanted with an old JVC mixer connected directly into the 1/8" microphone input on my mac and a cheap Shure mic connected via XLR to the mixer.  The quality certain wasn't perfect but worked great for my project.  Is is possible that the input on my computer needed a line level signal rather than the mic level it was getting before I had the mixer? either way the mixer helped significantly. A pop filter was also very helpful. </p> <p>I don't know why people were suggesting an A/D converter, Doesn't the computer convert the signal to digital?   </p> <p> </p> <p>Thanks for all the posts!</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41963 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:56:22 +0000 birdcat 41963@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>A couple more suggestions:</p> <p>There are a couple of things you can do - For plosives (P, B, T, etc...) you can get a pop filter (for example: <a href="http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-Metal-Pop-Filter?sku=426600">http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-Metal-Pop-Filter?sku=426600</a>).</p> <p>For a sound booth, look at this article: <a href="http://www.harlanhogan.com/portaboothArticle.shtml">http://www.harlanhogan.com/portaboothArticle.shtml</a><br /> - He sells them but you can make your own if desired.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41960 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:51:31 +0000 EarlC 41960@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Zoom H2 ="portable digital audio recorder." Works for me, as I noted I am going this direction more and more.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41954 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:51:58 +0000 normklobetanz 41954@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Thanks, Earl.  Yes, I have tried to build sound booths, etc.  To deal with the s and p sounds and other inadvertent audio issues while recording narration, I use multiple takes listening with head phones and setting the levels manually in the camera, then piecing together in nle and there make final tweeks.  But all this is too cumbersome and time consuming for the videos I often produce on a limited budget.  I often am making a short video for a client's web site and edit video and write narration as I go along.  Then I record my own voice as the narrator and splice it in (sometimes use my wife).  I have a new higher end project and want to come up with a more professional narration.  I should point out that I am not talking about video interviews; I am talking about anonymous narrators.  I need to find a talent and I will probably use my lavalier and camera in a quiet remote outdoor setting (no wind or human caused sound--my videos are virtually all outdoor related). This seams to give me the best results.  The problem with this is it will be very difficult to make narration changes later as the edit evolves.  My videos usually involve many clips drawn from my extensive stock footage with footage shot for a specific project and the videos tend to evolve a little from the original script as the editing progresses.  I also would like to streamline and improve my work flow so as not to have to capture narration from the camera, but simply copy and past from a digital recorder (of course making adjustments as needed in the nle).  I don't need perfect sound quality and hope that a portable digital audio recorder will do the trick.  I would appreciate any other comments.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41942 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:48:14 +0000 EarlC 41942@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I have used racks with heavy, movers type, blankets draped over them in a sound baffle setup; also have several sides of refrigerator boxes cut into panels with egg cartons on some, and pretty much whatever kind of foam scraps I can find, or buy cheap, glued to them. These all help to isolate exterior noises for narrative, or a vocalist with guitar, using mics as mentioned above.</p> <p>While an external mixer helps get the general levels the way you want them, a noise gate/limiter will help cut back on pops, s and p sounds, inadvertent audio expulsions and the inadvertent boost in sound an untrained narrator makes when taking in the next breath and comes off louder for the first few words before he/she gets their voice remodulated.</p> <p>All kinds of fun, and funny, stuff goes on when trying to control and record narrative. If I can get the acoustics, I can usually find a way to get the rest the way I want - levels, etc.</p> <p>Actually, I am beginning to use my Zoom H2 standalone recorders more and more in many narrative cases, then simply working the audio into my production from those files. Not perfect, but then what is, really. These babies are GREAT tools and I've been pleased with their capabilities.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41930 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:00:56 +0000 normklobetanz 41930@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>   I often have to add narration/voice-over to my own videos or videos I am hired to produce for others.  I'm still with mini-DV and don't have XLR set ups.  ( Actually I have an AKG Perception 100 XLR microphone with a USB adaptor. I tried recording narration directly into the computer--apparently the phantom power through the USB port was not enough as the volume is not enough and it distorts or is too tiny when boosting it enough in post.)  The best voice-over I get is with my inexpensive wireless lavaliers.  However, the hassle of setting up and recording all the necessary takes on camera and then capturing all this (deleting the unwanted video after capture) is too time consuming.  I have been looking at the newer Portable Digital Audio Recorders.  My research shows that they will record a voice-over in .wav and have the quality using their on-board mics to simply copy and past to my PC and nle.  What a time saver!  It also could be used to capture natural and back ground sound.  If only I knew if the quality was good enough.  I am considering the Sony PCM--D50 ($400 to $500, ouch!), or the more reasonable Tascam DR-1 ($200 to $300).  I would like to get some feed back on this approach.  