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"Hey, my mom says I have a great voice and should seriously think about getting into radio or voice acting! Hrmmmm..." "I do a pretty great Paul Hogan impersonation, and chicks LOVE guys who can make funny voices. HRMMmmmm..." "Oh man, I'd love to work on my own schedule, laze about in my pajamas, microphone in one hand and dilz in the other. I've also heard that voice actors make a lot of money...HRMMMMMMM!!!!!!!" Does this sound like you? Do you have the desire to live fast & hard, play by your own rules and make an ungodly amount of money by merely uttering a few words into a phallic metal tube? THEN DO NOT GET INTO VOICE ACTING!!!!! Even though there are folks who make a significant income doing voice work for commercials, cartoons, movies, audiobooks, instructionals, phone systems, games, etc...they are few and far between. Not only that, but the majority aren't landing jobs because of an amazing voice or professional training, but because they're famous for something else. Oh, and even though voiceovers should've naturally moved to 100% digital distribution by now, I'd say a good 65% of all open gigs are based in/require you to live in Los Angeles, CA. These things will never change. HOWEVER...there is a market for dedicated people that can provide quality voice work for a reasonable price. You're still competing with hundreds, sometimes thousands of other people, but if you're actually talented, your chances of landing a paying job rise substantially. The purpose of this thread is threefold: 1. To answer any questions you may have about the business, and add notable/informational posts to the OP for quick and convenient reference. Also to provide leads, job-boards, and potential work for anyone currently looking. It's here that I request the knowledge/wisdom/personal experiences of other goons who've done work in the field, and hope to add their advice to the OP as well. 2. To provide an outlet for you to practice your oratory skills, and if willing, to receive detailed and sometimes critical advice on improvement techniques. Again, I'm almost positive that other experienced forum members will also be willing to help develop your voice. 3. To allow any goon to "post a job" in this thread, whether you're willing to pay $0 to insert number here. If you need or want something recorded, post it! Even if it's just for fun and you aren't willing to pay anyone, I'm sure that you will have plenty of submissions to choose from. It goes without saying though that the higher you value your script at, the higher volume/quality your submissions will be. "Okay, so I got a mic and I think it's working. What do I use to record it?" I was born and raised on Adobe Audition, but if you're looking for a free alternative that'll get the job done, I suggest Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ After saving your recording as an .mp3, you can then upload to Tindeck for mass consumption: http://tindeck.com/ MICROPHONES Blue Yeti (USB wired): http://www.bluemic.com/yeti/ This is what I use, and I love it. Very clean sound and easy to calibrate. If you don't have a mixing/sound board, this is probably the best quality microphone you can buy for vocals. However, I would not recommend it for any musical/studio recording. The new Blue Yeti Pro also has an XLR input but I haven't tried it. I'm sure it's good, but if you're going with XLR, then you might as well buy... Shure SM58 (XLR wired): http://www.shure.com/americas/products/microphones/sm/sm58-vocal-microphone This is also a wonderful mic, and an excellent option if you have a mixing/sound board. I've used this microphone extensively in a radio station and it gives a very clean recording. Durable as hell, too. Apparently they've come out with an XLR-USB adaptor, but I don't have any experience with it so I can't comment. Might be something to look into. JOBS Craigslist: http://www.craigslist.org/ Haha, no, I'm not kidding. You can find the rare job on Craigslist, but I would try browsing for jobs in larger areas that you might not be local to and convincing them that you can record from home, email the file, and save them money on a studio rental fee. Just make sure to watermark your work if it's for an unknown company or they'll probably just use it and not pay you. oDesk: https://www.odesk.com/ Freelance contract site with a surprising amount of voiceover & audio engineering jobs posted. You set your own hourly price or accept the employer's flat payout. Completely free to talent (unless something's changed recently). I've never landed a job with them, but they seem legit. Voices.com: http://www.voices.com/ A complete scam as far as I'm concerned, but others have claimed success with them. Last I checked, it cost $30/mo for talent. Large competition pool, and zero accountability on the employer. On over 30 submitted open jobs, I watched as each posting expired and the employer "never picked anyone." What actually happened is that someone out of the 200 people that submitted never watermarked their work, the employer thought it was good enough to steal/use, then let the posting expire without paying anyone. I sent several emails to the company regarding necessary employer accountability policy changes and why I was cancelling my membership (after like 2 months), but the only thing I received back was a form letter advertising a "special reduced price!" Not worth the money, but maybe your results will vary. InfoList: http://www.infolist.com/ A national casting list that mostly advertises auditions for reality shows, and then at that, mostly requires you to live in Southern CA. However, I have seen a few voice jobs come through here. They're high-buck jobs, but rare, and they send out a ton of emails. Up to you if it's worth your inbox space or not. Local Acting Lists: http://www.????????.com/ Check around! See if there's any local casting companies in your area that have mailing lists for casting calls/auditions, and sign up! The Twin Cities area is really incestuous for actors and extras, but I've landed a few neat things through a local mailing list. In a larger area (New York, Chicago, LA, etc...), your chances will be much better than someone in a smaller metro. Sign up for multiple lists if you can! Voice123: http://voice123.com/ King Lou posted: "Voice123 is similar to Voices.com but has smaller average payout. It costs about the same as Voices.com. I had both for a year and never booked a job on Voices.com. I did book