Matching narration from different mic sources at DVinfo.net

Dave Allen · January 7th, 2009, 02:45 AM

Ok, so between using a Sennheiser wireless lav mic and a USB plugin desktop mic for narration, what are some of your favorite desktop methods for trying to make the audio recordings sound not too different?

Steve House · January 7th, 2009, 04:03 AM

The generic answer would be to use your ears and a proper set of monitor speakers to tweak the equalization on the two tracks until they sound similar. But what's your actual situation here - what's on the various tracks you're working with and how are you cutting them together? It may be that you don't really need to match them. There can be a difference between narration and VO in that they come from two different psychological spaces as far as the audience is concerned. Given those different spaces, one would expect VO tracks recorded on location to have quite diffferent ambiences from tracks that are truly narration so perhaps matching them isn't important or even desirable. True narration is closeup and personal, sounding like someone is sitting next to you in the audience explaining things on the screen to you. It's removed from the scene, outside of the picture space on the screen and would have a very different sound from dialog recorded on location. VO dialog, OTOH, sounds quite different, even if the location recording ends up with the speaker off camera heard over cutaways. Similarly, an off-camera interviewer asking questions is not narration, even if you record them later in studio to replace the audio shot on location, because he is in the scene unfolding on the screen, he's part of the picture even though the audience doesn't see him. If that's what you have, be sure to record a healthy amount of room tone / ambience at the location and use the same mic in the studio to record his speech that you used to record the on-camera portion on location. Mix the recorded ambience with the studio recorded questions and you're there. Just something to think about that might simplify your post production chores.

Dave Allen · January 10th, 2009, 03:06 AM

Good info, thanks.

Ty Ford · January 10th, 2009, 09:59 AM

Adding to Steve's most excellent response. If the same person is doing both the on-camera work and the narration and the context of the piece indicates this, I try to use the same mic. If he/she is on a lav for the on camera. I'll have him/her do the VO with the same rig and in the same space so there won't be a break in aural continuity.

Regards,

Ty Ford

January 7th, 2009, 02:45 AM	#1
Dave Allen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 497	Matching narration from different mic sources Ok, so between using a Sennheiser wireless lav mic and a USB plugin desktop mic for narration, what are some of your favorite desktop methods for trying to make the audio recordings sound not too different? __________________ Dave -

January 7th, 2009, 04:03 AM	#2
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	The generic answer would be to use your ears and a proper set of monitor speakers to tweak the equalization on the two tracks until they sound similar. But what's your actual situation here - what's on the various tracks you're working with and how are you cutting them together? It may be that you don't really need to match them. There can be a difference between narration and VO in that they come from two different psychological spaces as far as the audience is concerned. Given those different spaces, one would expect VO tracks recorded on location to have quite diffferent ambiences from tracks that are truly narration so perhaps matching them isn't important or even desirable. True narration is closeup and personal, sounding like someone is sitting next to you in the audience explaining things on the screen to you. It's removed from the scene, outside of the picture space on the screen and would have a very different sound from dialog recorded on location. VO dialog, OTOH, sounds quite different, even if the location recording ends up with the speaker off camera heard over cutaways. Similarly, an off-camera interviewer asking questions is not narration, even if you record them later in studio to replace the audio shot on location, because he is in the scene unfolding on the screen, he's part of the picture even though the audience doesn't see him. If that's what you have, be sure to record a healthy amount of room tone / ambience at the location and use the same mic in the studio to record his speech that you used to record the on-camera portion on location. Mix the recorded ambience with the studio recorded questions and you're there. Just something to think about that might simplify your post production chores. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

January 10th, 2009, 03:06 AM	#3
Dave Allen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 497	Good info, thanks. __________________ Dave -

January 10th, 2009, 09:59 AM	#4
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Adding to Steve's most excellent response. If the same person is doing both the on-camera work and the narration and the context of the piece indicates this, I try to use the same mic. If he/she is on a lav for the on camera. I'll have him/her do the VO with the same rig and in the same space so there won't be a break in aural continuity. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog