Voiceover Research
YouTube: How Sound
Works (In Rooms)
1. Mattress Covers. Egg crate mattress covers are an
economical way to obtain soundproofing and work similarly to acoustic foam.
They can be found at many discount supply stores and often in thrift stores.
They can easily be installed by gluing or stapling them to your walls.
2. Carpeting. The thicker the better! It’s not just
for flooring either. You can attach carpet to your walls or cut strips of
carpeting and attach them to the seams around windows and doors to dampen the
noise coming in from outside. Go to your local flooring company and ask about
purchasing their miscuts.
3. Sound Baffles. These are barriers that stop the
reverberation in a room. Attach sheets or pieces of foam at various points
across your ceiling to reduce airborne sound. They don’t need to touch the
floor to make significant impact and are extra items you likely have around
your home.
- Have an empty track
ready to go with preset plugins already set up
- Presets may include some
light EQ to bring out the best qualities in your voice
- Light compression to
ensure your voice isn’t varying too much in volume
- Perhaps even a little
de-ess if the sibilance in your voice comes off a little intense after
some light compression
There is no shortage of second-hand equipment looking for a
good home. Cut down some of your costs by purchasing gently used recording
studio equipment.
Here’s a few ways you can tell if the equipment is worth the
asking price and will happily meet your needs:
- Check physical condition
in the ad: Always
assess the physical condition in the ad or ask the seller to describe the
condition.
- Ensure the item is as
described: Check
for scratches, dents, loose items, and quality.
- Pay attention to brand
name: It’s
worthwhile to note that brand names the likes of Shure, Neumann, and
Digi002 are high-end, and may command a higher price.
- Get an idea of how the
equipment has been used: Ask where the item was purchased, how much it was
purchased for, and when it was purchased.
Knowing these variables will give you the leverage you need
to decide whether the the equipment is priced fairly. You can also request a
copy of the original receipt. Ask for original boxes, warranties, and user
guides.
Bill DeWees
- Foam Mattress Toppers
- Moving Blankets
- Microphone
- Large Diaphragm Studio Mic / USB Mics work for
Auditions but not final product.
- Marshall MXL 2001 $60.00
- Small Mixer with PreAmp
- Digital Audio Interface (DAI)
- Lexicon Alpha
- Computer Fan Noise can interfere, remove from
recording space.
- Audacity (Free)
- Headphones (cheap is fine, don’t worry about it).
- Record Audio Books, it’s the fastest way to get
going.
- It’s WORK, not just play.
Notes: 30:31
Tech
- Bad Audio kills business. Expensive Microphone does
not equal great audio.
- A great space creates great audio. Treat your Audio
Space.
- Sound Proofing (Outside Noise/Laundry
Machine/Traffic/Kids Playing, noise from outside of the room).
- Sound Treatment (Room Noise/Echo)
- Microphone:
- Fifine K670
- Aliso Creek Voice Over Classes: USB Microphones for
Voice Over Recording
- All Sound is Analog.
- All Audio is Digital.
- Interface Converts Analog to Digital and Back.
- USB Mics in the old days didn’t record well. New
ones are sufficient for most recording.
- Large Diaphragm
- 20Hz-20Khz
- Gain Control
- Zero Latency Monitoring (Headphone Jack on Mic)
- 24 Bit Mic Chipset
- Aliso Creek Voice Over Classes: FREE ebook: Your
Voice Over GPS: http://alisocreek.net/voiceover.html
Should you use a USB mic for voice over recording? With the latest in
technology available, the answer may surprise. you!
- BLUE
Yeti USB Specs
- Ns1 Plugin by Waves.com
- NS1
Noise Suppressor
- Reg. $149 66% OFF On Sale $49.99
- The most intuitive professional noise suppression
plugin ever created, Waves NS1 Noise Suppressor intelligently
differentiates between dialog and unwanted noise. Perfect for post
production, audio forensics and musical applications alike, NS1 instantly
analyzes and adapts to your signal in real-time, bringing the foreground
into focus as it eliminates unnecessary background noise. Controlled by a
simple single fader, NS1 also features an attenuation meter which shows
you just how much overall energy is being removed from your input signal.
