Frequently Asked Questions

You can check with our Ministry Partners for further ideas and or equipment to help with your audio recordings. You can also consult our SHELL VIDEO MANUAL which has some good tips on recording using a temporary studio. (see p.16)

The sampling rate you should use will depend on the final output. For example, if recording for a CD production, record at 44,100 sampling rate and 16 bits; however, if recording for DVD production, record at 48,000 sampling rate and 24 bits. Should the final production output not be known at the time of recording then we recommend recording at the higher sampling and bit rate which will allow for down-sampling later if needed. It is better to have to down-sample than up-sample because of possible aliasing problems. IMS recommends recording at the higher sample and bit rate unless you have limited storage space; then you might want to consider recording at the 16 bit rate. IMS now recommends recording at 32 bit rate when available or the highest your device will allow.

Check this page out for help with Microphone Placement

The following are the IMS recommended changes to the Audition’s default Preferences and Menu Settings. If one of the recommended settings is already set, you do not need to change it. Only the listed settings need to be changed or confirmed, the rest can remain as default. Preferences Menu Change to Multitrack view In the Edit menu click Preferences… On the General tab, make sure the following are enabled: Force Spacebar to always trigger play Auto-scroll during playback and recording Resume auto-scrolling immediately Edit View Right Clicks: Pop-up menu Edit View Selections: Entire file On the System tab, change: Cache Size: to 32 Undo levels to 1 On the Display tab, change: Display Lines at: to -2 (minus 2) On the Multitrack tab: Change Recording Bit Depth: to 32 bit Enable Auto zero-cross edit. Close the Preferences… dialog box

Menu Changes The following changes are found in Audition’s menus. Enabled is indicated by a check mark next to the menu item. Change to Multitrack view In the View menu, enable: Show Clip Volume Envelopes Enable Clip Envelope Editing Clip Edge Dragging In the View menu, disable: Show Clip Pan Envelopes Enable Clip Time Stretching In the View menu’s Display Time Format, choose either: For an audio project choose Decimal (mm:ss:ddd) For a video dubbing project choose SMTPE Drop (29.97) fps In View menu’s Shortcut bar, enable: Show In View menu’s Shortcut bar submenu Groups, enable: File, Edit, Clip Disable other checked items In the Window menu, enable the following items: Tools, Files, Level Meters, Time, Transport controls, Zoom controls and Selection/View controls Video if doing video dubbing Disable other checked items In the Edit menu’s submenu Snapping, enable: Snap to Markers Snap to Clips Disable other Snapping items In the Edit menu’s submenu Tools, enable: Hybrid R In the Option menu, disable: Synchronize Clips with Edit View

The main window of Adobe Audition contains various panels organized in an arrangement called a workspace. The default workspace contains panels that are grouped together as well as panels that stand alone. The panels appear at the bottom of Adobe Audition’s Edit View workspace. The workspace is customized by arranging the panels, usually by dragging them, into a layout that best suits your style of working. Each view, Edit or Multitrack, can be customized separately. The Transport, Time, Zoom and Selection/View boxes at the bottom of the screen are called Panels. Panels contain either buttons, such as the Transport panel, or information, such as the Selection/View panel. A panel is moved using the panel gripper, to drag the panel to a new position. The panel gripper is located on the upper left of each panel and looks like a group of gray dots. Panels can be moved to new locations, moved into or out of a group, placed alongside each other, or undocked so the panel floats in a new window on top of the program window. As you rearrange panels, the other panels resize automatically to fit the window. You can also create and save custom workspaces for different tasks. This is a valuable feature that enables you to choose between several customized workspaces depending on the type of project you are working on, for example, you might have one for IMS audio projects and another for IMS video projects. Restoring a saved custom workspace is another advantage, used for when panels are accidently moved or re-sized. Simply choosing a menu item restores the entire workspace to the defined layout.

When creating a mixdown of a Multitrack view project, you may notice that the resulting file’s audio level is 3dB lower than when played in Multitrack view. If this is happening, you need to change a setting in Audition. The 3dB drop is caused by a setting in Audition that is compensating for a track panning issue to make sure the audio does not overload when individual tracks have different pan settings. Normally for IMS recordings we do not use Audition’s mixer pan functions and do not want the 3dB drop in a mixdown. To permanently turn off the 3dB drop function do the following: In Mutltitrack view’s Clip menu choose Advanced Session Properties Click the Mixing tab Click the L/R Cut Logarithmic (default) radio button Click Set as Default button and exit the dialog box Important: Make sure you set panning to L/R Cut Logarithmic (default)in the Clip menu’s Advanced Session Properties, because there is a similar setting in the Preferences dialog box that does not make it happen.

