LovePrevails Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 Hey does anyone know of some free software I could use to record an audio-commentary of something I want to analyze over the top of it?
Andrew79 Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 If you're just wanting to record a voice-over, Audacity is the best free program: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ If you're wanting to do video (record the screen) as well, CamStudio is pretty good for free http://camstudio.org/ Or if you're on a PC, the free Windows Movie Maker isn't bad and is easy to use. And if you're on a Mac, the built-in Imovie is decent.
LovePrevails Posted February 13, 2014 Author Posted February 13, 2014 I have audacity so what do I do? open up the video file, press record and just start talking?
Magnus Posted February 13, 2014 Posted February 13, 2014 I have audacity so what do I do? open up the video file, press record and just start talking? I would open a new track, then set your levels. You want the microphone sensitivity set so that you are peaking out around -6db, and never to the point that it goes to that zero-line. That's called clipping, and makes it sound terrible. I would record this audio track while watching the video. That way your commentary syncs with the images. Then save the audio file, and edit it as necessary. Audacity has noise filters, or you can normalize it, which is where the software evens out the loud and soft parts. You can cut out gaps and coughs and pops. (Just highlight and delete the offending parts.) Be sure to turn off all your other computer sounds while recording. Audacity will record those along with your voice. Then, in your video software, open both the video file and cleaned-up audio file, and line them up.
Recommended Posts