Narrating Audio Books - Need help re Equipment

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joan
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Joan

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Hi all:

I am absolutely low-tech, and most of what I'm reading on the boards is Greek to me. However, I am looking for help in deciding on a digital recorder for the job of narrating books from my home. It is only my own voice I am recording. The recorder needs to have editing capability and be of excellent quality. And of course, easy to operate. Do I need a Pre-amp (I read that on the board somewhere; if so, what do I do with it?) and do I need anything else. Other than a good mike of course. Suggestions, there please. Once, I have my tape ready how to you make a CD to send off to the 'buyer'. I will be deeply grateful for any and all suggestions. Thank you. You all impress me immeasurably.
 
Welcome:)

Yes, you will most likely need a Pre-amp. What kind of Mic do you own? What kind of computer do you have (specs). Lots of us record on our computers, you will need a decent Soundcard.
 
Narrating

Joan:

I agree with DavidK. I would go with recording on the PC. I find it easier to use (especially when it comes to editing) than any of the other digital porta-studios. I have a Fostex FD-8 Digital recorder, but I don't even use it anymore. I much prefer to use the PC because of how user-friendly it is. Apart from a decent pre-amp I would also suggest getting a decent compressor (or use plug-ins), but most importantly get a microphone that is of good broadcast quality. If money is of consequence look into a company called RODE. I think (for the money) they make an excellent quality microphone, and they also have one specifically for broadcast.
 
The following would be a perfect setup for you.

Dman Delta sound card (there are a few to choose from) or a new SoundBlaster Audigy(should work fine for voice only).

DMP3 Pre Amp

For mics the EV RE20, MXLV67 or 2003

For software CoolEditPro
 
My computer - well, read on...

I thank you so much for you replies. It is much appreciated. I've written everything down. However, my computer is old -a Pentium 75, so is there an option? Is there one digital recorder you feel would work for me. If I go with working on the computer I will need to buy a new one. If I have to then I'll have to. But I'll have to wait a bit. This all seems so complicated, but I'm determined. I'm very pleased to have such expertise close by. Joan
 
If you dont use a computer than you will need to get a stand alone CD burner. They usually create lower quality CD's. You will also be limited in your editing capabilities.

Your computer might work but you may have problem getting newer software to run on it.

How much do you want to spend on this whole endevour? That will give us a better frame of reference for getting you up and running ASAP.
 
Is anybody of the opinion that a small mixer (two or four channel with basic EQ) connected to line in would be easier and cheaper to operate ?

Regards,

John
 
Joan - Under $1000 is tight but workable. It's too bad you dont have a better computer already because that would save you a lot.

If you can put together your own computer or get somebody to help you can probably fit it in to that budget. You dont need anything super fast. A pentium3 750 with a good sound card would be plenty of machine for what you want to do. That would actually be a fairly old system so you may be able to find a used one for pretty cheap.

I would try to stick to a computer system because I imagine trying to keep track of an entire spoken book could turn into an organizational nightmare. Having all the files sorted out in a computer sounds a lot more manageable than trying to work on a portastudio.

If you have access to a super quiet room than a condensor mic will give you the best quality. If that is a problem you should probably go with a dynamic mic. All the components you need can be found for about $100-300 each depending on quality. Thats the beauty of home recording, everything only costs $300 ;) So your mic/pre/soundcard budget will be $300-900.

See what kind of computer you can come up with and you will have the rest to spend on sound gear.

John - A mixer would be more expensive and probaby harder to operate than a single preamp. I generally recomend mixers but she only needs to do voice.
 
Option?

I'm very indepted to you for you help. I've written everything down for future reference. Finally, in lieu of the computer route, (and I realize that this is no doubt the best one) what would be the best digital recorder I could purchase for this purpose?
 
Joan,
I read through the thread and if I understand your last post correctly you still want to explore stand alone recording units as oposed to using computer for recording.

As far as which one is the best, you probably need to look at your needs first. I mean the whole picture of what you are trying to do from start to finish.

I see that you don't need a multitrack capability. ie you don't need to record multiple sources at the same time on seperate tracks. I think the problem might be that stand alone recorders that don't record alot of tracks or jsut one like minidisk will not give you enough flexibility as far as editing.

