Video editing

[NauticalGent]

My wife is using PowerPoint to make tutorials for her place of employment. She is using a Jabra headset with a "boom" mic, and for the most part, the sound quality is adequate, but there are times where there is an annoying fluctuation in the sound level.

Has anyone experienced this and if so, what recommendations would you make in dealing with this? I would also be interested in any thoughts/recommendations on how to make a quality video involving screen recording with commentary.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I have always had problems with wireless headsets when doing my videos. I find it's best to use a Logitech wired headset. Not sure whether it's relevant these days but some of the wired headsets have an extra big USB plug it looks a bit like a USB dongle. This dongle part has extra processing power to process your speech before it goes into the PC...

However I will say my latest one which is probably a year or two old now, and wearing out hasn't got the dongle and it works fine...

Logitech H390 Wired Headset for PC/Laptop, Stereo Headphones with Noise Cancelling Microphone, USB-A, In-Line Controls, Works with Chromebook - Black​

 

[NauticalGent]

Thanks Tony, her headset is indeed wireless (Bluetooth). I myself use a Jabra wired headset so we will swap it out and see if that helps.

I was hoping you and some others who I know to do this sort of thing would weigh in!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I would also be interested in any thoughts/recommendations on how to make a quality video involving screen recording with commentary.

I use ScreenPal for creating my videos - I've used it for years. I was lucky enough to sign up to it with a promotion, and got a good lifetime deal! Whenever I've had an issue, they have always sorted it out within a day usually... I've sent you a link by pm -

They also have a reasonable free tier which allows you to see if you like it....

 

[sonic8]

Has anyone experienced this and if so, what recommendations would you make in dealing with this? I would also be interested in any thoughts/recommendations on how to make a quality video involving screen recording with commentary.

Try to find and eliminate the cause of these volume fluctuations.
It might be a defective microphone.
Also check and experiment sensitivity and noise cancelling settings of the microphone driver/software.
Your wife should also observe herself, whether she changes her position relative to the microphone when the fluctuations happen. Some mics are directional and a minor change of relative position can have a significant effect on the recorded audio volume.
(PS: I failed to notice that it is a headset mic. This makes this cause very unlikely but not entirely impossible.)

I highly recommend TechSmith Camtasia for creating and editing screen recordings. IIRC, it also includes a feature to normalize audio level fluctuations. Of course, it would be better if these fluctuations don't happen in the first place.

 

[Isaac]

I lean towards blaming bluetooth only because in every single context I experience BT, whether it be my personal headphones, different work headphones, earbuds from walmart or $150 earbuds, the cheapest phone to the latest $1500 phone.............no matter what the context, BT just cannot seem to overcome 1) lag 2) fluctuations 3) occasionally fading in and out, cutting off the first or last syllable.

It leads to people interrupting each other no matter who's using it on which end, everywhere I go.

I've really come to prefer wired over BT almost all the time. Except in my car, where it works perfectly for music of cours
Hope you find a solution !!

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I've really come to prefer wired over BT almost all the time.

Same here..... although I'm currently trying out a headset that gamers use and it seemed very good ... although I haven't used it for recording a YouTube video yet that is the big test !!!

 

[GPGeorge]

I invested in a good desktop microphone to avoid the problems with headset microphones. It still requires me to be careful about where I place it in order to pick up my voice properly.

Q2U | Samson

With both USB and XLR connectivity, the Q2U easily connects to any device and allows you to get started recording quickly.

samsontech.com

 

[NauticalGent]

She noticed that the fluctuations occurred when she was doing desktop recordings - the audio got noticeably lower.

The wired headset helped a little, but the difference was still there. Since she is an amateur and the company actually has people who do this sort of thing, she finally "punted" the ball to them.

Her pride was wounded, but she is much better for it.