So many mic technique videos today are either for other professions or a paid for class so thank you immensely for offering this lesson for free. Much love from an aspiring VA.
So PROUD and so happy to see you expanding you presence on YT. I am one of your former students from back in 1992!! I was coached by Bill Williams, himself. Believe it or not on the occasional times I do media work I STILL list ACP on my resume. Hats off tho Aliso Creek :).
Thank you, William! - found you by searching "distance from mic' which confirmed the 'hang-tight' tip - and got other great info along the way. I have been recording with my cardioid mic angled about 10 degrees away from center to avoid plosives and was a bit too low. Furthermore, was not keeping the head still as in golf. Moving forward, will still the head when moving the body. Great tips and steps that will help me be a better VO service provider! 🎙👏🏼
Mr. Williams, this is the very best video I've seen to describe mic technique!!! It's so clear and easy to listen to! And fun learning. (And a love your shirt. 😁) Thank you!
Thanks William! So nice to see a fresh new video from you. I appreciate you sharing from your wealth of knowledge and experience. The mic techniques you talk about and demonstrate are particularly helpful to a VO newbie like myself. I also enjoyed your humor- and the beatboxing from Grandmaster W. ;-)
Damn. I start doing Voice Over 3 years ago. This is HANDY and funny. I made all the mistakes and learn. I love my Blue Yeti, got a Boomstick. Practice. Use the Cardio setting and much much more. Amazing Video. I love it. Thank you so much.
Great explanation on recording Voice Overs, i do recording my self and this was a great refresher lesson. even though this is an old video, it is still relevant today.
Just bought my first quality condenser, also discovered this channel in the same week. Go figure, happy to be here. Watched a couple videos, and I think i'll be visiting around here more often. I appreciate all the effort and coaching.
Thank you for your comments on the microphone technique. They are interesting. I noted your comments in the video referring to your listeners and saying that 'they don't want a dynamic microphone', and I wonder why that is the case? Some people (many I expect) already use dynamic microphones mainly for VO, and specifically so for the advantages that a dynamic microphone will have with noise rejection and the proximity effect. I have 3 condenser microphones and 4 dynamic microphones. The dynamic microphones get used 90% of the time. The condenser microphones rarely. It's just an observation. Maybe some of your less experienced VO producers may find the expanded topic (condenser vs. dynamic) of some use to them in making the next microphone purchase. I recognise that every person and recording situation is unique and in saying that, helping people understand the facts is important. Leave the idea with you. Thank you again for your interesting topics and guidance.
John Highman Thanks for your insight. Dynamic mics are used a lot by broadcaster. In that situation your voice goes into the mic and out over the air. In voice over your voice is recorded and sent to the client who may then process it and add it to video, a podcast, and audiobook, etc. I prefer to give them an initial recording that has the highest fidelity possible. The frequency response of a dynamic mic is limited by the fact that the "voice coil" has mass and it needs to be moved by your voice. As a side note, this "voice coil" is also susceptible to picking up RF noice from fluorescent lights, motors, etc. Finally AM radio has a bandwidth 10khz so a dynamic mic is fine for radio talk shows on AM. A decent condenser mic has a frequency response of 20-20,000 hz because the element is essentially massless. They are not susceptible to hum because they are electrostatic. All unidirectional mics have a proximity effect, dynamic or condenser. BTW I'm not against someone using an Electro-voice RE-20. It is designed with a low-mass coil and a hum-bucking coil to counteract the shortcomings of dynamics. But please don't use a SM-58. Finally practical experience. I've recorded VOs in hundreds of L.A. voice over studios. I've never recorded on a dynamic mic. Ha ha, I think I just wrote the script for that video you recommended I create. Best of Success -William
Just subscribed, I make documentary videos, my issue is, I often use wrong emphasis and up and downs at the wrong time during a sentence when using my Mic voice. Do you have any technique for nailing those more complex paragraphs smoothly?