And since you stated originaly that you need editing I think thats why TexRoadKill and others try to stear you toward computer solution. With the computer you can have just one input to record to and have very good and powerfull software to edit your recordings much more efficiantly.

Also you ask "what would be the best digital recorder".
Is there any that you looked at so far? And if you don't understand what some feature is. Just ask. :)

THis post was probably not very helpfull. :( I would joing the others and recomend computer for recording. However I can see where it can get intimidating. Your biggest dificulty will be actualy getting the "new" computer system and right sound card.

But for actual recording, if you never recorded before the learning curve will probably be almost the same with whatever you end up with.

By the way is $1000 US or CAN?
 
Joan, I think that with many of the digital multi-track recorders you will be limited on storage space. Many of the new <$400 recorders only have room to record around 30 mins worth. Unless you are doing short children's books, you will need to find one with alot of storage space. I would expect that this would put you over $600, which could probably buy you a decent computer and soundcard.

How long do you expect chapters to be? How much editing and what kind do you expect to be doing? Do you expect to put any music or sound effects behind the voice? Are these going to be demos or final products?

good luck,
Pete
 
I'm going with the computer software

I'm going to upgrade the computer and get the software. I thank all of you very much. That's $1000.00 Canadian, by the way. I don't know if I'll get away with it, but I'll stay as close as I can. By the way, is the editor and cdburner part of the recording software/sound card. I'm pathetic.
 
Re: I'm going with the computer software

Joan said:
By the way, is the editor and cdburner part of the recording software/sound card. I'm pathetic.
Click to expand...

The question is not very clear but I'll try and others can correct me if I miss something.

CD "burner" or CDRW drive is hardware unit in your computer kind of like CD player but it can actually record CD's. It can record not only music, but also data. So you can back up your recordings and also create (burn) CDs of your recorded material for others to listen to on their CD players.

The process CD burning also requires software. That software usually provided with the hardware there are also l lot of software for download. Sometimes you can burn CDs strait from your recording/editing software.

That brings me to "editor" in your question. Recording/Editing could be separate pieces of software or come in the same package. If you by a sound card that's geared for recording it might have some software bundled with it to get you started,
depending on your situation it could be all you need.

Recording is more or less strait forward thing. Set level, push record button, and ... you are recording. :) (I might get some heat for that one)

Editing can get complicated I guess depending on the material. In your case I don't think it's going to be too difficult. Probably making sure the level is even and inserting pauses, punch-ins (which is probably goes to recording).

Well I can't really tell because you might want background music or sound effects so it could get more involved.

You might consider posting in recording techniques forum and see if anyone is doing similar things that you are trying to do.

I don't know if it helps, but there you go :)

cheers
 
Some more good advice there. You could get along with a simple Mini Disc recorder but then you still need a way to edit and burn to CD which brings you back around to a computer. A computer is usually used as the last step in "Mastering" any audio to make sure all the levels are consistent and to prepare the files for CD burning. So it looks like no matter which way you want to record you wont be able to avoid using a computer.

In the US a CDR drive usually runs around $125 and the sound card can go for $80 - $200 depending on the quality you want.

You would think you could get away with lower quality sound card since all you need is voice but since there will be no music to mask any hiss or noise you actually need to be more concerned with the sound card quality.

The advantage to doing only one track though is you need very little processing power so you can get away with an older computer as long is it can support a modern OS like Win98, 2000 or XP. Most new software and hardware will require those OS's.
 
What a wonderful site this is!

I will email off the list of what I will need, (software, soundcard, etc) as suggested to the computer shop where I'm purchasing a newer Pentium. I'm sure I'll be back here from time to time for more expert advice and support. Much appreciated. Thanks for helping me make up my mind. Best, Joan
 
What a wonderful site this is!
I will email off the list of what I will need, (software, soundcard, etc) as suggested to the computer shop where I'm purchasing a newer Pentium.

That should be ..I will email off the list of what I will need as suggested by you TexasRoadkill and other great folks on this board...to the computer shop where I'm purchasing my newer Pentium. Thanks again. Joan
 
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