Exercise 2: Voice Over Production

Objective

You will act as the recording engineer for an story-driven adventure game. Your task is to record and prepare high-quality voice-over files for two characters:

• Medi – youthful, energetic sidekick
• Samsel – calm, wise, mystical sage

The script sheet lists all the lines, along with performance notes from the Game Designer.

Requirements

Recording Specifications

• Format: 24-bit, 44.1 kHz WAV
• Directory: Place all files in a folder called vo_takes/
• Naming:
  • Format: Character_lineID.wav (e.g., Medi_a.wav)
  • If multiple takes: Character_lineID_var01.wav, Character_lineID_var02.wav
• One line per file – no mixing characters or multiple script lines in the same file
• Multiple takes (optional): Keep them in the same file for that line, separated by 2 seconds of silence
• Editing: Remove unwanted noises; apply short fades to avoid clicks; limit start/end silence to < 0.25 seconds
• Normalization: Peak normalize to -5 dBFS
• Noise: Use close miking to minimize background noise and reflections

Studio Usage

All recording must be done in the DSU recording studio. Book your time early via: Charm Studios

Spreadsheet Columns — Abbreviated Guide

• Character – Who is speaking (Medi or Samsel)
• Lines – Exact dialogue; do not change wording unless instructed
• Game Designer Notes – Tone/performance cues — follow closely when recording
• Filename – Enter your saved filename after recording
• Voice Talent Notes – Your observations for the designer (e.g., performance variations, take count, issues, mic technique)

Communication & Notes

If you create multiple takes, explain in Voice Talent Notes why they differ. Example:

“Take 3 is softer for emotional emphasis; take 4 is slightly slower for clarity.”

Deliverables

1. vo_takes/ folder with all files organized by character
2. Updated script-sheet_cleaned.xlsx with filenames and notes completed
3. Raw unedited recordings in _src/ (optional but recommended)

Rubric (20 points total)