Voice over sound varies??

[Graham Bernard]

[John Rofrano] “If it doesn’t then you might be recording from an alternate source (i.e., perhaps a built-in mic?)”

Getting there very gradually.

* Grazie

Video Content Creator and Potter
PC 7 64-bit 16gb * Intel® Core™i7-2600k Quad Core 3.40GHz * 2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti
Cameras: Canon XF300 + PowerShot SX50HS Bridge

[Jeff David]

Perhaps the diff in sound was caused by the fact that although everything else was set up exactly the same, I had the mic sideways instead of straight up and down.
I put it like that so it would not be seen in the video footage. I won’t put it sideways again and see how it sounds.

To capture my voice, I connect ATT20 USB mic.
I make sure to check that that is the mic that is being recorded through via “options, preferences, audio device.
I check that the ATT30usb is the specified recording device by, “control panel, hardware, and sound, manage audio devices” and check the level.
I set the level to 75 – is that where I should set it?
I stand up while recording and have uh – not sure what you call it but a lamp like thingy what extends etc. the mic is on that.
I am video taping myself while recording through the ATT20
The mic is about the level of my pectorals – so it won’t be seen in the video.
The buss thingy in the upper right-hand corner of Sony Movie studio is usually one quarter from the top although I notice that produces static on playback so I reduced it to 25% from the bottom and that reduces the static.
I am not sure if I should just set it there while recording instead of having it 25% down from the peak setting and then reduce it on playback.

Environment is my living room. Of course the windows are closed and no tv or anything is on except the computer. There are no external sound sources that can be heard.

Device used to record voice on? I record to my computer hard drive via Sony Movie Studio Platinum 13.

How do I monitor? – I don’t – I am looking at my teleprompter and trying to not sound while I am reading while I am doing the voice over so I’m not looking anywhere else.
I only look at the level bars in Sony Movie Studio upon playback.
It’s only occasionally that I get the static most times it’s clear as a bell.
Thanks for all of your help!

Lenovo quad core i7 16gb of ram, Windows 8.1 MS 13 64 bit Thumbnail is view out of the Olde North Church window where the signal lanterns were hung, as in, \”1 if by land 2 if by sea\” looking across the Charles River to the Charlestown Naval Yard where rebels awaited the signal April 18th, 1775.

[Jeff David]

I went, “control panel, sound, manage audio devices, properties” and clicked on each tab and looked for “reverb” but did not see any reverb option.

I am not sure if that is what you mean but there was no reverb in there that I could find.

Lenovo quad core i7 16gb of ram, Windows 8.1 MS 13 64 bit Thumbnail is view out of the Olde North Church window where the signal lanterns were hung, as in, \”1 if by land 2 if by sea\” looking across the Charles River to the Charlestown Naval Yard where rebels awaited the signal April 18th, 1775.

[Jeff David]

Thanks John.
You may be right. The mic was pectoral level, but I was looking up to read off of the teleprompter.
The distance to the mic from my upward turned mouth was 11-12 inches – I measured it.
However, I’ve always had it like that. The other thing is the lines in the voice recording that show how loud the recording is, on older recordings were very small. Not sure what they are called but when looking at the recording of the sound clips yo have two lines that express how loud the sound is. On older recordings – they are very small. On recent recordings, they are very large extending to almost the top.
I am careful each time to set the sound levels at 75% so that is always uniform. Very odd. The set up is all the same except maybe last time the issue is I had the mic turned sideways. Although I don’t think that is the first time I had it that way. This sound stuff is extremely tricky and baffling.
I am positive I am not recording from the internal computer mic, as – thanks to your teaching I ALWAYS go into, “options, preferences, audio device” and make sure that the ATT20 that you advised me on – is the recording device. However, thanks for the great tip about tapping the mic to make sure!
Could it have anything to do with, “AUDIO DEVICE TYPE”??? I always leave that at, “Windows classic wave driver” cause I am clueless as to what the other options mean. Of course, I am also clueless as to what, “Windows classic wave driver” means too. Maybe that got switched? Baffling. I can see there Is a lot to know.

