Found a 'bug' in X4 when doing voice-overs

[jparnold]

I have found that if you (accidentally) select a video clip on the timeline (by clicking on it using left mouse button) to select where you want the voice over to begin, BEFORE selecting Record/Capture Option button then selecting Voice Over button and then clicking the START button even though it displays 'press [ESC] or [space] to stop recording' pressing EITHER ESC or SPACE has NO EFFECT. The only way to stop recording is to click on the timeline or any of the tracks.

This is MOST annoying and surely a BUG as why would you want the recording to continue regardless of pressing ESC or SPACE?

[jparnold]

No replies?

Has anyone else experienced this?

Or do I have a problem with my installation of VSX4?

The 'cue' bar is very narrow and so if not careful in clicking in this area to select where you want to voice over to begin (and accidentally click on a video clip in the video track) you quickly find that you can't stop recording using the ESC key or SPACE bar.

[pvreditor]

I do a lot of voiceovers, but I don't use the mic recording feature built into VideoStudio. I always record it on a recorder (either my video camcorder or a separate audio recorder) and import the file into VideoStudio's library. I never have any problem with this, but that doesn't help you with your workflow.

I suggest simply speaking your voiceover into your video camera, loading the file into VS's library, then dragging the file to the audio track. (Yes, you can drag a video file to the audio track.) A big advantage of this is that you get the same quality of sound that you get with the camcorder's built-in mic, since that's the mic you're using for the voiceover.

Of course, if you use the camcorder with a plug-in mic (such as a lavalier), you can use it to record your voiceovers onto the camcorder. Again, you'll get the same quality recording.

If that workflow suggestion doesn't work for you, then I don't have other ideas for you. Perhaps someone else will come along who does.

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[jparnold]

Thanks Bob

I take onboard your suggestions however I try to 'fit' the voice over to the clips they refer to which I can only do when I am viewing the timeline.

I guess it's a matter of just being careful (where I select).

The main reason for the post was to attempt to find out if what is occurring to me also occurs to others (and thus is a possible 'bug').

[pvreditor]

I take onboard your suggestions however I try to 'fit' the voice over to the clips they refer to which I can only do when I am viewing the timeline.

Yeah, I don't have any help with the possible bug. However, I often do exactly what you do: I watch the video and speak the voiceover into my camcorder or an external handheld recorder. Just like you, I want to get the timing right.

I haven't used a lot of editing software, but I'm impressed with the wide variety of files that work perfectly when dragged to an audio track in VideoStudio. AVCHD, Motion-JPEG and various cell-phone MPEG-4 video recordings work perfectly on the audio track, as do WAV and MP3 audio files. They all work exactly the same from an editing standpoint, as far as I can tell. One of my tips for getting decent sound if you can't be near the camcorder's mic is to record the audio on your cell phone (using either its audio or video recording capability, it doesn't matter), then dumping that onto an audio track in VideoStudio. It just takes a minute to sync it up, and you have audio from a close source instead of from a camera across the room -- or across a parking lot. It's amazing how much better a video production looks when the audio is good.

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[jparnold]

Thanks Bob I didn't think of using my camcorders mike or a cell phone for voice over.
I have been using an 'el cheapo' (dynamic?) desktop mike which doesn't create good sound. I tried to use the mike I bought to use on my camcorder (via the shoe) which is the same brand (Panasonic) with my PC but the PC does not get any put from it which I wonder why (it is a mike with a small battery - an electret type?)

I then use Audacity to 'massage' each sound clip I record (changing the pitch down 5% and adding a little bass as I think that my voice is too 'high' and also normalising). I wonder if everyone thinks that their recorded voice sounds different to what they think their voice sounds like?

[Kingston]

It is fixed in X5.

[pvreditor]

I wonder if everyone thinks that their recorded voice sounds different to what they think their voice sounds like?

I was on the radio years ago, so I have something of a "radio" voice when a mic is put in front of me. But yeah, I think almost everyone is a little surprised at the actual sound of his/her voice. Here's a commercial video I did using VideoStudio... that's my voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrVFPYhCV_0

I can't say why your external camera mic won't work when separated from the camera. If the mic has its own battery, I would think that it should work when used separated from the camera. But perhaps the camera sends the mic a signal to switch the mic on when the camera is recording... just a guess.

A mic with decent sound doesn't have to be expensive. I bought a lavalier mic for $25 on Amazon that works well and has a l-o-n-g cord (6+ meters) to plug into my camcorder. Years ago, someone gave me an expensive and very tiny Sony lavalier mic that retails for around $500. The sound of that Sony mic and the $25 mic (which is from Audio-Technica) is virtually identical. The only thing better about the Sony mic is its very small size.

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[jparnold]

After listening to the YouTube clip I can understand why you were on radio - a good voice for it.

I must have another look at the Panasonic microphone and connecting it to my PC as I cannot understand why it shouldn't work.
The mike is an electret condenser type with a sensitivity of -46dB which is reasonable and an output impedance of 600ohm and I wonder if this is ok for input to a PC's sound card. The freq response is claimed to be 100-20,000.

[pvreditor]

I must have another look at the Panasonic microphone and connecting it to my PC as I cannot understand why it shouldn't work.
The mike is an electret condenser type with a sensitivity of -46dB which is reasonable and an output impedance of 600ohm and I wonder if this is ok for input to a PC's sound card. The freq response is claimed to be 100-20,000.

Those specs should be fine for the computer's audio card. I suspect that there is a connection between the camera and mic that activates the mic. There may be an override for it, so examine it carefully. Panasonic probably thought it was a good idea to prevent the battery in the mic from running out, but electret mic batteries usually last a long time.

Thanks for the comment about my video!

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com