I am curious what sort of equipment you are using for recording course voiceover... and how you like it.

Headsets with mics? Standalone mics?

I prefer a headset with mic, but I've been asked to do research on both types.

Thanks!

Thanks, Jim.

We use Audacity for initial recording and editing and then drop the exported wavs into Levelator for final tweaking.

Who makes your headset?

Aidan.

My apologies (is my face red). Please see this in lieu of my previous reply, which I deleted.

I rarely do recording anymore. I usually perform the post-editing, when needed, as we have a very good audio person for recording. I could have sworn that our audio person said that she uses a headset, but it turns out to be a good quality microphone (Rodes NT-1). In addition, she uses what's called a "pop filter" (key for the popping sound I referenced in my last comment) and a "baffle" for background noise. This combination will produce high-quality audio with the right voice.

Also, narrating audio is an art - some voices are good for it, some not.

The microphone (experiment with other brands, if needed) and accessories are the best way to go for good quality, but will probably be more expensive than the best headset you can find. However, the initial investment will be worth it in the long run.

If you do any post-editing, my comment about using a headset or headphones during this process is still valid. You'll hear things you never will with external speakers.

Again, sorry for the mis-information. I should have verified first.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JDH,

I saw this the other week. It might be an interesting part of your solution.
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/07/portable_voice_over_booth.html

As JDH says, narrating is a art. You can often find good voice talent inexpensively, particularly if you look for folks who are fairly new at the trade and looking to build their resumes.

Aidan,

Check out a previous discussion on this topic: Recommendations, Please: Good Voice Microphone for E-learning

In it I mentioned the MXL Desktop Recording Kit I use for recording voiceovers and podcasts. Since then I've added the Mic Mate USB Adapter. I has an XLR connector at one end, and a USB connector at the other. This adapter has made life a lot simpler and it includes phantom power direct from the USB port.