VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Shiromi]

Hi, all. I've been working on putting together some audiobook demos these past few weeks. I've gotten some great feedback so far from other VO, but I know I won't feel like I really am going in the right direction unless I hear from some of you guys who actually are working in audiobooks. So here it is <gulp> a couple of short clips for you to listen to.

https://soundcloud.com/shiromi-arserio/coraline/s-2RoNt

https://soundcloud.com/shiromi-arserio/on-basilisk-station/s-deTfs

Thanks in advance!!

[Scott Pollak]

Hello, Shiromi! I'm going to jump into the pond here with the disclaimer that I have a modest amount of audiobook narrations under my belt (20), but there are many others here on this forum with far more experience and expertise. So please take my observations with the grain of salt that they merit. I am not, nor do I claim to be, an expert in the field of audiobook narrations. I probably have just enough experience to be dangerous!

- For starters: I really like your voice. Love your accent and your ease in front of the mike. Wonderful storyteller voice.

- Next: that being said, I heard very little variation in your two samples, My initial reaction was that if I were to listen to you read for an extended period of time your lovely voice might lull me to sleep. While you DO indeed have a beautiful voice, your cadence - at least to me - bordered on monotone. Do you have other examples that will show character voices and a bit of range where you might ramp up the energy level a bit?

- Now, here is where I know I'm really stepping outside the 'norm' of what is 'acceptable' in terms of audiobook demos. Okay, I KNOW that typically music and sound effects (SFX) are NOT used in most audiobooks and you almost never hear them in audiobook demos. However, I say "So what?!" A small number of my narrations have, indeed, included a little bit of intro and outro music to lead into chapters and to close them, and in my own demo I added a little music here and there simply to make the demo more audibly interesting. You may want to consider that in a few places as you piece together your demo. And - again - I KNOW that some folks may disagree with me on this, but I just don't feel it's cast in stone. We can stretch that envelope. Why not?

- Finally, I'm sure you realize that your final demo, which should range from roughly 2-4 minutes or so, should include around 3 examples of work? Perhaps a non-fiction piece, a piece showcasing some characters' voices and so on.

I think you have a fantastic voice. Pump a bit of life into your reads, put together a demo with some variety, and you should do well.

Now.............. let's see what the guys with a LOT of experience in audiobooks have to say!
_________________
Scott R. Pollak
Clients include Pandora, NPR Atlanta, Wells Fargo, Cisco, Humana, Publix, UPS, AT&T, HP, Xerox and more.

www.voicebyscott.com

[Shiromi]

Hi Scott. No worries. You've done about 20 audiobooks, which is, let's see, 20 more than me.

The funny thing is I read aloud all the time, and when I do, I always put a lot of energy into it. Even when listening, I tend towards a lively Jim Dale audiobook, but I've been so concerned about slowing down and not taxing the listener that perhaps I have, uh oh, gone the other way? Or perhaps I just need a more exciting scene for a demo. Either way, it bears looking at.

I do have more clips I've been working on. I've been hesitant about putting them up since they're using an American accent for the narrator, and I'm sure that's probably a faux pas right there, but some of the other clips do have a lot more tension.

Thanks for taking a listen. I really appreciate it. This is precisely the kind of stuff I need to hear!

[Ed Fisher]

My completely unqualified opinion (which I always have) and should completely be ignored is this....

I love your voice.

That means your diction, your accent...lovely.

It's really first rate.

However.... (there usually is a however in there somewhere) the RHYTHM I rather quickly came to find unpleasant. I think this has been expressed somewhat differently here earlier. If you look at the wave form it looks almost like a perfectly shaped Saw Blade. Burst ....then pause. More read....then pause. REPEAT.

The brain needs stimulation and will quickly adapts to anything that is predictable and starts to tune it out. Your presentation has a rhythm that quickly starts to lull one into a very pleasant semi-hypnotic state. Which, after all, would be great if this was a self-help hypnosis book. Perhaps a different approach and changes in speed and pitch would serve you better.

As I said. Please feel free to ignore my totally unqualified opinion. You will very likely be all the better for it.
_________________
"I reserve the right to be completely wrong."

[Shiromi]

Don't be silly. This is exactly what I need to hear. I do think it's when I'm trying to consciously read slow that this happens. I just re-did a different clip of mine that was too rhythmic, and when I'm not feeling so self-conscious about reading slow and I just go with it, it certainly has more energy and variety. The question is, how do I find that sweet spot without sacrificing energy?