Get Even More Visitors To Your Blog, Upgrade To A Business Listing >>

Recording Voice Overs

Corporate video relies heavily on Voice-over recordings. From narration to voicing animations to redubbing missing dialogue the need for a sound booth is essential. The bulk of my experience in entertainment was spent at movie trailer houses. I was working with the “In a world ” voice actors. I noticed the subtle differences between directing an actor on screen versus a voice actor behind a booth or patched in. There are some technical issues as well as an overall approach that we should discuss.

Setting up the booth. You need to seal the sound booth so no outside noise can get in. There should be a stand for the reading material as well as a light. A lamp with a dimming switch is ideal so the individual reader can adjust the angle and luminosity to their own comfort level. Chairs are not advisable to allow the speaker’s lungs to expand as much as necessary. A resealable bottle of water should be available but that is the only beverage that should be permitted. Coffee can affect the individual cells in the larynx. When picked up in a digital format it will reveal distinct differences. This can cause continuity errors when syncing together in post.

Microphones. A studio based microphone is better than a field based microphone but either will do as long as they are professional quality. The speaker should stand 6 inches from the microphone and a sound guard is ideal. Allow the microphone to have an adjustable stand so voice actors of various heights can find their comfort level.

Takes. Just as in film production, you want to get at least two good takes for every line. The director should mark the takes with a personal system. It provides notation as to which takes they prefer when recording. This way they have something to work with when the editor lines up the cues. Only give your actor two lines to read at a time, then repeat at least one more time before moving on. You will need to retake the first few pages at the end because the initial pages are really just for warming the voice. You want to work within the breaths of the actor so the overall vocal track is consistent.

Working with actors can be tricky as some are sensitive to feedback. One thing you should never say is “today’s session was a lot better than yesterday’s.” This might seem like a compliment but all the actor can think of is what they might have done wrong previously.

Adding voice over is a fun and cheaper way to get the message across. Setting up a voice recording session is much more relaxing than working on set. There is a smaller crew so have fun with the session. Begin by discussing friendly issues before jumping into business to put everyone at ease.

The post Recording Voice Overs appeared first on Corporate Video Production.



This post first appeared on Corporate Video Production, please read the originial post: here

Share the post

Recording Voice Overs

×

Subscribe to Corporate Video Production

Get updates delivered right to your inbox!

Thank you for your subscription

×