I'm tired of buying products that don't measure up and can't afford the high end stuff. Recording and capturing voice-overs with a camera is cumbersome and too time consuming if one has to do it often.  Has anyone tried the approach I am considering?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41210 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:42:41 +0000 TheLoneBanana 41210@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I sometimes have to record narration, but I'm an amateur videographer and not an amateur sound recordist. What I do: the narrator speaks into my Shure SM58 microphone, which goes through my Mackie 1402-VLZ3 mixer (I can boost the audio or avoid clipping -- very handy with soft-spoken or loud individuals), then into my Canon XL2. Then I capture the tape as usual, discard the (blank) video track, and voila! I have found that using this method yields better audio than recording through my computer's sound card, and I already have all the equipment, so there's no extra expenditure. And it's portable.</p> <p>As for an accoustically-good room: I may have been known to sneak up to my local university's Music Department. They have small rehearsal rooms for the students studying Voice, and these are just big enough and often vacant in the evenings. Better if you know a student or otherwise have permission, of course.</p> <p>Hardly a professional solution, but it works.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41207 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:32:38 +0000 NewBirthProductions 41207@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>If you are recording directly to computer then the answer is no, a stand alone mixer will not help much.  You already have a mixer in soundtrack pro.  You can add a midi controller if you like to make it feel more like a mixer, but it will have nothing to do with how it sounds.</p> <p>A few things affect sound quality, one metion above is acoustic.  and the pro gear to fix this is expensive, but there are some cheap fixes.  If you have a room that you can dedicate to recording you can treat this room by installing a thick pad under your carpet, and then carpet your walls.  you do not have to cover the entire wall but just the areas that are reflecting your audio.</p> <p>The next area that affects your Quality is the AD converter.  you say your using the mic input from the mac, while this is ok for Ichat, it doesn't even come close to being good enough for recording a project.  you will have to buy a good A/D converter.  this is the primary key to getting a good recording.  spend your money here on getting a good mic preamp and a good A/D converter.  If you want to save money you can combined them such as the MOTU 8 Pre, this will give you 8 channels of input.</p> <p>the next area is Mics, hence that is the start of the chain it should be your strongest link.  you can have the best of everything if your mic can not produce a quality as good as the rest of the system then you have wasted money.</p> <p>hope this helps, a good mic that you can use for both audio and gutiar is the EV RE20 <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/76681-REG/Electro_Voice_16207816_RE20_Cardoid_Voiceover.html">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/76681-REG/Electro_Voice_16207816_RE20_Cardoid_Voiceover.html</a> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41205 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:28:10 +0000 birdcat 41205@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>A good acoustic environment will work wonders but it is expensive - I have seen small soundbooths which are good for spoken or solo vocals but you couldn't get a guitar in there.</p> <p>A good condenser mic and mixer (with phantom power) will also help but you will need a very quiet space as these tend to pick up those pins when they drop.</p> <p>You could also go with a decent dynamic mic (like a SM57 or SM58) and mixer - These are great for a non-pristine acoustic environment as they are cardioid so they don't pick up lots of extraneous sound.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/i-want-to-record-quality-narration-would-a-mixer-help#post-41189 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:38:07 +0000 Trace1Media 41189@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I want to be able to record narration, singing, guitar etc. I would like to record right to soundtrack pro or soundbooth. When I go straight into the Computers(imac) mic input, the level of volume is too low and quality is unexceptable.</p> <p>I've increased internal input volume in system preferences and soundtrack pro. I've also tried a variety of microphones. still no good!  </p> <p>Questions </p> <p>1. Will a firewire mixer be compatible with my programs, allowing me to record multiple tracks simultaneously?</p> <p>2. Will a firewire mixer noticeably increase quality? </p> <p>3. What type of microphone would work best with this setup?</p> <p>I have a project coming up that requires some voice over that needs to be fairly decent quality.   THANKS. </p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/voice-talent-for-hire-1#post-40491 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:28:51 +0000 robGRAUERT 40491@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> if you click on his name, it takes you to his website....</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/voice-talent-for-hire-1#post-40490 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:57:11 +0000 chrisColorado 40490@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I'd just like to see what you do. I worked in radio (making commercials/PSAs every now and then) for a short time and know something about narration/voice overs. I learn little bits here and there, and like to learn from everyone I meet.</p> <p>welcome to videomaker!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/voice-talent-for-hire-1#post-40485 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:18:17 +0000 chrisColorado 40485@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>or a link to your website?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/voice-talent-for-hire-1#post-40483 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:15:14 +0000 SteveMann 40483@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Samples?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/voice-talent-for-hire-1#post-40476 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:52:22 +0000 dshetterly 40476@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ </p> <p>Greetings!   