Presentation
Narration
Don Weatherbee

So you want to add sound
to your awesome PPT

And you’ve
decided to add a
personal touch to
your work

And only your
velvet smooth
voice will work

David Carradine
1936 - 2009
Well, grasshopper,
there’ll be some
costs
Kung Fu
1972 - 1975

Costs
??

Ah, grasshopper,
I see the confused
look on your face

Let’s us see if the
language of tables
will help to show
you the path

The Voice Equipment
& Software
In-House Free $50 to
$1000
$100/hr
Professional 2-5 hrs per Free
30 min of narration

In-House
??

Ah, yes,
grasshopper,
always better to do
the task yourself

but there’ll be some learnin’ to do!
Tech Info
Gear
Software
Narration Tips

Technology
is hard

It is not our way
grasshopper, but
the world is
changing, so we
adapt

Adapt ??

A short history of
sound, may help
you see the way

A Short
History of
Sound
Very Short

In the beginning

there
was
Sound

and it was
fine
FOOD!

then came Analog
Thomas Edison
1847 - 1931

and was hailed as good

so then Stereo came to us

and this
was
better

and so in the
fullest of time

Digital was
given on to us

and much rejoicing was had

but
wonders
did not
cease

as mp3’s
entered our
world

and much sharing was had

and thus in the end,

it came
on to us,
to add
sound

…to our presentations

thus greater understanding

…was had by all
Warning
Tech Stuff
Incoming

So where to
start ???
Helps to know
more about sound

Bloomingdales
Analog vs. Digital 1904
When source is analog (tape, vinyl),
quality is lost as you take it to digital (computer)
Start digital, no losses until you encode down

Does Stereo Matter?
Sure does - with 2
ears & 2 sides of the
brain, it just sounds
better 

Stereo
Perception
It’s louder in the one ear
compared to the other
(Volume differential)

Stereo
Perception
It gets to one ear before
the other
(Time arrival delta)

So lets get small…

… and into the wave we go…
228 sec

…to the great below…
3.8 sec

…and down ….
0.25 sec

…and down we go…
0.06 sec

..till we hit a data point
0.001 sec

Sound is Data
How much,
well that
depends…

…on Sampling Rate…
22 kHz – Radio
44.1 kHz – CD For voice.. Higher rate,
96 kHz – DVD more data
kHz = 1000 Samples per Second

… and Bit Depth
8 bit - Radio
16 bit - CD Higher
32 bit - DVD depth, more
data
Establishes
amplitude
resolution

Start High,
End Low
Carry the raw data as long as you can…
…then encode down as needed at the end

The
nicer
the…
…the better
the sound
you want

But in the end,
sound must just
be good
enough…

Record &
edit as a
Wav
Save as
an mp3

Wav vs. mp3
You give up some quality,
but get greatly reduced size

What’s the Diff ?
Wav =
Raw Sound
mp3 =
Zip Files for
Sound
Drop off after 16kHz

People only hear so much

So people don’t miss it
Most speech is in the 2 to 4 kHz range
Losing 16 kHz + on the encoding, not a big deal

mp3 Encoding Engines
=< 192 Kb/sec
Built into commercial
sound engineering
software
>= 192 Kb/sec
Shareware,
Open Source
http://lame.sourceforge.net/

10
9
8
File Size (mb) 356 -
DVD
FhG
7
6 192 -
Lame
CD
5
4
3
2
32 -
Audible 64 -
1 Vocals
0
Bitrate (Kb/sec)
0 100 200 300

Bitrate (kb/sec) to use
Uploading to 64 to 128
Encoding to AVI 192 minimum
Encoding to FLV 96 to 128
Guidelines only

Ok,
enough
Tech

Hardware
??

No, grasshopper,
not hardware like
the stone hammer.
You make me
laugh, you do.

Into the Computer
>>
Soundcard Soundchip

Into the Computer
>>
Soundcard Soundchip

Types of Mics
Dynamic / moving coil
Cyber
Acoustics
AC-850
mics
Cheap
Condenser mics
More expensive and better AKG
Require power & preamp Perception
120 Mic

Pickup (or polar) pattern
Omni
Directional
(Cardioid)
Bi-directional

Microphone
Placement
Close but not too
close, Darth Vader
breathing will not
go over well

I use this.. and this..
Softens the hard
“p” and “b”
Reduces
noise due
to vibration
Stand & Echo Screen

USB Pre-Amp
Instrument Gain Headphone Headphone Volume Phantom Power
Input Control Out Control Switch
and this..
USB Stereo Line Unbalanced Stereo Mic Instrument XLR Mic
Port Out Output Input Input Input

USB Cable
XLR
Cable
The Wires

This defines how loud
the mic will be
Too high, overclipping
(Very Bad)
Too Low, too quiet
(Not good either)

Soundcard

Microphone

USB PreAmp

XRL Cable

Windows
Sound
Figured Out
PRICELESS 

Is narrating
any easier ?

Yes, grasshopper,
but you will have
to talk for it to
work. Here are
some guidelines.

Be consistent with phrases
Try not.
Do or do
not. There
is no try.
“Don’t” or “Do Not”

Avoid Slang
So like this dude
was totally not
cool, as if….
Who is the
audience ?

Sound natural,
don’t imitate
another voice,
use your own

Make a
Script
I do this always

Script
Deviations
Minimize, but do as
needed to sound natural

Get Comfortable… Stand or Sit
Straight – Let
diaphragm
expand fully
but not too….
Posture

Avoid
Noise

Sound Insulation
Good for
reducing
noise in the
recording http://voiceoveressentials.com/

Morning,
Noon or
Night
Our voices vary
through the day

I’m better in the afternoon
Just not a morning
person when it
comes to narration,
or at least my voice
isn’t !

Smile and
Be Happy
You’ll sound
better while you
narrate – Really!

Lubricate the
vocal cords, you’ll
be working them
hard
Water >> Soda or
Milk

Record in a one sitting
After all we are
not stage
actors or
professionals
are we ?

Also voices will vary from day to day

Put 5 sec
gaps in as
you go
Easier to see
where to save
out later

Aim for 10
to 60 sec of
narration
per slide

Stuff happens –
pause for a few
sec, and keep Can always
going cut out the
I’m good at this!
mistake(s)
later

Recording
Oxymoron
with PPT

Use a real program for sound
CoolEdit aka Adobe Audition

Settings In
& Out
Set these before
recording

Start a New Recording

New Recording
Used mostly
Pause
Record

Do a
Sound
Check

When recording
DO NOT allow the
volume level to
exceed these lines

Else you get
overclipping,
and this is bad

Part 2
If overclipping,
lower Windows
sound input a bit
and try again
This control is
sensitive and
may take a few
tries

One Mic – One Track - Mono
Two Mic – Two Tracks - Stereo

But, but you
said one mic
I can’t afford two of
them, I don’t even
carry money!
Dr. Who (10th)
2005 - 2010

No problem, grasshopper
Follow these
Simple
Steps

Record the narration

Ctrl-A to Select Upper Track

Ctrl-C to Copy Upper Track

Select Lower Track

Ctrl-A to Select Lower Track

Ctrl-V to Copy to Lower Track

Look at that,
Mono to Stereo
(poor man’s
style)

Save As Wav File

“Post Production”
…these terms seem
alien to me, master

True, grasshopper,
but nothing is ever
prefect the first
time

Clean Up on
Aisle 4
Narration
always needs
some fixing

Noise Reduction
Highlight a
section of a
5 sec gap

Get a
profile
from the 5
sec gap

Set the
amount of
Noise
Reduction

And apply
to the 5
sec gap

Then Select Entire Wave

Then apply
the 5 sec
profile to it

Careful, Grasshopper
40% Noise Reduction 40% Noise Reduction
using 5 sec gap profile using entire wav profile

Highlight
a section
Silence And apply
silence as
needed

Click, Pop and Hiss Removal
Usually this one

Overclipping

Lots of
Overclipping
Lower the input
and retry
Spend time on
the sound check
to avoid this

Some
Overclipping
Use sparingly

Save each
slide out
as an mp3

Use a Topic –
SlideXX.mp3
naming scheme
Easier to attach
sound files later

Normalizing
Do after you have all
the mp3’s saved out
Use mp3Gain – makes
all mp3 have same
loudness
http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/

Add Files

Do Track Analysis

Results of Track Analysis

Apply Track Gain

Now all tracks have
same volume

Don’t over
Danger, “clean” the
Will WAV file
Robinson,
Danger Been there,
done that 
Lost in Space
1965 - 1968

So with this knowledge,
I too may do YouTube,
master

Perhaps,
grasshopper,
perhaps

PPT 2007 Sound

PPT 2003 Sound

Custom Animation
Sound object
on the time
line
But this is for a future
presentation…

Go to Moving Pictures
PPT with sound /
custom timings
Convert to Flash
(YouTube)
Convert to Movie
Camtasia
(AVI, DVD) (www.techsmith.com)

http://tinyurl.com/bep8dh
PPT converted to
Flash example

So grasshopper,
what have you
learned from this
lesson today?

Patience in all
things, master ??

Hmm, let’s
review this
lesson

Anyone
can narrate
and I mean
anyone

But nothing is ….

So get the
right gear
with a decent
soundcard

Plus the right software
Any of these will do, they all
have the same basic capabilities
And get ….

