Audio Book Techniques
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Terry Daniel shares how he records an audio book read.
Popularity: 21%
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Getting Voice Over Work Through Social Networking
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Last week, I had the honor of being a guest on “Voice Over Experts”, a popular podcast featured on Voices.com. Check it out!
http://podcasts.voices.com/voiceoverexperts/2009/06/voice_over_experts_episode_91.html
Popularity: 1%
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Making a Radio Commercial in ONLY 6 Minutes
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John Taylor gives us a peak inside his studio as he produces a 30 second commercial. Enjoy!
Popularity: 23%
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June 23,2009
Alex Tarlue @ 7:03 pm
I am voice over tech in training, would you or someone sent me dvd or cd to
help me with my training? I will let people know all over the world that you help
me with my career. Not only that, I will also want to train with the best . So what
do you think? respose please. -
June 23,2009
Lou Costa @ 7:38 pm
Very amazing stuff..Thanks for sharing this. As a past Speech Communications Major, a past College Radio Announcer and a current Mobile DJ/Entertainer, seeing the work behind the scenes in actually creating this short commercial spot is fascinating utilizing the software tools shown.
Thanks again for sharing this.
Lou
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June 23,2009
Konstantine @ 8:03 pm
It was intriging. I wish you would of went more in depth on what the presets were and why you chose them. Also how do you exactly know when something is leveled and not leveled. These are the things in editing that rely keep me from perfecting an edit.
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June 23,2009
Earl West @ 11:04 pm
That was fascinating.
I have been messing with Audacity and Sony Acid to make hypnosis cd’s for friends in order to teach myself about recording. I suppose just like anything else the more you work at it the less confusing it seems.
I do wonder if the commercial you are showing is something you put together year after year to sort of freshen it up. That must be why you are able to use the childs voice from several years ago.
Sort of like the car company that uses the voice and image of the dark haired boy for the “Vroom Vroom” ad campaign.
Again, very cool.
Thank you for the lesson.
Earl W. – hypno-biz-mall.com
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June 23,2009
chris @ 11:06 pm
Wow that was very cool to see. John looks exactly like a neighbor down the street. I was told by my roommate that the neighbor dose recording stuff, so I wonder if it’s him. I will have to introduce myself and see if it is actually him. I would love to talk with him, hope he wouldn’t mind talking shop to a newbie wanting to get into the biz.
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June 27,2009
John Taylor @ 9:33 am
Hey Y’all, thanks for the kind words. This was really more for family and non business friends, just a way to show what I do for a living. This video doesn’t really offer much training info. I will get a video together that offers some nuts and bolts step by step info that may be really helpful in the future.
MICHAEL M: Processing settings depend on so many variables. Your mic, your voice print, room acoustics, the type of project, the client. The best way to ascertain the perfect settings is to listen to your own stuff with good monitor speakers, and a crummy computer speaker. MOST of what I do has NO processing…..it’s up to the client to process. So having the most natural sound to you rig is second only to acting ability. Processing is kool, but acting performance books gigs.
GREG: Yup this is an assembly line spot for sure. I did look at the copy in order to open the pre-set files, but that was the first time I read this version of the script aloud. It’s probably the 500th time I have done the commercial in the last 10 years. If it’s any consolation, I DID have to recut the tag cuz I mispronounced the town, Havelock is HAVE-LOCK not HAVE-EL-LOCK.
CHRIS-get in touch. johntaylorzone@aol.com if you live in Hollywood we probably are neighbors. I pretty much share everything I know…so if you wanna have a coffee at the Bourgeois Pig and you don’t mind my second hand smoke, let’s hang
All the BEST to y’all
JT -
October 11,2009
Dave @ 2:23 pm
Enjoyed that video, in the life of man that wears many hats. I had a question concerning the software John is using? As a voice talent I am just putting my home studio together, is a program like Sound forge Pro 10 pretty user friendly. I appreciate any assistance you can give me. Best wishes in your endeavors, and look forward to hearing from you soon. Dave
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November 18,2009
Hussein Hamis @ 1:48 pm
Men! That was HOT i can’t imagine that hot thing could happen in such type, Congrats for showing us what u get!
One thing I need to know what type of plugins used there for voice compresion? I’m asking such because I am one among those who want be Voice-Over artist, I think I have a problems on how to sound and making punch with my voice, Please could anyone tell me what I have to Do? -
April 6,2010
Jim Dunn @ 3:40 pm
What, no razor blade and editing block?
Cool video, John. I’ve heard the little voices in my head talk about Adobe Audition but I never really listen them. They have a tendency to get me into financial trouble. Maybe I’ll make an exception.
Thanks for the vid.
Jim
Hire the Voice-Not the Price
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Imagine, you are on a sandy beach enjoying the sun. You hear the waves splashing up over the rocks, the sound of seagulls singing a tune, and the laughter of children playing in the background. Suddenly, you hear footsteps walking toward you and then a voice appears asking to take your drink order.
Ah, the voice…deep yet comforting; bold yet soothing. You realize the power this voice has over you and you have the sudden urge to quench your thirst. Hiring a professional voice talent will captivate your audience whereby convincing them that they need your product or service.
While cost is a factor in any business decision, it should not be the number one objective when hiring voice over talent. Take car shopping for example. Do you look for the lowest price tag or the car that will best fit your needs? The same holds true with a well-versed and seasoned voice talent.
