VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

iannyc

Hi gang,

after the much-deserved.. how do I say... schlonging for my 'nba league pass' attempt, I would like to invite critique for my first attempt at an Online Software Training audition

Don't Hold Back!!

https://soundcloud.com/ian-campbell-347703967/iantemplecommander

I sort of have a falling inflection on each read; is that something that bothers anyone on this take?

Thanks!!

-Ian

PS I've traded in my Shure SM7b for a Neumann TLM103 which sounds a HELLUVA lot better IMO. I've also disconnected my UA Solo 610 preamp from the audiochain since I couldn't really get a sound I liked out of it (yet)

Thanks everybody!! So looking forward to seeing some of your lovely faces for the very first time tonight at the 'Backbone Not Included' group that Phillip is hosting!

-Ian

dwpthe3rd · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 5:24 pm Post subject:

Howdy! I'm not one of the big dogs here so my brief critique may not carry the same weight as other esteemed members; however you asked and a couple of quick impressions.... Smile

a) You sounded as though you're in a race to be the first one to reach the finish line. (I think you won)... couldn't tell you the subject matter because it was difficult to follow your thought(s).

b) Voice sounded a bit too "wooly" or thick in the bottom and not what I expect to hear from the tlm 103. And of course you know what they say about opinions. cool

You have a nice voice. That is all.
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Bruce · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 5:40 pm Post subject:

Hold your frikkin' horses, man. Where's the fire? It was way too fast and you edited every pause and breath out. You turned a minute piece into 40 seconds of nonstop words!

The key to training videos is you should sound like you know what you're talking about and you are explaining new information either to people who are already savvy about the industry, or newbies who want to keep their jobs and need to learn more. You have to sound like you care. You have to act like you want them to understand. I heard none of that in this piece.

You have not listened to or absorbed enough from existing e-learning or training videos. Study, slow down, try it again.

B
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todd ellis · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 8:42 pm Post subject:

what bruce said - relax - imagine you are in a classroom talking to peers about something you know a lot about.
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Bailey · Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 9:43 pm Post subject:

I can only echo the above replies. I found nothing wrong with your voice itself. But the pace was way too fast for the listener (me) to capture and digest what was being spoken. Whether training videos... or audios... last several minutes or several hours, the original concept of the author is "To instruct or train the listener". I would take a deep breath, and make another recording. But this time, speed is not the requirement of the client. Make the delivery "casual". Don't keep an eye on the clock.
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iannyc · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:12 am Post subject:

Thanks everybody!

Duly noted.

Would you generally edit out breaths with room tone for an audition like this, or leave them in?

Also regarding the mix being, as dwp said, 'wooly' or bottom heavy, should I EQ out the bottom frequencies?

-Ian

todd ellis · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:54 am Post subject:

personal opinion - do not edit OUT breaths - it just sounds un-natural. if you have a particularly heavy breath drop it by 12-15db.

again - personal preference - ymmv.
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Bruce · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 12:10 pm Post subject:

The best way to eliminate breaths? Don't breathe ... so heavily that it's noticeable or bothersome. It's a bad habit. Learn how to open your throat when you inhale to cut down on the restrictive rush of air sound. These numbers are very approximate, but keep your lungs 25% to 75% full of air while you read so there's never a rush to inhale or the need to use the last of your breath to finish a line, followed by a giant sucking sound*.

Any "lower end" in this sample may be from proximity to your mic. Try pulling back a few inches. I'm hearing every little mouth noise and that may also come from being too close. Changing the EQ on every project is a bad habit to avoid too. You need to find the mic/preamp/mic positioning/sound deadening settings that work best for you and stick with them unless there's a good reason not to. Consistency saves you time and worry if nothing else.

B

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* "giant sucking sound" ©1992 Ross Perot

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Ed Fisher · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 4:57 pm Post subject:

When you impart information...

I think it's important to have those little and natural "pauses." This allows the listeners brain to better absorb what the ears have just heard.

Can you imagine Lincoln's Gettysburg address being delivered at a mechanical machine-gun clip?

Here is an article I just dug up that might be applicable to what we do as audio "presenters" of information.

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/pause-speech/
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I usually duck breaths that stand out with a fade (not complete out) rather than a volume drop over the section.

The falling intonation is too much, but also there's this NY "yadda-yadda-yadda" tone where you go down a minor third on some words and it sounds sarcastic.

And yes, slow down.

You have a good mic and preamp. What are your cables and interface? It doesn't sound like a TLM 103.

Good luck.
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iannyc · Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 6:44 am Post subject:

Perfect, to stick with the Ross Perot analogies, I did have a bit of a "Can i Finish???" Vibe

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Hey, after years of doing this, I still catch myself now and then in the middle of a long E-Elearning passage and stop because I know I'm speeding up and not fully engaged.

Being directed live in a session is a great way to learn too because they will stop you any time you're pressing even just a little bit.
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