Recording Your Voice and Techniques
Recorded Bio
For future reference, we ask that you identify your bio recording with your name, the date, and where you live and work.
Tell us in a more general way about your writing; what you hope to express, what the listener might find interesting about your work, perhaps how you started writing... This section of your recording will be included (as an audio file) in the Writers Radio "About The Writers" a part of the website where listeners can learn more about the writer. If you wish to make a land acknowledgement please do so wherever you choose in his recorded bio.
Tell us in a more general way about your writing; what you hope to express, what the listener might find interesting about your work, perhaps how you started writing... This section of your recording will be included (as an audio file) in the Writers Radio "About The Writers" a part of the website where listeners can learn more about the writer. If you wish to make a land acknowledgement please do so wherever you choose in his recorded bio.
Recording Your Voice
Regardless of the hardware or software used, following these suggestions from Gary will result in a better recording.
1. Find a quiet space to record in, away from street noise, appliance noises, and household interruptions.
2. Do not touch the mic while recording. Use a mic stand or tripod, or prop up your phone or recorder. Maintain a consistent distance from the mic or device.
Recording with a cell phone?
The mic is in the bottom of the phone so keep that in mind when positioning the phone.
1. Find a quiet space to record in, away from street noise, appliance noises, and household interruptions.
2. Do not touch the mic while recording. Use a mic stand or tripod, or prop up your phone or recorder. Maintain a consistent distance from the mic or device.
Recording with a cell phone?
The mic is in the bottom of the phone so keep that in mind when positioning the phone.
3. Your mouth should be about a handwidth from the recorder.
4. One of the challenges of recording is the “plosive” sounds of certain consonants which are impossible to edit out and also impossible to avoid.
The best solution is to use a pop filter. But if that is not possible, the mic could be positioned slightly below the mouth. (Watch the video for an example of that.)
4. One of the challenges of recording is the “plosive” sounds of certain consonants which are impossible to edit out and also impossible to avoid.
The best solution is to use a pop filter. But if that is not possible, the mic could be positioned slightly below the mouth. (Watch the video for an example of that.)
This video provides a visual guide to managing your mic position and usage.
5. Read your piece aloud to become familiar with its sound.
6. When you begin recording, wait 5 seconds before speaking at the beginning and between each reading. This helps me assess and correct for room noise which can markedly improve the result. Record two takes.
7. If you make a mistake part way through, stop and leave a short pause. Begin again before the point in the text where you goofed. I will edit for the corrected version. This is especially important if you are reading a longer prose piece. With poetry you might just repeat the stanza or piece as a whole.
8. Music will be placed at the beginning and end of your reading. It is also likely, especially with longer pieces, that there are places where you, as the author/reader, might feel that a musical pause in the reading would be appropriate. Feel free to create such pauses as this is useful for me to consider inserting some transitional music.
9. Review both takes and, if you aren’t happy with the result, delete them and record two more. Electrons are free.
10. If you are using the Voice Record Pro app, follow the instructions HERE. Otherwise, save your favourite two takes in a high quality format (MP4, Wave or AIFF).
- send the files directly to me: ObscureMyEmail
- If the total file size is under 12MBs, the files can be sent as email attachments.
- Otherwise, follow the step-by-step help HERE.
11. Have fun, and don’t hesitate to contact me with questions. Sometimes sending a short test recording is helpful if you are uncertain or are reading a long piece.
Cheers!
Gary Sill
6. When you begin recording, wait 5 seconds before speaking at the beginning and between each reading. This helps me assess and correct for room noise which can markedly improve the result. Record two takes.
7. If you make a mistake part way through, stop and leave a short pause. Begin again before the point in the text where you goofed. I will edit for the corrected version. This is especially important if you are reading a longer prose piece. With poetry you might just repeat the stanza or piece as a whole.
8. Music will be placed at the beginning and end of your reading. It is also likely, especially with longer pieces, that there are places where you, as the author/reader, might feel that a musical pause in the reading would be appropriate. Feel free to create such pauses as this is useful for me to consider inserting some transitional music.
9. Review both takes and, if you aren’t happy with the result, delete them and record two more. Electrons are free.
10. If you are using the Voice Record Pro app, follow the instructions HERE. Otherwise, save your favourite two takes in a high quality format (MP4, Wave or AIFF).
- send the files directly to me: ObscureMyEmail
- If the total file size is under 12MBs, the files can be sent as email attachments.
- Otherwise, follow the step-by-step help HERE.
11. Have fun, and don’t hesitate to contact me with questions. Sometimes sending a short test recording is helpful if you are uncertain or are reading a long piece.
Cheers!
Gary Sill