VO MIndset: Dealing With Studio Overload

Technology waits for no person, it seems. We keep hearing about newer phones, faster computers, and slicker software with all the latest bells and whistles. It can be tough to keep up, leaving us feeling behind the times and generally overwhelmed 

That sense of overwhelm can trickle into the home voiceover studio as well. This can be a pernicious issue if we just grab the newest equipment and software, thinking it will solve our problems. New voice actors’ first questions are often about the latest recording tech. They are concerned about getting the “right” gear and finding out the “processing secrets of the pros…”

Here’s the thing – there really aren’t any secrets. In fact, the core purpose of studio voiceover recording is simple – to make you sound like you (can I coin the acronym MY SLY?) It’s helpful to keep that in mind. Rather than becoming overwhelmed by the continual onslaught of technology, we need to become better problem solvers. 

The Voiceover Studio “Secret”

The truth is there will always be new things we don’t know. There’s a first time for everything, whether properly connecting a new microphone to your computer or running your a Source-Connect session with a big client. Time and again, we find ourselves in the situation where we don’t know the answer….. Yet.

That idea of “Yet” is a powerful one. It helps us to find comfort in the not knowing. Navigating the studio/client/deliverables landscape, we’ll frequently find ourselves in the “not knowing – yet” valley. I love the monolog at the end of “The Martian” where Matt Damon’s character says “…you keep solving problems. And if you solve enough of them, you get to come home.” Of course, the stakes in our home studios aren’t that high. But the approach is the same and each time we traverse that challenge, we get better at it.

There will likely be times when you aren’t even sure what questions to ask. Usually those occur near project deadlines, or late on weekends when no one is around. That is when we often realize that we are our own IT department… But when we reset our scale and refocus, we can usually find a problem small enough to solve. That solution gives us momentum to identify the next one. Even if we can’t solve the next issue, that process gets us to the point where we clearly understand the challenge and able to identify the next question we should ask.

Wondering if your audio quality meets professional standards? For a free review of your vocal recordings, please use the upload tool on my Audio Review page.

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