quite a bit of work on Voice123 and more than made my money back but YMMV. One thing I will say about voices.com is that they actually do provide some good advice and blogs about the biz. I've sat through several of their webinars. Some of the advice is lame but some is worthwhile. One thing I prefer over V123 for is that you can be alerted to when someone has listened to your demo and when if they decide to rank you, where you sit in the running. That way you aren't left wondering if anyone ever listened. Of course then it's frustrating when you get listed 1st and they never decide but that's the nature of the ad world. Last fall I did a bunch of spec reads for Ronzoni and was highly confident the ad agency was going to pick me and it appears the job just dropped off the face of the earth. Hooray!" VOX Talent (Canada Only): http://www.voxtalent.com/ Toriori posted: "My mom has been a radio personality for 15 years, but she's also done voice overs for big companies such as Canadian Tire, Blackberry and more. She goes through VOX, which is for Canadians." GOON ADVICE robodex posted:You can warm up all you want, but really reading out loud is one of the best things you can do. When I was in school it was the #1 thing they told us to do--just read out loud every single night. Focus on enunciation, not slurring words, not stuttering and being able to read clearly and emotively no matter what you're reading. Dr. Bit posted:The SM58 is a good mic because you don't need a good room. It's not super-sensitive, so it's not going to pick up all the reverb that's bouncing around the literal box of an apartment that you live in. The nicer the mic (like a good condenser mic), the more room detail it's going to get. I noticed this problem with some podcast DJ stuff a friend of mine was doing. She was using an excellent mic, and all the boxy room noise came through brilliantly. I told her to switch to the cheap dynamic Shure mic she had, and it sounded a lot better. JossiRossi posted:When you are trying to edit or fix audio remember that there is no magic "make x stop" function. I highly recommend you learn what the tools you are attempting to use actually do. Leofish posted:It's a combination of mic placement, controlled breathing and practice. A good mic or a good pop filter can help diminish that kind of stuff, but good habits are an important thing to develop. Camo Guitar posted:I reckon a few people on this thread with confidence and strong voices should start investigating...MC work! blinkeve1826 posted:For those of you just starting out and looking for things to put on a resume, look around you--there are opportunities for you EVERYWHERE. I'm a bit envious of those starting out, actually, because that first step is deceivingly easy BECAUSE of the wealth of opportunities around you. Does your job need a new voicemail greeting? Offer to record it in exchange for a positive testimonial on your website. Does your Aunt Bertha need to deliver a Powerpoint presentation next Thursday? Offer to provide narration for it for credit at the end, and to keep you in mind for future projects. Turn to family, friends, and work for potential opportunities to get your voice out there. If nothing else, it's great practice, and these little opportunities can--and DO--often turn into paid ones! I was at my boyfriend's house a few months ago, and his mother was stressing out over a script she had to write for the head of her company to read on camera for a training video or something. Just to be goofy, I read it out loud, clearly over-enthusiastically, so she'd get an idea of how it could sound out loud, but again, just for fun. The next day, my boyfriend calls and tells me his mother told the head of the company how good I sounded reading it, and he decided he wanted me to read it instead--along with the company's voicemail message. Just from reading something out loud, I was offered not one, but TWO voiceover gigs. Get your voice out there, and read for anyone who will listen! You never know when it will happen for you! JossiRossi posted:Amateur Auditions RebBrownies posted:I didn't really see anything about conflicts in the OP so I thought I'd share something I learned recently. Zorblack posted:I've been doing a lot of studying on this subject lately, and I'm getting into it more than I thought I would. As I've skimmed through the internet, I found a ton of awesome resources that everyone should be checking out if they have any interest at all in the industry. Cubemario posted:I'm of the opinion that if a read can't stand on its own, then there's something wrong with the performance. This is especially true of audiobooks which often include nothing but the reader's voice. So kid, you think you got what it takes? You're not going to get anywhere without a shitload of practice anyways, so let's see what you got. I prefer the following format if you wish to be added to the OP as talent: FOR TALENT Name: (your forum name) Specialties: (this is gimmicky, but humor me because there's a reason behind this. I'd like you to describe your voice in as few words as possible. Also add in any notable character voices that you can do) Tindeck: (post a link to your tindeck account here. If you don't have one, I'd strongly suggest you sign up: http://tindeck.com/) IMDB/Portfolio: (post a link here if you have any secondary accounts/pages that showcase your work. Otherwise, leave out) Contact: (a preferred method of contact if someone wants to hire you for something outside the thread. PMs? Email?) Payment: (add PayPal or alternative payment info for if you actually get hired for a paying job! If someone wants to pay you for your audio work, it'll be up to you and the employer to work that out) FOR SUBMITTERS Length: (1m, 30s, whatever you need the length to be if you have timing requirements. Otherwise, leave out) Due: (post the date/time you need it completed if the finished recording is time-sensitive. Otherwise, leave out) Notes: (if you have any certain way you'd like it read or anything the VA should know. Otherwise, leave out) Script: (post the entirety/body of what you'd like read) Pay: (post how much you're willing to pay for a quality read that you're satisfied with ($0 - whatever). If it's just for fun, leave out) Even if you never make a dime off voice work, I hope that you can learn something from this thread and substantially improve control and manipulation of your voice. The main thing that will strengthen your voice is practice. Practicing script-reads, practicing specialized advice and techniques, and most of all, just practicing being comfortable in front of a microphone. I'm here to help, and as you'll see, a lot of other goons are too. This business is so situational and the requests are so varied that there is absolutely no sense in worrying about "potential competition," especially between goons. We're all in this together and we all want to improve, so let's stop wasting time and get to it! [NOTE: This OP will be heavily modified/added to as time goes on] The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 09:50 on Apr 16, 2014 |
