Our company is working to put together some eLearning presentations that utilize mostly interactive slides and some video. The slides are narrated and each slide includes a separate audio file which is synced with the animations used to illustrate the topic being discussed.

As we have access to the necessary voice talent, I'd like to set up a separate space in my home office to do the recording. It's a large walkout basement in a very quiet area and among the main audio equipment I currently use for video includes:

* Canon XH-A1 & XA-10 cams
* Rode NTG-3 mic
* Zoom H4n recorder
* Centance MicPort Pro
* Assorted stands, cables, adapters, Sony headset etc.
* Adobe Audition

Wondering what the best approach would be? Perhaps record directly to pc with the MicPort, or perhaps just using the Zoom to capture would be the best route? Any additional items I'm going to wish I had? Not an audio guy by any means but always looking for an excuse to blow some $$$ on new toys. [g]

You could save a step and record directly to your computer using the MicPort. Assuming that is convenient for the process.

While a nice mic, the NTG3 shotgun is probably not an appropriate microphone for this application. There are some microphones that are favorites for voice-over, narration, announcing, etc. Like the Electrovoice RE20 and Shure SM7, etc. Although some people have done well with the lowly SM57/58.

HOWEVER, the performance of the voice talent and the acoustics of the space play MAJOR roles in the final quality. Perhaps even more important than exactly which microphone you use.

I'm doing some voice overs tonight and am using my NT3 inside a box with sound proofing and open to the person reading...recording to a Zoom H4N...

So your pointing the mic facing out..... Toward the background noise?
Idealy the sound absorbing needs to be behind the person. Imagine the mic was a torch... If that was the case where would the beam of light go?

Any additional items I'm going to wish I had? Not an audio guy by any means but always looking for an excuse to blow some $$$ on new toys. [g]

Neumann TLM49 and UA LA610.
MAGIC!!!

So your pointing the mic facing out..... Toward the background noise?
Idealy the sound absorbing needs to be behind the person. Imagine the mic was a torch... If that was the case where would the beam of light go? You've got to have the mic pointing towards the person doing the voice over...not away from them...so you've got to have one side open!

Harlan Hogan - Voice overs Narrations Commercials Promos (http://www.harlanhogan.com/portaboothArticle.shtml)

https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=voice+over+porta+booth&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=ms0&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=K8BqUJelA9CjiAfRjoHICw&ved=0CFMQsAQ&biw=1557&bih=936

What the box does is stop all the sound from all bar one side...the side where the speaker is. It so happens that behind the speaker in my situation is a pretty sound absorbent wall and I faced my box that way on purpose...

Well I did my recording and it sounds pretty good to me... :-)

If it works for you that's great.... But sometime do more research into acoustics and microphones and you will work it out. But often a heavy blanket hung up behind the VO person delivers impressive results it's all about mic patterns and acoustic reflections.

I dont think the NTG3 is inappropriate for VO work, maybe not anyones first consideration though. Many years ago I was working with Brian James (rip buddy) and he was looking for a sound with more "punch". We tried about 20 different mics with no satisfaction for him. I pulled out one of my Sennheiser 416's (very similar to NTG3) and after a little experimentation he was very impressed. Being a shotgun you need to be VERY careful about plosives, we found that having the tip about 5-6" away from the mouth but placing the mic slightly off center and approaching from a 45 angle to the side from straight on-so not to be directing the breath down the barrel. SOLD! This went on to become a great sound for him.

Anyhow don't let mic patterns override your own ears when making choices...

And soundproofing...talking into the soundproofing isn't a bad idea depending on the room. this approach keeps the voice from bouncing off of other things and creating unwanted reflected sound. I always treat VO rooms on all sides for a completely neutral sound then i can add whatever flavor i want to it, but that's just me... :-)

As strange as it may be... There are some VO artists that prefer the 416 shotgun mic for VOs and narration and some have their own mic. Of course these are pros with years of experience in proper techniques.... so YMMV.
That said, a LD condenser is usually a good first choice. However it's usually the person speaking more than the gear.

As strange as it may be... There are some VO artists that prefer the 416 shotgun mic for VOs and narration and some have their own mic.

Certainly, but that is typically in a rather large, and sound-treated studio, not in small bedroom with reflective walls and ceiling. Kludging a box out of foam will make a shotgun more usable near reflective surfaces,but of course it does nothing for room acoustics. Nothing screams "amateur hour" more than a voice recording with near reflections. A sure-fire way to just sound CHEAP.

Appreciate the input Richard.

We're fortunate to have access to some experienced voice talent in the area. Also given that I have a sufficiently large space in a dead quite (isolated) area of my large basement, I'm confident that we can create a very good, acoustically efficient recording environment.

