To the podficcers on my flist

[ash48]

Help?

So, just say I was considering making a podfic what recording program should I use? And how would I go editing it (because I know I'd make lots of mistakes). I have Audicity. Would that work?

Any advice (including tips!) would be most welcome. :)

(though I'll probably chicken out before posting anything, but I'm on holidays, with a little bit of extra time on my hands, so I thought I'd have a play).

Comments

[glovered.livejournal.com]

Yes, audacity absolutely works! I'm not a pro podficcer or anything, but you can record directly into Audacity and then use the program to take out background noise, splice clips together, add music, etc.

Also, I've been perusing the podfic_tips comm whenever I have questions.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Thank you. :)

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Yep, audacity. I tend to record some "silence" at the beginning and end of each recording, so I can use it to replace any obvious breathing or anything annoying I find when editing. If I can help, feel free to ask. Podfic_tips is awesome! You can peruse their memories too. :)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Thanks hun! Looks like I have a lot to learn. I've been browsing through the tips comm and there just SO MUCH! And here I was thinking it was just reading a story...

[starrylizard.livejournal.com]

Well a lot of it is personal preference and based on what set up you use. I tend to go through and edit out a lot of my breathing. I find my microphone really picks it up. But a lot of people don't and theirs sounds fine. Otherwise I don't edit much. Just have fun with it. :)

[missyjack.livejournal.com]

yes Audacity is great - thats what Amy and I use to edit our podcasts.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yay. I'll just have to figure out how it works now. :) I haves used it before - but not to record.

[missyjack.livejournal.com]

Oh record is as easy as "push record button"!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

So no need for an external mic?

[missyjack.livejournal.com]

Depends a) what your computer mics are like b) ambient noise. I have recorded without an external mic sometimes and its been fine, and sometimes even better as you get less "mouth noise" - you know, lip smacking or heavy breathing!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I'll have a play with both. Thank you. :)

[miss-marina95.livejournal.com]

Yay podfic! Audacity is perfect, it's what I use to record and edit and it works awesome for me.

If you need any more help, check out podfic_tips, they have tutorials and tips and you can post questions if you can't find a post that addresses what you need help with! I have links to tutorials if you need them :D

Podficcing is awesome and you would be amazing! I love when people decide to try podfic, you'll rock it!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I've juste friended that comm. It looks very useful. Thank you. :)

I figured that as I enjoy performing, I might actually enjoy podficcing. I might be able to scratch that itch in a fannish way. :))

Thanks for the support! <3

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

I record in audacity but edit in premiere because I'm too lazy to figure out how to edit in a new program. I guess it's kind of stupid because there is a quality loss but if you are tryinh it out and just want to see how it works, that might work for you.

Actually I think you can record in Premiere too.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hmmm..I've just got Premiere. I haven't used it yet (not sure I'm prepared for the learning curve), but I could probably edit in Final Cut if I can't work out Audacity - or Premiere.

What format do you save the audacity file in? MP3?

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

Final Cut works too. I used to use Vegas. I just meant "I use my video editing software" becuase I've put in the time learning how to use it.

I save as WAV and then do the final export in Premiere as mp3.

I'm not a super experienced podficcer but it was the way that I could handle starting out.

I also doulbe the audio tracks in Premiere and use an external mic. If I'm doing a long fic, I use my snowball mic, if I'm doing a short one, I use my headset mic.

http://bluemic.com/snowball/

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I often use my vid program to do stuff that other programs can do just because I know it so well. I'd certainly find sound editing easier in that than learning a new program.

I was hoping to do a recording without a mic, but it's probably better if I do (rather than use the inbuilt computer one. I've got a mic so I'll have to have a play and see how it turns out. I'm still not sure it's for me, but I have an itching to give it a go.

Thanks for the advice. :))
xx

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

I really enjoy it. The only thing that I don't like about doing it is that the feedback hit rate is really low given how long it takes to do.

But generally I'm doing it as a love note for a good friend or simply because I want a podfic of something, so that doesn't matter as much.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I'm guilty of not going back to leave feedback to podficcers (though I do try to). I think because you have to actually go back and find the links - the "reply" button isn't instantly there.

If I did it, it would be to scratch the performing itch I have - and the idea of sharing a story in that medium. Though I'm pretty sure an Aussie accent for US based fanfic might not work so well (or be that appealing). ;/

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

I find it to be an excellent way to "perform".

