Record Quiet AND Loud Voice-Overs Simultaneously Without Distorting (Problem Solved)
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- Опубліковано 13 тра 2024
- If you record any type of voice-over, you are familiar with the recording level struggle. Setting a reasonable level is easy for consistent conversational speech. However, setting a good recording level while capturing dynamic performances can be challenging. A recording level that captures soft or quiet speech is not a good setting for loud, blaring speech and vice versa. Several solutions exist to this problem, ranging from studio techniques to special equipment. The following will explore ways to capture ultra-dynamic speech while retaining the best recording quality.
One solution is to record your performance and try to correct the distorted portions of your audio after you record (post-production). I don’t suggest this method, but plugins like iZotope’s RX10 De Clip can sometimes work well.
Another way to approach this is to record twice at independent level settings and edit out the less-than-optimal sections. This is probably the most common option. However, it takes extra time and can disturb your creative performance flow. You can accomplish this by setting your preamp gain first to achieve a proper level for your quiet sections while ignoring the lousy level on your loud sections. Then, re-record your entire script after resetting your preamp gain to achieve a proper level for your loud sections while ignoring the insufficient level during your quiet sections. Then, you select the takes with the best levels for each section and edit it all together. This is a good option because it doesn’t require any extra equipment. But, the downside is that it requires additional time. And, the worst part is that you can’t correctly capture one cohesive performance.
This method uses “Multi-Tracking” to capture ultra-dynamic voice content. Two tracks are captured from a single microphone source using an independent recording level. Track 1 can be ideal for quiet speech, and Track 2 can be for loud speech.
A similar, better approach is to use an additional external microphone preamp and then split the line-level signal output to separate tracks on your interface. This can be achieved with a simple Y-cable to split the line-level signal (not the mic signal level).
The next best solution might be a passive splitter like the Radial Pro MS2. The onboard high-quality transformer delivers great sound, and it’s a great way to accomplish this for less than the cost of a legitimate external preamp.
Options like software loopback patching or physical loopback patching can have some unintended consequences. Your two tracks aren’t truly independent. Using this method, you can experience noise, distortion, or even feedback in some situations. You might ask, “Where does 32-bit float fall?” The approach is slightly different if you want to use the 32-bit Float format to capture ultra-dynamic voice recordings. You would first ensure, 100%, that your loudest peak never goes above 0 dB. Then, even though your quiet recording appears much lower, 32Bit FLOAT allows you to use digital gain to raise the softer speech sections without losing any of the resolution. 32bit Float will enable you to retain the dynamic range and resolution even after making substantial digital gain changes after you record.
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Radial ProMS2 Passive Microphone Splitter
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Grace Design m101 Half-rack Microphone Preamp
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Drawmer Kick Box
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Lenny's microphone used in this video: Roswell Mini k87
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Lenny's Preamp used in this video: Neve 1073spx
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Lenny's Interface used in this video: Apollo X6
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I help content creators make a stronger connection with their audience. Voice-over artists, actors, musicians, and performers worldwide come to me to help improve their production quality, expand their influence, grow their audience, win more auditions, and get more work. Some of the links on this page are links to affiliate websites, and I receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. My affiliates include Sweetwater, Roswell Microphones, Gik Acoustics, Waves, and Amazon.
#audioproduction #voiceover #voiceoverartist #voiceactingadvice #voiceactingadvice #acoustictreatment - Навчання та стиль
WOW!!!! I didn't even know Radial made one of these! What a lifesaver!!!
Speaking words of wisdom...
Couple of thoughts:
with the preamp> line>split, you'd still need to be v careful with the input gain on the pre not to be clipping that into distortion on the loud parts.
Mic technique and simply learning to control and back off for loud parts can help a huge amount.
There's also the good old Disney way of using 2 mics instead of a splitter etc.
V glad you got to the higher bitrate part, even 24bit has pretty massive headroom. Probably the biggest challenge w really quiet parts is ambient sound, background etc.
All great points! Thanks @zeitakulobusta9708
Hey Lenny, I love your educational and inspiring videos for the VO community! Keep up the GREAT work!
Thanks Victor, I appreciate you! @Singletonsaysvo
Wow!! Awesome Lenny! Extremely helpful...thanks so much for these videos
Awesome video! Thank you for sharing with us real value :)
SO GOOD! 👏
Lenny, this was extremely helpful. I'm looking into a Radial Pro MS2! Thank you.
Have you heard about the new Lewitt RAY microphone yet? I caught myself wondering if it would serve for this very purpose --when I first heard about it. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Hi @stirado, I have heard of the RAY and am a fan of Lewittooks interesting, but mics. The RAY l I haven't tried one yet. Will it handle quiet and loud speech? I think that depends on how fast it adjusts. I also think you'd need to have a very well-treated room if you depend on the gain adjust the feature for voice-over. Thanks for your thoughts! I appreciate you!
Hi Lenny, sorry if this is a silly question, I'm still trying to figure this out.
If my gain was already adjusted to my normal speaking levels, why can't I just arm two tracks with the same mic and just turn down the gain on one through my DAW? Or does that just keep the distortion but make it quieter?
Also at 13:00 , the cable you're using to output to the audio interface- is it a xlr to trs splitter? or xlr to xlr splitter?
@doctorbox9715, that's a good question. I thought the same thing. You can route internally, but your second track will distort (even if it's at a lower volume) if your first track does. Regarding the cable, it's all about the connection you need. The cable just has to be balanced. TRS or XLR are both balanced.
it was very helpfull.so can you show me how to edit multiple voiceovers? like when there are 2 or 3 people talking how do you put them together
Hi @abenezerzemedkun7798. You might try searching "podcast multitracking" on UA-cam. I hope to do a video on that subject soon. Thanks!
So for the output from the splitter to the audio interface, you're not using a Y-Cable but two M to F XLR cables?
Yes. Then going into two separate channels into the audio interface.
An SM7b
Does the Radial pass 48v?
Yes, it does!
Wouldn't something like 32 bit float supposedly work for this?
Hi Robert, I touch on this a little bit, later in the video. The 32 bit float system is a storage container for audio. It can hold a huge dynamic range. However, your mic and preamp can still peak if not set correctly. Additionally, your recording device needs to have several A/D converters to offer "no overs." So, although some marketing you see touts "you'll never peak over 0 dBFS," it can be a little more complicated. I've found some wonderful videos on UA-cam that explain this subject well.
@@HeyLennyB thanks, sorry I got interrupted before finishing my comment. We recently added a few 32 bit float field recorders to our ENG packages and we're still wrapping our heads around the concept. Thanks for all you do and share.
Distressor 😅
This is one way to lower the level during louder speaking parts. However, I was focusing more on capturing raw audio. I need a Distressor or two in my studio one day.
For spoken word, broadcast etc....Crane Song Trakker 24/7!