They can interpret a script to make it sound conversational and believable. A specialized voice talent will offer superior sound and quality, which comes at a cost. They take pride in purchasing top-of-the-line equipment and have expenses as with any professional business.
Occasionally, a client will take the less expensive route only to be dissatisfied with the quality of the talent and eventually hire a more experienced talent to record the voice over. Understanding the proficiency and skill that I have as a professional voice talent, the cost should not be a factor as the end product will result in exactly what you are looking for. Keep in mind the old proverb “you get what you pay for.”
Popularity: 3%
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August 4,2009
Alison Cromie @ 5:42 am
This is so true, and sometimes just the opposite is just as true. When I was just starting out, my first big job was re-doing a voice over where the client had been disappointed with the original voice actor they had hired. The real funny thing about it is that I was probably cheaper (being new to the business-less than two jobs under my belt) than the professional they had previously used. They immediately hired me on for the next 5 videos in their project.
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June 28,2010
Mike Elmore @ 8:20 pm
Going along with what Alison said and also unleashing some alarming news..;0)>> a client that I do a lot of editing for…doesn’t use me much for Voice Over…because she doesn’t have the budget after paying for my editing and everything else involved. She told me that she uses one of the pay to play sites for EVERYTHING (and she does a ton of stuff for a WB afflilitate) voice related. She said she goes straight for the low bidders and finds almost every time that a good portion of them are just as good if not better than the ones that are bidding 100 and some even into the hundreds for a 30 second spot (not a smart thing to do on one of these sites)…
So the market is NOT what it used to be and there are some decent actors out there that are working by the “sell em cheap and stack em deep” model~
Here is a recent email from a voiceover neophyte (newbie) and my advice.
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“I have contemplated attempting trying to get into doing voiceover work for a number of years. Though production and film related Meetup groups, a fellow member is assembling a cd of voiceover demos to be distributed throughout Louisiana as well as Dallas, Houston etc. I only just found out about the project, and quickly trying to put together a voice demo to be reviewed for inclusion on that cd. Though I have deejayed previously as well having 7yrs of telephone agent work in my past….I’ve no remnant of any airchecks etc….I do have an aqquaintane who will provide the recording facility. Do you have any suggestions in regards to scripts etc. I am, unfortunately, hurriedly trying to assemble material for my demo. Are there printed scripts available free to use, online? I would make changes in words, brands, etc. – Loma”
Loma,
Thank you for your query.
I believe you should be prepared and always try to put your best foot forward, especially with a voiceover demo. If it turns out to be substandard because of lack of preparation, training, production quality, or because you “quickly try to put it together”, the demo will reflect these factors you may make a poor first impression that could hang with you for a while and work against you.
Your acquaintance with the studio- have you listened to any of the voiceover demos he/she has already produced? And are you being charged a fee for inclusion on the audio CD? You speak of “airchecks”. Never put an aircheck on anything, unless you’re applying for a broadcasting job.
Haste makes waste. I hope you don’t throw money after something that may not showcase your “Best foot”, or voice talent, in this case.
There are certainly free scripts out there for you to use. Check out : http://www.edgestudio.com/scripts.htm
I personally feel you could be rushing into making a demo before you’re ready. But if you feel you are indeed ready, by all means do it.
All The Best,
Bobbin Beam, Voice Actress 760-519-5072
Available via Source Connect, ISDN & phone patch
www.bobbinbeam.com
http://blog.bobbinbeam.com
Popularity: 11%
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Leonard Q. Thurston auditions for Willie Wonka
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Leave a comment and tell us what you think of this guy!
Popularity: 4%
Superior presentation.
One question if I may: How do you get such a great, dead’n'deep sound on your mic with a set-up that looks like it’s basically just sitting on your desktop? You’re not in a closet or sound booth, just right out in the open.
Great, concise, instructional on audiobooks! What percentage of your business would you say is audiobooks, and do all of your publishers edit your files themselves, or have you ever been expected to edit before you send to them (Deb Munro had an online article where she indicated she was responsible for the editing. I was curious if this was the norm or not.)
I appreciate your extending a helping hand to those on their way up.
Thanks,
Ann
I enjoyed the your presentation on audiobooks. Your presentations give me great insight into the real world of voice acting, and are a huge help. I would also like to know how you create that great dead’n'deep sound on your mic.
Thanks
Gary
Thanks Gary! The mic I use is a Neumann TLM 103. It’s perfect for my style of delivery. Thanks again for the kinds words!
Great info, Terry – Thanks (as always) for sharing!
Fantastic. But repeating what Greg asked, may I know which is your hardware and software setup?
Many thanks,
Paulo Eduardo – Brazil.
Excellent tips! How do you record with the computers sitting on the desk? Doesn’t the sound of the cooling fans interfere with the audio?
Thank you so much for this sample, I posted it on our website where we coach sci-fi writers how to produce their own audiobooks and radio drama. Godspeed!
Terry, Thanks for sharing your techniques. Great info to keep in the folders.
Terry,
Thanks so much for that ‘realtime’ session, it seems more accessible and attainable.
Terry,
Thanks for sharing!
Always nice to see how other VO artists work.
Best,
Lauren
Thanks Lauren!
I enjoy your work as well. We’re also connected on facebook!