7 Secrets for Getting Pro Sounding Vocals on Home Recordings
This Sonicbids article goes over how to get better audio recordings without having a professional recording studio at home. One of the biggest tips that I learned is about the recording environment, and how it can make a huge difference in how the final audio ends up. Even when you use a good microphone, recording in a room with too much echo or background noise can completely ruin the final recording. It goes on to recommend using a space with soft materials, like blankets, curtains, and mattresses, to absorb background noise. I made sure to do this when recording my podcast, so I recorded it in my bedroom and sat underneath a blanket to reduce the noise of my roommates. This was also benifical as I wanted my podcast to have a softer sound, and this helped me achieve it.
Another important lesson they mention is to pay attention to recording levels. If the level on the microphone is too high, the audio can clip and become distorted. The article goes on to recommend recording multiple takes of the same line, so you have multiple options when you are editing them together later on. When it comes to actually editing the vocals, it is important to not overdo it with effects or corrections. Keeping the natural personality of the host or the speaker makes the project feel more genuine. Overall, the article hammers home the point of being able to record high-quality vocals without having a ridiculous recording setup with fancy equipment. The space you’re recording in, microphone placement, preparation, and editing all play a big role in the final product.
Editing Audio for Video
This Videomaker article talks about why audio is an important part of video editing instead of some afterthought. One of the main ideas is to build the story around the audio from the beginning. The article explains that dialogue and other important sounds should be organized into three sections, a beginning, middle, and end, at the very beginning of the editing process. This is because it can help make the overall video feel more natural and easier to follow. In addition, it also adds value to the storytelling aspect of the edits.
The article also mentions the importance of smooth audio transitions. Just doing simple tricks like fading the audio or adjusting individual clip volumes can make scene changes feel more natural. I found a simple whoosh and bell sound effect that I used between each section of my podcast, which really seemed to keep the entire work organized. In addition, background music can be super useful, as it can help build the mood of the piece. In addition, it also helps from the editing side, as it can cover up a rough transitions and overall make the video feel complete. I did this in my podcast, as I found a calm piano track to put over my entire podcast. At first, I intended on it to fade in and out, but having it over the whole thing really helped the ambiance of the entire thing. Another thing the article mentioned is using B-roll footage to disguise visual cuts, while letting the audio overlap. This wasn’t useful for this project but is a great tip for video editing. The biggest takeaway from this article is that good audio editing can really make a video, even when there are issues with other aspects of the project. The audio is a great base for the entire project.
Icethetics
Icethetics is a YouTube channel that focuses on hockey branding, including logo and jersey design, and overall they “aesthetics of hockey”. This is something that I really enjoy as I am a big hockey fan and am a graphic designer, so combining the two topics is super interesting to me. I chose this channel based on the production value and how high-quality and consistent the final edits come out. The videos use narration, graphics, images, and footage to explain the design decisions and history behind specific hockey branding. The editing does a great job at keeping the information organized as well as visually interesting, while the audio design helps guide the viewer through the entire video.
Defunctland
Defunctland is a documentary-style YouTube channel that explores the history of theme parks, attractions, television, and other pieces of entertainment from the past. I chose this channel specifically because of its ability to take simple and truthfully random topics and turn them into detailed, engaging stories. His videos combine research, archived footage, narration, music, and sound design to create mini documentaries that are way more emotional and suspenseful than you’d think a random YouTube video could be.
One video that stands out to me is “Disney Channel’s Theme: A History Mystery”. The entire video tries to discover who created the iconic four-note Disney Channel theme and turns that simple topic into an entire documentary. I believe this video does such a great job with its sound design, and how it isn’t just supporting the story; it is the subject of the story itself. The use of the music, archived recordings, narration, and well-timed editing helps build such a suspenseful video about an investigation over four notes and who originally wrote them. This is a video I highly recommend watching.
The Studio Revue
I chose Sam Reid’s The Studio Revue because of the storytelling and editing behind the YouTube series. Rather than simply documenting an experience from start to finish, his videos are structured around a central goal. For example, in his video about visiting the last existing Blockbuster, the trip becomes a story meant to represent revisiting a part of the past. The narration, music, humor, and editing help to turn an ordinary experience, like going to a store or traveling to a new place, into something very unique with clear progression and payoffs.
The audio plays an important role in his videos, as it sets the mood and controls the pacing for the entire video. The music he chooses helps establish the feeling of different moments, while also aiding in transitions between scenes. Something that is also interesting is that he uses copyrighted music, which is unique to see in a YouTube video. I think that aspect gives a sense of familiarity to his videos. I also like how the videos balance his sense of humor with the more reflective moments. This is a good example of how thoughtful editing and sound design can make an overall personal experience feel like a polished story.
Hillier Smith
I chose to focus on Hayden Hillier Smith, as his videos focus on the creative decisions behind editing and storytelling. He breaks down how editors use pacing, music, sound effects, and visual cuts to hold an audience’s attention and create emotional moments. One example of him doing this is his video “The Editing That Makes Your Story 10x Deeper”, where he talks about how the perspective of a video can change how an audience understands it.
What I find interesting about his approach is how he looks past the trendy high-cut video style that is popular on YouTube. As someone who has edited for massive YouTubers, you would think this is something he would promote or teach. Instead, he emphasizes using editing to create emotion and to develop a story. He also hammers home the importance of music and sound, as they help build tension, emphasize important moments, and change the mood of the video.
Final Podcast
https://soundcloud.com/ryan-lopano/on-campus-college-experiences
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