With NS1, noise suppression is as easy as fading away.
Performance
- Real People, Guy/Girl Next Door. Natural Voice. No
Announcers. Upbeat. Not Sales. Genuine. Authentic.
Business (Marketing)
- You are responsible for Marketing yourself. Don’t
rely on an agent or agency. Market yourself. Create your own brand. Build
a website, get a Demo Reel, etc.
1. Get to Know Your Voice Through Voice Acting Practice
2. Learn and Try the 5 Basic Types of Characters in Voice
Acting Roles
3. Regularly Get Voice Acting Practice with Sample Scripts
Let's explore the roles in detail.
- The Instructor
When teaching someone, for example, in a corporate training
video or children's game, the voice over best suited for this kind of project
is a straightforward, educated, and instructional voice. The role of this
particular voice talent is to teach or provide information to fulfill a
specific goal or purpose. Anyone who has had the opportunity to run a class,
guide presentations, or has managed a team will likely find this role
comfortable.
- The Real Person
Projects
requiring a more casual approach often benefit from relatable, genuine voice
overs. These are referred to as ‘real person’ voice overs, commonly known as
the ‘regular guy’ or the ‘girl next door.’ This character is homegrown,
sensible, and friendly, with a touch of familiarity, providing a more intimate
interpretation of the script that instills trust.
While
this role may seem like it should suit everyone, it is harder than one might
think to read a script and still sound like you're having a regular
conversation with a friend or loved one.
Former
radio personalities tend to need help in this area because they've worked for
so long in an industry that’s challenged them to change the timbre of their
voices to sound like an announcer (see more about the announcer below).
- The Spokesperson
A spokesperson can be on-camera or off-camera, depending on
the medium you are using. The role of a spokesperson is generally played by a
confident, charismatic person able to promote a cause, product, or service with
ease and authority.
A voice over of this nature needs to be driven, optimistic
and assured. If you've ever been in sales, these traits probably sound
familiar. Many people who gravitate to voice overs from sales positions tend to
feel right at home in this role.
- The Narrator
Storytelling
is where the Narrator is most at home. Omniscient, unbiased, courteous and
honest, a narrator's job is to provide an audio landscape for a listener,
briefing them on background information, posing questions, and providing
solutions as they guide their audience through a program or documentary.
Narrators can be male or female, and the most important factors are that they
can communicate clearly and engagingly. If people hang on your every word while
listening to you tell a story then this is likely your comfort zone.
- The Announcer
The announcer, often heard live at events, on commercials,
promos or introducing segments for radio or podcasts, is a product of the
broadcast age, most celebrated at its height in the Golden Age of Radio and
early television broadcasts. Announcers can introduce an idea and assertively
make a call for action at the conclusion of a commercial advertisement or short
video.
If you were in radio broadcasting and you're now pursuing a
career in voice over, then you may find this voice over character fits you like
a glove.
- Character information:
Who is the character? What’s the character’s age, background
and history?
- Plot information:
What happened or will happen to the character? Who else is
with them in the scene? Where is the action taking place?
- Voice over style and
tone:
How should the character’s voice sound? Is the voice over
role for a child or adult? What are the character’s emotions?
- Artistic directions:
Look for artistic directions that let you know more about
the setting, your character’s position, etc. Are certain words meant to be
emphasized? You must carefully read the lines to look for italicized or bold
words and understand what they mean.
The Top 3 Tips for Reading a Voice Acting Script
- Stay relaxed:
It is crucial to stay relaxed while reading and performing
with a script. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should read more slowly,
but rather with a calm and focused mind. This will help you reduce loud
breathing sounds and silly mistakes.
- Read the script first:
Needless to say, if you get the script before hand, you
should always go through it a few times before the recording session. This way,
you’ll be familiar with the lines and not miss important stylistic notes
and pauses.
- Move freely:
If your recording space allows you to stand and move around
in the booth, that’s excellent. Standing helps you breathe more clearly. It
also helps you get into character and make natural movements while
voice acting.
........ TBC
