Gameplay Recording Levels

  • Thread starter Thread starter capathadome
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capathadome

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Hey Everyone! I have a question about getting good sound when playing games or doing screencasts & voice overs. If I were doing live sound, how would I make it so that if I'm talking normally and all of a sudden start yelling or talking loudly, I won't make peoples ears bleed? Currently I have an AT-2020 XLR mic connected to a Behringer mixer plugged into a USB interface. Could I add a compressor to the mix to even out the audio levels?

I was looking at a few different options. The first device was the DBX 286s. From what I've seen, this makes the audio sound pretty good. I like how it also has a DeEsser and enhancer. The other is a Behringer MDX2600 compressor which has two channels but I would only need one. This one looks to have more a few more settings that can be adjusted. Lastly, the Behringer Xenyx Q502US looks to have a 'one-knob' compressor as well but I'm not sure how good it will be in this case.

Just curious if this can be done and if it's possible to do this with a compressor or limiter. I'm kind of leaning toward the DBX 286s but since I'm new to all this stuff, I thought I'd ask around and research a bit.

Thanks!
 
A compressor is probably what your looking for, what it does is it takes a signal, and anytime it goes over a certain level (the threshold) it lowers the gain by the amount you select (ratio) this should tame your signal, but this could also be achieved in your DAW using a plug in compressor such as the Sonnox Dynamics plug in which is on sale at the minute for £120
 
I am not a gamer but I do have a deep and abiding interest in communication and dialogue, reason? I am deaf, I have aids for both ears*.

This means that I find following speech on TV and radio programmes for instance very hard if it is mixed up with inappropriate music or "sounds off" (Yes! I KNOW it's a fekkin' AIRPORT! I don't need a bloody airbus in the sonic background!)..I once read somewhere that the highest compliment you can pay a film composer is that you did not notice the music!

So, compressor? I don't think so, at least not a hardware one "going in". Record at 24bits (44.1 or 48kHz) and keep the "conversational" level way down, -20 even -25dBFS is fine. This then gives you plenty of headroom for the histrionics. When the VOX is slotted into the action is when decisions will need to be made (frame by frame probably?) as to the dynamics so as to preserve intelligibility for everyone, including, as far as you can, DCs like me!

Then, from a technical point of view the quiet recording of speech requires a very good set up. I would think that mic is quiet enough but the interface might not be. Room noise will need to be kept very low but, unless you can spend $1000s on proofing, sounds WILL get in and need editing out. In anycase you WILL fluff!

*So, some might say, "WTF are you doing writing in a SOUND recording forum?!" Well for one thing I wasn't always deaf! Then, I restrict my comments largely to hardware and do not comment on sound qualities of speakers, mics or people's work.

Dave.
 
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