Obscuring voices at DVinfo.net

Ray Johnston · July 10th, 2007, 11:20 AM

I have a simple production in which we are using sillouetted individuals and want to protect their "identities" by obscuring voices. I need to produce 5 different video segments (all one shoot). The video part of it is quite simple.

I've never had to deal with this type of sound issue before. I am using Sony Vegas for my video edit, and I occasionally use the Acid looping software, but I have not had to do too much sound production other than adjusting mix levels. Is there something straightforward I can use in Vegas or Acid, or do I need to get Sound Forge?

Thanks much in advance!

Ray

Steve Winters · July 11th, 2007, 04:35 AM

You could use Audacity (free from sourceforge.net) to apply a pitch shift.

Ty Ford · July 11th, 2007, 04:40 AM

Which, of course, can be pitch shifted back to normal if someone has access to the audio. :)

Regards,

Ty Ford

Steve Winters · July 11th, 2007, 10:04 AM

That's true....Remind me never to go into witness protection...

Bill Mecca · July 11th, 2007, 02:01 PM

some flange, distortion, pitch shift, alone, or in combinations. I would just play with some of the effects until you like how it sounds.

Greg Boston · July 11th, 2007, 02:33 PM

Use a vocoder plug-in. Since it mixes the original voice with another sound, retrieving the original voice would be virtually impossible.

Vocoders have been around for years... finding uses in radio jingles, the Cylon voices in the original Battlestar Galactica series, popular music, etc.

The better quality vocoders have more bands of frequencies to work with.

Do an internet search on the term and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know.

-gb-

July 10th, 2007, 11:20 AM	#1
Ray Johnston New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 23	Obscuring voices I have a simple production in which we are using sillouetted individuals and want to protect their "identities" by obscuring voices. I need to produce 5 different video segments (all one shoot). The video part of it is quite simple. I've never had to deal with this type of sound issue before. I am using Sony Vegas for my video edit, and I occasionally use the Acid looping software, but I have not had to do too much sound production other than adjusting mix levels. Is there something straightforward I can use in Vegas or Acid, or do I need to get Sound Forge? Thanks much in advance! Ray

July 11th, 2007, 04:40 AM	#3
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Which, of course, can be pitch shifted back to normal if someone has access to the audio. :) Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

July 11th, 2007, 02:01 PM	#5
Bill Mecca Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 475	some flange, distortion, pitch shift, alone, or in combinations. I would just play with some of the effects until you like how it sounds. __________________ Award-winning Pine Barrens Documentary! Video, Audio, Music & More

July 11th, 2007, 04:35 AM	#2
Steve Winters New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 8	You could use Audacity (free from sourceforge.net) to apply a pitch shift.

July 11th, 2007, 10:04 AM	#4
Steve Winters New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 8	That's true....Remind me never to go into witness protection...

July 11th, 2007, 02:33 PM	#6
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	Use a vocoder plug-in. Since it mixes the original voice with another sound, retrieving the original voice would be virtually impossible. Vocoders have been around for years... finding uses in radio jingles, the Cylon voices in the original Battlestar Galactica series, popular music, etc. The better quality vocoders have more bands of frequencies to work with. Do an internet search on the term and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know. -gb-