Recording Software - Some Hard Choices? No not really...
Dear Master VO,
I'm fairly new to the field and wondered if you might be able to give me some advice on recording at home. Right now, I am recording with NCH Sound Pad recording software. Would you know of another kind of software available where I could mix background effects (music, etc.) to enhance the quality of the audition?
Thank you.
Tony Gentile
Tony,
Welcome to the VO Dojo.
Software. Talk about choices. There are many. Most of them pretty good.
NCH Sound Pad is a European product that, from what I can see, is very adequate for what you are doing, except for the fact that you want to add other tracks. ie. music or sound effects.
In the good ol days before PC recording, in fact, before many radio stations employed the use of multi-track tape recorders, (Yes, I'm that old) we made commercials in real-time, running different sound sources (like a record on a turntable!) at the same time and mixing the levels manually on the fly. It took a little rehearsal and sometimes a bunch of takes, but it worked, and gave us great understanding of the logical process involved. Editing was done with a grease pencil and a razor blade. (huh?) I sorta miss it.
When mulit-track machines were introduced widely into local broadcast production in the early eighties, production directors like myself marveled at how we could record things one at a time and "punch in" sound effects and music with deadly precision. Then you could "mix down" the recording so everything sounded just right.
With the advent of digital recording in the later eighties and its development into the more sophisticated multi-track programs we have today, the only real time thing you are recording is your voice. The rest is cut and paste. Import and and insert. To us grease pencil and razer blade jockeys it was like going from driving a Ferrari to riding a bike. Yeah really. The margin of error had been erased. (An error is not something you want to make in Ferrari)
Why the history? To show you that the mental process hasn't changed in the 30 years I've been working in a studio. You still have to plan out what it is you are producing and make the right choices based on the script you are presented. Mapping the production in your mind was the skill we developed. The analog process was slower, and by the way, sounded like garbage compared to hissless bits and bytes we use today. But, it made you be very conscious of what you were doing.
Today you have choices of multi-track software that all do pretty much the same thing. The only difference is how many tracks you can create and use at once, and the physical layout of the interface. (Ok, we'll stay away from "plug-ins" and that stuff for today)
I've mentioned "Audacity" in this space in the past, and considering my ten year-old is re-mixing songs using it, its a sure bet anyone can handle its simple and logical interface. Best of all, Its FREE shareware!
On the Mac side, when you buy a Mac, it comes with all you need. Garage Band! (The more expensive models come with Logic Express, its big brother) Garage band is designed with the beginner in mind. Harmonic simplicity! Play around with it at your gear dealer and see what I mean. In fact all the manufacturers generally offer free trials of thier packages online so you can play around and see what is the easiest to use.
There are other choices as well like CUBase and Appleton and etc etc.....Those are for musicians and bands making thier own music CD's. They can play and mix MIDI tracks and recorded audio and have sound manipulation features to beat the band, (Pardon the pun)
I invite any and all to comment and add to what I have presented here so that Tony can feel he has all relevant information.
Thanks for that question Tony!
Master Vo out ((((GONG)))))
Comments
Your opinion on Plug & Air...............by Behringer, says its a complete package.
Is this all one would need for Voice acting?
Thank you.
Posted by: Ann Ford | September 27, 2007 2:40 PM
Can you (or anyone) tell me if my Nero system is adequate? My husband has been mixing music on it & it sounds ok to me - Also - what are the specific technical requirements for professional submissions? (That's for those of us who started in acting, not in radio!) Thanks.
Posted by: Pam Munro | September 28, 2007 3:07 PM
Dan's historic profile and recollection of audio editing are excellent. But he hasn't said much of the economics of editing, which really became the tipping point.
Grease pencil and editing block work was time-consuming, even when the editor was an experienced magician. Some of the national agency spots we hear today would have taken an entire day OR MORE to produce in, say, 1964. At a union shop like WABC, WLS or WXYZ, what would a production director have been earning on an hourly basis?
Perhaps 6 or 8 dollars an hour?