A lot of folks are making claim that the SM57 with thick windscreen can sound as good as a pre-amped SM7. I know it's a dynamic mic... What's your take on this?
Thanks for responding.It's best to clean up your recording space to eliminate external and interior sounds and room echo. A dynamic mic just adds electrical noise and possibly hum and buzz. Using a low quality mic is like pouring brown gravy on a burned steak. Nowadays the first thing clients listen to is your recording quality, before considering your performance or your voice. James Earl Jones is not going to be hired if his recording is low quality.
0:09 _"first of all that's a dynamic mic and you want a condenser mic"_ Well depends on situation really. If I live in a flat with a lot of noise (kids outside screaming, fans running and whatever else is there), then condenser mic might not be the best option in my opinion. + I hear a lot of noise/hiss in this video. Eg.: 0:32
True on the dynamic choice, which is why I also use my dynamic when recording in my booth inside my L.A. apt. But condenser is preferred for VO in majority of situations. - and, yes, noise & hiss on this vid. (forgot to clean up, WW?) :-o
Well, that’s what I thought, and bought a Shure SM7b. But an audio engineer suggested I use my Sennheiser MKH-416 shotgun mic, which I also had, and that has worked much more effectively than either the large diaphragm condenser or the quality dynamic mic. It’s a hypercardioid, highly directional, and does a great job of rejecting off-axis noise. My booth is my walk-in closer, facing the clothes, moving blanket over the door and acoustic tiles on the one bare wall. The noise floor went from bad to excellent (better than -60dB, ACX requirement), without having to apply noise reduction, most of the time. Occasional showering neighbors’ fan noise filtering is built into my post-processing effects stack. I got my 416 off eBay for way less than full price. Otherwise, one of the much cheaper, but good Rode NTG (1, 2, or 3) shotgun mics would probably work as well. My issue with the Shure is just the slightly reduced spectrum. Great for Michael Jackson and R&B, but maybe not so good for intimate speech. Just my opinion.
Respected sir ill be starting vlogging soon. Ill be usig the rode directional mic for my camera for outdoor and indoor. If you could help me with exercises to clear my speech. I feel like i am mumbling within my mouth. . My father is a script writer and he always belives that the voice and narration makes a good actor. Please advice what all can i do to make my speach and voice more clear and crisp while talking.
İngilizce pek bilmiyorum ama en büyük hedeflerimden birisi de İngilizce seslendirme ve dublaj çalışmaları yapmak. Dili sıfırdan öğrenen biri için bunun imkansız olduğunu duyduğumda derin bir üzüntü duymuştum
You do not need to be fluent in English to do English Text Voice Over. You just need to be able to read and pronounce English well enough to be understood. Of course you do need to understand the meaning and the context of the words. But you don't need to create the words. They are provided in the script. Practice reading English. İyi şanslar!
Thank you sir, I was always told it would not happen, so I stopped practicing about 1 year ago, I will start again as soon as possible, thank you for your time, it gave me hope. (I apologize if there were mistakes because I wrote using translation)
I've been using a Tascam DR-05x for voice. Not sure if my voice is terrible or if I need a new microphone. Decided to get a BM8000 and FocusRite Scarlett Solo interface. Question is: are there voices just not conducive to being recorded? Is there a way to remove the harshness of a voice?
