Source-Connect..Connecting

Folks, I've been so focused on setting up my Source-Connect that I've fallen behind a couple of days in writing my blog. Well let me bring you up to date.
Yesterday I spent the entire day (well it felt like it) with an IT guy trying to help me and a local audio engineer connect. The audio guy has source-connect too. Well, the audio guy was able to resolve his issue but I still have mine. It was discovered that I need a router to properly use this software. Who knew?
Well I've ordered it now, the router, and in just a few days I'll have it and hopefully will be able to painlessly set it up. I have more to say when I have good news to share. Right now my studio is frustrating me. I'll bring you up to date when I'm happy. That is, when Source-Connect is working flawlessly and I've run some sessions with an experienced audio technician.
Keep in touch.. you know where to find me.

All Together Now..

  My last blog told of trouble in my studio. Well I'm more than delighted to tell you that I had that issue resolved. Whew! 

  I was able to get some step by step directions from Digidesign who created the software Pro Tools. Their technical department held my hand and led me through the course of how to get me program to play again. I had to setup a new user (I have a pc) then delete several files if I found them, uninstall the software and reinstall it to the new user. Finally, after all that had been done, the program came up and I was back in business. Happy ending!

  Now, about the new job I had the pleasure of working on last week.

Several talents had been booked for this job and we all were in the booth at the same time.We were performing separately but as a group. Each of us had a word or short phrase to say and we were to say it according to the rhythm of a click track. I'd never worked with a click track before but it was just a timing mechanism to ensure that each of the phrases would be spoken on the right beat. I have natural rhythm so it was easy for me but I'm sure that click track was probably very helpful for some of the others. Just kidding. But I do have natural rhythm.

  The word I was responsible for was "Free". I said it several different ways, each time following the direction of the client. I think the client was happy when all was done. 

Several of the talents were allowed some latitude with their phrase. They were allowed to use different affectations. Some of these might even find its way into the ad. We'll see.

I don't know where it will be aired but I look forward to hearing it. There will be music in the background and some special effects. It should be very good.

  Well, I hope my next blog will find you well and happy. Come back to visit and I'm sure to have some interesting stuff to share next week.

Oh no!! Trouble in my studio..

There's nothing worse than finding that your audio system is on the fritz. Mine is. Let me tell you what happened..

I have two versions of Pro Tools: LE 7.0 and LE 7.4

I wanted to upgrade my older version for the newer version. When I did so, following instructions each step of the way, I found that I couldn't open the software to record. I was distraught. I tried every trick I knew to get it to work but all to no avail. Well, what else was there to do but to uninstall the later version and reinstall the older version. So I did that. Now the older version won't open either!

I sent a  note to the manufacturer of the software and since that note I've received detailed directions on what to do to fix the problem. I pray that all will be well after I attempt to correct this.

I want Source-Connect running on both systems and both systems running on newer version Pro Tools. I'll have something to say about what happened next week. Wish me luck!

Oh by the way, I have a studio session scheduled for tomorrow. I'll tell you how that went next week too.

Hands on Clients..

  Have you ever been given direction by a client as to what is wanted in the performance and then have that performance so micro-directed that the hoped-for-effect is lost? I believe it happened today.

  When I arrived at the studio I was given some very useful overriding direction which was to guide my performance in the booth. The direction was designed to lead me to the type of performance which expressed the script according to the wishes of the client. I worked mightily to do that but I believe in the clients anxiousness to achieve that very effect, he tended to over direct. By doing so he squeezed out any opportunity of mine to interpret the script and perform it according to my interpretation and taking into account his overarching direction. 

  He was happy with the work but it left me wondering if we had indeed satisfied his initial objectives.

  I'm the first to admit--the client is ALWAYS right. He's paying for the privilege to be right so if he wants it then give it to him. 

  This happens sometimes. Sometimes a client leaves the work in the hands of the studio and the discretion of the engineers and talent and sometimes the client is very hands on and wants to mini-direct every nuance of the script. Of course the client sometimes knows exactly what is wanted and should watch closely to ensure that what is needed is achieved. And sometimes the client doesn't know but feels compelled to control the read of each line in the script.

  I say allow the client to have his way. As a talent, I never insist on a particular rendition of a script. I might see how it should be done but I'll only do what the client requests me to do. I advise any talent who wants to get more work from the same source to do the same. Because even though we might know how it should be read, doing so might lower  your stock in the eyes of the client. Or worse. I'm always too grateful for the work to interfere with the style of the read. I'll interpret the script my way but will quickly defer to the wishes of the client.