# ¿ Jan 18, 2012 08:28 |
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# ¿ Apr 27, 2024 06:49 |
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(Reserved for talent)Adib posted:Name: Adib Android Blues posted:Name: Android Blues Anorexic Sea Turtle posted:Name: Anorexic Sea Turtle bear is driving! posted:Name: bear is driving! bigtom posted:Name: bigtom blackswordca posted:Name: blackswordca blinkeve1826 posted:Name: blinkeve1826 Camo Guitar posted:Name: Camo Guitar Canuck-Errant posted:Name: CanuckErrant Captain Bravo posted:Name: Captain Bravo CaptainYesterday posted:Name: CaptainYesterday ChaosTheory posted:Name: ChaosTheory (CornetTheory) CuddleChunks posted:Name: Cuddlechunks Deathy McDeath posted:Name: Deathy McDeath DirtyDeluxxx posted:Name: DirtyDeluxxx dscruffy1 posted:Name: dscruffy1 Dudley Downright posted:Name: Dudley Downright Geop posted:Name: Geop goku im piss posted:Name: Goku I'm Piss Grand Prize Winner posted:Name: Grand Prize Winner ifire posted:Name: ifire INTERNET NERD RAGE posted:Name: INTERNET NERD RAGE J.A.B.C. posted:Name: SquidRadio Jacobus Spades posted:Name: Jacobus Spades JossiRossi posted:Name: James "Jossi" Rossi King Lou posted:Name: King Lou kizeesh posted:Name: Kizeesh Lolitas Alright! posted:Name: Lolitas Alright! madlilnerd posted:Name: madlilnerd Matt Cruea posted:Name: Matt Cruea Metal Ray Sunshine posted:Name: Metal Ray Sunshine Mihai Zetta posted:Name: Michael A. Zekas Mudge Coleman posted:Name: Mudge Coleman Mutant Headcrab posted:Name: Mutant Headcrab Nessa posted:Name: Nessa nny_ix posted:Name: nny_ix PaladinNasicom posted:Name: PaladinNasicom Rupert Buttermilk posted:Name: Rupert Buttermilk Sgt. Snake posted:Name: Sgt. Snake Skippy Granola posted:Name: Skippy Granola Song For The Deaf posted:Name: Song for the Deaf Spiffster posted:Name: Spiffster StealthArcher posted:Name: StealthArcher Stinkmeister posted:Name: Stinkmeister The Aphasian posted:Name: The Aphasian TheComicFiend posted:Name: TheComicFiend the jizz taxi posted:Name: the jizz taxi The Joe Man posted:Name: The Joe Man Tim Burns Effect posted:Name: Tim Burns Effect Tinsin posted:Name: Tinsin titties posted:Name: titties topenga posted:Name: topenga Triangle Head posted:Name: Triangle Head Whimsy posted:Name: Whimsy WhollyChao posted:Name: WhollyChao Zratha posted:Name: Zratha The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 02:20 on Nov 26, 2016 |
# ¿ Jan 18, 2012 08:28 |
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ReverendLondo posted:I don't need anything recorded, have never attempted voice acting, yet am incredibly interested in the field itself.
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# ¿ Jan 18, 2012 08:40 |
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BiggerJ posted:How difficult-to-break-into and dream-crushing is the VA industry in general? If you complete these 2 things, you might get paid for a VO job! It's not dream-crushing, just be prepared to do a shitload of work (audition spots) without getting accepted or even acknowledged. I've been doing this for a pretty long time, and have worked some decent jobs, but I still don't have a resume that I'm satisfied with. It's getting there, but our comparatively smaller metro helps. Double-edged sword, though. I've seen TONS of casting calls out in LA that I'd honestly have a very good shot at end up slipping through my fingers, simply because I don't live in the area. Even though I kinda rambled, I hope that answers some of your questions! runupon cracker posted:Please define: "reasonable" price. Paradox Personified posted:I sound like a young Alanna Ubach had a lovechild with Bret Somers, with a Cajun accent. Have been fascinated with voicework since I read about Christine Cavanaugh as a lil'kid. I assume no one would want my voice, ever. Am I correct in my assumption? Samuro posted:Can someone living abroad ever obtain any kind of voice supremacy?
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# ¿ Jan 18, 2012 21:20 |
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DeepQantas posted:Anyways, I voiced a gruff space marine for a video game once and the problem I ran into was I couldn't really do any other emotion than angry and more angry while doing a low/strained voice. How do real VAs do it? Rabbit Hill posted:I'm lucky enough to work at a university that offers courses in voice training for actors, but I'm wondering what kind of training I can do on my own (besides practicing reading aloud). Can you share some tips/techniques/exercises that have helped you train your voice? Any good vocal warm-ups you recommend? Oh, and my favorite voice actor is easily Maurice LaMarche. robodex posted:You can warm up all you want, but really reading out loud is one of the best things you can do. When I was in school it was the #1 thing they told us to do--just read out loud every single night. Focus on enunciation, not slurring words, not stuttering and being able to read clearly and emotively no matter what you're reading.
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# ¿ Jan 18, 2012 22:56 |
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Nessa posted:I was going to attend a local voice acting workshop, but couldn't make it since I had to move house that day, and they really haven't updated their website the past few months. Supposedly, the next workshop is on February 6th and 7th at a "TBA" location and there's no mention of how much it costs. Should I even bother at this point? I'd like to see you try, if not only for the fact that you're female and you statistically have waaay less competition. Your odds of landing a job (if you're good) are much, much higher than any non-famous male. This is fact. Take advantage of it!! TO ALL GOONS: Post stuff you'd like read/recorded and put these guys to work! Doesn't matter if it's free or for fun!! The main focus of this thread is for folks to practice...give them something to read!