I'm an independent professional voice talent with a private studio.  I'd like to offer my services to your productions, where you need a friendly non-accented male voice.  I also work with a number of other talents, including native Spanish speakers, if you are wanting to hear variety.  </p> <p>You'll find our rates competitive!   Thanks for your time and I hope to work with you soon. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/voice-talent-for-hire#post-40475 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:51:41 +0000 dshetterly 40475@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Greetings!   I'm an independent professional voice talent with a private studio.  I'd like to offer my services to your productions, where you need a friendly non-accented male voice.  I also work with a number of other talents, including native Spanish speakers, if you are wanting to hear variety.  </p> <p>You'll find our rates competitive!   Thanks for your time and I hope to work with you soon.  </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-38123 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:20:19 +0000 VidMakesMe 38123@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I'd imagine in a shaving technique video, it would probably be best to narrate before you shave, then after you shave you explain again why you did what you did.  For example, you could be giving advice about how to shave around the chin (which is difficult for every guy), and before you begin to shave you teach the technique, then after you shave explain some tips.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37874 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:38:11 +0000 chrisColorado 37874@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>When you watch commercials, they try and sell you with good layman terms in 30 seconds or so. That's what I try to do.</p> <p>I worked in radio and one of the commercials I rewrote is still played on 1360 AM a year after I quit.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37853 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:15:15 +0000 Aspyrider 37853@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p><em>"You just have to feel it out and decide whether it works or not."</em></p> <p>Yep, look at your overall vision for the video and decide what you think would work. ;-)</p> <p>J.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37852 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:41:47 +0000 cdanddvdpublisher 37852@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> On a lot of levels, it's just a matter of personal preference. If you don't like overlays, act as a host. Combine the two if there are something that need to happen off camera. I don't know that there are any cleary set rules on the matter</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37851 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:00:37 +0000 robGRAUERT 37851@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Maybe you can refresh my memory, but I don't recall ever watching a video where someone actually narrates on camera. They are a host. So if you are doing a production that requires someone to take the viewer and show them around or something (like Mike Rowe in Dirty Jobs) then hire a host. </p> <p> To me, documentaries typically hire narrators. I guess it's your call though, depends on what style you want to embrace. I don't know whether or not there is a right time or not for narration/host. You just have to feel it out and decide whether it works or not. I've seen documentaries with hosts and I've seen demonstration and other related videos use real narrators. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37849 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:13:38 +0000 mantic59 37849@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>This is all excellent advice, but I guess I wasn't very clear in the parent message.  I'm trying to get a handle on when/why to narrate in front of the camera vs. narrate off-camera with some other visual.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37846 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:51:33 +0000 Aspyrider 37846@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Speak as if you are talking to an 8th grade level. Also, a tip I learned in radio years ago. Get a toy stuffed bear or something like that and set it in front of you. Talk to the bear. LOL</p> <p>Yeah, talk to it as if it's the person you are speaking to. The bear represents your audience. When you talk, speak as if you are talking to one person, not a crowd. Because you are, you are talking to the one viewer or listener.  Robgrauert gave good advice above. He's dead on it. ;-)</p> <p>J.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37841 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:33:40 +0000 robGRAUERT 37841@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> oh yea, avoid tongue twisters too. And speak clearly. Also, a pop filter would be extremely helpful during the recording of the narration</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37840 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:32:03 +0000 robGRAUERT 37840@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>It's important with off-camera narration that you write for a listener, not a reader. Don't try to sound all sophisticated with big, complex sentences. Keep it short, sweet and to the point. Write your narration, then re-write it with the intention of using lots of verbs. And always speak in present tense...at least 95% of the time.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/narration-philosophy#post-37839 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:29:20 +0000 mantic59 37839@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Greetings--  I am not a video pro but I sort of fell into making a bunch of videos about how to shave (don't laugh, I have over 1 million total views on my Youtube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59">channel</a>).  I use Foodtv's "Good Eats" show as inspiration and guidance and I see the host, Alton Brown, narrate various cooking guides both on camera and off.  Are there any "rules of thumb" regarding on-camera vs. off-camera narration? </p>