See: How to Enable Stereo Mix to Record Audio

Since PS3 was designed to run on Windows XP, if you are using a Windows 7 or 8 operating system, try setting your computer to XP compatibility mode to install. This help is also called the Program Compatibility Assistant and is found in Win 7 under: Control Panel\All Control panel items\Administrative Tools\Services\Program Compatibility Assistant Service for setup.

We in IMS have found that on some newer computers, when you try to adjust the panning of images within Photo Story 3, the mouse hesitates and prevents the adjustment of images. Reducing the number of cores used by the CPU from 4, to 2 or 1 solves this problem. Check out the document here or download it: Solve the "Hesitating Mouse Syndrome" in Photo Story 3

Yes. On the page headed ‘Narrate your pictures and customize motion’ there is a box under the recording button that is designed to accept text from an electronic document for prompting the recordist on a frame by frame basis.

See: How to replace an image in a Photo Story project without losing the audio recording

The primary reason is that as each new file is entered across the image set, the program automatically defaults the sound level to full volume (100%) making volume changes if the recordist has manually moved one or more volume sliders away from 100% . To keep the volume level consistent across the changing music files when multiple files are used across the image set, one must manually set the volume level as each new file is entered to the sequence or leave all sliders at 100%. Second, make sure the speaker volume controls stay at the same level as one moves through the story to insure consistent volume by the amplifier during the speaker production.

Yes. Because there is only one track available for multiple effects, do a mixdown of your selected multiple effects or music clips outside of PS3 and then insert to PS3 for the desired image as a single .mp3. It is also possible to insert multiple music or sound files sequentially to the story across the image set one at a time. Select the first image with the cursor to receive a sound or music file. Select the .mp3 file desired for insertion. It will fill across the entire image set or until it ends due to its time length. One may then add another .mp3 music file by selecting its starting image and then selecting the second file for insertion. It also will fill across succeeding images either to its timed ending or to the end of the image set. Additional music or sound files can be similarly entered to the story.

No. Image deletion in PS3 is accomplished one image at a time selecting the image to delete and using the “X” button at the right end of the line to actually remove the image from the story line. Similarly, to shift multiple images along the story line one selects them individually and using the right and left arrow buttons also at the right end of the story line, shifts their locations one at a time. A short cut to delete an image is to use the right mouse button and to move an image is to select it with a click of the left mouse button and drag and drop it in the new position.

Create a solid black or grey image file. Use this file to close the story’s image set and set a transition into this last file. This will permit fading out of the story that will cue the viewer to the story’s ending.

Yes. Click on the first image, hold down the Shift key, and click on the last image to select the entire image set. Right click the mouse and select Switches, turn on Maintain Aspect Ratio, left click outside the image set, turning off the Select of the image set. Re-select the image set using the steps above, and uncheck the Maintain Aspect ratio box. This will clear all black framing on images in the set.

If the volume needs to be changed across the entire story, change the volume levels for tracks using the vol: sliders on the left side of each track. If only a section of a track needs to have a volume change, find the Envelope Edit tool on the Title bar and click on it to activate it if it is grayed out. This will allow you to enter envelope markers in the track section in which you wish to change the volume. See the Help file for details on creating envelopes. If an envelope is already present where a change is needed, use the left mouse cursor to grab hold of the markers needed to change volume and test the change made.

There is no standard time recommended for each transition length. The length of the transitions should be set to emphasize the action and emotional content of the narrative as one moves thru the story. Use transitions creatively as a tool that helps to express the mood and action underway. For example, long transitions may be useful to help express sadness and slowing of the story’s action sequence. Short transitions may be useful to express sudden changes or surprise in the action sequence as when lightning illuminates the sky and the Lord speaks to his people.

Sometimes a selected tool is present for viewing but hidden behind another. We have seen this, especially with the Mixer tool hidden behind the Video Preview tool.

International Media Services is responsible for the quality of all video dubbings completed using the shells prepared and managed by VMP in accordance with the agreements with copyright holders. In order to assure that quality is consistent, the standards must be followed.