But I still have much to learn about the tech side of things. From some searches I see that the two mics you referenced seem to be two of the most recommended for this type of work. So far probably leaning toward the Shure SM7 but I've read a number of posts (if it's on the internet it has to be right, correct??) saying that a preamp would be a good way to go with the Shure. Wondering if this is the case and what I might be looking at with respect to choices there?

Finally, I forgot all about a Rode Podcaster with boom arm and shock mount that we have sitting pretty much unused at our main office. How would a mic like that stack up against the Shure & Electrovice?


You could save a step and record directly to your computer using the MicPort. Assuming that is convenient for the process.

While a nice mic, the NTG3 shotgun is probably not an appropriate microphone for this application. There are some microphones that are favorites for voice-over, narration, announcing, etc. Like the Electrovoice RE20 and Shure SM7, etc. Although some people have done well with the lowly SM57/58.

HOWEVER, the performance of the voice talent and the acoustics of the space play MAJOR roles in the final quality. Perhaps even more important than exactly which microphone you use.

Hi Brian,

I've read your torcn (flashlight) analogy a few times and still don't quite understand what you're getting at. As a audio novice, what Renton is saying seems to make sense. Would you mind elaborating a bit on your explanation?


So your pointing the mic facing out..... Toward the background noise?
Idealy the sound absorbing needs to be behind the person. Imagine the mic was a torch... If that was the case where would the beam of light go?

If it works for you that's great.... But sometime do more research into acoustics and microphones and you will work it out.Hmmm...well...I've done quite a bit of reading about acoustics etc, and from what I read, I set up the setup I used. I'm a rank amatuer, but I pick the brains of people who aren't. On that score I purchased the NT3 for my studio recording, and as I have it, I used it for my voice overs...

And... if I can get things to about 80+% with what I've got and the little money I spend, I'm not too worried about the remaining 20% I miss...

Finally, I forgot all about a Rode Podcaster with boom arm and shock mount that we have sitting pretty much unused at our main office. How would a mic like that stack up against the Shure & Electrovice?

Tim, a 'trick of the trade' we used when new pro voices came to Sydney and were booked in for their first v/o job with us,
was to enquire with their agent whether they could come by the studios in advance to run mic selection checks with them.

We had mic cabinets with 35mics over many years and while we obviously didn't try them all, spending 1/2 an hour in the studio with new talent,
we'd get to hear what they sounded like, they got to choose a mic they liked, they met the our engineers, the girls in the office,
tried our tea or coffee and found our parking lot.

It was great PR, reflected in their first jobs and noted by the happy clients.

Cheers.

Hi Brian,

I've read your torcn (flashlight) analogy a few times and still don't quite understand what you're getting at. As a audio novice, what Renton is saying seems to make sense. Would you mind elaborating a bit on your explanation?

Let me try and explain it this way..... imagine you had a camera or 'eyeball' in the microphone facing the same direction as the pick up pattern of the mic and used one of those portable VO booths what direction is the mic facing?... out toward the outside noise, and if you had an air conditioner or any other noise behind that person you would hear it as it entered the mic.

The quite place needs to behind the head of the VO person.

Hi Tim -
I was in the middle of reading a web article and got sidetracked, wound up on DVinfo and read your thread. While the article I was reading won't necessarily provide the advice you're seeking it might help a bit. - The Well-Balanced Mic Closet : Recording Magazine - (http://www.recordingmag.com/resources/resourceDetail/192.html) It's all about mics and I'm sure there is some useable information there. Unfortunately, people on a budget pretty much have to make do what they have and can't necessarily run out and buy what would be better, or the best.

I really liked reading the part where he wrote that Dolly Parton had a mic with her name on it locked in a safe.

Another resource one could use is the Shure customer help web site: Find Answers (http://shure.custhelp.com/)
Even if one isn't using a Shure product, there is a lot of good information there about micing things. I've come across other mic companies with similar support sections.

Disclaimer: when it comes to mics I'm an amateur hobbyest so "consider the source."

Question for Allan Black: Would a pop filter be of any help?

Question for Allan Black: Would a pop filter be of any help?Not Allan...but for what it's worth, in preparation for doing voice overs, I made a pop filter: One pair of pantihose, a 200mm el cheapo needle work ring, a piece of heavy gauge wire as a stand or for attaching to a mic stand...

I suppose it worked... :-) ...anyway I used it...

Quote: I suppose it worked... :-) ...anyway I used it...

Who says video has to be expensive?

My wife would approve of this - less money spent on my hobby!