You have several questions. I believe that the Tascam DR-05x has better frequency response than the BM8000. But it has a connecter that plugs into the line input of your computer which uses your sound card. This probably has more noise. A better choice would be a USB mic. You can get a Yeti Nano for ~$100. USB Mics don't use the sound card to input the audio. The digital audio goes directly into your recording program. a free voice over lesson here where you can send your mp3 recording for my evaluation: www.onlinevoiceoverclasses.com/free-sample-voice-over-lesson-and-evaluation
Hi William, no matter what I do in processing there is still an ever-so-slight ambient hiss behind my voiceover. I can process out all the hissing and sounds between spoken words/sentences, but no matter what I try (noise gate, for instance) that ever-so-slight ambient hiss remains. Any suggestion? THANKS
Gates and editing don't work because the hiss is still audible in the unedited or ungated portions of audio. OK, I'm going to recommend something that I usually DON'T recommend: Noise reduction. Noise reduction doesn't get rid of breaths, keyboard clicks, barking dogs, trash trucks or leaf blowers or your kids playing Guitar Hero. But it does work on steady state noise such as hum and hiss. Not every recording software has it but it is included in the Audacity app, which is free download. Using it is a two step process. First you sample a few seconds where there is ONLY the hiss (In Audacity-Get Noise Profile) (a sharp recording engineer named George Whittam recommends that you hit record and then leave the room! Then select a section where you are not in the room. That way you only record room tone and the electronic hiss inherent in amplification). Then using this sample you apply noise reduction to the entire track. Use the least amount possible, maybe 6dB or less. Too much and you get a swishing effect in your vocal that is unacceptable. But just a touch is inaudible but reduces the hiss considerably. Hope this helps. William
@@AlisoCreekVoiceOver William, thanks much for replying so quickly and for this info. I will go back to the piece I'm working on and use noise profile per your advice! Appreciate your courtesy! :)
@@AlisoCreekVoiceOver Hi William! Update: I applied your advice using noise profile . . . recording is great, very clean and hiss is gone! Thanks much! :)
The Shure SM7B; an icon, or even an SM58. Great condensers. You don't necessarily NEED a condenser, but it's very preferred in the v/o or music industry
I'm fairly new to VO, and I can understand fully why you have this job - that voice of yours is like bathing in melted chocolate. You have a new sub!!
@Sunny Ah Day YOU'RE KIDDING?! NO WONDER HE KINDA SOUNDS FAMILIAR!
"and you'll probably alter the mood of the engineer". ...for real! ;-)
So many mic technique videos today are either for other professions or a paid for class so thank you immensely for offering this lesson for free. Much love from an aspiring VA.
So PROUD and so happy to see you expanding you presence on YT. I am one of your former students from back in 1992!! I was coached by Bill Williams, himself.
Believe it or not on the occasional times I do media work I STILL list ACP on my resume. Hats off tho Aliso Creek :).
I could listen to your voice for hours
for loud and quiet reads you can er....change the gain on your pre or interface too ;)
Hands down, the best VO coach online today.
The flashlight....genius!
This channel is a hidden gold mine
Who would give this a thumbs down? a "mime" maybe? Great stuff Mr. Williams.
I've been waiting and looking for a video like this for forever. Thank you.
Trying to get a handle on mics. Great tips. Thanks!
Thanks so much! I'm so glad to have discovered these series of videos. I'm a fan and subscriber!
I really appreciate the advices!!!
I can't believe how accurate and important informations i just learned from You sir for FREE. Thank you!
That was INSANELY informative and your delivery makes me trust the advice. Also, you sound a BIT like Grandpa Joe from Wonka. lol.
Thanks so much for this content - Timeless tips and a really approachable teaching technique!
I am really grateful
Thank you, William! - found you by searching "distance from mic' which confirmed the 'hang-tight' tip - and got other great info along the way. I have been recording with my cardioid mic angled about 10 degrees away from center to avoid plosives and was a bit too low. Furthermore, was not keeping the head still as in golf. Moving forward, will still the head when moving the body. Great tips and steps that will help me be a better VO service provider! 🎙👏🏼
Mr. Williams, this is the very best video I've seen to describe mic technique!!! It's so clear and easy to listen to! And fun learning. (And a love your shirt. 😁) Thank you!
I really like the demonstration. It's helpful.
Thanks William! So nice to see a fresh new video from you. I appreciate you sharing from your wealth of knowledge and experience. The mic techniques you talk about and demonstrate are particularly helpful to a VO newbie like myself. I also enjoyed your humor- and the beatboxing from Grandmaster W. ;-)
This is great thank you
Great vid! Do you have one for shotgun mics?
