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Mike Harrison
M&M
Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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 Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| melissa eX wrote: | | The big thing specifically with IVR is you have to be aware of how phrases are concatenated. Half the time you're saying parts of sentences so you have to understand how they'll be put together so you get the appropriate inflection. |
Great point, Melissa!
There is, however, one instance I know of where that's not possible: numbers. For example, the inflection for "20" is different than it would be when the second digit is not the zero (24). Same goes for 30, 40, etc. So, even single digit numbers need to be spoken either flat as opposed to definitively (as if they were followed by a period), or recorded and applied both ways. But that wouldn't be feasible.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Simon Phillips
Contributor II
Joined: 27 Jul 2010
Posts: 69
Location: Hertfordshire, England
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:11 am Post subject: |
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| Mike Harrison wrote: |
...So, even single digit numbers need to be spoken either flat as opposed to definitively (as if they were followed by a period), or recorded and applied both ways. But that wouldn't be feasible. |
It is feasible, and quite lucrative, if you get the right client. I've read all the numbers three ways (beginning, flat and end intonation) for one client and reading them two ways is quite a common occurence.
That's probably the hardest part of what is, generally, quite easy work if you're suited to it.
My tip to John would be to watch out for slipping into robotic speech patterns, which can happen all too easily. Just because you've heard a million robotic sounding phone messages, it doesn't make it alright for you to do it too.
There's a lot of "Sorry"s and "Thank you"s in phone work. Say it like you mean it and you've got a headstart right there. |
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:12 am Post subject: |
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What Simon said!  
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
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Mike Harrison
M&M
Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:47 am Post subject: |
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| Simon Phillips wrote: | | It is feasible, and quite lucrative, if you get the right client. I've read all the numbers three ways (beginning, flat and end intonation) for one client and reading them two ways is quite a common occurence. |
Never in a million years would I have thought a company would make the effort and outlay to make this kind of thing sound more real.
I'm impressed.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Lizden
A Zillion
Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 8864
Location: The dark recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Oh Yeah.
I've read 0 through 100 in rising, neutral & falling inflections tons of times.
.... 0 through 1000...in all three versions.... only a few times 
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com |
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Mandy Nelson
MMD
Joined: 07 Aug 2008
Posts: 2914
Location: Wicked Mainah
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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| melissa eX wrote: | | phrases are concatenated. |
This is huge.
I got my start doing VO for telephony 17 years ago. We used to record in 8k. That was one reason I was able to have a home studio because the end quality was crap so it didn't matter if the cat was purring in my lap or the landlord downstairs was listen to Elvis really loud.
Now, however, most clients, especially if they are the designers of the systems (often called VUI -viewee- designers) want things in 441 or 48k. While people are still hearing things over the phone they want the product to be as clean as possible. Plus they have to listen to it so often they don't want to hear flaws.
These designers are amazing at what they do. Those that do Natural Language (I work with several of them) design systems that are supposed to feel flawless to the caller. I've even had to say, "I know you want to speak with someone right away but pressing buttons will just slow us down. If you can answer these next two questions I can get you where you need to be right away." These are systems where the phone voice is talking to you as if they are an operator - what can I help you with today? ok, let me look that up for you. Got it., and so on...
I think I'm getting sidetracked here! I hear Liz about the 0-100 or 1000. Those are the times I end up thinking about the grocery list or dinner. I had to do every flight from 0001 - 9999 and that was brutal.
As to finding these gigs, they do pop up on the usual sites but there are also many companies that specialize in them. Sending them a telephony demo is a great way to be heard. I'm on the roster of a few but I know they aren't seeking new voices right now. Get your name out there and good luck!
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006 member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Mic. Bonded by sound.
Manfillappsoc: The Mandy and Philip mutual appreciation Society. Who's in your network?
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ccpetersen
With a Side of Awesome
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Posts: 3708
Location: In Coherent
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Hah!!! I think I've talked to you before while on hold with somebody!
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"I know you want to speak with someone right away but pressing buttons will just slow us down. If you can answer these next two questions I can get you where you need to be right away." |
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Kim Fuller
DC
Joined: 29 Jan 2011
Posts: 641
Location: Portlandish, Oregon
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Excellent webinar, Liz! I'm halfway through. |
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