Recording Radio & Comercials..Help 4 Newbie

[radioflyer1]

I have done much recording, but would like to become able to record commercials. voiceovers, etc...how/where would I find out (Formats, compression, etc) http://gearslutz.com/board/images/sm...u/confused.gif

[Remoteness]

Since you already have done a lot of recording, use the same principles.

Doing voice overs are not that difficult. It's just like recording a singer without the band. I'm not trying to be funny -- It's true!

I would contact your local radio and TV stations or the ad agencies you want to work with and ask them what format(s) they use.

I would compress pretty heavy but, that is really up to you. Use your ears, they already got you this far.

Good luck and keep us posted.

If your have more questions let them rip.

[petsematary]

It's true what Steve says. Gearwise I like to use dynamic mics and a clean preamp and compressor for VO type work. I also compress pretty hard and always when tracking, not afterwards with plugs.

[radioflyer1]

thanks guys. whats the deal with the 1k tone thing...is that just for video?

[Jim vanBergen]

Line up tones are incredibly important, they're what allow the broadcast facility to transfer your work at the proper level, and you can slate your work as well with your company in addition to the product. (AudioArt Sound Radio Spot, KIX CEREAL 15 second spot in five...four...three...[silent for two, one, and zero]). I used to do a lot of radio spots for my theatre clientele, and when doing large made-for-tv remotes we often do remote slates for commercial and "coming up" ads that the networks use.

ANYWAY:

If you're working in analog, provide a slate (a VO) announcing the tone (1k at 0dB =.776volts, often referenced to +4dB or 1volt in the analog world)) if you are working in digital, you want to provide a tone that is -18dB (again, 0 dB VU at .776 volts) or -14dB (referenced to 1 volt) and another slate at 0dB full scale --you may prefer to get this line-up tone from a reference CD, as it takes a console with serious output and low THD to get it of a high quality. (As an aside, The Mix Reference CD as well as the Hollywood Edge Tomlinson reference CDs provide quality line-up tones you can put on your hard drive and ID as tones if you send out VO's or commercial music.)

For special projects, I make my own tones using a good tone generator (Neutrik, Terrasonde or equivalent) and my own voice- its quite easy to do and adds a nice touch.

Does this answer your question fully?

[musikman88]

Now this was in the old days of tape. I worked at a recording studio that did a LOT of radio and TV spots. I also worked for an individual named Bill Meeks and we did radio staion ID sings. You know those little 5 to 8 second sings for the station ID, anyway. We not only prvided 1k @ 0db but provided 400 hz and 4k hz, at what ever level those tones came up to with the same volume settings, to help the station see our mastering machine curve.

I assume you are working with donuts, tassets, and tags. I used a fairly heavy compression with a S L O W release. That will keep your volume up when the station does its transfer and uses its really heavy compression.

Remember that TIME on a station cost money, so they will be very unforgiving on cuts that go long. A 60 second cut is really only 58.5 seconds with the reverb tail making up the rest of the time.

Best of luck

Jimi Hix
RMS