  So when the client is really involved in the talents performance, be happy O ye talents, it could be a harbinger of more work to come. Just give'm what they want. 

Website Update

My website was so deficient in audio choices that I knew I had to do something fast. I had maybe a total of twenty audio files for clients to select from. I have finally addressed that issue. This week I sent probably forty additional files in several different categories (promotions, ivr, narrations, etc) to my webmaster to include in my site.



Marketing is always very important in this business. "They" will never know how wonderful a voice talent you are if "they" never hear your work. So either you need to send out demos, have a website of your own, or be a member of someone elses site where your voice work can be examined and evaluated. This is the key to growth in voiceovers. When your work is being heard, you can never tell what job might fall into your lap next.



Before, my site didn't have the category of Character Voices but now it does. Who knows what client might want a voice that sounds just like mine to provide a voice for a videogame, audiobook, or generic commercial. Now my website, which is my agent online, can make it known what I'm able to do and how well I can do it.



The site is still being upgraded as of 11/14/08 but go by and see it anyway. I have such great work showcased there. I expect nothing but the best results from my upgrade.



If you have a comment to make about upgrading a website or marketing yourself, feel free to share it here.

How many ways can you say that?

Voice overs can be quite unpredictable sometimes. I was booked for a spot yesterday and I had no hint of how long it might be. Thirty seconds or sixty seconds? I didn't know and I didn't care. I was just glad to be doing something in voiceovers.
I had to rearrange my day so that I could be ready to perform at 3pm, the time of my booking. I went to bed early and was up at 2pm so I could get to the studio early and perhaps get a glance at the script before I was expected to perform. I got there in plenty of time and got the script.

It was one line. The line read "Score a victory today!" I, for once, could enter the booth without a script. I warmed up with several different reads and settled on one that I saw as good (since I had no direction as yet). Finally the client called and told the engineer and myself how he wanted it read. I was to sound like a sports announcer. At first I was to use more energy, then less energy. Then I was to be dramatic. Then less dramatic.

If you read that line, you could put the emphasis on virtually any of those words. I had a great time mixing it up for the client.

It's always important to be punctual and professional. I brought my pen in case of changes in the script and I brought my water to help keep my voice tuned up. I was almost fifteen minutes early (early beats late like rock beats scissors) and ready to perform at my best. Clients are always right so I never get testy regardless of how many times he/she wants the script read or in whatever interesting ways I am directed to interpret it. I roll with it and try mightily to give the client what he wants. That's how the next job is secured.

Now I can at least look forward to a session fee for my appearance in the studio for the twenty-five minutes I was there (including the 15 minutes early).

I just love voiceovers.

Political Voice-Overing

Yesterday, I had the great opportunity to work in my chosen profession of voice overs one more time. It's always great to have a client you've worked with before to call for YOU. They could have used almost anyone but they chose to work with you.

This blog will share with my readers everything I deem interesting that I do, plan to do, or did in voice overs. Yesterday I got to do another job.

I'm rather near-sighted so when I get into the booth, I have to pull off my glasses to see the script. I first had to ask the engineer to set up the script stand for me. It was too short for me to be within 6-8 inches of the mic and see the script too. I've heard that it's inappropriate to attempt to adjust that yourself so I asked for help. He was probably happy that I didn't touch his setup anyway.

The client had arrived at the studio five minutes before the scheduled time for the recording and I finally got a chance to see the script. I barely had time to paruse the script before I was asked to 'run through' it for levels. This means read it in the way I intend to read it so that the engineer can set the knobs and studio controls to record it in the way that the volume and clarity will be best.

I read it pretty good for a first time through. Timing is always important too. Sometimes you might be asked to perform it in 30 seconds, 45 seconds, etc. Sometimes there is just too much text for the time constraint. After my initial read through, I gave it a go for real and pretty much nailed it.

Political spots are pretty easy because there is usually no accent or characterization you have to attempt to do. Just a feeling you have to impart. Do you like the candidate? Are you comparing the candidate favorably or unfavorably with another candidate? You can use your own style and voice to simply impart a certain feeling. Confidence, contempt, shame, whatever the client wants you to convey.

I've done a lot of spots in my career and politicals are for me the easiest of the lot. If you're a newcomer to this field, read my blog and I'll make sure to share a kernal of wisdom (or what I deem to be wisdom) in every one of my posts. Check back in often to see what's new at Voicing Images.