So, you're diving into the world of Voice Over, ready to wow your audience... But, hold on a sec! There's one pesky problem that can spoil your audio goodness: the clicks, snaps and pops of mouth noise. Well, fear not, my friend! In this article, we'll spill the beans on some killer tricks to help you hush those mouth noises and rock your Voice Overs like a pro.
Hydrate loads... and then some more... and then a liiiiiiittle bit more... cool
Here's the deal: dryness equals mouth noise. It's as simple as that. So, chug H2O like there's no tomorrow. I start drinking 3 hours before going in the booth and try to drink 32 oz before starting. Hydrated vocal cords and a moist mouth are your secret weapons against mouth noise. Guzzle water throughout the day too, just keep drinking, trust me, it makes a world of difference.... you might need a few visits to the loo though!
Scrub-a-Dub, Your Mouth Needs Some Love
Brush those pearly whites, floss like a champ, and rinse with mouthwash. A clean mouth means less gunk that can trigger mouth noise. Oh, and don't forget about your tongue—give it a good scrape to banish any leftover debris that could sabotage your Voice Over.
Watch Out for Mouth-Enemy Foods and Drinks
Some foods and drinks are the arch-nemeses of smooth Voice Over. Avoid dairy products, sticky goodies, too much sugar, and beverages like coffee or booze before your recording session. They can mess with your saliva production or leave a sticky residue in your mouth—both leading to mouth noise madness. Opt for plain water or herbal tea to keep your mouth happy and noise-free.
Warm Up and Loosen Up!
Before the big recording, warm up those vocal cords and relax those mouth muscles. Hum, trill your lips, or tie your tongue in knots with tongue twisters. Stretching those mouth muscles and jaw helps release tension, giving mouth noise the ol' heave-ho. And hey, deep breathing exercises are a bonus—keeping your breath steady and controlled helps keep mouth noise at bay.
Articulate, Annunciate and Speak proper innit!
Now you are all vocally limber focusing just a touch more on pronouncing fully can help keep those noises from creeping in. Obvs you don't want to sound like a robot, but just make sure your mouth, lips and tongue are moving!
Shield Your Mic with Pop Filters
Give your mic some love too, by decking it out with a pop filter. Pop filters are like the bouncers at the club—they diffuse the air from your mouth before it smacks into the mic, reducing those explosive "p" and "b" sounds. They can help reduce mouth noise too, aren’t they lovely!
Back off the Mic!
Mic technique is like your dance moves on the Voice Over floor. Finding that sweet spot is crucial for minimizing mouth noise. Don't get all up in the mic's face—too close and you'll just amplify those unwanted sounds. So back off a bit, speak a little louder if you have to, and you may just find those annoying sounds fade into the background, allowing you to strut your funky stuff! Experiment, my friend, until you find that Goldilocks zone where mouth noise stays in check.
Tweak and Tidy Up in Post-Production
Okay, so you've done your best to keep mouth noise in check, but a few sneaky sounds still managed to slip through. No worries! In post-production, you've got the magic of audio editing on your side. Use fancy tools like noise reduction, EQ, and de-esser plugins to clean up your audio like a pro. I MASSIVELY recommend the RX plugins... they are the Dumbledore of mouth noise minimizing magic!
Conclusion
Drink loads, use good technique and if needed use magic wands/plug-ins!