Narration Recording at DVinfo.net

John Paulsel · December 5th, 2002, 03:33 PM

I'd like to hear some opinions about voice narration recording for DV. We have a nice sound booth that was set up for analog tape use years ago and would like to figure out a better way to capture sound than the way I'm doing it now.

Currently, I patch a Panasonic DV1000 into a mixer and record directly to DV tape. Then, I haul the deck back to my editing area, capture the audio in Premiere, export it for use in Sound Edit Pro, mix it, then bring it back into Premiere for video editing. The booth is in the same room as video editing, but really too far away to direct a narrator while recording.

Thought one, buy another PC and record directly to it via Sound Edit Pro and avoid capturing at all.

Any other ideas? Seems like there should be an easier way. I'd like to find an economical solution (under $2K or so).

Thanks!

Ken Tanaka · December 5th, 2002, 09:43 PM

John,
Are you using a PC platform or a Mac for your editing? Reason I ask: Final Cut Pro has a very nice "voice-over" facility.

Justin Morgan · December 6th, 2002, 03:42 AM

That's interesting - what's it called and how does it work - I can't see anything in my Final Cut Pro (2) book under 'voice over' in the index?

Bryan Johannes Onel · December 6th, 2002, 05:09 AM

I'ts FCP 3.

John Paulsel · December 6th, 2002, 06:32 AM

I'm using a Mac with Premiere; we don't have FCP. The booth is too far away from the computer (and it's not convenient to move it) for voice recording.

We may have to use a dedicated computer for voice recording, or perhaps there is some other digital recording gadget that would be easier vs. my current very cumbersome method.

John Locke · December 6th, 2002, 06:34 AM

Has anyone tried the "voice-over" feature in FCP? If so, I'm wondering how you block out the computer hum.

Ross Milligan · December 6th, 2002, 06:52 AM

Something that might get you by until you sort things out...

I use an audio-technica ATW-T28 radio mic with the receiver plugged into the sound card. Record audio using Nero Wave editor and import into Premiere.

or

A real quicky is using the 'record narration' option in PowerPoint.

Ross

Jeff Donald · December 6th, 2002, 07:42 AM

Hi John,

A real easy way to do narration on a Mac is with the Griffen iMic http://griffintechnology.com/products/imic/index.html If you don't have any audio recording programs, like Peak Deck LE http://www.bias-inc.com/products/deck_le/index.html then get Audio Recorder (shareware $20) http://www.versiontracker.com/morein...d=10417&db=mac This will allow you with minimal expense, to get audio into your Mac. I use an intercom from Radio Shack to communicate with the narrator in the sound booth. I capture direct audio files and import them into FCP.

If you don't want to update at this time I would continue recording to your camera and capturing the audio into Premiere.

Jeff

Mark Austin · December 6th, 2002, 10:55 AM

In our studio we have a Furman headphone distribution system (HD-6/HR-6) that allows the engineer or producer to talk to the talent in several different rooms. It's a pretty elaborate setup, but a simple headphone amp like the Rane, Behringer (or similar), may help solve your problems. If you have some phones in the vocal booth it would allow you to both monitor what the talent hears and communicate with them to direct thier dialog etc. The whole rig should cost < $500 even with some nice phones, cables etc. It's an awesome way to cut down on carpet wear, allowing you to communicate with talent in several places all the while being able to hear exactly what they are hearing, and it allows you to run the equipment and session from one place.
my 2 cents
Mark

Rob Lohman · December 6th, 2002, 11:41 AM

John, you do know you should record audio in the best sound
acoustic room you can find, right? And that should definitely
not have any machines in there that make noice whatsoever!

So no PC's. At least put it in another room. Just lay a balanced
microphone cable to the other room and a video cord for playback.
Done.

John Paulsel · December 6th, 2002, 03:48 PM

Thanks for the tip, but we're in great shape in that regard. The booth is sound insulated with a window between the engineer and the announcer.

I'm getting great quality audio from my present method of recording, it's just a pain to go through all the steps (see first thread).

I liked the idea of an intercom sytem via headphones. That way, I could record directly into my computer I use for video editing and still direct the voice talent, even though the computer isn't near the booth.

Thanks again.

Ken Tanaka · December 6th, 2002, 03:48 PM

One problem with FCP's voice-over facility is that you need to be watching the screen while using it. So if you can't get completely away from the computer you can make an inexpensive table-top sound booth from a cardboard box lined with acoustical foam (from MarkerTek, et.al.). If storage space is a premium (isn't always so in Japan?) you can build the box to be foldable for compact storage.

Just a project that I've actually been considering undertaking myself.

