8 Common Blunders When Recording Voice Overs
1. The first and most common blunder a budding audio producer may make is where he gets his information from.
If you were going to build your very first home from scratch and had absolutely no experience, would you ask your neighbor for advice on how to build one? That should only be the case if your neighbor works professionally in the home-building industry rather than someone who built a little shed in their back-yard.
The reason I say this, is that not every amateur audio producer realizes that they AREN’T putting out a quality product. But with a few key steps they COULD be.
So when you seek advice … ask someone in the industry. Go to a retailer that sells recording equipment, or call a recording studio … or if you are one who likes to visit forums, check out some that specialize in audio.
2. Another common blunder is using the WRONG microphone.
In the hardware selection in these posts about creating great voice overs I will go into further detail about how to choose the right mic for your situation. But using a $150 stage mic (for live music) is equally as wrong as using a $10 headset mic.
3. NOT editing the audio. A comparison you may understand is writing a document or a book. You edit and re-edit your work, crafting it to make it perfect. With audio you should do the same. For example, if you said “uhm” … then cut it out.
4. Using an internet (such as VOIP) service to record your audio. You will always get the best quality if you record direct to your own hardware.
5. Inexperience is also sometimes a blunder. Before recording your first audio narration, get some experience and practice. As you record, remember to project your voice, and keep your tone and volume consistent. When done, listen to your recording and note the areas you need to improve.
6. Not using a script. More about this in a later chapter.
7. Bandwidth is NOT an excuse. When you record, record the original audio in the SAME location where it is being spoken. Internet recording WILL reduce its quality every time. And when you release your files that you plan to sell … don’t send out cheap bubbling audio that sounds like it was recorded in a fish tank. There is absolutely NO need for this to happen in this era where simply amazing recording tools can be in YOUR hands for very little expense. Don’t sacrifice quality … whether it’s on the upload … or the download!
8. Another blunder is MUSIC. If you’re going to put music into your audio .. and you SHOULD … it must be royalty-free. Don’t risk getting sued. Purchasing a CD or MP3 doesn’t automatically come with distribution rights. Commercial music does NOT come with the rights to use it in your own audio or video productions. But again … more on this in the posts about the selection of music for your voice over recordings.