IMS in coordination with the International Translation Department makes the following requests: All Scripture to be dubbed should first be translation consultant-checked. VM recordists will ask if a translation consultant-check was done. The recordist is not responsible for the consultant checking. During video dubbing, a translator for the language must be present to check for accuracy to the consultant-checked Scripture. Any changes made during the dubbing should be documented on the script, and the reason for each change should be noted. Once dubbing is completed, one or more translators should thoroughly check the entire recording against the final script to catch and correct errors in the recording before it is sent to VMS for Quality Check.

The IMS standard for the highest waveform peak in a recording clip is –2dB (negative 2dB). Normalizing each clip to -2dB will provide a consistent volume and normally be of sufficient volume to be heard above the music and effects (M&E). In those cases where the M&E is too loud a volume envelope should be used to lower the volume of that section of the M&E. Do not raise the voice recording above -2dB. The level of -2dB will provide sufficient “headroom” to prevent distortion in the final project. It is best to normalize each clip at the time of recording so that your talent will hear the recording at full strength when played back for review. During editing, any low spots in a clip should be raised even after normalizing, because normalizing only sets the volume of the highest peaks. This does not mean that all parts of a waveform should be at –2dB because that would sound unnatural. The entire clip must be heard at a good and natural level. Note: A whisper is the same volume as other narration – the difference is in the voice presence.

It is necessary to having a translator present for any video dubbing. The issue of script fit arises no matter how carefully prepared the script is. The translator can work through these issues during the recording process so that both script fit and scriptural accuracy are assured. There is an explanation that accompanies each script, which gives further instructions related to each script and shell. The recordist needs to be familiar with these instructions.

Vernacular Media recommends that an evaluation of the cultural appropriateness of a video be done before doing a dubbing. This is to ensure that the video fits the culture, and that cultural issues are not going to "drown out" or interfere with the message. This evaluation is not the recordist’s responsibility, but it is a check he/she should ask about.

International Media Productions has primary responsibility for the archiving of all video dubbings. It is also a good idea to keep a copy archived closer to the user area as well. For each video, International Media Productions archives: all dialogue clips the session file the completed mixdown the mastered project and an ISO file the script As requested by contract, IMS also sends project materials to the copyright owner of each video.

The goal is of the Quality Checker is for the listener be able to hear the entire story. He must not be distracted by unnecessary noises or by dialogue clips that start or end too low to be heard clearly. The checker will inform the recordist if any minor adjustments in dialogue volume, music volume, or effects volume are made. The checker maintains a detailed list of those adjustments, which the recordist may see if he/she wishes. The checker will not make any “picture match” adjustments without the recordist’s approval. Production will check: Balance of volume between dialogue and M&E. Conformity of dialogue to M&E valleys. Clarity of sound (including low noise levels and absence of distortion). Consistency of voice presence. That all clips are there and in their proper place. That the clips do not spill into places marked in the script for chapter breaks. That there are no cut off words (that all clips are completely opened). Consistency of volume within a clip. Consistency of volume from clip to clip. That there are no combined signals over 0 dB. After the quality check is done a mix down will be sent to VMP Production who will prepare a master from the approved session file.

A Quality Check is required for all vernacular media video shell projects. The files to be submitted for a quality check (QC) are the recorded .wav files and the .ses files for the video/episodes recorded. There is no need to send the other components of the shell. Ensure that all of the final clips and session files are included with the project. Do not send any files that do not reflect the final edited recording. Good file management will accomplish this task. The project may be sent to VMP by mail, courier, or internet. Contact IMS_Contact@sil.org for more information about quality checks.

Preparing a script for a video dubbing requires detailed preparation for the dubbing team. These instructions are found in the IMS Shell Video Manual(https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zn55fbruoadd9p5/AADBgmR0W0rkNYHKAAAWu4sBa?dl=0) . However we have two tutorial videos you can watch to explain the process. Check out the link on our Video Dubbing Projects page: https://www.internationalmediaservices.org/video-dubbing-projects

YES! Sign up at www.internationalmediaservices.org/dubbing-biblical-films-training

Take our online Audio Production training course. Sign up at www.internationalmediaservices.org/audio-production-training

YES! Contact us at ims_projects@sil.org OR visit www.internationalmediaservices.org/dubbing-recording

YES! We'd love to help. Visit our Animation page under What We Do, or email us at ims_contact@sil.org.