Voice over sound level

[CHPL]

Creating voice overs for a mission. After editing in my Audio Program, and conversion into oog an file, its loud enough and clear to understand.

Importing it into the Mission Editor (Sound at Group). So running the Mission it is to quiet and very poorly to understand.

 

Any idea? What kind of audio Program may be preferred and how may be the volume be manipulated in respect to aircraft and surrounding sounds?

[feefifofum]

Audacity is a popular free audio editor, though I use a payware program myself as I do some other audio-related things for work.

 

Keeping a consistent distance from the microphone and speaking at a consistent volume is very important to the recording process.

 

As far as relative volume in the mission, I usually find that I do not need to add compression to be heard over the game audio; once you've recorded your file well, and applied any effects desired (radio static, distortion etc.) there should be a function called "normalize" or "maximize volume" or something like that which will detect the peaks in the audio file and automatically turn it up as loud as it can be without clipping (overloading and distorting)

[CHPL]

use Audacity as well.

And the Option LEVEL bevor Volume max. Sounds good in Audacity, but looses in DCS

[feefifofum]

Open your voiceover file in Audacity.

 

Highlight the entire file.

 

Go to effect -> compressor

 

To start with, try a ratio of 4:1 at a threshold of -25db.

 

Leave attack & release at their default values.

 

Leave "make up gain for 0db" checked.

 

 

If you still need it louder, run it through again with the same settings. Each time you do this will increase the overall volume of the file significantly.

[SnowTiger]

I hope that someday DCS considers adding a Volume Adjustment for voice-over and other sound files.

It just makes sense that we should be able to control the volume of files within the context of the game itself and not rinse/repeat within the sound file editor.

[feefifofum]

Even if you could, the issue described here is not preventable because the maximum volume output of an uncompressed recording of amateur quality is quieter than professionally produced voiceovers and sound effects.

 

What compression does is smooth out the peaks in the audio file, allowing the overall maximum volume to be raised. Doing this in real time requires a significant amount of memory as you can probably imagine.

 

Consider the volume in DCS right now to be all the way up; the only thing they could feasibly add is a way to turn down audio files.

[CHPL]

Thanks for all the help. :thumbup:

Finally I reduced the ambient noise and get the Headphones at 100% in the DCS Audio Setup. It’s not perfect but better.

And on the other Hand I ordered an external Sound card for my pc. I already work with a professional Shure Microphone but with an USB adapter. And as far as I figured out over the internet the whistle is normal by USB Microphones. So I try to eliminate this to.

It is god to know it’s not only my fault.

 

If there is any improvement I will post my experiences. :smilewink:

[feefifofum]

CHPL, compressing your recordings will achieve the desired effect.

 

I can't give you a magic setting that will work every time, but with a little bit of experimentation you should have something that is pretty plug & play for how your raw voiceovers turn out. You can save presets in the plugin so that all you need to do is record the file, apply your compression preset, and you'll be good to go.

 

Try the settings I gave you for starters. Turning the threshold down will increase the amount of compression (specifically, at what volume the compressor starts working) which will increase your overall average output volume. Turning the ratio up will increase how much compression is applied once the threshold is reached, which will also increase your overall average volume.

 

In plain English, start with the settings I gave you and see if they work for your voiceover. If they don't, try again with the threshold setting 10db lower. Eventually you should get to a place where you only need to run the file through once. I suggested repetitions earlier because it involves less explanation.

 

An external consumer-level sound card isn't going to change anything, aside from perhaps marginally cleaner sounding recordings. You already have the tools get your audio where it needs to be. :)

Edited October 11, 2016 by feefifofum

[CHPL]

:book: I will test your settings in the coming days and will give you a feedback.

 

What i used was the Leveler tool and after them Volume adjustment.

But to make sure i use the exact settings of your recommendation i will switch the Audacity language to englisch as well. :thumbup: