Voice generated voice over video in Movie Maker

This post will demonstrate how I created an instructional video with a computerized voice over. This particular method is ideal for cases in which you do not only want sound (which is also possible) but also want the option to insert text on the screen from time to time. 

You will need the following for a Windows computer

• A screen recording program
• Ice Cream (free)
• Video production software
• MS Movie Maker
• Voice generator narration software. Any of the following will suffice.
• Share to Speech software. I use the free Lite version. It is available only in English and does not require internet access.
• Online Tone generator's voice generator with several languages and accents. Generally, very clear US English diction. I particularly like native US female voice.
• From Text to Speech even creates an MP3 file which is great if you want to entirely elminate ambient sounds. I find the male and female voices are all good. However, I personally prefer the female voices for their more natural sound and male voices for clearer diction.
• NaturalReader's free online voice generator for several languages and accents. In my humble opinion, the US male voices sound more natural than female ones. The 'Heather' voice was the best US female voice but has a slight Southern drawl. My preferred male US voices include those by Ryan (best male diction), Rich and Mike.
• Any word processor
• I use MS Word
• an environment that is as quiet as possible

1. Prepare the script

• Prepare the script in any word processor
• This step applies only if your voice generator does NOT created automatically to MP3 format. Before the content begins, enter several lines like ‘testing 1-2-3’. I usually enter about 5. Before the last line like this, I enter, ‘Last time. Get Ready’. When I allow the reading software to read these lines in addition to the main content, these extra lines give me sufficient time to set up the recorder, quiet the space and settle myself where my movements can not be heard
• Highlight, copy and paste the text into the voice generator. Do not play it as yet.

2. Prepare Movie Maker

• Open a new project In Movie Maker
• Add a title by going to ‘Home’ and then ‘Title’. As pictured below, this creates a solid background color with the option of including text. You may delete or edit the text.
• Set the display duration of the title to exceed the duration of your script when read aloud. When I am unsure of the precise time, I set the duration to an excessive amount of time knowing it will definitely suffice and I could cut the excess time afterwards.
• In the 'format' tab, make the entry in the 'text duration' field. As pictured below, the default is '7.00' seconds.

3. Record the sound

• Return to the voice generator software and start the audio replay. You will hear the several lines of ‘Ready 1-2-3’ during which you can prepare accordingly (like the next step of recording the narration and settling yourself in a quiet place to avoid being picked up in the recording).
• Start recording the sound in Movie Maker. In Movie Maker, 
• Go into the 'home' tab. 
• Select 'Record narration'
• Click the red record button in the top left corner, pictured below 

• If you set sufficient prep lines ‘Ready 1-2-3’, you will have sufficient time to complete all of these steps.

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CONTENT RELATED TO VOICE GENERATED VOICE OVER IN MOVIE MAKER

• Insert images into a video (that must remain precisely synced with audio)