I get why people don't fb. Usually I don't either! Because it's like, on my ipod, and I'm in the subway, etc etc.

Also I think a lot of people kind of think of podfic as indistinguishable from the source fic as product. Which I think varies from podfic to podfic, actually. I'd be willing to state that an indifferently read version of something might be jsut "the audio version" of a fic, but most of the time, the podficcers are actors and editors, and definitely creating an individual work.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

but most of the time, the podficcers are actors and editors, and definitely creating an individual work.

Hmm, yes. That's a nice way of thinking about it. Certainly true for the ones I've listen to.

[counteragent.livejournal.com]

PS people would EAT UP your accent and you know it. :D We're all jealous of non-american accents.

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

Yes, that has always been a thing for me... Aussie accent might sound a bit weird for American story.

Have you considered using Garage band to record and edit? Could work! :)

[celtic-forest.livejournal.com]

DO IIIIIITTT! :D
I'm so glad you're considering this! I really do think you'll enjoy it, and I know we'll all enjoy listening.

I use GarageBand, so I don't have any Audacity tips for you. I'd be happy to serve as a beta listener for you if you'd like, though.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hee! It was your comment that sparked the idea. Still not sure it's for me, but I have the programs to record it in (and a mic!), so I may as well play. I even have a story I'd like to to try.

I'd be happy to serve as a beta listener for you if you'd like, though.

That would be awesome! I'll definitely take you up on that if I do make a recording. Thank you!

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

Ha! Should read on, before commenting, ay?
Also happy to lend ears ;)

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey hun! I did look at Garageband today but I couldn't figure out how to edit it. Looks like Audacity is the one for me. Now I just have to learn how to read a story...;)

Thanks for the ear lend. I might do a trial and get some feedback. After today's trial I think I'm speaking too fast (as I tend to do).
xx

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

You? Speak too fast? Nahhhhhhh......

[ash48.livejournal.com]

shuddupppp...

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

aye? What did I miss??????

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

... your first podfic?????

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Not yet. One day maybe. Show is thoroughly pissing me off so maybe I'll spend my time making podfics - one day.
xx

[colls]

Podfic is certainly more of a giant rec to a fic than anything that's going to gain a lot of feedback and interaction with people - but I enjoy doing them. Even if I'm not a 'performer'. I'm one of those who is merely interested in creating an audio version of a fic because I liked the fic.

I use Garage Band and edit as I go. From what I understand is NOT the way most do it, but it seems easier for me than figuring out editing afterwards. It came with my mac, so I'm all into starting with the freebies. The podfic_tips comm has a few posts about using it and it's wicked easy

HAVE FUN!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Podfic is certainly more of a giant rec to a fic than anything that's going to gain a lot of feedback

I was thinking this actually. The couple of fics I want to read are ones that I think are great stories (which means I really don't want to stuff it up!).

I played a bit with Garage Band today and I couldn't figure out how to go back and edit. If you say you do it as you go it makes sense because I'm not sure you can go back and edit. Actually, editing as you go means you'd save a lot of work afterwards. Hmmm...I hadn't thought of that (the post edit was freaking me out a bit. I might try doing it as I go also).

Thanks! I had all sorts of trouble with producing something loud enough today. My in-built laptop mic seems to work better than my external mic (or I just need to work out how to adjust that).

I was listening to one of your recordings today - so I could get a feel for the pace. I'm sure I'm reading too fast atm. :)

[colls]

LOL - Post recording editing kinda freaks me out, too. Plus, I'm lazy. ;)
ETA: what I understand is that some people record in garage band and edit in audacity? IDK.

There was one tip I found that I use all the time and I'm not sure if it improves the sound quality or if I just THINK it improves it, but on your audio track select Female Narrator Noisy and it seems to tamp down some external noises (I often have sirens as I live a few blocks from a major medical center). I don't know if that would improve the volume or not

I used my macbook mic for my first handful of podfics, and then bought a gaming headset with a mic and use that now.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ah, record in GB and edit in Audacity. I can see how that works (though I was thinking about editing in my vid program because I know that really well.

but on your audio track select Female Narrator Noisy

Ah, ok. that's a good time. I can try that. :)
Thanks!