So you've managed to glue a few pics to a timeline and run through the video effects. Once you've mastered the picture side you might want to start looking at sound and how to make it better and easier to manipulate. Here are a couple of tips to try out that will markedly improve the final product.

How to sound like a pro voiceover...

Well that's never going to happen for me no matter what happens. Like most people I hate the sound of my own voice. In my head it's a great radio voice. What everyone else hears is embarrassing. You can do something about it though. Males and female voices can be adjusted to improve the sound and it's very nearly a template that can be tweaked to suit.

Inside Premiere there are now a range of audio effects available and there's no real need to export to sweeten the sound.

In this case select the voice clip on the timeline and apply the EQ filter from the audio effects folder. Then shift the frequencies as follows.

MALE

• 400hz to 500hz set at -3 to -6db
• 1k or 2 k at -2 to -4db
• 3k to 6k at +2db

FEMALE

Same except set between 500hz to 600hz

After that you can add some compression using the following guide :

COMPRESSION

• Ratio 4 to 1 or 6 to 1
• Threshold reduce to -7db
• Back off the compressor output to limit distortion on the output.

 So there you are. Make a few minor tweaks and you will hear a major difference in the quality of the voice and you'll never be able to leave a recording in its original state again!!

Levels...

Your carefully crafted project will inevitably be held together with loads of individual clips on the timeline. Raising or lowering the track level is easy but what happens when the clips levels are all over the shop and you have to raise or lower each clip one at a time? It's a real pain to work through each clip one at a time. Well here's a quick way to do it more easily.

Drop the level on, for instance, a loud clip to where it needs to be. Simply right click and "copy". Next select the clips that have roughly the same level and right click again. Select "paste attributes" and the level will drop on all the selected clips. Easy and very useful.

Paste attributes does the same for any effects you have applied to sound as well as video. Set the EQ on one clip and then copy and paste attributes to all the other clips you need to. You can tweak to your hearts content later but at least they are in the ballpark.

Mix it up...

Got a stray noise you can't get rid of in the background sound? If you just cut and paste a replacement part you will often hear the new part too obviously. Try copying a matching section from somewhere else and then drop it on a new audio track below the faulty part. Extend it before and after the dud bit and then cut out the noise. Fade out then in the main track and the new part. All being well you'll have a seamless repair.

By Steve Turner

I started in TV as a videotape operator for Channel Nine in 1980 and went to News editing in 1984, becoming Senior News editor for Nine Adelaide.

In 1988 moved to production editing (doing everything from sport to station promotions and programs) and then in 1989 moved to London to work for Sky News UK. This was just starting up and I helped set up the news editing operation.

The highlight of this year was covering the fall of the Berlin wall (where I location produced and edited continuously for five straight days and nights - grabbing sleep here and there). The best bit was interviewing people crossing the wall for the first time in years.

I returned to Adelaide in 1990 and freelance vision switched and also did graphics for news and production. Left again in 1991 to backpack the planet for 12 months with my partner Rochelle.

Back in 1992 and returned to production editing and graphic design for Channel Nine. I worked on all the Adelaide Formula One races (1985-1995) bar 2 (while away) doing foreign broadcast editing - packages for overseas networks in their languages.

Began Directing news in 1997 and started my own production business doing weddings and corporate work. This was followed quickly by producing science films for Flinders University and the setting up of our web business selling science related videos, CDroms, and now DVDs.

Started writing for Australian Video Camera in 2003 then Auscam when it started. Produced and shot news features for the Ten network and worked freelance on the Athen's Olympics in 2004 for Seven.

Left Channel Nine to join Channel Seven in 2005. Involved in the setup and operation of Seven's new news operation and regularly direct the six o'clock news. Directed and produced Seven's Anzac day telecasts for 2005/6 and independently produced the 13 part series "Fishing and Boating" for Channel Seven.

Produced and shot a documentary on drug abuse with an Indigenous Elders group as well as a two part docco with the RAAF. Current project include a docco on Alzheimers and another on the lives of siblings of disabled people.

I have three gorgeous small children and am a part time stay at home Dad...

...It's a busy life!!