Comments on: Let’s Make A Screencast - The Final Cut http://joltmagazine.com/2008/10/08/lets-make-a-screencast-the-final-cut/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:11:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Richard Edwards http://joltmagazine.com/2008/10/08/lets-make-a-screencast-the-final-cut/#comment-73 Richard Edwards Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:07:27 +0000 http://joltmagazine.com/?p=163#comment-73 Nice series on creating screen casts. I've made a few with Camtasia before but I'm going to do a few more now that I've read some more hints. I have a decent Plantronics DSP headset mic which doesn't sound too awful. What would you suggest for cleaning up the background noise? I've tried Audacity to do this will little success. Nice series on creating screen casts. I’ve made a few with Camtasia before but I’m going to do a few more now that I’ve read some more hints.

I have a decent Plantronics DSP headset mic which doesn’t sound too awful. What would you suggest for cleaning up the background noise? I’ve tried Audacity to do this will little success.

]]> By: Starr Horne http://joltmagazine.com/2008/10/08/lets-make-a-screencast-the-final-cut/#comment-71 Starr Horne Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:39:44 +0000 http://joltmagazine.com/?p=163#comment-71 Chris - Yeah, garage band is one of those things that makes me wish I had a mac. And the noise! Don't even get me started. The old laptop that I used for recording sounds like a 747. Chris -

Yeah, garage band is one of those things that makes me wish I had a mac.

And the noise! Don’t even get me started. The old laptop that I used for recording sounds like a 747.

]]> By: Paul http://joltmagazine.com/2008/10/08/lets-make-a-screencast-the-final-cut/#comment-67 Paul Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:19:37 +0000 http://joltmagazine.com/?p=163#comment-67 This was very helpful. Thank you! This was very helpful. Thank you!

]]> By: Chris @ eQuixotic http://joltmagazine.com/2008/10/08/lets-make-a-screencast-the-final-cut/#comment-66 Chris @ eQuixotic Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:09:17 +0000 http://joltmagazine.com/?p=163#comment-66 Oh, and not to pimp the Apple stuff too much, but I also find the iMac to be a great voiceover recording machine. Extremely quiet - more quiet than any computer I've ever owned. My old PC had the same fan noise that you have in your "clean up the audio" sample. Sure, you can *mostly* remove this with the noise reduction feature in most software, but doing so typically leaves a distinctive "digitized" flavor to the voice (at least this has been my experience). Best to eliminate as much noise as possible *before* recording, and the typical PC tower with its roaring (or even humming) fans is not helpful. And being able to run both Mac and Windows software on it, well, it's pretty much the ultimate screencasting rig. (Note: I am neither paid nor employed by Apple, though I wish I were, as I could probably get some great deals on Apple stuff!) Oh, and not to pimp the Apple stuff too much, but I also find the iMac to be a great voiceover recording machine. Extremely quiet - more quiet than any computer I’ve ever owned. My old PC had the same fan noise that you have in your “clean up the audio” sample. Sure, you can *mostly* remove this with the noise reduction feature in most software, but doing so typically leaves a distinctive “digitized” flavor to the voice (at least this has been my experience). Best to eliminate as much noise as possible *before* recording, and the typical PC tower with its roaring (or even humming) fans is not helpful.

And being able to run both Mac and Windows software on it, well, it’s pretty much the ultimate screencasting rig.

(Note: I am neither paid nor employed by Apple, though I wish I were, as I could probably get some great deals on Apple stuff!)

]]> By: Chris @ eQuixotic http://joltmagazine.com/2008/10/08/lets-make-a-screencast-the-final-cut/#comment-65 Chris @ eQuixotic Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:58:32 +0000 http://joltmagazine.com/?p=163#comment-65 Great article. Unfortunately, I've yet to find a USB headset mic that didn't sound like I was talking into a tin can, even the more expensive Plantronics model recommended by Articulate (which just sounds like I'm talking into a more expensive tin can). I didn't want to deal with the whole mixing board mess for a standard XLR mic, so I went with the Blue Snowball, with which I'm mostly happy. I have a pop filter (necessary) and the shock mount (probably not necessary), and I built a cube out of foam core and acoustic tiles that I can set up whenever necessary (I put a towel under the mic stand). Yeah, it's a janky setup, but it works. Makes it hard to read my narration script though. I'd love to find a USB headset mic that sounds as good as the Snowball (are you listening, Blue?). It would certainly make life easier. Anywho, plug in the mic (USB), fire up GarageBand, and start recording! The beauty of GarageBand (in addition to it being free with new Macs) is the inclusion of live preset effects you can apply to podcast voiceovers. I tend to favor Male Narration Noisy for my particular setup. Great article. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find a USB headset mic that didn’t sound like I was talking into a tin can, even the more expensive Plantronics model recommended by Articulate (which just sounds like I’m talking into a more expensive tin can).

I didn’t want to deal with the whole mixing board mess for a standard XLR mic, so I went with the Blue Snowball, with which I’m mostly happy. I have a pop filter (necessary) and the shock mount (probably not necessary), and I built a cube out of foam core and acoustic tiles that I can set up whenever necessary (I put a towel under the mic stand). Yeah, it’s a janky setup, but it works. Makes it hard to read my narration script though. I’d love to find a USB headset mic that sounds as good as the Snowball (are you listening, Blue?). It would certainly make life easier.

Anywho, plug in the mic (USB), fire up GarageBand, and start recording! The beauty of GarageBand (in addition to it being free with new Macs) is the inclusion of live preset effects you can apply to podcast voiceovers. I tend to favor Male Narration Noisy for my particular setup.

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