Question for you voiceover guys

[HIGHENDONLY]

I have to do some simple voiceovers. I was wondering if you usually use a very slight touch of reverb to give it a lil life, or do you usually keep it totally dry?

[soundawg]

Dry will put the narrator in the room with the viewer 'seperate from the content'- treatment may or may not be required if you want the narrator seemingly 'within the content'. So if giving your files to another mixer go dry - if you are mixing, do what you think is best - then maybe check (A/B) with the producer... that is - if you care to work with them again.

Soundawg

[HIGHENDONLY]

Well my family want's me to record them. They all wrote something for an uncle who just passed away. So the audio will be played at the funeral home. But thank's for the info.

[jowillie]

Dry.
Unless you intend to make them sound like they are in a large parlor. It would seem affected to add anything. Keep it natural.

[soundawg]

Ok -then just stay dry, there will be enough ambiance in the room, your recordings should come across just like a speaker on a mic.

If you were to add verb you might just muck things up.

PS - sorry for your loss.

Soundawg

[Matti]

And then there is a danger making your recording sound
like "out of reality", wich might be tasteless concidering
the situation where it will be reproduced.

PS - sorry for your loss.

Matti

[danno812]

Considering the situation...dry.

Sorry for your loss.

[chris carter]

Originally Posted by HIGHENDONLY

Well my family want's me to record them. They all wrote something for an uncle who just passed away. So the audio will be played at the funeral home. But thank's for the info.

Wow. Very sad.

In this case I would keep it dry. I would also recommend a small amount of compression (few dB). The reason being that the sound system and the sound guy/gal might not be optimal and you want to make sure everyone hears every word - especially if there are older people present who have comprimized hearing (or rockstars with too many hours on the stage). So I'd even it out with a bit of compression to maximize clarity so that a few quiet words don't go un-heard by anyone.

BTW - I think that's a great thing to do and I'm sure it will add to a very nice service.

[VoxPro]

Originally Posted by HIGHENDONLY

I have to do some simple voiceovers. I was wondering if you usually use a very slight touch of reverb to give it a lil life, or do you usually keep it totally dry?

Now a days TOTALLY DRY is the way to go!
Reverb is a thing from the Old times/past that will only show that you know nothing about the VO world! tutt

Use reverb only if you have to give the effect that the person speaking is in the bathroom or in church!