SPeach for a documentary and microphones at DVinfo.net

Marcus Martell · February 6th, 2011, 04:26 AM

Hola guys,
Nedd your suggestions about recording the audio voice for a documentary.

I have to record the audio for a non profit project and all we have is a Rode NTG1 mic and Sennheir Eng g2 Wireless to record the voice of my colleague.
Which are your suggestions about the location where to record? I guess no near any Pc o refredgerator right?
Which is the best option : ROde ntg1 or Senn ENGG2 wireless mic?
What about the volume of the mics? On the display of my Sony camcorder shouldn't go over (wich meter)?

Thx a lot my lifesavers

Les Wilson · February 6th, 2011, 06:39 AM

Use both in separate channels. The NTG-1 will give you a little ambience. The lavalier will give you speech. Adjust the mixture in post for a sound you like.

What Sony camera are you using?

Set the NTG-1 on a boom stand overhead of the subject, 6-12" in front of them and tilted to point at their mouth.

One technique is to run one mic lower than the other in case your subject get's too loud and distorts on the "hot" mic. A general rule is for normal speaking to be -18 to -12 on the meter depending how much "room" you want for a speaker's dynamic range. Unless your speakers is a professional speaker, I have found that people don't give you their real speaking volume during sound check. Be aware, some speakers are so loud that you need to attenuate your wireless transmitter. YMMV

Search DVinfo. There are many threads that answer your question....here's one:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-thin...ts-levels.html

Marcus Martell · February 6th, 2011, 07:16 AM

Hallo,
Thx in advance for finding the time to help me out. I need to rebuild the speaker track of an old documentary so we found a friend who has a nice voice but as i explained above we don't have the budget to rent a studio to record the audio!
We have an old Z1 to do this.
So i don't need the ambient sound for the voice! I need a clear voice, Is it right? So should i go with the lavalier right? And leave the ntg1 a part....
Or u keep suggest to use em both? Recording the audio in 2 different channels?
Thx a lot 4 your help

Steve House · February 6th, 2011, 07:45 AM

Not sure what you mean by "recreate the speaker track." Are you recording a fresh voice-over for the documentary or are you trying to make it sound like the audience is in a room watching the old documentary film (thus have the sound of a projector running, people murmuring, etc.

For a voice over track you want no ambience at all. The narrator is not part of the film, he is part of the audience, speaking into the ears of the people watching the film with him and explaining what is going on. It needs to sound very up-front and close to the audience, detached from whatever visuals the documentary is showing. The ambience would be the ambience of the scene being shown to the audience. It will change from scene to scene through the film while the character of the narrator's voice should remain consistent from start to finish.

Marcus Martell · February 6th, 2011, 08:01 AM

sUP Steve!
Sory for my english!
I need a Fresh brand new track of the narrator! I don't need any other rumors, noise behind the voice of the speaker!

Steve House · February 6th, 2011, 08:23 AM

Don't try to record on set, do it in a separate controlled location. I would create a makeshift studio by hanging duvets around the narrator to absorb the sounds and recording with the shotgun, if that's all you have. I'd look into getting a large-diaphram cardioid condensor like the Rode NT-1a if you can. You can even make a little portable "announce booth" out of foamcore board and acoustic tiles to fit around the mic sitting on a tabletop and get very good results if you're careful. Here's a link to a commerical version but you can roll your own if your handy. The original internet article about the Porta-Booth
While you're there, take a look at the video on Fanny Farmer's recipes on Harlan's home page to hear a great example of how voice-over narration should sound in comparison to on-camera interviews or to the audio from inside the scene itself. Another excellent demonstration of how a voice-over narration differs from the sound of an on-camera interview or commentary is this YouTube link ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az1IOc-ZyNQ

Marcus Martell · February 7th, 2011, 03:32 AM

Steve u 'r always the MAN IN DA HOUSE as speakers say on NBA games ;)
THX BUDDY

February 6th, 2011, 04:26 AM	#1
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	SPeach for a documentary and microphones Hola guys, Nedd your suggestions about recording the audio voice for a documentary. I have to record the audio for a non profit project and all we have is a Rode NTG1 mic and Sennheir Eng g2 Wireless to record the voice of my colleague. Which are your suggestions about the location where to record? I guess no near any Pc o refredgerator right? Which is the best option : ROde ntg1 or Senn ENGG2 wireless mic? What about the volume of the mics? On the display of my Sony camcorder shouldn't go over (wich meter)? Thx a lot my lifesavers

February 6th, 2011, 07:45 AM	#4
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Not sure what you mean by "recreate the speaker track." Are you recording a fresh voice-over for the documentary or are you trying to make it sound like the audience is in a room watching the old documentary film (thus have the sound of a projector running, people murmuring, etc. For a voice over track you want no ambience at all. The narrator is not part of the film, he is part of the audience, speaking into the ears of the people watching the film with him and explaining what is going on. It needs to sound very up-front and close to the audience, detached from whatever visuals the documentary is showing. The ambience would be the ambience of the scene being shown to the audience. It will change from scene to scene through the film while the character of the narrator's voice should remain consistent from start to finish. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

February 6th, 2011, 08:23 AM	#6
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Don't try to record on set, do it in a separate controlled location. I would create a makeshift studio by hanging duvets around the narrator to absorb the sounds and recording with the shotgun, if that's all you have. I'd look into getting a large-diaphram cardioid condensor like the Rode NT-1a if you can. You can even make a little portable "announce booth" out of foamcore board and acoustic tiles to fit around the mic sitting on a tabletop and get very good results if you're careful. Here's a link to a commerical version but you can roll your own if your handy. The original internet article about the Porta-Booth While you're there, take a look at the video on Fanny Farmer's recipes on Harlan's home page to hear a great example of how voice-over narration should sound in comparison to on-camera interviews or to the audio from inside the scene itself. Another excellent demonstration of how a voice-over narration differs from the sound of an on-camera interview or commentary is this YouTube link ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az1IOc-ZyNQ __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

February 6th, 2011, 06:39 AM	#2
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Use both in separate channels. The NTG-1 will give you a little ambience. The lavalier will give you speech. Adjust the mixture in post for a sound you like. What Sony camera are you using? Set the NTG-1 on a boom stand overhead of the subject, 6-12" in front of them and tilted to point at their mouth. One technique is to run one mic lower than the other in case your subject get's too loud and distorts on the "hot" mic. A general rule is for normal speaking to be -18 to -12 on the meter depending how much "room" you want for a speaker's dynamic range. Unless your speakers is a professional speaker, I have found that people don't give you their real speaking volume during sound check. Be aware, some speakers are so loud that you need to attenuate your wireless transmitter. YMMV Search DVinfo. There are many threads that answer your question....here's one: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-thin...ts-levels.html

February 6th, 2011, 07:16 AM	#3
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Hallo, Thx in advance for finding the time to help me out. I need to rebuild the speaker track of an old documentary so we found a friend who has a nice voice but as i explained above we don't have the budget to rent a studio to record the audio! We have an old Z1 to do this. So i don't need the ambient sound for the voice! I need a clear voice, Is it right? So should i go with the lavalier right? And leave the ntg1 a part.... Or u keep suggest to use em both? Recording the audio in 2 different channels? Thx a lot 4 your help

February 6th, 2011, 08:01 AM	#5
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	sUP Steve! Sory for my english! I need a Fresh brand new track of the narrator! I don't need any other rumors, noise behind the voice of the speaker!

February 7th, 2011, 03:32 AM	#7
Marcus Martell Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: spain Posts: 1,202	Steve u 'r always the MAN IN DA HOUSE as speakers say on NBA games ;) THX BUDDY