Mark Austin · December 6th, 2002, 09:22 PM

John if you would like a basic schematic of a system let me know and I'll send something for you to check out. I don't know what mixer you have but if it has any unused AUX sends that is a perfect place to send the headphone mix to a headphone amp as well as any nessasary sound beds the talent might want to be aware of. It also gives you another level of control for the artists headphone mix. You are welcome to call (email me for #) if you need more details. It's also easy to put a video feed into your booth for the talent to monitor the scenes, but I'm sure you already know (or have) that.

http://www.tinternabbeystudio.com

December 5th, 2002, 03:33 PM	#1
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	Narration Recording I'd like to hear some opinions about voice narration recording for DV. We have a nice sound booth that was set up for analog tape use years ago and would like to figure out a better way to capture sound than the way I'm doing it now. Currently, I patch a Panasonic DV1000 into a mixer and record directly to DV tape. Then, I haul the deck back to my editing area, capture the audio in Premiere, export it for use in Sound Edit Pro, mix it, then bring it back into Premiere for video editing. The booth is in the same room as video editing, but really too far away to direct a narrator while recording. Thought one, buy another PC and record directly to it via Sound Edit Pro and avoid capturing at all. Any other ideas? Seems like there should be an easier way. I'd like to find an economical solution (under $2K or so). Thanks! __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"

December 5th, 2002, 09:43 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	John, Are you using a PC platform or a Mac for your editing? Reason I ask: Final Cut Pro has a very nice "voice-over" facility. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

December 6th, 2002, 06:32 AM	#5
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	I'm using a Mac with Premiere; we don't have FCP. The booth is too far away from the computer (and it's not convenient to move it) for voice recording. We may have to use a dedicated computer for voice recording, or perhaps there is some other digital recording gadget that would be easier vs. my current very cumbersome method. __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"

December 6th, 2002, 06:34 AM	#6
John Locke Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Austin, TX USA Posts: 2,882	Has anyone tried the "voice-over" feature in FCP? If so, I'm wondering how you block out the computer hum. __________________ John Locke SursumFilms.com

December 6th, 2002, 10:55 AM	#9
Mark Austin Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 188	Headphone system maybe? In our studio we have a Furman headphone distribution system (HD-6/HR-6) that allows the engineer or producer to talk to the talent in several different rooms. It's a pretty elaborate setup, but a simple headphone amp like the Rane, Behringer (or similar), may help solve your problems. If you have some phones in the vocal booth it would allow you to both monitor what the talent hears and communicate with them to direct thier dialog etc. The whole rig should cost < $500 even with some nice phones, cables etc. It's an awesome way to cut down on carpet wear, allowing you to communicate with talent in several places all the while being able to hear exactly what they are hearing, and it allows you to run the equipment and session from one place. my 2 cents Mark __________________ I'm humbled by the greatness that surrounds me.

December 6th, 2002, 03:42 AM	#3
Justin Morgan Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: London Posts: 189	That's interesting - what's it called and how does it work - I can't see anything in my Final Cut Pro (2) book under 'voice over' in the index?

December 6th, 2002, 05:09 AM	#4
Bryan Johannes Onel Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Amsterdam, The netherlands Posts: 71	I'ts FCP 3.

December 6th, 2002, 06:52 AM	#7
Ross Milligan Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Scotland UK Posts: 63	Something that might get you by until you sort things out... I use an audio-technica ATW-T28 radio mic with the receiver plugged into the sound card. Record audio using Nero Wave editor and import into Premiere. or A real quicky is using the 'record narration' option in PowerPoint. Ross

December 6th, 2002, 07:42 AM	#8
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Hi John, A real easy way to do narration on a Mac is with the Griffen iMic http://griffintechnology.com/products/imic/index.html If you don't have any audio recording programs, like Peak Deck LE http://www.bias-inc.com/products/deck_le/index.html then get Audio Recorder (shareware $20) http://www.versiontracker.com/morein...d=10417&db=mac This will allow you with minimal expense, to get audio into your Mac. I use an intercom from Radio Shack to communicate with the narrator in the sound booth. I capture direct audio files and import them into FCP. If you don't want to update at this time I would continue recording to your camera and capturing the audio into Premiere. Jeff

December 6th, 2002, 11:41 AM	#10
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	John, you do know you should record audio in the best sound acoustic room you can find, right? And that should definitely not have any machines in there that make noice whatsoever! So no PC's. At least put it in another room. Just lay a balanced microphone cable to the other room and a video cord for playback. Done. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

December 6th, 2002, 03:48 PM	#11
John Paulsel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pendleton (near Indianapolis), Indiana USA Posts: 49	Thanks for the tip, but we're in great shape in that regard. The booth is sound insulated with a window between the engineer and the announcer. I'm getting great quality audio from my present method of recording, it's just a pain to go through all the steps (see first thread). I liked the idea of an intercom sytem via headphones. That way, I could record directly into my computer I use for video editing and still direct the voice talent, even though the computer isn't near the booth. Thanks again. __________________ John Paulsel Highpoint Productions "I'd do it for free but I don't!"

December 6th, 2002, 09:22 PM	#13
Mark Austin Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 188	Intercom System John if you would like a basic schematic of a system let me know and I'll send something for you to check out. I don't know what mixer you have but if it has any unused AUX sends that is a perfect place to send the headphone mix to a headphone amp as well as any nessasary sound beds the talent might want to be aware of. It also gives you another level of control for the artists headphone mix. You are welcome to call (email me for #) if you need more details. It's also easy to put a video feed into your booth for the talent to monitor the scenes, but I'm sure you already know (or have) that. http://www.tinternabbeystudio.com __________________ I'm humbled by the greatness that surrounds me.