I watched a lot of videos regarding voice overs. THIS IS THE BEST AND MOST DETAILED! THANK YOU SIR 🔥
I found my audio guru! Love from India. - Arun
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻que microphone está usando?
Your channel is simply the best. That's it.
Damn. I start doing Voice Over 3 years ago. This is HANDY and funny. I made all the mistakes and learn. I love my Blue Yeti, got a Boomstick. Practice. Use the Cardio setting and much much more. Amazing Video. I love it. Thank you so much.
Hella useful. Ty.
Great explanation on recording Voice Overs, i do recording my self and this was a great refresher lesson. even though this is an old video, it is still relevant today.
Such cool dude... xD
ty for the tips ^^
Just bought my first quality condenser, also discovered this channel in the same week. Go figure, happy to be here. Watched a couple videos, and I think i'll be visiting around here more often. I appreciate all the effort and coaching.
Respect!
Hi, i am Gianluca from Italy. Thank you for your video. Please the model of the microphone ADK.
Wow, really great stuff! Except that I've used a Shure sm7b, which is dynamic, for many V.O.
0:06 the creek is on fire!!!!
So much useful info condensed into one short video, excellent work!
This is a really useful video. Great job!
7 seconds in...Subscribed lol
Fun and informative. Great information that is well presented with some good takeaways.
Like your informative teaching with two thumbs up.
Thank you very much!
"except for Burma and Liberia" XD
Thank you very much.
adorable presentation, lovely voice and i learned a lot. thank you!
Nice video 👍
Very helpful. Also funny. Which is helpful, too. Thanks! 👍🏻🍀
There is an insane amount of noise in this recording.
Do you have suggestions for reducing sibilance?
Thank you so much, very informative!
helpful video. thank you so much
Excellent
Good tut, thank you
Wisdom with Experience. This is such a good reference for me! Thanks!
Thank you for your comments on the microphone technique. They are interesting. I noted your comments in the video referring to your listeners and saying that 'they don't want a dynamic microphone', and I wonder why that is the case? Some people (many I expect) already use dynamic microphones mainly for VO, and specifically so for the advantages that a dynamic microphone will have with noise rejection and the proximity effect. I have 3 condenser microphones and 4 dynamic microphones. The dynamic microphones get used 90% of the time. The condenser microphones rarely. It's just an observation. Maybe some of your less experienced VO producers may find the expanded topic (condenser vs. dynamic) of some use to them in making the next microphone purchase. I recognise that every person and recording situation is unique and in saying that, helping people understand the facts is important. Leave the idea with you. Thank you again for your interesting topics and guidance.
John Highman Thanks for your insight. Dynamic mics are used a lot by broadcaster. In that situation your voice goes into the mic and out over the air. In voice over your voice is recorded and sent to the client who may then process it and add it to video, a podcast, and audiobook, etc. I prefer to give them an initial recording that has the highest fidelity possible. The frequency response of a dynamic mic is limited by the fact that the "voice coil" has mass and it needs to be moved by your voice. As a side note, this "voice coil" is also susceptible to picking up RF noice from fluorescent lights, motors, etc. Finally AM radio has a bandwidth 10khz so a dynamic mic is fine for radio talk shows on AM. A decent condenser mic has a frequency response of 20-20,000 hz because the element is essentially massless. They are not susceptible to hum because they are electrostatic. All unidirectional mics have a proximity effect, dynamic or condenser. BTW I'm not against someone using an Electro-voice RE-20. It is designed with a low-mass coil and a hum-bucking coil to counteract the shortcomings of dynamics. But please don't use a SM-58. Finally practical experience. I've recorded VOs in hundreds of L.A. voice over studios. I've never recorded on a dynamic mic. Ha ha, I think I just wrote the script for that video you recommended I create. Best of Success -William
Just subscribed, I make documentary videos, my issue is, I often use wrong emphasis and up and downs at the wrong time during a sentence when using my Mic voice. Do you have any technique for nailing those more complex paragraphs smoothly?
