Perfecting the audio narration in instructional video
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The document discusses improving audio narration in instructional videos, highlighting the difference between writing scripts and speaking them naturally. It provides practical tips on equipment setup, script writing, and delivery techniques to enhance the quality of voiceovers. Key recommendations include enunciating clearly, varying pitch, and practicing delivery to engage the audience effectively.
![Audience attention span
“Most [users] don’t
have the tools or
narrative capabilities to
hold the attention of an
audience for any real
span of time.”
— Brooks Andrus](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/professionalvoiceoveridw-141024002244-conversion-gate02/85/Perfecting-the-audio-narration-in-instructional-video-21-320.jpg)
Perfecting the audio narration in instructional video
- 1. Perfecting the Audio Narration in Instructional Videos By Tom Johnson idratherbewriting.com October 23, 2014
- 2. The Traditional Model Write a script or outline Review and approve the script Voiceover talent records audio AV specialist produces it Project manager wants changes
- 3. The Traditional Model Write a script or outline Review and approve the script Voiceover talent records audio AV specialist produces it Project manager wants changes
- 4. Problem: Writing skills don’t equal speaking skills
- 5. Presentation Outline 1. Equipment 2. Scripts 3. Delivery
- 6. 1. Equipment
- 7. Set up your environment • cloth walls • no fan • unschedulable • isolated • lockable • windowless
- 9. Get some good equipment Electro-Voice RE-20 with suspension mount
- 10. Mixer/Preamp
- 11. USB Mic Yeti Blue
- 12. Avoid plosives pop filter
- 13. Dampen echoes Harlan Hogan portable foam booth Reflexion filter
- 14. 2. Scripts
- 15. Try to sound natural Write like you would speak
- 16. Ways to sound natural • Use contractions • Avoid long introductory clauses • Read the conceptual paragraphs, but wing the action steps from an outline. • Keep sentences somewhat short • Imagine saying it to another person
- 17. Use dual monitors to adjust “When writers are able to talk their text into a computer, speech errors may suddenly appear in writing. But other things may also happen. Writing, as some linguists and computer experts suggest, may change form and become more speechlike, more like a talking text than we now know, but yet not “speech writ down.” There is also the possibility that what will emerge will be a “friendlier” text than could or would be produced by the pen or typewriter.” (Horowitz and Samuels, intro) – Peter Elbow, Vernacular Eloquence
- 18. Lynda.com and scripts “I do record my screen and narrate simultaneously, as do all of the authors at lynda.com. I personally rehearse each movie before recording, but even then, it's not always a perfectly smooth recording. All recordings, once completed, move onto our editors and testers before any customer ever sees them. So, while I try my best to get each movie captured in a single take, there's more happening behind the scenes long after I've completed my part.” — David Rivers, trainer on lynda.com
- 19. Scripted Versus Unscripted Unscripted narration (David Rivers) Scripted narration (Peter Drew)
- 20. Keep the script short Percentage of video completed Length of video “ideal run-time for web video 2.5 – 4 minutes” — Video2zero
- 21. Audience attention span “Most [users] don’t have the tools or narrative capabilities to hold the attention of an audience for any real span of time.” — Brooks Andrus
- 22. 3. Delivery
- 23. How many ways can you read these two sentences? She stole the money. The door is open.
- 24. 1. Enunciate Enunciation: Open your mouth wider when you read words, making sure to pronounce the text crisply and clearly.
- 25. Voice Sample Natasha, Wicked Prince
- 26. Enunciation Practice Bite on a pen while reading your copy with as much enunciation as possible. Now remove the pen and read the copy again.
- 27. Practice copy to read
- 29. 2. Vary your pitch Vary the pitch of your voice from high to low to mid-tones as you read.
- 30. Voice sample Ryan Trimble, Les Mis Harlan Hogan, Demo Chip, Aesop’s Fables
- 31. Pitch Variation Practice Break out of a monotone pitch by moving your voice’s pitch higher and lower (in an intelligent way) as you read.
- 32. 3. Read ahead
- 33. Reading ahead practice Look about 6-7 words ahead as you read to better anticipate where the sentence is going.
- 34. 4. Breathe/pause
- 35. Voiceover Samples Bill Bryson, Short History
- 36. Breathing practice After a sentence ends, pause and take an inaudible breath.
