Best Voice Recording

Tenenbaum · 05-27-2009, 04:45 PM

I know this may be a simple question for some, but I've searching around google with not many stable results.

What is a good voice recording program for recording a lot of my voice, maybe editing my voice a bit for a more clear sound?
I will only be talking, but its for audio books, any suggestions?
I've tried some simple programs, but I'm trying to see if there is something better out there that someone knows about?

Thanks.

synergy · 05-27-2009, 04:58 PM

In this case hardware is as important as software. If you want good quality sound to your voice you're going to want a nice sound card and a nice microphone.

X-FI sound cards come with recording functions in the control software. You can even add effects and stuff to your voice if you really want.

Tenenbaum · 05-27-2009, 05:13 PM

What is a good microphone? But not a headset?

And also, have any idea on software other then stuff included with the sound card?

surgeVel · 05-27-2009, 05:15 PM

Audacity is a free app with some decent editing features. I've used it quite a bit over the years.

synergy · 05-27-2009, 05:34 PM

You can get a headset that will have a decent microphone. I was wondering if Audacity had recording capabilities. That would probably be your best bet since it's free.

ricanflow · 05-27-2009, 05:35 PM

Software is less important, proper recording hardware is more important.

How much can you spend?

You can get a usb powered sound interface with 48v phantom power and a condenser mic for less than $200, and the voice will be extremely clear.

Tenenbaum · 05-27-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricanflow

Software is less important, proper recording hardware is more important.

How much can you spend?

You can get a usb powered sound interface with 48v phantom power and a condenser mic for less than $200, and the voice will be extremely clear.

Well at the moment I can't spend to much, in the middle of a move.
Would the condenser mic be useless if I had a not so decent sound card, for example the one I have is the Supreme FXII that came with my Asus p5e motherboard.

What would be more important first? Sound card? Or the Condenser microphone?

ricanflow · 05-27-2009, 06:48 PM

condenser mics require 48v phantom power to work, these are the same mics used to record vocals in studios.

The purpose of phantom power is to raise the signal to a proper level so you dont get loads of floor noise 9which any computer mic has tons of) and hence makes ther ecording sound like crap.

You can do it with just a dynamic mic and sound interface, but it wont sound as good.

An X-FI wouldint work, it doesnt have the proper inputs to run dynamic/condenser mics. And onboard is useless for recording.

Oreo · 06-01-2009, 06:24 AM

Might sound stupid. But for a lot cheeper, pick up an Olympus digital voice recorder. Only cost about £20, but the sound is far far clearer than my logitech USB mic, it's very good for £20. Very clear and audible, not half as much distortion or crackling you get through most USB mic's.

I can simply plug it into USB after i've finished my recording and play the file straight off the bat.

Ofcourse, it's not convenient for all situations - If your doing podcasts or something, you obviously need a good USB mic so you can record/video yourself at the same time. And ofcourse if your recording yourself singing or whatever... you'll need a mic like Rican reccomended.

But for anything else where it's convenient to record what you want to record, and then just put the recording on your pc - a digital voice recorder offers relatively decent quality for such a cheep device.

However,

I'll be picking up a setup much like Rican reccomended. Just because i like messing around with audio files in audacity

And ofcourse, a digital voice recorded picks up NO bass, so it's no way near suitable for any proper or real recording.