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# ¿ Jan 19, 2012 01:32 |
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Whimsy posted:I intend to connect with VOXtalent.com soon, but I want to make sure I've got everything in order. What do I look for in a vocal coach? Are there different kinds? (I once spoke to a voice-for-acting teacher, who made it clear that she didn't do voice-over training, and it felt needlessly awkward). As far as your demo is concerned, it needs to have a certain flow to it. Very difficult to describe and impossible without me hearing everything you've got, but yes, there's no reason why you couldn't throw in a radio drama snippet. Make sure to fully produce it though and just cut out the part you want. Variety is good; it doesn't have to be all serious. My current demo (that I really need to retool/refocus) has landed me a few jobs, and if your stuff isn't way crazier than this, I wouldn't worry about if it's appropriate or not: One thing to note is that the total length of the demo should be 60 or 90 seconds. Nessa posted:Okay. Good to know. I don't want to waste my money. I was only interested in the workshops because they came in 3 parts where the 3rd part is invitation only and you get to work on a demo with real vocal directors. From what I've heard, a professional demo is the only way to get any substantial work. Practice is free. When the time actually comes for you to put together a demo, you'll know it (because you'll realize how much your voice has changed/strengthened). The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 10:47 on Jan 19, 2012 |
# ¿ Jan 19, 2012 10:04 |
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Sgt. Snake posted:-The milk ad I slopped together from a script I was given by a vocal coach, with whom I signed up for a single private class. I recorded some acoustic guitars over the back and programmed in a banjo, but the acoustics were done way too low, hence the "hiss" in the background. Either way, I did it quick and dirty just to hear what it'd sound like. I really plan on eventually spending a whole month recording some quality demos and submitting them, I would love to make a few extra bucks doing voice spots. Any advice or feedback? "like no other beverage" = slower and more of a solid ending. "beyond calcium" = slower and more succinct with an expectant lead-in tone to "milk's got b-vitamins for energy." "and protein for lean muscle" = more of a solid ending. "Got milk?" = delay 1s - 1 1/2s and slightly slower. The background hiss aside, your voice is pretty spot-on for "the average mid-30's, born in the city but decided to get a lil old farm out west" type voice that meshes perfectly for a lot of agricultural commercials. For those spots, it's always either "your type" of voice, or an "old man farmer" voice. Main thing I'd say: talk a little slower and end your sentences more solidly. Other than that, you have a very solid base to work from. Good technical control too (no noticable pops, etc...). Hope that helps a bit!
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# ¿ Jan 19, 2012 23:26 |
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Nessa posted:Okay, so if I were to post a couple minutes of me reading some dialogue from Phoenix Wright, would that be something I could be critiqued on? Or should it be something else? Should I wait for something to be suggested to me? Sgt. Snake posted:Like I said, I intend to record a few more demos here soon to submit to an agency, so I may come back with a couple more for some feedback from you.
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# ¿ Jan 20, 2012 01:03 |
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nunchi posted:So I don't want to pursue voice acting as a vocation, HOWEVER, I do lots of voice overs for these videos that I make about microbiology. I've got a really boring, droning, voice. Is there some way I can make this slightly better? I feel myself improving with practice, but if there's something specific that would really help then I'd like to hear it. As a general tip for what I assume to be your problem though, I'd recommend for you to imagine yourself speaking on-stage to a large group of people. They're all here to listen & see you, and they want to be entertained. Sound interested and excited about what you're talking about! poo poo, pretend you're Beakman.
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# ¿ Jan 20, 2012 09:46 |
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PUNCHITCHEWIE posted:Shouldn't an obscure interest thread like this be in one of those creative forums or something? Instead of making this "The Random Goon #54698 Show," this thread is designed to be inclusive to anyone who wants solid practice, and to anyone who makes a request.
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# ¿ Jan 20, 2012 22:43 |
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Nessa posted:Okay, here goes nothing. quote:Getting that promotion at work must feel good. Why not celebrate moving up by moving to Summerset Hills? The neighborhoods of Summerset Hills are now entering into their third phase of building! Choose from dozens of single-family homes on pie shaped lots tucked away on Lilies Fair Court, perfect for young families and parents who want a safe and secluded street on which to raise their kids. With homes selling quickly, you’d better act now so that you can move into your dream home before the first snowfall! Open houses are being held every Saturday and Sunday from 12 until 4. To learn more about the Summerset community, visit our website online or call 555-3125. Summerset Hills: move in today and stay for a lifetime. Oh, and see that folks?! King Lou just made FIVE TAX-FREE DOLLARS!! Just from talking for a couple minutes!!!! Voice acting pays off!!!!!! (You take what you can get in this business.)
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# ¿ Jan 21, 2012 08:12 |
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It's a good mic, and I've used it extensively without issue. I'm not going to recommend something I haven't used. Anyone who has experience with other quality microphones is encouraged to write up a little review and I'll add it in to the OP.
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# ¿ Jan 21, 2012 22:22 |
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Finally had some time to listen to all these (repeatedly) and give feedback. I might sound critical on some things, but it's only because these are issues that I notice, and they're things that you can improve if you watch for it on future readings.Incredulous Dylan posted:Saw this post right at the end of my show. SAM was recording anyway so I figured I would give this a shot (ignoring time requirements) so I could start getting some feedback on this type of thing! I kept the vocals louder so nothing would bury any awful mistakes - tough when you've never really tried to do a commercial type of thing . Still having an issue with saliva though (especially since I drink during my shows!) If you want to get really meta, try to imagine what emotions you want to evoke out of the listener (and who that target actually is). Good choice of music if this was a retirement home, but our target here is most likely upper middle-class, early to mid-30's men & women w/children. How would you tone your voice to convince them that Summerset Hills is truly a wonderful place to raise a family? Believe in what you're saying, and the listener won't question it either. Nessa posted:My throat hurt just listening to that. It sounds like the guy is tearing his vocal cords apart by trying to sustain that voice. To recap: it's not a race, you can slow down. Blow nose/clear throat (several times if necessary). Actually record on...let's say the 20th reading instead of the first few. Try to speak naturally as if you're having a conversation instead of reading a script. Remember that every sentence should have a natural flow, and you ended a few of them pretty well! Make sure that your actual lead-up to that ending sounds natural though. Most important: Don't give up or get frusterated. It's a process. The Aphasian posted:Hey, I'd love some feedback too. Tried more emotion this time (thanks Nessa), but it's hard at 250 wpm. Also breathe (or you'll die). invision posted:Recorded Summerset Hills. Also ripped off the brokeback mountain song for background music. Don't take this the wrong way: some commercials sound loving great with a little southern drawl attached. I guarantee you that this one wasn't written with one in mind. When I have some extra time, I'll find a script that I think your accent would be a good fit for, which in turn will allow me to critique the technical quality of your specific style. ----------------------------------------------------- Hope that helps a bit. Keep practicing out loud! The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 08:21 on Jan 24, 2012 |
# ¿ Jan 24, 2012 08:03 |
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Nessa posted:Uh, I think that was my 4th take? It was the first one where I didn't flub up a word, actually. I'd rather have you re-record Summerset if you want a critique, but you're obviously free to post whatever you'd like. The Aphasian posted:Here's a more sane take; the 30 second challenge was too tempting I guess. Thanks for taking the time to give us all feedback. Cricken_Nigfops posted:Hey guys. I'd really like some c&c on this commercial piece I did. https://www.tedsbulletin.com (click the radio) To everyone else: give these folks some weird poo poo to read, thanks.
