VO Studio Success from Noticing Differences – Tuesday Tech Tip

Differences matter. Sometimes they are surprisingly small, like the angle of a microphone, a pause or shift of pace focusing listener’s attention, or simply recognizing that something doesn’t sound quite right. If you were to ask me a key to finding success in voiceover, I’d have to say its noticing those differences. 

Different is not inherently better or worse. “Different” can reveal a problem or provide an insight. It’s important that we catch that glimmer.

When I first started taking VO classes, I’d listen back to auditions from working voice actors and feel a bit overwhelmed. Those skills felt out of reach. It took a while to start noticing the difference between those performances which simply sounded “good” and others which caught and captivated my attention. At first all I could do is acknowledge that there was a difference. 

It reminded me of something I learned when messing around with bicycles and long distance riding: the need to pay attention to anything which was “different”. It could be a subtle discomfort in your body, or a sudden repeating mechanical tick or scraping sound from the drivetrain, even a sudden sloppiness or sluggishness in the handling of the bike which wasn’t there before. 

Those types of differences are hard to articulate, sensed them more than noticed. But they often translate into failing tires, broken chains, or more catastrophic issues. 

If you paid attention to those moments, they usually provide ample early warning. You’ll discover the loosening pedal or the misaligned brake well before it does any damage. Noticing differences can prevent more significant setbacks.

That awareness has served me well in voiceover as well. Recognizing the subtle shift of intention and focus in those auditions which actually booked projects, or how precise physicality matters for character work.

At first, we may only pick up the larger changes. While building the awareness, it’s only natural that we respond to large differences. Listening back to prior auditions, it may be that we can only tell the truly terrible from the rest. Or, when listening to our recordings for quality, easily hearing the neighbor’s leaf blower in the background but not picking up on an overly bass-y proximity effect from working the microphone too closely. 

Maintaining that practice of paying attention to differences will make us better at the skill. As we continue recognizing those differences, we find efficiencies and higher quality. Simple ideas like saving files first, or setting a quick “go-to” gain adjustment to prevent clipping, create a framework for our work. 

Solving those distractions allows us to focus on the efforts which matter. The choices we make behind the microphone. Noticing differences becomes part of our way of working. Making that awareness part of your auditioning and recording practice will serve you well. 

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