Thank you, Mr William!
Just love your presentation, Thank you for another informative training video
Thank you for you sharing. Cool. I love it.
Great video ! Just by curiosity, did you voice over for the game Endzone : A World Apart ? The main character sounds just like you!
Gave it a thumbs up for the beat boxing at the start of the video
Thanks!
Any thoughts on the Shure MV7?
Absolutely amazing content. Thank you (subscribed).
OMG IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
I like your every video
This voice looks familiar, from Derek Rake master mind audiobook.
Is this a Stedman Pro pop filter? If so, curious as to how you like it.
Any tips to avoid lips noise and crackle?
What about dynamic mics? Used with a preamp
LOL WHY LIBERIA lol im from liberia, i love your videos and i have learned alot
A lot of folks are making claim that the SM57 with thick windscreen can sound as good as a pre-amped SM7. I know it's a dynamic mic... What's your take on this?
You want a condenser...if you have a quiet area.
Thanks for responding.It's best to clean up your recording space to eliminate external and interior sounds and room echo. A dynamic mic just adds electrical noise and possibly hum and buzz. Using a low quality mic is like pouring brown gravy on a burned steak. Nowadays the first thing clients listen to is your recording quality, before considering your performance or your voice. James Earl Jones is not going to be hired if his recording is low quality.
Your voice reminds me of the late great Jack Palance.
Super
0:09 _"first of all that's a dynamic mic and you want a condenser mic"_
Well depends on situation really. If I live in a flat with a lot of noise (kids outside screaming, fans running and whatever else is there), then condenser mic might not be the best option in my opinion.
+ I hear a lot of noise/hiss in this video. Eg.: 0:32
True on the dynamic choice, which is why I also use my dynamic when recording in my booth inside my L.A. apt. But condenser is preferred for VO in majority of situations.
- and, yes, noise & hiss on this vid. (forgot to clean up, WW?) :-o
Well, that’s what I thought, and bought a Shure SM7b. But an audio engineer suggested I use my Sennheiser MKH-416 shotgun mic, which I also had, and that has worked much more effectively than either the large diaphragm condenser or the quality dynamic mic. It’s a hypercardioid, highly directional, and does a great job of rejecting off-axis noise. My booth is my walk-in closer, facing the clothes, moving blanket over the door and acoustic tiles on the one bare wall. The noise floor went from bad to excellent (better than -60dB, ACX requirement), without having to apply noise reduction, most of the time. Occasional showering neighbors’ fan noise filtering is built into my post-processing effects stack. I got my 416 off eBay for way less than full price. Otherwise, one of the much cheaper, but good Rode NTG (1, 2, or 3) shotgun mics would probably work as well. My issue with the Shure is just the slightly reduced spectrum. Great for Michael Jackson and R&B, but maybe not so good for intimate speech. Just my opinion.
On the contrary, a mic sounds best off axis
is there any technical tips to use in settings for whispering close up voice?
back down on the gain
Kenny Rogers!
Grandmaster W? I feel personally attacked.
Why? We're Brothers of the Beat, man! Like Ice T & Ice Cube.
Hello.
Greetings from Moscow.
....aaaaaaaaand you'll probably alter the mood of the engineer. LOL!
Thanks ! " Super Peachy !
Respected sir ill be starting vlogging soon. Ill be usig the rode directional mic for my camera for outdoor and indoor. If you could help me with exercises to clear my speech. I feel like i am mumbling within my mouth. . My father is a script writer and he always belives that the voice and narration makes a good actor. Please advice what all can i do to make my speach and voice more clear and crisp while talking.
İngilizce pek bilmiyorum ama en büyük hedeflerimden birisi de İngilizce seslendirme ve dublaj çalışmaları yapmak. Dili sıfırdan öğrenen biri için bunun imkansız olduğunu duyduğumda derin bir üzüntü duymuştum
You do not need to be fluent in English to do English Text Voice Over. You just need to be able to read and pronounce English well enough to be understood. Of course you do need to understand the meaning and the context of the words. But you don't need to create the words. They are provided in the script. Practice reading English. İyi şanslar!