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# ¿ Jan 26, 2012 08:11 |
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illectro posted:Honestly, right now I'm just looking at this as an amusing hobby, but I've had enough positive feedback that maybe there's something there that'll supplement the day job. (beyond the $30 a month I get from youtube). Quick kinda-outta-topic question: all your more popular videos are mostly footage of EVE; I thought Youtube didn't allow monetization of anything that's not 100% original content. Did it just slip by them or am I thinking it's way stricter than it actually is? EDIT: vvvvv Cool, thanks for answering vvvvv The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 21:55 on Jan 26, 2012 |
# ¿ Jan 26, 2012 21:37 |
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The Aphasian posted:Here's a more sane take; the 30 second challenge was too tempting I guess. Thanks for taking the time to give us all feedback. Yes, the "must feel gooood" part sounds a little sexual when you try to hear it, but it'd be completely unnoticable on a first few listens and only gets creepier the more times you actively listen for it. The way you said it is still better than having no emotion behind it at all, and it's really not that weird. Everything up through "dozens of single family homes" is good. A little sing-songy but your emphasis hits on the right spots. I would slow down and "emotionalize" "pie-shaped lots, tucked away on Lilly's Fair Courts," with a stronger ending to the sentence. Think of it like this: EVERYONE in the community knows that Lilly's Fair Courts is THE beautiful, safe place to be. Try to get that across with your voice, and end the street name with a softer yet more final finish. I'd start "perfect for young families and parents" in the mid-range, and end lower (instead of higher like in your take). That would then segue into a low to mid-range "who want a safe, and secluded street." "On which to raise their kids," was good. "With homes selling quickly," I'd start low and end mid to low-high, and then put more emphasis on "better act now" and slow it down slightly. Also slow down "so you can move into your dream home," and try to appeal to, well, someone's "dreams" of owning the perfect home! "Before the first snowfall," was delivered excellently. Actually, the entire rest of your take is very good. The information delivery is clear, consistent, and has emphasis on all the right spots. Your specific emphasis on that last line in particular is exactly what I wanted to hear from someone. You nailed it. Definitely airable. Overall, great job. Cricken_Nigfops posted:Hey guys. I'd really like some c&c on this commercial piece I did. https://www.tedsbulletin.com (click the radio) FAKE EDIT: Okay, I listened through Kiss to Build a Dream On and heard a back-and-forth between "two" people. Since I can't replay it to actually listen to it repeatedly, my advice may actually be wrong *gasp*: The really exaggerated guy was kinda funny, but there were a couple spots that I couldn't make out what he said. I also (possibly) noticed some distortion that could've been caused by recording too high and peaking your levels. I can't go back and actually figure out what's wrong though. On the opposite side, your "smooth" guy was too quiet and didn't have a ton of personality. Show me some raw clips and I can possibly help, but I hope you understand why I can't do much with that radio. Nessa posted:Okay, here's my second run, but it doesn't really sound any better to me than my first attempt. Slow..................downnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. You also need to enunciate a lot better, but I think this is a byproduct of trying to speak too fast. It sounds like you're reading a commercial and you just want to get through it as fast as possible and when is Brandon coming back with lunch he should be here by now why did they hire that dunce and GOD I JUST WANNA GO HOME and why hasn't the clocked moved at all AHHHHHHH I DON'T WANNA BE HERE ANYMORE oh god i need a vacation*peels out of office parking lot* ^^^^^ The (exaggerated) vibe I get from your reading ^^^^^ You are telling a friend about Summerset Hills. You want them to live in Summerset Hills. Summerset Hills is beautiful, and really it's the best place for them. Please friend, sit down for a spell. Let me tell you about the many wonders of Summerset Hills. Yes, it is a lovely commercial. Yes, it was written by someone who doesn't understand the basic concept of time. BUT, your job is to make it sound NOT like a commercial. The only time it should feel even slightly wooden is when you're giving important information, such as dates, times, addresses, websites, phone numbers, etc...if you don't enunciate and give out that information clearly & audibly, the company or person that paid for that commercial has every right to be MEGA PISSED (and they WILL be). I really don't mean to be harsh but it doesn't sound like you applied or practiced any of my previous advice at all. If you want to try again, I will go through another critique with a new read, but please, for both our sake, read and exercise what I've said just now and previously. Advice that I've given to you AND other readers. CuddleChunks posted:The Joe Man - thanks for making this thread and taking time to give critiques. I recorded the Summerset Hills text and would like some feedback.
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# ¿ Jan 27, 2012 10:52 |
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Dr. Bit posted:Added to the OP!
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# ¿ Jan 27, 2012 21:56 |
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Just want to pop-in and say sorry about not being around to critique for folks that wanted it. Been away/busy and will assumedly get a chance Monday at the latest. Technobabble speech looks fun, I'll also give it a shot when I have time.
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# ¿ Jan 29, 2012 09:11 |
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Stinkmeister posted:Here's my take on the Summerset commercial: "Getting that promotion at work, must feel gooood... " sounds really sexual. "by moving to Summerset Hills?" also sounds off. A few problems with the way you ended that sentence. The first problem is that your end of "hills" isn't dedicated to one finish or the other. Yes, it's a question, but you sound unsure of it yourself. The other problems continue throughout. Your voice is really warbly. I can hear what you're trying to do with each sentence, and your intentions are (mostly) accurate...but it sounds like your voice can't stick with the way you want to deliver it. This is honestly the first time I've come up against this issue and at the moment, I have no idea of a proven method to fix it. To narrow down what the actual issue is, I would re-record it in a very stern, authoritative, almost angry voice. Save. Re-record in a slightly softer voice. Save. Re-record in an even softer voice. Save. Continue doing this until it gets ridiculous. Walk away for an hour, and then listen to them from top-to-bottom. If you were able to hold a consistent tone with each take, then pick out the one that sounds the most natural and compare it to your original recording up top. You should be able to single-out the problem. Another issue: You heavily z your s'. This is fixable, and the solution is obvious. Practice a script with a ton of s' in it and try to keep the zzzz's out of your s'. Purely a practice/repetition issue. Another issue: Saliva. A lot of saliva. Clear your mouth/throat before reading several times. If that's not the issue, then I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this but you might have a slight lisp. If you can knock out these specific issues, you'll be good to go to the next step and tone down the exaggerated delivery a bit. My critique sounds harsh but honestly, some of these are big roadblocks that will impede you from professional work. Better to knock them out now with practice before an opportunity slips by. Adib posted:Incidentally I also finally got around to recording the Summerset Hills prompt. I initially did the first recording without looking at previous advice, but I later found The Joe Man's tips on the previous page for this particular prompt and decided to re-record it in a more casual (and less news reporter-y) style. Here are both takes respectively: 2nd take is less atrocious. Is that your natural speaking voice? It sounds like you're trying to do an impersonation of your dad. However, if that is your natural voice, you need to work on blending your sentences together naturally so it doesn't sound like you're reading from a script. This is very, very wooden. Listen to your "moving up" for the worst example of what I'm talking about. "safe and secluded street on which to raise their kids" is okay. You also have a slight saliva/tongue click problem as well. I think you're trying too hard to sound like an announcer and it's throwing your whole rhythm off. You're also speaking from the bottom of your throat and not resonating from the diaphragm. HELP MEEE, HELP YOUUUUU The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 04:53 on Jan 31, 2012 |
# ¿ Jan 31, 2012 04:16 |
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invision posted:Post something for me to drawl over. Script posted:Want to know where the bakers of the best Independence Day pies get their filling? They wouldn’t give away their secret, but heck, we would! Everyone down from the senate to the streets goes to Uncle Sam’s Pick Your Own, a farm owned by generations of McCaskill’s, specializing in berries that make pies go red, white and blue! All the other farms are green with envy, so you’ll know where to turn on Interstate 42 just north of Bakersville. Look for the giant American flag made of fruit! That’s Uncle Sam’s Pick Your Own, open all summer long! Or this: 2nd Script posted:There’s nothing quite like a day down on the farm with the family, that is, unless it’s a Whichever one you feel most comfortable with. With the drawl, you don't have to be spot on/word-for-word. I don't know how this'll turn out but I'm curious. The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 19:47 on Feb 2, 2012 |
# ¿ Feb 2, 2012 19:44 |
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topenga posted:I haven't done this before, but whenever I see these threads I get excited. As a guess, I think you might be too close to the mic. A Snowball's not the best, but it shouldn't sound like that. Do you have a stand for it or what is it sitting on? topenga posted:but I was holding it The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 21:03 on Feb 6, 2012 |
# ¿ Feb 6, 2012 20:14 |
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Camo Guitar posted:Hey guys and girls - If anyone's looking for practice, here's a promo script you can sink your teeth into for something/our next 'cost us nothing' stunt we've got coming up in a week or two: Tried the Technobabble script late last night but kept sliding into a Yosemite Sam voice for some reason? I have a fun direction in mind for it so I'll give it another shot at some point.
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# ¿ Feb 8, 2012 01:16 |
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Sorry I've been away from the thread for awhile but it doesn't really look like a problem! Great advice from folks so far. I'll be buying some banner ads in the next few in order to drum up some requests.
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# ¿ Feb 20, 2012 20:18 |
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Everdraed posted:Holy crap, it's been over a week! I'll buy advertising soon-ish. In the meantime: MORE REQUESTS PLEASE!
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# ¿ Mar 2, 2012 05:15 |
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This is really stiff, monotone, and boring. You barely got more natural towards the end, but it wasn't enough. For a reading like this, it's hard to imagine talking to someone directly because it's so scripted. I think the best "out" for this script would be a slightly over-exaggerated reading. Crazed. First thought when buying a can of expired peanuts is "how can I kill someone with this can of expired peanuts?!?" Did a voice-over role of a haunted house for a student film recently, I'll post it when I see it. I wanted to go full-on Skeletor/Megatron/Murray but they told me to "tone down the evil" and go for a casual/hip/urban sounding house, yet "kinda mean at the same time BUT NOT TOO MEAN!!" Basically, they didn't know what the gently caress they wanted. I think my reading sucked because I constantly had to force myself to hold back on what I knew would actually sound good, purposefully over-the-top, and make the movie unique and funny. As it is now, the thing doesn't even make sense and I just lazily berate a Native American dude for 5 minutes. Just....just let me go full-on Skeletor....
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# ¿ Mar 15, 2012 09:50 |
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Here's something: http://tinyurl.com/7v3zhhl I'm not going to enter because I absolutely loathe their system, but it might spark someone else to go for it.
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# ¿ Mar 16, 2012 21:50 |
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Just checking in with everyone to see if anyone's done some voicework in the meanwhile and if you've been successful in finding local acting lists to sign up for and buffed up your resumes. Also offering any free coaching advice for a bit (at least until I get busy again).
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# ¿ Mar 27, 2012 23:28 |
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Dudley Downright posted:For your amusement or disgust: GOOD THINGS 1) You know how to project your voice. This is a very good thing but it can cause a few problems if you're not careful (which I'll detail in the other section). 2) Very clear. Words are succinct (other than an "into" I noticed), and you're easily understandable. Enunciation isn't perfect, but it's better than average. BAD THINGS 1) Due to your natural projection, it's actually too loud for the mic. This is an easy fix: STEP BACK (like 6in - 1ft). You'll notice a much cleaner sound if you allow your voice to travel over the mic instead of forcing it in. 2) You got da spitmouth. Make sure your mouth is clear of any saliva before you record because this is very, very noticable. I think I gave some tips earlier in the thread regarding this. Stop clicking your tongue to the roof of your mouth. 3) Sing-songy. It's odd because with your natural projection (which is usually the result of some focus), you're all over the place on emphasis. It's like you're not 100% committed to the script, and you're ending your sentences on weak notes. It's comparable to a really slow-moving rollercoaster. If this was your very 1st or 2nd take, then the problem is probably due to unfamiliarity with the script. 4) Hesitation after "must feel good" but this is a minor quibble. WORK ON THESE THINGS! Tim Burns Effect posted:Decided my first upload should be my stab at everybody's favorite techno-babble. Zratha posted:Finally got my character demo done! If you make a standard 60 or 90 second demo spliced together with tons of fake commercials, informational examples, just regular stuff you'd hear on the air, I can guarantee you that it'll work (and sound) much better/focused than what you currently have. By the way, the new mic made a ton of difference. What games are you doing? I want to hear what you sound like in a finalized environment. Camo Guitar posted:Not recorded voicework per se - but still involving voicework (of a description) and something that I reckon a few people on this thread with confidence and strong voices should start investigating...MC work!
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# ¿ Apr 6, 2012 21:45 |
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Tim Burns Effect posted:So does that mean they're terrible, or...? Like I said, they have decent production, but there's not much more I can offer for those two regarding vocal advice. I look forward to hearing more though!
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# ¿ Apr 7, 2012 06:25 |
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SatansBestBuddy posted:So I did a recording of the IdeaSpy 2.5 radio drama that shows up in Ghost Babel. I'm fairly certain I suck at it so I'm posting it here in case anyone has any pearls of wisdom I could use to improve. Things I noticed: 1) You're too close to the microphone and really need to watch your levels. You're not only capping out at times, but there's also occasional popping, clicking, and hissing (like when you breathe into the mic). This is also related to breath control. 2) Breath control. Even though you're talking pretty slowly, I can tell that you're really uncomfortable behind the mic and not sure of yourself, and oddly enough in contrast, your brain is responding to that tension by wanting to speak faster than normal just to get it over with. This leads to a weird vocal purgatory where your voice doesn't have a definite direction, and causes all sorts of crazy problems in both vocal quality and technical results. My main suggestion is to audibly read/record it over several times, relax, decompress for an hour and have a cup of coffee or something, and come back to it. Then read it over a few more times and go in for your (potentially) final recording. 3) Syllables. You have a major tendency to pro nounce ev er y syl la ble in ev er y sin gle word. You need to work on blending words together naturally ASAP because it's easily the most distracting part of all of this. I'm wondering if you do that during normal, comfortable conversation too? The problem might lie with script familiarity. If that's the case, see the above paragraph. 4) You're trying to force several voices that aren't even close to your natural. Record this in your natural speaking voice and I guarantee it'll sound 100% better. I'm sorry, but it sounds terrible and nowhere near professional or airable quality. It reminds me of teenagers who try to do an adult, "gritty" voice in a japanese fan comic or something. Get comfortable with the script and read it as naturally as possible. I wasn't able to listen to your reading through the online Tindeck player, but I was able to download/listen to it on my HD. You might want to reupload your file if others are having the same problem. You admittedly have a lot of work ahead if you'd like to improve, but that's exactly what this thread is for. I'm happy to help get you started on the right path if you have any further questions or readings you'd like to share.
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# ¿ Apr 10, 2012 22:02 |
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King Lou posted:Hey The Joe Man, Yeah, I'm the same way. Most of the work I do is finding already posted auditions (w/buyout price) and throwing my hat in the ring if it's fair/worth it. If someone comes to me, I think about it in terms of "How much time is this probably going to take me?" This also varies depending upon if I'm fully producing it so it's 100% "ready for broadcast." Then again, whatever I quote is usually skewed towards the cheap side since I can knock fully-produced stuff out really quickly. Just for the sake of hard numbers, if it's a local client or something smaller (with the possibility of future work), I usually settle somewhere between $30-$80 depending on production & length. Larger clients (with bigger pockets & higher standards) are probably around the $140-$190 range. If someone gives me all the info, I can throw them a fair price. Otherwise, I simply ask what their VO/Production budget is or what they were hoping to spend and go from there. You might have better luck with posting rates since you're better connected to larger clients and geographically nearer to "the industry." Also, you can probably quote more since your cost of living is higher out there. All I know is that no one in MN wants to spend money on audio unless it's from the mumblemouth of some hockey or baseball player that can barely put a sentence together. Long story short: hook me up!
