Make

Quality Voice Recordingswith

Simple Equipment

presented by Robert Hershenow

Robert Hershenow

• Independent TC• Berkeley CA• Senior Member STC• Managing Editor IDL News• Many years in Audio

Agenda• Good Audio• Bad Audio– Prevention, Treatment

• Gear, Techniques• Sources• Q&A

Good audio is…

• Clean• Intelligible• Appropriate

Good audio is transparent.

A recording is like a window

Noise is dirt.

Createtransparentrecordings.

Three Assumptions

• Good script / content• Good narrative voice• Good recorder + knowledge

•Noise•Distortion

Any sound other than the one you are trying to record

• Environmental• Self-Induced• System

Environmental Noise

Environmental Noise

You have to know you have a problem

Before you can deal with a problem

Four Approaches

EliminateReduceRescheduleRelocate

First Approach

EliminateReduceRescheduleRelocate

Second Approach

EliminateReduceRescheduleRelocate

Third Approach

EliminateReduceRescheduleRelocate

Fourth Approach

EliminateReduceRescheduleRelocate

Self-Induced Noise

- Breathing- Mouth noises- Hands and feet- Squeaky furniture- Rustling papers- Loud clothing

Self-Induced Noise

- Listen- Sit still- Use a copy-holder- Use a mic stand- Wear quiet fabrics- Practice!

System Noise

Disable System Sounds.

Computer fan

Bad.

Good.

The Noise Floor

The Noise Floor

Misrepresentation of the sound

Environmental Distortion

Self-Induced Distortion

Self-Induced Distortion

(just right)

Self-Induced Distortion

(too loud!)

Self-Induced Distortion

(not loud enough!)

System Distortion

Misrepresentation of the sound

A measure ofAMPLIFICATION

Any part of the system where gain can change

Gain Stage

GAIN STRUCTURE

minimizes noise and

prevents distortion.

Proper

DISTORTION

NOISE

Ideal Range

(Too Loud)

DISTORTION

NOISE

(Too Soft)

DISTORTION

NOISE

DISTORTION

NOISE

Ideal Range

Know the STEPSSet the STAGES

Gear

Microphones

Need Want

$$$ Other

Microphones

Microphones

Recording Software

Garageband

Recording Software

Audacity

Filters

Low-Pass Notch High-Pass

Noise Reduction

The Levelator

Recording Software

• Learn• Practice• Get a book!

Headphones• Use closed-ear headphones• Get some cheap ones too

Tips1. Count to five, before and after

2. Record ten seconds, then LISTEN

3. Save the first take

4. Never edit the original

5. Use fade-ins and fade-outs

6. Save work as native files

7. Don’t try to replace one word

WebGEARSweetwater.com

MIC MFRSSamsontech.comShure.comAudio-Technica.com

SOFTWAREAudacity.sourceforge.netConversationsNetwork.org/Levelator

BooksThe Book of Audacity

- Carla SchroederGarageband - Missing Manual

- David PogueAcoustic Design for the Home Studio – Mitch Gallagher

How to Build a Small Budget Recording Studio

- F. Alton Everest

The Hillbilly Vocal Booth