Audio Checklist

1
Audio Checklist

• You may have a good clear speaking voice, this
  didnt mean that it sounded good as digital
  audio.
• Learning content that may look great and function
  flawlessly can be completely ruined by poor audio
  recording.  
• The Microphone
• Use a good quality USB microphone, or use a
  noise-cancelling headset with microphone. You
  dont need to spend big, but take the time to do
  some market research.
• Test and adjust your microphone each time before
  recording. It should sit at the same height as
  your nose, or slightly above your mouth if youre
  using a headset.
• Use a pop filter on your microphone if possible.
• Before You Record Pre Production
• Make sure your recording environment is quiet and
  free from background noise (check air vents,
  fluorescent lights, or computer fans).
• Record in a room with carpeting, padded
  furniture, and the fewest hard/flat surfaces
  possible. Place your microphone in an isolation
  box, or put a towel on your desk under the
  microphone to dampen reflected sound waves.
• Turn off all electronics that might interrupt
  your narration (cell phones, email notifications,
  etc.).
• Do an ambient background noise recording with no
  speech to identify if any background noises will
  be intrusive on playback.
• Write and rehearse a script
• Know your audience. Write for the people most
  likely to be listening.
• Write in a conversational tone, and in your own
  words.
• Avoid short forms or abbreviations in the script
  so as not to trip up the narrator (you!).
• Identify and practice any acronyms or
  difficult-to-pronounce words.

2
Audio Checklist

• During production
• Sit up straight when you record, or try standing
  when possible for better breathing and audio.
• Be animated and smile while talking. People will
  hear the enthusiasm in your voice.
• Use a mirror while practicing, and imagine you
  are speaking to another person.
• Listen to yourself periodically, and take notes
  on your likes/dislikes (phrasing, intonation,
  mouth position, etc.). Keep these notes handy for
  subsequent recording sessions.
• Let someone else listen to your recording early
  on. Choose someone you trust to give you honest
  feedback.
• Experiment with the best time of day for your own
  voice and try to record at the same time of day
  for consistency.
• Dont fidget when you record. It may interfere
  with your narration and force you to have to
  re-record.
• Dont forget to breathe
• But pay attention to your breathing. Loud
  inhaling or exhaling sounds are irritating for
  the listener, though subtle natural breaths are
  okay.
• Take care of your voice. Have some water, herbal
  tea with honey, lemon juice, or throat lozenges
  handy, and take breaks if your voice starts to
  feel strained.
• Got a cold? Take a break. Your sick voice will
  be hard to reproduce if you need to redo
  narration later.
• Practice good vocal techniques like warming up
  your voice, watching your speaking speed, and
  practicing good pronunciation and intonation.
• Know when its good enough. Dont spend hours
  recording and re-recording one sentence.
• Post Production
• Record multiple takes. People rarely nail a
  recording on the first take, so listen to the
  playback, and choose the best. What may take you
  a minute to re-record may take someone far longer
  to fix in post-production.
• If you make a mistake in a longer segment, keep
  the recording going and simply restart the
  narration from the beginning of the phrase or
  sentence. The unwanted part can be edited out
  later.
• Mark your mistakes. For mistakes you cant fix in
  a new take, clap or blow loudly into the
  microphone as a reminder. This creates a spike in
  the audio waveform and is easy to spot later.