Voiceover Answerbase
A collection of my answers to VO and Voiceover questions. Ranging from basic "how-to's" to detailed VO studio fixes and hacks.
VO Weekly Workflow: Reasonable, but “Wrong”
Every time I use a tool, it feels as though an adjustment occurs in my hands and brain. Whether wrenching on a bicycle, gaining fluidity on a bass guitar, or nudging settings in a plug-in to correct some audio, on my best days there's a feedback loop that adds a little bit of additional knowledge. Bicycle bolts I rounded out or snapped because of poor fit or too much torque gave me a better feel the next time. Experimenting how to make things sound better made me trust my ears. I safely - though sometimes very frustratingly - learned what "wrong" sounded or felt like.
VO Weekly Workflow: Why “Consistency”?
The drive to creatively reinvent does not necessarily serve us when it comes to running our home voiceover recording setup. Our studio is the framework from which we launch that creativity. It needs to be a solid foundation for our process.
VO Weekly Workflow: Diagnosis is in the Details
When digging into the details of any audio issue, terminology matters a lot. Trying to describe what we’re hearing can...
VO Weekly Workflow: Source-Elements Recorder
The Source-Elements Recorder is a solid looking way to record high quality audio in your browser. Even more impressive, it appears to work on any platform - including phones and tablets. Recorder can conform the audio for delivery to certain platforms or even add processing according to specific guidelines. It does this without having to download and install anything (though you do need an internet connection to use it). Did I mention that the Recorder app is free?
VO Weekly Workflow – Audiobook Considerations
Audiobook recording and production also has an interesting momentum. I imagine it's a bit like captaining a large ship in treacherous waters. When making a concise course adjustment, it can feel like an endless yawning lag before the bow responds. Often on an audiobook project, decisions made weeks before don't affect the process until much later. We need to start with a clear plan.
VO Weekly Workflow – One Size…Does Not Fit All
There is no one way to achieve optimal results. That is why I'll rarely suggest that someone has a "wrong" approach. When capturing audio at home, each of us has a unique set of challenges...
VO Weekly Workflow – Tracking Numbers… Does It Matter?
What didn't help was focusing on projects that didn't click. It wasn't that I couldn't learn from those. Closing the loop by regularly reviewing auditions remains a part of my process. But I try to stop short of diving deeply into all the things I might have done "wrong."
VO Weekly Workflow – Proper Care and Handling of the Voice Actor
We become a voice actor and realize it's all up to us. Stress can often accompany the freedom of running your own business. What we are trying to do is build a long term healthy relationship with ourselves.
VO Weekly Workflow – The Lure Of Incremental Upgrades
The lure of giving into that impulse to purchase new gear is not without challenges. A more accurate microphone will precisely capture the performance we put into it. As every voice actor staring down any microphone can attest, what goes into the microphone matters. A "meh" audition won't sound any more compelling through a more expensive mic...