- 37. 5. Smile “As Ekman and Friesen researched the different facial muscular movements, they began to realize that just making the facial gestures affected their emotional state. For example, making an angry facial expression caused their heart rate to start beating faster and their hands to get hot. When they made expressions of sadness or anguish, they started feeling bad inside.” — Malcolm Gladwell
- 38. Smile
- 39. Voiceover Samples Lisa Greenewahl, Demo
- 40. Practice with Smiling Think happy thoughts for a little bit, close your eyes, force a smile. Then read your copy.
- 41. Voiceover tips summary 1. Enunciate 2. Vary your pitch 3. Read ahead 4. Breathe 5. Smile
- 42. How do you read and drive the mouse simultaneously? Hey man, I don’t have lizard eyes. How can I focus on two things at once?
- 43. My Recording Process 1. Record demo and script simultaneously. 2. Separate out audio track and import it into Audacity. 3. Note timing on script. 4. Re-record the audio script keeping in mind the pauses. 5. Line up the original recording with re-recording.
- 44. Dub Over the Original
- 45. Contact Information Tom Johnson Idratherbewriting.com tom@idratherbewriting.com @tomjohnson (Twitter)
- 46. References • Ryan Trimble. Librivox. http://ia600305.us.archive.org/2/items/les_mis_vol01_0810_librivox/lesmiserables_vol1_00_hugo_6 4kb.mp3 • Michael Allen Such a Voice Video Clip. Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_6fpMBcFCc • Harlan Hogan audio clip. E-Learning. http://www.harlanhogan.com/Demos.shtml • Video2zero time graph. http://video2zero.com/ideal-length-for-web-video/ • Chip from Tampa audio clip. Librivox. http://ia700506.us.archive.org/3/items/aesop_fables_volume_one_librivox/fables_01_00_aesop_ 64kb.mp3 • Lisa Greenawell audio clip. Suchavoice.com. http://www.suchavoice.com/Page/Sample_Voice_Over_Demos • Bill Bryson. Audible. A Short History of Nearly Everything. http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?asin=B002V0KFPW&qid=1348701545&sr=1-1 • Dan Levine on Smiling. Technique Tips. Suchavoice.com. http://www.suchavoice.com/Page/Technique_Tips • Drew, Peter. Cadence quote. from peter drew -- http://www.peterdrewvo.com/html/finding_the_natural_rhythm_in_.html • “Conversation.” Photo from Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sepblog/3676361977/sizes/m/ • Raise Your Voice! Acting http://raiseyourvoiceacting.com/tag/voice-over-exercises/ • Pause/Play Button. Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicotine/7862424222/sizes/c/ • Lizard eye. Andi Jetaime, Chameleon. Flickr. http://bit.ly/10eFFMc • Urban Bikers Tips and Tricks, 3rd edition. “Dogs.” • Chris McQueen. Tips for Voice Overs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6hXoU426Hc
Editor's Notes
- #5: ------------------------ Microsoft clipart (pen) Istockphoto (mic)
- #21: http://video2zero.com/ideal-length-for-web-video/
- #30: Lack of inflection defines the reading voice. Compare normal conversation with actors on TV. Inflection adds more emotional appeal to voice.
- #38: Activity: measure pulse in neck, then make most angry expression possible; now make happiest expression possible. Notice a difference in pulse or actual mood?
- #43: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paix_et_amour/3157427701/in/photolist-89UHyy-8gGNPQ-2iPJsF-zooYt-fUPv32-j9eXtF-6RNHKf-oA6YZ1-2o7e7W-4r5S3S-dNvbhL-Bd3yb-dWEDHX-7UU5Rf-6Fw5D-89AJ6Z-5P1DfD-8QEr5B-jQYgCd-iYWpNf-noQbYS-c69hMj-9pFG4c-8FC98d-6ZN5kQ-b93J46-jF3yqy-a24aPj-jd9CPJ-fFQGDy-cFVHC-om6Q8S-6WzXiB-2y69UZ-fxWwi5-kBE7Vj-f6bcEk-85eHsB-9HjNFE-5ipNug-7QsyCL-otz9Li-21ycCD-fJ94b7-p4Miaf-h2u1uG-8AmZPN-7Jzf7v-idrknA-83kwBB