The Noob's Guide to Announcer Voices

The Noob's Guide to Announcer Voices

Or Beyond Sound Recorder

By Rao Dao Zao

Using sounds ripped from Unreal Tournament (Original, 2003/4 or other) is not big, and it's not clever. Just because DotA (apparently) did it doesn't make it right. Especially when the tools exist for you to quickly and easily create your own announcer sounds.

No matter the state of your vocal cords, we can create a decent sounding announcer with tailor-made lines in a matter of minutes.

You will need:
- A microphone
- WavePad (http://nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html)
- The capability to produce sounds that can be recognised as words by passing air through your vocal cords and shaping your tongue

Let us begin…

Click "New File" or go to "File -> New File…"

Or


You’ll see something like this, but with different settings:

We want the settings shown there (22050, mono) because that’s a low enough quality that we’ll get a low filesize, but without lowering it so the sound is consumed.

Now that is done, we are displayed with a “blank canvas” – and we are ready to get recording.

Press the “record” button.


Now, unless you’ve been messing around and set up your microphone stuff already (if you have, it’ll start recording instantly; hit stop and press the back to start button), then you’ll see this:


Since I’m a crazy foo’ with a microphone on his webcam, I set it up thus:


If you’re using an old-style microphone right out of the microphone socket, I believe you use “[Default Sound In]” at “Microphone”. But don’t quote me on that. You’ll have to choose options appropriate to your system. Of course, if you don’t get any sound recording, do mess with the settings.

Also make sure the recording volume is high. You need to be able to speak evenly without shouting or whispering at the microphone.

When you’re ready, hit record – and speak. Just speak. Put on a stupid WOARGH voice if you want. Don’t worry if your voice hasn’t broken yet either – we’re using WavePad here for a reason. More on that later.

Some tips on vocal recordings:

• Don’t talk too loudly, but don’t talk to quietly either. When you’re done recording, you want the tips on that wave to be as even as they can be.
• Don’t be embarrassed. Either wait until everyone is out, and/or lock your computer room door with a “do not disturb” sign outside. If you’re serious about mapping, and doing it well, you must make sacrifices. And anyway, there's nothing shameful about your voice - it's what you do with it that can be dangerous.
• Speak as clearly as you can. Regional accents can be fun, but don’t take them too far or your audience won’t know what the hell you’re announcing.
• Reduce the background noise as much as possible. If somebody is sanding the floors next door, maybe wait until their done. If you have to have some music on, make sure the volume is verrrry low. You’re allowed a measure of background noise, but the less the better.
• These tips are mostly compiled from my own experiences, so do chip in if you find a good one.

When you’re done talking, hit the stop button and close () the record window. What ho! Our blank canvas has filled with beautiful audio!

Since this is a tutorial, I have to provide some samples to illustrate the system. So before we get to editing, I’m going reveal to you the shape and the power of my voice and how great it is. Right.

For the purposes of this tutorial, I will be saying "I am the alpha and the omega." How modest.

I sound rubbish, it’s true.

It might take a few tries to get a statement as level as that while injecting the appropriate amount of commentator passion, so don’t hesitate to spend all night talking to yourself.

Before we go anywhere, you’ll need to trim off the excess noise from the start and end of the sound. Always record this excess so you don’t cut yourself off, but here we can chop it all just right.




Left-click and drag to select the areas of nonsense, and simply hit the “delete” key.

Now, we need to “normalise” the sound. This evens out the volume a bit, so it will be consistent across many sounds.

Effects -> Normalise



Go in at 75%; this is a good solid level for wc3 use. If it isn’t because you have a thumping heavy-metal sound track to your map, then go up to 100% (or somewhere in-between), or, use the “amplify” tool to big it up. But don’t come crying to me when you get nasty clipping clicks.

The first step to making an announcer voice like UT is deepening it. I’m far too high pitched to get the resonance an announcer needs, so we shall use the “Constant Speed and Pitch Change” tool.


Now, at this point you’ll have to play around with just how much you want to change the pitch, depending on the state of your voice. For my sample, I went in at 75.



This is how it sounds. Cool, huh?

Well, we’re half-way there. We have a nice solid voice, maybe I need to inject a bit more passion, but we’ll leave it for now.

The next step to out UT-ish announcer is a very slight echo. Why? It sounds cool, that’s why.



You can play around with echo settings for interesting styles (short length and high gain for tinny robots, *wink*), but what we need is just a tiny little echo for effect. I went for 40 and 40.


The difference is very slight, but it adds a certain something to the voice that is otherwise lacking.

The final sound.

Now, we are ready to save.

File -> Save As…


Thus concludes our announcing for the night. You can, of course, play around with any/all of the settings I showed depending on your tastes and your voice.

Epilogue

Good luck, and have fun!

I hear. I approve.

xaxa, havent tested it yet. But rep+!

btw, I wont post anymore! 1337 number of posts -.-

Looks sweet. I'm probably going to use it.


Take a screenshot and get over it :)

Awesome tutorial, and the program is handy! :)

Nice... but links of sounds doesn't work....

Right-click and save as.

save as what?

Ima try this one out. Do usb's do the job for this?...you know...recording stuff.

Sounds no worky

“delete” key.

There's theese weird letter's everywhere you've posted characters! makes it alittle difficult to read. it's supposed to be "delete" for those who don't figure..

(if i'm right tho :P) Really handy program too....

Just wondered, what do i save as? wav?

Very nice indeedy i made my voice sound like my uncles and its because of you thanks!

finally