11 Tips for Better Voice-over Recording

Voice-over recording using a few techniques becomes an easy task. Before recording the voice-over, you must be aware of the mechanism of recording and should know a few tips that help to obtain a better quality of voice-over. We at ZOOM Recording Studio, a professional recording studio, help artists get the best voice-over recording. Here, are a few tips that we recommend artists use when they record. Let's go through 11 tips for better voice-over recording.

1. Position the right mic in the right place

Sel ect a microphone that suits your voice and the track. After you have selected the best fr om an array of mics, position it 8-12 inches in front of your mouth. The positioning is best suited as it is close enough for the voice to sound clear and present and is far enough so that the voice is not muddy due to the proximity effect of the microphone.

2. A music stand helps

Use a music stand for the script. This helps in a variety of ways. First of all, it helps the artist to stand at the correct and constant distance fr om the mic. It also helps to reduce the sound of the rustling of papers as when the script is on the stand, you slide the paper instead of turning it. Moreover, when your script is on the stand, you can look up at the mic instead of looking down at the script, which often restricts an artist's vocal cords.

3. Use a pop filter

While recording voice-over, P's and B's produce extra bursts of air or popping. This needs to be minimized, which you can do by using pop filters. In addition, it also helps you to stand at a correct distance from the mic. Placing the pop filter 4-6 inches in front of the mic, you can stay 4-6 inches away from the pop filter.

4. Choose the recording space with the right ambiance

When you go for voice-over recording, make sure the recording space is not too live. Try to minimize the ambience of the room. Using acoustic filters can make a huge difference in the sound of your voice-over. There are devices such as reflection filters that can tame reflections of a live room.

5. Keep a copy of the script and copious notes handy

  

It is difficult to remember the changes that take place between the takes. When you complete the whole recording, the changes in all the chapters of the book become a blur. However, using markers in the timeline to indicate takes saves lots of frustration when it is time to assemble them.

6. Maintain a correct posture

The best way to record a voice-over is to stand and read. However, you can also sit up straight and read. Maintaining good posture helps you to breathe easily, which makes it easier to speak in a strong and clear voice. 

7. Keep yourself hydrated

Don't let your mouth get dry. It makes noises, such as smacks, clicks, and pops that ruin the voice-over recording. Hence, stay hydrated and drink either hot or room temperature water.

8. Speak clearly

While you're recording voice-over, try to speak clearly. Neither do you speak very fast as the words may get slurred together nor speak very slowly to put your listener to sleep.

9. Warm up your voice

Before starting the recording, warm up your voice by reading the script. This helps you obtain the right blend of volume, projection, and pacing.

10. Practice the script well before voice-over recording

To know the actual difficulty level of a script, read it aloud. In doing so, you will be able to find wh ere the difficulties lie. Find ways to make those sections clear either by inserting pauses or by changing a sentence or a single word and practice it a few times.

11. Mark up the script

When you go through the script, mark it to remind yourself when you have to breathe, pause or pitch your voice lower or higher for emphasis. Finally, when you're reading the script and have made a mistake, pause for a few seconds. Go back to a sentence or two, and begin reading again. Such pauses help audio engineers to easily and effectively edit your voice-over.

Conclusion

Using the above tips will help you get better voice-over recording. To learn more about voice-over recording, visit the official site of ZOOM Recording Studio.