A primary reason that digital editing blew linear out of the water was that it required so much less time. Even in the largest markets, who was going to continue to pay the labor component of razor editing when far more detailed work of vastly superior quality could be produced with software in 1/4 the time?
Now that I've contributed my .03 cents worth, may I put out a feeler? 2 feelers. Who knows the whereabouts of two of the most gifted voices of the 60's? Somebody must know how to email Richard Ward Fatherly, not-so-secret ingredient of KXOK. Also, WXYZ Detroit's classic production man, Bruce Miller. Miller graduated from the AM side, 1270, to WXYZ Channel 7. He left about 1985, having last been heard mornings, introducing Kelly and Company. Where are you, Bruce? Any leads welcomed and really appreciated.
Posted by: jayguy | October 4, 2007 1:32 AM
Hi,
I think Cubase SE is a simple but effective software for your recording projects.
I have compiled many recording tips and tricks and processes on my Main Website that you get access to when you purchase my 115 Page Home Recording Studio Guide.
http://www.home-recording-studio-guide.com
Posted by: Jim | October 5, 2007 1:35 PM
I think you have given some great tips to someone that is just starting out. Audacity is great little program that we use as the primary DAW (digital audio workstation) at the radio station I work at. It is very easy to use and does a good job.
Although I use Pro Tools to record in my home studio, I have appreciation for the other DAWs out there. My first home recording software I used was a cheap Cakewalk program ($79 if I remember right). It worked well for what I used it for.
I had to laugh when you mentioned the grease pencil and the razor blade, because I remember being trained on this at school. It is definitely a lot easier to edit now. It's amazing how much things have changed.
Posted by: Eric | October 8, 2007 9:58 PM
Ahhhh.. Grease pencils and razor blades.. those were the days.. I just recently had to break out my splicing tile and jig to repair a Mini DV tape that was recovered as evidence at a crash and had been snapped coming out of the camera.. It was like an old shoe.. ;) fit just right and we got the tape working, and caught the guy as a result.. :) Old tech works just fine .. :)
Adam
Defiant Digital Productions
Posted by: Adam C Fox | November 2, 2007 5:19 PM
I use Steinburg's Nuendo. It's honestly too expensive but you can find it used every once in a while on ebay and other sites. The best part it will run any pug ins. It'll do video too and 5.1 surround. I have the very old 1.6 version.
And yes, I too remember razor blades etc. I was so excited when we bought and 8 track tape deck. The radio station could only afford 2 reels, so we'd use one all the way through and then switch to the next one and then have record over the first one. No mastering there.
Posted by: Jon | November 28, 2007 11:41 AM
Hi, I can recommend ProTools LE as my favourite voice recording software. If you purchase any of the MBox audio interfaces you´ll receive the latest ProTools Version as a part of the package. I´m working with it for years now, and I´ve done speech recordings, singing, dubbing and production work with it.
Posted by: Doris Lauerwald | November 29, 2007 5:46 PM
Whoa,
Its been a while since I checked in to my blog! (Some technical difficulties)
Great comments all!
I would say (As I said in the original entry) that almost all the products mentioned here are more than adequate for voice over applications.
Since I wrote that back in September, I've made a few discoveries that many of you might find interesting.
I'm writing my next "Voice Over Experts" podcast for Voices.com right now.
Stay tuned for whenever it gets on.
May the voice be with you,
Master VO
Posted by: Master VO | December 1, 2007 7:10 PM
I am using Sonar6/6xL, I just got it and it is a little complicated as far as editing. But then I am a novice.
Records great, I use M-Audio preamp, and a ST51 condensor mic with my Fujitsu laptop.
Posted by: Douglass Russell | April 3, 2008 10:40 AM
As a singer, I used to record my new songs using Crystal MP3 Recorder. It’s quite easy to use and record sound with high quality. I find it on http://sharewarecheap.com/Crystal-MP3-Recorder_software_806.html
Posted by: Smith | August 5, 2008 1:07 AM