Voice-overs? at DVinfo.net

Harrison Freedman · August 1st, 2006, 09:19 AM

What would the best program for Mac be to record voice overs and to edit audio files, like cutting them and splitting them. Do Soundtrack or Logic allow you to do this?

Gabriel Yeager · August 1st, 2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harrison Freedman

What would the best program for Mac be to record voice overs and to edit audio files, like cutting them and splitting them. Do Soundtrack or Logic allow you to do this?

Acutely. I find that 'Garage Band' Is a great program for this! You can change ones voice so that it sounds like a totally different person! plus you can splice the tracks (which is nice)! I do believe it comes free with all mac's too.
Hope I helped!

Gabriel

Douglas Spotted Eagle · August 1st, 2006, 09:57 AM

Soundtrack, Logic, GarageBand, and if you are interested in a (IMO) better non-Apple app, Peak from BIAS are all great for this. Also there are various versions of ProTools.

Jon Fairhurst · August 1st, 2006, 11:42 AM

Whatever you use, make sure that you have access to a compressor effect.

Here's a simple voiceover trick: put your voiceover on two different tracks. Leave one natural. Put a compressor on the other and compress the snot out of it. (Like 30:1 with a low threshold)

If you listen to the unprocessed track you'll find it to have nice peaks and dynamics, but it might sound a bit empty and quiet at times.

Listen to the heavily compressed track and it will sound full and consistent, but also dead and lifeless.

Mix the two tracks to taste. Now it's full and dynamic.

Enjoy!

Paul Cypert · August 3rd, 2006, 04:24 AM

What are you guys using to put your audio on the mac. I'm getting my first project that will require good voice overs. I know the mics to use and I have plenty of software...but need the best/cheap way of getting audio onto my mac

Paul

A. J. deLange · August 3rd, 2006, 05:52 AM

MOTU Traveller here (4 XLR inputs with preamps and phantom + 4 line inputs)

Dave Largent · August 3rd, 2006, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Fairhurst

Mix the two tracks to taste. Now it's full and dynamic.

Is this a common VO trick? Or just something
you came up with?

Steve House · August 3rd, 2006, 06:08 AM

Echo AudioFire 8 here - 2 mic/universal inputs with preamps + 6 additional line inputs + 8 line ouputs + S/PDIF & AES I/O. Echo recently intrduced an AudioFire 2 and AudioFire 4 if you don't need as many inputs and they also have the AudioFire 12 if you need more. Neat thing with Echo - if you really need more, their latest drivers allow you to daisy-chain multiple 8's and 12's if you need huge amounts of I/O - 2 12's for example appear as one 24 channel interface.

Paul Cypert · August 3rd, 2006, 09:22 AM

at these prices I'd just assume get another Mbox....any 100 or sub input devices out there?

Paul

Steve House · August 3rd, 2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Cypert

at these prices I'd just assume get another Mbox....any 100 or sub input devices out there?

Paul

Well you can have good or you can have cheap, but it's hard to get both at once. If you already have a mixer or good mic preamps that'll give you line-level outputs, the Echo AudioFire 2 gives you a Firewire interface with 2 line inputs having professional specs plus S/PDIF and MIDI for about $200.

Bill Mecca · August 3rd, 2006, 10:50 AM

or you could just hire a vo talent. ;-)

Jon Fairhurst · August 3rd, 2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Largent

Is this a common VO trick? Or just something
you came up with?

Hi Dave,

I don't know how common it is (the uncompressed plus conpressed trick), but I didn't invent it. I learned the trick from some of the audio guys over at the NorthernSounds forum. I've used it and was blown away by the results.

I would think that this would also work well for acoustic guitar and other recordings where you want a solid level, but don't want to lose the peaks.

Paul Cypert · August 3rd, 2006, 10:09 PM

yeah,
I guess I'm wanting the cheap. I have access to good pre's, good mics, talent, etc...just needing something to get the sound onto the computer...don't need midi or anything like that...just one mic line in would be enough...

Paul

Mick Isdes · August 3rd, 2006, 10:33 PM

Then I'd suggest a analog desktop mixer. A 2 or 6 channel desktop mixer that offers USB or RCA i/o and you'll be set.

Luke Loeffler · August 9th, 2006, 10:14 AM

Does anyone know if there are cameras with XLR ins and a firewire connection that could be configured as a real-time audio input device in lieu of the many dedicated firewire/USB mic/line interface boxes available?

August 1st, 2006, 09:19 AM	#1
Harrison Freedman Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 30	Voice-overs? What would the best program for Mac be to record voice overs and to edit audio files, like cutting them and splitting them. Do Soundtrack or Logic allow you to do this?

August 1st, 2006, 09:57 AM	#3
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Soundtrack, Logic, GarageBand, and if you are interested in a (IMO) better non-Apple app, Peak from BIAS are all great for this. Also there are various versions of ProTools. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

August 1st, 2006, 11:42 AM	#4
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Whatever you use, make sure that you have access to a compressor effect. Here's a simple voiceover trick: put your voiceover on two different tracks. Leave one natural. Put a compressor on the other and compress the snot out of it. (Like 30:1 with a low threshold) If you listen to the unprocessed track you'll find it to have nice peaks and dynamics, but it might sound a bit empty and quiet at times. Listen to the heavily compressed track and it will sound full and consistent, but also dead and lifeless. Mix the two tracks to taste. Now it's full and dynamic. Enjoy! __________________ Jon Fairhurst

August 3rd, 2006, 06:08 AM	#8
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Echo AudioFire 8 here - 2 mic/universal inputs with preamps + 6 additional line inputs + 8 line ouputs + S/PDIF & AES I/O. Echo recently intrduced an AudioFire 2 and AudioFire 4 if you don't need as many inputs and they also have the AudioFire 12 if you need more. Neat thing with Echo - if you really need more, their latest drivers allow you to daisy-chain multiple 8's and 12's if you need huge amounts of I/O - 2 12's for example appear as one 24 channel interface. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

August 3rd, 2006, 10:50 AM	#11
Bill Mecca Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 475	or you could just hire a vo talent. ;-) __________________ Award-winning Pine Barrens Documentary! Video, Audio, Music & More

August 3rd, 2006, 04:24 AM	#5
Paul Cypert Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand (work in US in the summers) Posts: 89	What are you guys using to put your audio on the mac. I'm getting my first project that will require good voice overs. I know the mics to use and I have plenty of software...but need the best/cheap way of getting audio onto my mac Paul

August 3rd, 2006, 05:52 AM	#6
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	MOTU Traveller here (4 XLR inputs with preamps and phantom + 4 line inputs)

August 3rd, 2006, 09:22 AM	#9
Paul Cypert Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand (work in US in the summers) Posts: 89	at these prices I'd just assume get another Mbox....any 100 or sub input devices out there? Paul

August 3rd, 2006, 10:09 PM	#13
Paul Cypert Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand (work in US in the summers) Posts: 89	yeah, I guess I'm wanting the cheap. I have access to good pre's, good mics, talent, etc...just needing something to get the sound onto the computer...don't need midi or anything like that...just one mic line in would be enough... Paul

August 3rd, 2006, 10:33 PM	#14
Mick Isdes Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: HI Posts: 93	Then I'd suggest a analog desktop mixer. A 2 or 6 channel desktop mixer that offers USB or RCA i/o and you'll be set. __________________ _________ Mick

August 9th, 2006, 10:14 AM	#15
Luke Loeffler Tourist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 2	Does anyone know if there are cameras with XLR ins and a firewire connection that could be configured as a real-time audio input device in lieu of the many dedicated firewire/USB mic/line interface boxes available?