Voice overs or narration are often used in video production. Most TV news stories use voice over, as well as live or ‘sync’ sound from an interviewee or on-camera host.
But when and where do you record these?
There are two options:
- On location at the time of the shoot, or
- As part of the post-production process in an acoustically treated studio.
Location
Generally voice overs that relate directly to the subject and are designed to be a continuation of an on-camera segment by a host or reporter, are simply recorded after the piece to camera are done.
Key is to try and make sure the voice overs have the same ambience as the to-camera pieces, which means using the same microphone and making sure body posture is similar. This is particularly important if you’re using a lavalier microphone as the sound can vary depending on posture and distance from the source.
Post-Production voice overs
These are generally recorded in an acoustically quiet location, such as a sound-proof booth. However often a lounge room with a blanket or rug hung over a wardrobe door will do just as well.
A good quality shotgun microphone is usually best, mounted on a boom mic stand and pointing down to the person reading, Make sure there are no ‘pops’ of breath on the mic. You may need to adjust the position of the mic to avoid these.
Well written voice overs can make a significant difference to documentaries. Because documentaries are often shot to a very loose script, the post-production process is key to making them interesting and watchable.
