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How to Record a Short MP3 Voice Over

Voice overs can be used for a variety of tasks, including presentations, advertisements and on television programs and movies. Creating a short MP3 voice over is easy to do with a recording device and a home computer with the relevant software. Where once a professional studio was required to create voice overs, it is now possible to record in the comfort of your own home. Many people have gone further than using recording devices at home and converted a room in any house into a recording studio. This is not necessary to achieving a quality voice over but is worth considering if you plan on creating them regularly.

Things You'll Need

  • Script
  • Recording device
  • Recording studio
  • Sound-editing software
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Instructions

    • 1

      Write a script before you begin to record your voice over even if you think you can instantly recall everything you wish to say. When we try to speak from memory, we will often pause or stutter or mix up words. These pauses and mistakes will have to be cut from the final product, which is time-consuming and unnecessary. Read your script a few times before you start to record to ensure you are comfortable with the words.

    • 2

      Use a recording device if you do not have access to or the budget for a recording studio. Choose a professional device like a Marantz or Zoom recorder to get the best quality sound quality. Choose a carpeted room without high ceilings to avoid echoing. Make sure there are no sounds that will affect the recording such as refrigerators, air conditioning or car or dog noises from outside. Sit comfortably with your feet apart and hold the microphone about 2 inches from your face. Record a few versions of the script.

    • 3

      Use a recording studio if you can afford to. A technician will aid you in recording your voice over and will worry about sound levels and recording levels so you don't have to. Speak clearly into the microphone without shouting and do not put your mouth too close to it. Ask the technician to record your session onto a disc.

    • 4

      Use sound-editing software to tweak and change your voice over to a professional quality. Upload the sound files from your recording device to your computer or rip the file from the disc provided to you by the technician. Use the software to cut and alter your voice over. It is here that you can take out any errors or pauses in your recording. Once you are satisfied with your voice over, save it in the software menu. The software may automatically give you a choice to save it as an MP3 file. If it does not, open the "File" menu, choose "save as" and save as an MP3 file.

Recording Music

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