Avoiding Damaging Background Noise

There are voiceover projects that will require you to spend weeks or even months in the recording studio.   But, even for the much shorter voiceover spots, there is nothing worse than realizing that all of the work has been ruined because of an excess of background noise.  That is why noise cancellation is such a big part of this job.  For many, this becomes a near-obsession, but that is because we begin to realize just how costly the background noise can be.  It can result in many extra hours of editing, or worse yet, the need to re-record the spot.  Time is money.  Background noise costs time and, therefore, money.  So, what can you do to prevent that?

An Isolated Studio Windows are wonderful for letting in light, but in this industry, they can also be a big job hazard, because they let in the sounds of the outdoors – lawnmowers, dogs barking, cars speeding down the street, birds chirping, etc.  That noise is fine when doing office work, but for recording purposes, you need to avoid it.  That’s why it is such a good idea to have a recording booth or, at very least, a room that is away from the windows and the chaos of the house.

Consider Soundproofing It is possible to invest in soundproof recording booths that can be set up within your home.  Or, you can look into soundproofing techniques for a designated area of your home.  This can be a very worthwhile investment as it will drastically cut down on background noise, which means less editing time, and fewer takes.

Get a High Quality Microphone Many of the nicer microphones on the market today offer noise cancellation.  They can actually reduce the background noise picked up by the recording software.

Consider the Noise of Your Technology The soundproofing efforts can block out the noise outside the space, but they can’t do anything to dampen the noise within.  If you have a noisy computer fan or you bring your cell phone in, then there is a good chance you are still going to be doing a good deal of editing.  Leave the phone outside (or switch off the ringer) the recording space, and remove whatever technology doesn’t absolutely have to be in the space.

Breathe Smarter As a final tip, consider breathing exercises.  There are special techniques that can help you take better control of your breathing, which means fewer gasps and breaths picked up by the recording software.