It’s Time to Connect Your Studio

Note: I first published this article in early 2019, when there was a steady trickle of “Source-Connect Only” auditions coming through my agents. Looking back on this, I find myself wishing I had not waited so long to be fully connected through Source-Connect. Once agents knew I had Source-Connect Standard to my voiceover studio, more auditions began showing up, and it became something I could use to differentiate my VO services.

Reviewing this studio resource in late 2021, after over 18 months of worldwide lockdowns, it seems to be much too restrained of a recommendation. These days most quality agents won’t even consider you for their roster unless you can provide realtime connections with your studio. Source-Connect is still most commonly asked-for method, though I have been using SessionLink Pro with some European clients and those have run uniformly trouble-free. For a deeper discussion of how to connect your studio with Source-Connect, ipDTL, SessionLink Pro, Connection Open and other methods, please refer to my article on “Connecting a Booth Director/Studio for Remote VO Sessions”.

If you need assistance in setting up your Studio with Source-Connect or any other connection method, please reach out or reserve a session.

Why invest in Source-Connect?

Over the past year or so, I’ve come to a strong opinion: if you are not able to connect remotely with a client, you won’t be competitive in voiceover. You’ll simply miss opportunities.

Each time I set up a client with Source-Connect or ipDTL, it reinforces this idea.

Things in the VO industry are once again shifting. More quality jobs specify the need for real time connection – especially through the online venues.

From the producer’s side, it’s a simple litmus test. When posting a job requiring “Source-Connect/ISDN”, they know those voice actors who respond have made a strong commitment to their business.

For the past few years, it has been very easy for anyone to call themselves a voice actor. It’s also equally easy for anyone to sign up for major online VO job sites. That means “anyone” can submit for projects.

The producer’s task isn’t getting enough people to respond to auditions.

It’s finding an efficient way to cull those who don’t have quality audio or training. It seems they are beginning to figure out that filtering by who responds the quickest or the cheapest is not a good long term plan.

Use Source-Connect to establish your studio professionalism

Since you have invested in training and equipment, the ability to connect remotely is a strong opportunity. It provides a clear way to differentiate yourself from other actors.

Even if a client doesn’t use that level of service from you, it establishes the “Professional Quality” of your studio. It provides a clear reason why they should work with you. It then lets you market your service directly to production houses and agencies.

Currently I see Source-Connect requested most frequently – though an ipDTL day pass works well for any client still using ISDN. Source-Connect has provided more audition opportunities from my local agent and enabled me to obtain representation outside of my geographic area.

When you work out the kinks in your setup for one of these high speed connection methods, learning another one (because technology changes…always) becomes less of an issue. Your skills will transfer.

Ask anyone on the production end of things and they’ll confirm – budgets are tighter and turnaround times are faster. If we can help solve these challenges by seamlessly connecting our studios, we become the provider of choice.

If you would like to schedule a session to set up your studio to connect via Source-Connect, it generally takes about an hour and can be done both on site or remotely.