voice over, mic, software at DVinfo.net

Michelle Lewis · October 12th, 2005, 10:51 AM

Hi all. I've got a question. How can I create a voice over and shoot it straight to say final cut pro, to be edited? And what's the cheapest way? Should I be purchasing a special mic and a specific sound/voice over program? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Tim Borek · October 12th, 2005, 12:33 PM

Michelle,

How high of quality do you need this VO to be? What's the final destination -- broadcast TV, cinema, Web, DVD? Recording high-quality audio is an art of its own and requires first and foremost a good condenser microphone, preamp/computer audio interface (Firewire or USB), and a quiet, acoustically neutral recording environment. If, however, your project is a quick video for club, office, church, or personal, plug a $10 dynamic mic w/mini plug into your sound card's Mic In jack, and you'll be okay no matter what recording program you use.

I'm not a FCP user, but my NLE, MediaStudio Pro, lets me record audio straight to the timeline wherever the time marker is, which came in handy for a "scratch" VO track I recorded for a client's TV commercial.

Are you using a Mac?

Martin Costa · October 12th, 2005, 12:53 PM

I've always hired a Coles mic for voice over. It's one of those old sports commentating mics with a bit you stick your mouth over so you're at the correct distance. I think they cost about £12 a day.

Steve House · October 12th, 2005, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michelle Lewis

Hi all. I've got a question. How can I create a voice over and shoot it straight to say final cut pro, to be edited? And what's the cheapest way? Should I be purchasing a special mic and a specific sound/voice over program? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Don't know anything about FCP so I don't know if it will directly record a track from an external source but if it doesn't, there's a freeware program called Audacity that's available for the download in both Mac and Windows versions and does an excellent job. Record your tracks with it and then import them into FCP. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Michelle Lewis · October 12th, 2005, 05:22 PM

Thanks all. I'll check out your suggestions. I'm using a OSX 10.4.2. I have audio tracks in FCP and I have a mic. I guess I'm wondering where to plug it in. Is a 'sound card' something already installed on the mac?

October 12th, 2005, 10:51 AM	#1
Michelle Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 95	voice over, mic, software Hi all. I've got a question. How can I create a voice over and shoot it straight to say final cut pro, to be edited? And what's the cheapest way? Should I be purchasing a special mic and a specific sound/voice over program? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

October 12th, 2005, 12:33 PM	#2
Tim Borek Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Westfield, IN Posts: 353	recording VO Michelle, How high of quality do you need this VO to be? What's the final destination -- broadcast TV, cinema, Web, DVD? Recording high-quality audio is an art of its own and requires first and foremost a good condenser microphone, preamp/computer audio interface (Firewire or USB), and a quiet, acoustically neutral recording environment. If, however, your project is a quick video for club, office, church, or personal, plug a $10 dynamic mic w/mini plug into your sound card's Mic In jack, and you'll be okay no matter what recording program you use. I'm not a FCP user, but my NLE, MediaStudio Pro, lets me record audio straight to the timeline wherever the time marker is, which came in handy for a "scratch" VO track I recorded for a client's TV commercial. Are you using a Mac?

October 12th, 2005, 12:53 PM	#3
Martin Costa Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 76 Images: 2	I've always hired a Coles mic for voice over. It's one of those old sports commentating mics with a bit you stick your mouth over so you're at the correct distance. I think they cost about £12 a day.

October 12th, 2005, 05:22 PM	#5
Michelle Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 95	Thanks all. I'll check out your suggestions. I'm using a OSX 10.4.2. I have audio tracks in FCP and I have a mic. I guess I'm wondering where to plug it in. Is a 'sound card' something already installed on the mac?