Thank you sir, I was always told it would not happen, so I stopped practicing about 1 year ago, I will start again as soon as possible, thank you for your time, it gave me hope.
(I apologize if there were mistakes because I wrote using translation)
The millennial laser joke had me.
I dropped a like particularly because of the use of the Metric System HAHAHAHAHA. Awesome video! Thanks!
i can hear the noise level like you are making french fries :) but thankx for the video i'm already subscribed to your channel
❤❤
I've been using a Tascam DR-05x for voice. Not sure if my voice is terrible or if I need a new microphone. Decided to get a BM8000 and FocusRite Scarlett Solo interface. Question is: are there voices just not conducive to being recorded? Is there a way to remove the harshness of a voice?
You have several questions. I believe that the Tascam DR-05x has better frequency response than the BM8000. But it has a connecter that plugs into the line input of your computer which uses your sound card. This probably has more noise. A better choice would be a USB mic. You can get a Yeti Nano for ~$100. USB Mics don't use the sound card to input the audio. The digital audio goes directly into your recording program.
a free voice over lesson here where you can send your mp3 recording for my evaluation:
www.onlinevoiceoverclasses.com/free-sample-voice-over-lesson-and-evaluation
Gineus man
I love your videos but you need a DeEsser and a noise clean up on your audio!
I think a de esser is the least of his problems
Hi William, no matter what I do in processing there is still an ever-so-slight ambient hiss behind my voiceover. I can process out all the hissing and sounds between spoken words/sentences, but no matter what I try (noise gate, for instance) that ever-so-slight ambient hiss remains. Any suggestion? THANKS
Gates and editing don't work because the hiss is still audible in the unedited or ungated portions of audio.
OK, I'm going to recommend something that I usually DON'T recommend: Noise reduction. Noise reduction doesn't get rid of breaths, keyboard clicks, barking dogs, trash trucks or leaf blowers or your kids playing Guitar Hero. But it does work on steady state noise such as hum and hiss. Not every recording software has it but it is included in the Audacity app, which is free download.
Using it is a two step process. First you sample a few seconds where there is ONLY the hiss (In Audacity-Get Noise Profile) (a sharp recording engineer named George Whittam recommends that you hit record and then leave the room! Then select a section where you are not in the room. That way you only record room tone and the electronic hiss inherent in amplification).
Then using this sample you apply noise reduction to the entire track. Use the least amount possible, maybe 6dB or less. Too much and you get a swishing effect in your vocal that is unacceptable. But just a touch is inaudible but reduces the hiss considerably.
Hope this helps. William
@@AlisoCreekVoiceOver William, thanks much for replying so quickly and for this info. I will go back to the piece I'm working on and use noise profile per your advice! Appreciate your courtesy! :)
@@AlisoCreekVoiceOver Hi William! Update: I applied your advice using noise profile . . . recording is great, very clean and hiss is gone! Thanks much! :)
You don’t need a condenser, necessarily. Many industry professionals use RE20, or RE27ND mics.
The Shure SM7B; an icon, or even an SM58. Great condensers. You don't necessarily NEED a condenser, but it's very preferred in the v/o or music industry
@@catalinadog157 Both Shure mics mentioned are dynamic, not condenser.
wait.... is this the "how its made" voice?????
yep!
He sounds like he would voice for Arby’s
Can you Colin any one voice in normal way not ribbotekes way..
Only one question: why is it that all voice recording tutorials have shitty sound to them? 😪😪😪 ps: love your sense of humor
The ponzy scheme of You tube tutorials.
2:12 With a 2k $ microphone this is not much of an issue..
Are you a smoker? Just curious, because you have a nice raspy voice, but not too raspy.
Why in the world would you allow someone to shine a laser near your eyes?