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# ¿ Apr 13, 2012 19:13 |
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Meow Cadet posted:Back in February I did my first VO job for a video game. They said I would get called back in April for the next installment (the game is in 4 episodes). I haven't heard anything from them, and I'm tempted to send a "Can't wait to hear from you" email, but I'm afraid that might be a little too pushy. Any thoughts? Where are people getting these video game jobs?! (No for real I wanna know) CuddleChunks posted:The question I wanted to ask while listening to it was, "Would you want to sit and listen to this?" It's not terrible, but it's certainly not impressive. I will say though that cold reading a "script" for 2 hours straight that's written for the eye and not for the ear can be tough. Most books are not meant to be read aloud, so if you want to make it audibly pleasing, you really need to put some effort into it. Frankly, I didn't see much effort. However, you can still turn this into a learning experience: Listen/watch your entire reading with a critical ear and write down (with a timestamp) anything you notice that you friggin' hate about it. A mispronunciation here, badly timed emphasis there, etc... Work on not doing those things anymore. This actually works surprisingly well. I started to get into on-camera acting (ughh) and luckily for me, they recorded and posted everyone's audition online. I noticed that I kept closing my eyes and blinking unknowingly while reciting lines. Now that I'm conscious of it, I don't do that anymore. Success!
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# ¿ Apr 16, 2012 08:03 |
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blinkeve1826 posted:Everyone should be paying attention to this: those are two of the worst things you can do for your vocal health. You undoubtedly know the long-term effects of smoking, so I won't go there, but in the shorter-term, caffeine/caffeinated drinks and smoking dehydrate you. This isn't opinion or what works best for me/you/anyone else, this is a fact: caffeinated drinks will dry you out. quote:Is it? I feel like there's a LOT of competition in the female market as well. Perhaps that's just because I'm female and that's primarily what I've been focusing on? quote:My animation demo is just about 90 seconds and I'm thinking of trimming it, but I think it'll be about 1:10-1:15 after I do. Is 60 OR 90 an industry thing, or if it's somewhere in the middle of 60 and 90 is there some reason that wouldn't fly? quote:So...as I have a tendency to do, am I being too harsh with myself? I feel like these are things that NEED to be fixed/done before I find an agent, but I also feel so overwhelmed/lost/stuck with all of this that I feel like my VO career is at a complete standstill and I'll never get out of it! Aaarrghrghrgh. What say you wise voiceover gurus? The best thing to keep in mind is that folks like us have ears for this sort of thing so we're able to pick up friggin' everything. More often than not, customers or clients would never notice the little imperfections that we notice/cringe at. I barely glanced at the website but to someone that doesn't know any better (middle-age/old people), it looks impressive. You're probably fine. Pick a project and finish it though; it'll at the very least make you feel better and that's still one more solid thing outta the way. quote:-Also, for those of you just starting out and looking for things to put on a resume, look around you--there are opportunities for you EVERYWHERE. I'm a bit envious of those starting out, actually, because that first step is deceivingly easy BECAUSE of the wealth of opportunities around you. Does your job need a new voicemail greeting? Offer to record it in exchange for a positive testimonial on your website. Does your Aunt Bertha need to deliver a Powerpoint presentation next Thursday? Offer to provide narration for it for credit at the end, and to keep you in mind for future projects. Turn to family, friends, and work for potential opportunities to get your voice out there. If nothing else, it's great practice, and these little opportunities can--and DO--often turn into paid ones! I was at my boyfriend's house a few months ago, and his mother was stressing out over a script she had to write for the head of her company to read on camera for a training video or something. Just to be goofy, I read it out loud, clearly over-enthusiastically, so she'd get an idea of how it could sound out loud, but again, just for fun. The next day, my boyfriend calls and tells me his mother told the head of the company how good I sounded reading it, and he decided he wanted me to read it instead--along with the company's voicemail message. Just from reading something out loud, I was offered not one, but TWO voiceover gigs. Get your voice out there, and read for anyone who will listen! You never know when it will happen for you! ChaosTheory posted:You forgot our little adult audiobook. ChaosTheory posted:But my dear ir's full blast
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# ¿ Apr 20, 2012 00:52 |
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CuddleChunks posted:Some text: I can't really not do this for fun. I'll upload something Friday night. EDIT: Just listened to your instructional. Very good advice, especially for folks that have a tendency to rush through a script. The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 20:34 on Apr 25, 2012 |
# ¿ Apr 25, 2012 09:41 |
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Blamethrower posted:Hello VO thread! Awesome, thanks for the opportunity. Assuming you don't choose the first one you hear, I can send over my submission within the next few days (Friday evening). The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 03:37 on Apr 26, 2012 |
# ¿ Apr 26, 2012 00:13 |
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Just want to point out that anyone who wants to update their information in the 2nd post with a new Tindeck or IMDB/Portfolio link or whatever is free to let me know (post/PM) and I'll change it for ya.
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# ¿ Apr 26, 2012 19:52 |
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Sent you the reading, Blamethrower. Should come in just under 9mb.
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# ¿ Apr 28, 2012 04:21 |
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Blamethrower posted:Thanks again to everyone who sent a submission! They were all great and it was fantastic to have such a diverse range of voices to choose from. To everyone that submitted, it might be kinda fun/interesting to hear the different readings and how each person envisioned a "documentary style." Here was my submission: EDIT: If you're uploading to Tindeck, you probably want to convert it to .mp3 first. Tindeck doesn't handle .wavs too well and they're about 5x larger as well. The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 18:17 on Apr 30, 2012 |
# ¿ Apr 30, 2012 18:00 |
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# ¿ Apr 27, 2024 06:49 |
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Amplify the volume about 5dBs, save it as an .mp3, then reupload. Fiction D posted:I'll do that tonight. Your reading is fantastic by the way. EDIT: Also, I checked out that video. Are you the Troglodyte voice? Sounds good to me, but there's not much I can recommend due to the nature of it being a "monster voice." Any other narration or more natural clips you've done? The Joe Man fucked around with this message at 18:45 on Apr 30, 2012 |
# ¿ Apr 30, 2012 18:21 |