I need to record some voice over work. I'm going to be doing at home - my computer is in my conservatory which is failrly small and has tiled floor and a glass roof so it's probably got a bit of an echo to it.

Does anyone have any advice for how I can make sure the sound will be okay - (I think I've read something about hanging up sheets etc etc or should I really be shifting my computer to somehwere with carpet for example for the purpose of recording the sound). I'm using a Canon XM2 with Sennheiser directional mic connected to a G4 running FCE.

I've not done anything with sound before so any tips will be much appreciated. Thanks.

You may want to leave your computer where it is and run your mic to another room. Better acoustics and less fan noise in one swing.

I record most of my voice overs using a mini disc recorder and a hand held mike, sitting in the back of my car in a quiet country lane. Then I just capture the audio via the analogue input on my sound card and add it to my production.

If necessary, I take my laptop along and view the footage on a DVD RW as I'm speaking. Even the lap top makes some background noise though so is best avoided if you can rehearse and time your words to match the video. Trying to record sound while sitting in front of a desk top computer will never give you decent sound 'cause they're just too noisy. Hopen this is helpful.

Do a search. This issue was recently covered in detail.

I read something about putting a piece of paper in fornt of the mic when doing voice-overs - is that a sensible thing to do?

If you spit when you speak! :-)

The idea of using the back seat for a recording booth is a good one. Just plug the mic into the XM2, press the record button and start talking. I would suggest using a mic stand rather than hand-held, just to eliminate handling noise.

Once you are done recording, capture via Firewire is just as simple as with your regular video footage.