Engaging, professional-sounding voice recording is a key to maximizing the potential for eLearning. Voice acting should be professional, sound realistic, and be free of distractions that can disengage participants and limit knowledge retention. While hiring professional voice actors can provide an easy solution, budget constraints may limit or eliminate the option of outsourcing voiceover work. When this occurs, development teams must look to their own in-house talent, many of whom may be new to the idea of lending their voice.

In this session you will learn the basics of voiceovers such as microphone placement and techniques, as well as creating an effective recording environment. Most importantly, you will learn the ways you can prepare your mind and your voice for the recording session, as well as pitfalls that you should avoid. You will leave the session with skills, next steps, and resources to build your vocal capabilities and the confidence to transforming your voice into eLearning characters ... and even narrators!

In this session, you will learn:

• How to create the most ideal environment for voiceover recording
• Proper microphone placement and techniques to maximize clarity and minimize artifacts
• The proper way to set your input levels
• How to prepare your mind and voice for a recording session

Audience:
Intermediate developers, project managers, and managers, preferably with some experience recording voice audio into an eLearning authoring tool (e.g. Captivate or Storyline) and/or digital audio workstation (DAW) software (e.g. Audacity or Audition).

Technology discussed in this session:
Studio microphones (condenser and dynamic) and accessories. Digital audio workstation software for recording, editing, and postproduction. Audio preprocessing, including compressors, de-essers, equalizers, and gating.