Lenovo quad core i7 16gb of ram, Windows 8.1 MS 13 64 bit Thumbnail is view out of the Olde North Church window where the signal lanterns were hung, as in, \”1 if by land 2 if by sea\” looking across the Charles River to the Charlestown Naval Yard where rebels awaited the signal April 18th, 1775.

[Jeff David]

Maybe 11 inches is too far away. Although on other recordings I was that far away.
Interestingly enough, the sound waves were very small on the older recordings and are very large on the last recording yet the mic was the same distance.

Lenovo quad core i7 16gb of ram, Windows 8.1 MS 13 64 bit Thumbnail is view out of the Olde North Church window where the signal lanterns were hung, as in, \”1 if by land 2 if by sea\” looking across the Charles River to the Charlestown Naval Yard where rebels awaited the signal April 18th, 1775.

[John Rofrano]

Try placing the mic in front of you pointed toward your mouth but off-camera. You may have to change the camera position to accommodate but having the mic off axis is definitely the problem. The AT2020 uses a Cardioid/Polar pattern which has great rear and side rejection, favoring right in front.

If you want a mic to use with video, I would get a shotgun for off-camera or an omnidirectional lavaliere mic to be worn on your shirt. While the AT2020 is killer for VO, the assumption is that you are up close to the mic while recording.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com

[Jeff David]

Awesome diagram and info! I love it!

Yup – I was under the mistaken impression that you only had to be, “somewhat” near the mic and that it didn’t matter if I had it sideways. Now I know that was wrong to assume that.

Yes – I need to get a diff mic for when recording simultaneous video but I can prob make the current mic work by repositioning the mic stand.

Thanks!

Lenovo quad core i7 16gb of ram, Windows 8.1 MS 13 64 bit Thumbnail is view out of the Olde North Church window where the signal lanterns were hung, as in, \”1 if by land 2 if by sea\” looking across the Charles River to the Charlestown Naval Yard where rebels awaited the signal April 18th, 1775.

[John Rofrano]

[Jeff David] “Yup – I was under the mistaken impression that you only had to be, “somewhat” near the mic and that it didn’t matter if I had it sideways. Now I know that was wrong to assume that. “

It depends on the mic and it’s polar pattern. The AT2020 is a Cardioid which is more sensitive in the front than the sides or the back. An Omnidirectional mic has a circular polar pattern, in which case your statement would be true… you only need to be somewhere around an omnidirectional mic but the mic still needs to be fairly close to the source.

It’s important to understand that different polar patters behave differently (omnidirectional, cardioid, hypercardioid, shotgun):

This is a good article for amateur recording that explains the differences in microphones: Amateur Recording Part 7. Microphones

As you can see from the image above, a shotgun mic gives you a narrow and longer throw in the front so that it can be further away from the source and thus out of the camera’s view. Usually you can place a shotgun mic above and pointing down toward the talent from about 2 – 3 feet away and get a good recording.

The other deciding factor is dynamic vs condenser mics. Dynamic mics are less sensitive than condenser mics so you need to be closer to them. This is independent of their polar pattern.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com

[Jeff David]

Awesome John! Good stuff!

I knew there were different types of mics with diff patterns but got lazy and wasn’t taking the pattern on the ATT20 into consideration. Good wake-up call that I need to pay more attention.

I had to send my camcorder out for repair but I’ll be finishing the voice over when I get the camera back. I should be able to position the mic in the proper location so I’m close enough and it’s not seen in the camera.

In the future, I will get the shotgun or lavalier mic.

Thanks for the link on recording!

I wasn’t able to work on my project for 3 months due to work commitments. I started this project 5 years ago w zero experience. I had no idea it would take this long but as I say, there were many points where I had no time to work on it for long periods.

I’m hoping to finish it in the near future. I’ll make sure to send you a copy and list you in the credits!

Thanks!

Lenovo quad core i7 16gb of ram, Windows 8.1 MS 13 64 bit Thumbnail is view out of the Olde North Church window where the signal lanterns were hung, as in, \”1 if by land 2 if by sea\” looking across the Charles River to the Charlestown Naval Yard where rebels awaited the signal April 18th, 1775.

[John Rofrano]

You’re welcome Jeff… Good luck on your project!

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com