Recording question

May 19, 2011

Can anyone suggest how to record in a professional way.  Do you have a certain microphone or software to make it seem more professional than just a regular voice?
I am new to all this so any suggestions on how to get best quality voice over recordings is appreciated.

11 Replies
Dan Brigham

Hi, Diane:

Audacity is a great and free software program, though of course, it takes a little while to learn. But if you are in this e-learning game long term, it's something you'll want to learn. I don't want to overwhelm you but a microphone pre-amp will do wonders for you. In my opinion it's more important than the choice of microphone -- of course, you do want a mic that is decent-to-good. Basically, a pre-amp boosts the signal from your mic into the recording software. I have the tubepre preamp made by Presonus -- 150 bucks or so.

As far as delivering narration, I would say talk a bit more lively and quicker than you usually do, but keep it natural, keep it conversational. Don't try to be a professional narrator.

troy schulze

I have a friend that swears by his Blue Snowball Microphone, however we use the Plantronics headset mics...they do a decent job and are reasonably priced.

I have found however recording directly to powerpoint always comes out real "tinny" sounding? And trying to boost your volume level only increases the tin sound.

I am a bit spoiled, I record into Garageband and use one of their voice filters. Its a bit more of a hassle this way as I have to save all my audio files as separate mp3's and then import to powerpoint...but the outcome is will worth it!

Bruce Graham

http://community.articulate.com/forums/p/764/2297.aspx#2297">http://community.articulate.com/forums/p/764/2297.aspx#2297 is another thread.

I use NCH Wavepad Sound Editor Pro - LOVE the "get rid of all the noise that is around you that you do not normally notice" feature.

Microphone sits in a Harlan Hogan PortaBooth, (now that the cat has decided she lives behind the sofa).

I always record outside to .wav, and import files into Articulate.

Bruce

Kayla Burtch

Laura, I use them too... I find that the quality is ten time better than I could do, and the cost to my employer is actually less because he doesn't have to pay my higher hourly wage to record, re-record, edit etc. all of the files. If you take the time factor (and more importantly the COST of your time to the employer) then 20$/page makes SO much sense. (As I found before it could take me a whole day to do 5 or 6 pages of sound, and it would still come out unprofessional sounding)

Although... If people keep suggesting them here I might not get my 3 day turn around anymore...lol

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