VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Chrome Attic · Joined: 21 Feb 2013 Posts: 3

Does the voice over world still use commercial studios to track their voice - or is it much more an at home process? It seems like it might be both. What are the studio needs of the Voice Over'ist? Are there any?

I am a studio manager that has great talent and editing capabilities for audio post work and am curious about these things as I am just beginning the adventure into this world.

Thanks!

Bruce · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:25 pm Post subject:

Dear Chrome, or shall we call you Jon?

From where I sit it appears that the vast majority of voiceoverists who make a full time living at it are now doing at-home recording. I'm sure in the biggest markets and for some of the biggest names (such as your Hollywoo types) they still go to studios. But the rank and file? We're fighting the battle on the home front now.

B
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Chrome Attic · Joined: 21 Feb 2013 Posts: 3

You can call me Jon-

Thanks, Bruce, for your reply. Do home voice over-ists usually require any help editing (the spaces between) / compressing/EQ / mixing / or sound design? Or is that all part of the home practice?

I'm curious, because I'd like to find a way to help this growing home scene.

Best-
Jon

DougVox · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:46 am Post subject:

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:21 am Post subject:

bruce, i thought something similar: hello mister attic. or may i call you chrome?

lots of audiobook narrators and other long-form vo specialists farm out their editing, if'n that's what you're after.
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

wearing two hats (engineer and voice actor) during a session is a daunting task..

that's why I'm in awe of guys like Bish, who seems like he has it going on...

I ALWAYS feel like my performance suffers when I'm in a demanding session with a client from my home rig... frustrating...and challenging...

I always struggle to match my auditions.. the auditions being done with no pressure and the luxury of wearing only your voice - actor costume..

Bish · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:50 am Post subject:

I was thinking of chiming-in here, but every time I thought about it, it struck me as a "how long is a piece of string?" question. I decided to post after The Captain's generous comment! The fact is that there are VOs who are capable, competent and even expert recording engineers and producers... and there are others who know what end of the mic to talk into and that's it. This is not a measure of any VO talent or ability to produce the perfect performance. Some VOs do nothing except turn up as a studio and do their thing... and make a fortune at it because they're brilliant performers.

The majority of members here try to offer one-stop shopping... which means they have to offer at least a base-line level of expertise to capture themselves in a home studio environment. Sometimes this can be as simple as getting someone else to set it all up and telling where the record button is. Others, especially long-form narrators, see the editing and file preparation as an arduous task and not the best use of their time, leading to a growing market for third-party editors & proof-listeners.

I started life as an telecommunications engineer... and as a hobby I was slinging mics and recording local bands (a man with a Revox was a man worth knowing). I was splicing, looping, matching impedance, building synths and agonizing about signal to noise ratios back in the 70s. This stuff comes easily to me (easily, that is, after years of an apprenticeship, college and getting my hands dirty). I have no expectation that other VOs have this level of expertise or understanding... it's just what I brought to the table when I became one.

There are a number of very tech-savvy people who have made a business out of offering quality support to the VO community. Some are VOs themselves, some are not. Either way, there is a definite need for technical and/or production support within the VO niche.
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Chrome Attic · Joined: 21 Feb 2013 Posts: 3

Thanks everyone for the reply!
You can call me Jon!

(Self-Promotion Zone)
Let it be know that I'm willing and interested to help any parties who need their material EQ'd, edited, mastered, and the like. I'm looking to add this function to our studio. We'd like to get as much work as you need and can offer it at a great rate. We'll even work for free for the first project!
We have a dropbox account and work day and night. So you can save money too- I'd be happy to add any insight in a reply as to what I am doing to your tracks to make it sound better...
(End Self-Promo Zone)

Is there a good place to go / look for people who need help?
In the Chicago land area- I'm located in the northwest suburbs.

I'd love to apply my passion of making beautiful sound to what the VO world needs!