7 Tips to Recording Professional Narration
When it comes to making a film, nothing is more important than conveying your message; and, one of the best ways to facilitate that message is by creating a compelling narration.
High quality narration helps the audience follow a story, it aids the audience in figuring out what’s important, and it compels the audience to feel something that couldn’t be conveyed through imagery and dialogue.
While narration seems pretty straightforward, it can easily go awry. That’s why we compiled our list of the seven most helpful tips to help you record professional narration:
Perfect Your Script Before Starting - Ad-libbing may work for some people, some times, but it usually backfires for most of everyone. Get your script down beforehand, and edit it to a tee. What sounds good on the spot, might not sound so good in the editing room.
Record a Demo – Going off of the same idea as #1, what sounds good on the spot might not sound so good in the editing room. Try recording a demo before you set up for the real take, and make sure it sounds the way you expect it to sound. This is also a good time to identify any technical issues that may exist with your equipment.
Don’t Rush Your Words – This one may seem obvious, but we’re always surprised at how many amateur actors tend to rush through the script. It can be difficult to say so many words in a particular period of time, but you have to trust that your script leaves you plenty of time to properly pronounce each word.
Mark Your Retakes – The rule of thumb is to leave several seconds between takes. This way, when you get to the editing room, you can easily identify them based on waveforms in your software-editing program. Organization is a filmmaker’s best friend.
Ensure Proper Microphone Position – Another seemingly “No-Brainer” but worth mentioning. If the mic is too close, the sound gets distorted; and, if it’s too far away, you pick up more ambient noise. Set the mic about 6 inches to a foot away from the speaker. If you have an anti-popping screen, place that between the mic and the speaker for a cleaner recording. You’ll be happy you did so.
Optimize Your Stance – Stand up while recording. This yields more energy and better breathing, which contribute to better sound. It’s also always a good idea to keep bottles of water on hand.
Record 30 Seconds of Room-tone – When shooting video, it’s always a good idea to shoot some B-roll film. Similarly, with audio, you’ll want to have 30 seconds of “silence,” called room-tone. Since every space has unique sound ambience, these recording help make transitions more seamless, and you can also use it to filter out unwanted ambient noise.
For additional tips on audio for film, or to hire Walkingstick for your next masterpiece, hit up info@walkingstickpresentations.com or call 435-640-9119. Always love to hear what you have going on!
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