Go to
town
with
your
voice

Add some
spice into
your PPT

Ah, I see master,
anyone can do
narrations for their
work

Yes, grasshopper,
almost anyone, but I
think your path lies
elsewhere

So this show be done…

…and The
Fat Lady
has NOT
left the
building !
Ella Fitzgerald
1917 - 1996

Photo Credits
Slide # Link Slide # Link
1 Source Unknown 79 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Soundcard_Audigy_LS_ubt.jpg
http://www.thepowersofmlm.com/images/020902-simple-red-glossy-icon-symbols-shapes-check-
2 http://www.filterforge.com/filters/661-seamless.html 80 mark6-ps.png
3 http://www.mediasystemsus.com/cool%20microphone.jpg 81 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Microphone_%C3%A9lectrostatique.jpg
4 http://customersrock.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/mouth-headset.jpg 83 http://www.jwpepper.com/jpg/10072849.jpg
12 http://www.bestdirect.tv/images/products/How2_DIY_1000.jpg 85 http://www.pachd.com/free-images/technology-images/xlr-cable-01.jpg
13 http://www.russianarts.org/rno/img/b_fotos/pentatone1.jpg 87 http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs30/f/2008/061/3/4/Blue_Screen_Of_Death_by_IMustBeDead.jpg
19 http://www.ucdesigners.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/stockxpertcom_id21589-world1-1024x794.jpg 90 http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Yodalukedagobah.jpg
20 http://www.fielddrums.com/uploaded_images/Abner-Stevens-Drum-746882.jpg 91 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/UN_62nd_General_Assembly.jpg
21 http://www.mortons.com/gallery/FoodShots/full/BurgerWithNoBeer.jpg 92 http://www.waky1035.com/TributetoPaulHarvey.asp
21 http://www.chuckypita.com/wp-content/uploads/homer1.jpg 94 http://www.flickr.com/photos/eelkedekker/3244003790/sizes/o/
http://www.britishvoiceovertalent.com/images/4_09ih.jpg
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23 http://www.goodhumour.co.uk/260906/TwistCover.gif 96 http://image05.webshots.com/5/2/35/71/103223571TFvlRI_fs.jpg
24 http://angiescreams.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/dark_side_of_the_moon_desktop_by_ezsteve.jpg 96 http://cdn-write.demandstudios.com/upload/9000/400/80/0/29480.jpg
25 http://www.wpclipart.com/sign_language/thumbs_up.png 96 http://cornerstork.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/crying_baby.jpg
26 http://www-cvr.ai.uiuc.edu/~slazebni/personal_page/scrapbook/images/coffee_time.jpg 97 http://www.harlanhogan.com/images/portaboothFullFront.jpg
27 http://www.venetio.de/heimkinoschilder/dd.jpg 98 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2283676770_6b53f8b77f_b.jpg
28 http://www.tubeyak.com/images/wallpapers/300/300SoldiersRejoicing.jpg 99 http://www.mrsite.co.uk/usersitesv9/unplaceproject.com/wwwroot/USERIMAGES/robb-yawn.jpg
29 Source Unknown 100 http://pixdaus.com/pics/1226706991NtVmtC6.jpg
30 http://images.wikio.com/images/s/205/sansa-fuze.jpeg 101 http://blog.fpst.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/glass.jpg
32 http://gallery.photo.net/photo/5828063-lg.jpg 102 http://www.russianarts.org/rno/img/b_fotos/banderas2.jpg
33 http://www.lclsonline.org/animation_station/images/instruction/sound.gif 103 http://kelatlifepoint.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/seasoned-trees1.jpeg
35 http://blog.teenmentalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/brain.jpg 105 http://azap.se/bilder/stopwatch_big.jpg
36 http://media.kickstatic.com/kickapps/images/82244/photos/PHOTO_2669274_82244_4601990_main.jpg 106 http://www.oopswines.com/media/art/oops_billboard.jpg
37 http://www.studyancestors.com/images/where_to_begin.jpg 112 http://usa.mapexdrums.com/images/news/NJPAC_300.jpg
38 http://www.malachirecords.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/bloomingdales-record-shop1904.jpg 116 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/3114645080_59c0898f53_b.jpg
39 http://www.waytogoal.com/Portals/0/images/megaphone.jpg 117 http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/whatsupdoc.jpg
40 Source Unknown 118 http://westbr.fatcow.com/stone%20steps%20in%20front%20of%20front%20walkway.jpg
41 Source Unknown 125 http://my3boysandi.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/bigstockphoto_surprised_woman_912167.jpg
42 http://www.catalystforyouth.org/images/***Down%20the%20Rabbit%20Hole.jpg 129 http://www.electronicsunset.org/sites/electronicsunset.org/files/images/bucket-flt-web.jpg
42 http://lostarg.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/white-rabbit.jpg 144 http://www.artlebedev.com/posters/candles/candles-1600x1200.jpg
48 http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.52225247.jpg 144 http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/aidaustin/resource/Tshirt_designs/T-shirt2_candles_FLAT.jpg
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52 http://cyfa.co.kr/data/file/market_1/2038507958_8b8d5fab_cs252_121ffff.jpg 161 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/107/275951685_46ebed9875_o.jpg
53 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Ruído_Noise_041113GFDL.JPG 162 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3591/3617429381_ae4e1f590c_o.jpg
54 http://wallpapers.free-review.net/wallpapers/42/Big_wave.jpg 163 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/346519139_4af4e316de_o.jpg
55 http://www.brobproductions.com/bigstockphoto_Sound_Waves_1345039.jpg 164 http://www.audiogeekzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/pop-filter-1.JPG
http://media.photobucket.com/image/adobe+audition+3/lytieuly1122/au1.jpg?o=6
56 Source Unknown 165
57 http://www.vanderbilt.edu/exploration/resources/shapematters_range_800.jpg 165 http://pslan.kiev.ua/torrents/images/510340.jpg
58 http://www.dbsalliance.org/images/content/pagebuilder/21263.jpg 165 http://www.socrimex.com/pictos/Audacity.JPG
http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/images/Deb_in_the_studio%20cropped.gif
62 http://www.timothysykes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/happyface.jpg 166
65 http://au.creative.com/images/corporate/artwork/hires_AudigyValue_box.jpg 167 http://www.olgica.com/albums/Egypt-and-Jordan-Louise-s/301Market_spices_indigo.jpg
65 http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AOpen/i945Ga-PHS/images/satachip.jpg 170 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2428847785_d17b77c0de_o.jpg
http://jazzinphoto.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/ella-fitzgerald-milano-68.jpg
69 http://media.photobucket.com/image/microphone%20placement/lindyshoots/wuogmicface.jpg 171
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72 10662dscf1221-2.jpg