VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

mythwoman

Hi all,

I wasn't sure where to place this because I'm looking for info/advice on gear and learning. A few of you know I have a small studio in my house which I use only for auditions right now. This is all I have at the moment:

Audio Technica AT4047 Condenser Mic

SoundForge 8.0

PreSonus INSPIRE 1394 Firewire Audio Interface

I don't know ANYTHING about mixing, editing, sound effects and so on. Even worse, I have great difficulty trying to self-teach myself.

I've looked into Audio Engineering courses at local junior colleges but they only accept full-time students and to my knowledge, none of them encourage non-credit students to audit. Another reason I've been hesitant to pursue it further is that most of the junior colleges are not up to date with the software and equipment that's out there.

Recently I heard that Pro Tools has a training program that's sort of a crash course in audio engineering. I don't use Pro Tools but all the professional studios I've visited in person swear by it. And I've been told the software is excellent for musicians, I'm also a singer.
They are legit and even offer certificate programs. The price is not terribly expensive and a person can buy a package course or take individual classes.

My goal is to learn about mixing, editing, sound effects, and more, so that when jobs come in I can do it from my house like so many of you do now.

But before I go and spend money on something like the Pro Tools Training Center I'd REALLY appreciate advice on how to go about learning what I need to know.

Please, please let me hear from some of you!

Mary aka Mythwoman

bobsouer · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject:

Mary,

99% of my voiceover work there is no production involved, except now and then, to cut up the voice tracks into individual clips. Unless you want to do audio production, you may already know more than you think you do. Especially if you're able to record, edit and upload auditions. That's the lion's share of what you need to know to deliver finished audio as well. Because a lot of your clients are just going to want good quality MP3 files of your voice.

I hope this is at least a little helpful.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
ISDN, Source Connect, phone patch

paddyo · CM Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 975 Location: New York City

Bob,

That was extremely helpful to me. Thank you.

Paddyo
www.radiotheatrenyc.com

paddyo · CM Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 975 Location: New York City

So if 99% of your voicework is "no production involved", does that include "those other sites"? I'm not a member of them because I'm working on new demos (old ones ain't for prime time) and I'm in the process of getting up to speed with my home studio set up. But I thought to audition on those sites, you needed to do custom auditions or does that vary with each audition?

and Bob, I sent a similar question to you via PM but I realized I'm not as shy with this question as I thought. So sorry you may have to read this twice.

Paddyo

(didn't mean this to be a threadjack)

robert jadah · Guest

Well, if that was a thread-jack, then this is a reply-jack from someone other than Bob.

In the few years I've done this from home, I have NEVER (as in not once) been asked to deliver a produced piece.

Many of the barrel-bottom clients that trawl the voice sites may expect polished, broadcast-ready bits, but real clients have all the expertise and wizardry they need, thank you.

And it would take about 27 years (35 if you stop for lunch) to match their ability to turn your voice into a dazzling bit of audio.

bobsouer · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject:

Robert,

Well said. While I do have a very few clients for whom I do production, they are a very select group with whom I have long-term on-going relationships that make it well worth my while to do the additional work for them...and helps keep them happy with me. But other than those few, everything I do is delivery as dry, unprocessed audio either live via ISDN or Source Connect or via my web server or the client's.

And to answer your question about Internet casting services, "custom demos" on those sites only means reading the client's script rather than submitting a stock demo. It does not mean doing full production. (I hope I'm being clear with this answer.)
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
ISDN, Source Connect, phone patch

paddyo · CM Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 975 Location: New York City

Thanks Robert and Bob for those answers. Whenever I read about "custom auditions", I thought it meant produced piece. And I agree with you Robert about the 27 years and 35 if I stopped for lunch. I'm glad I asked this.

And Mary, I'm sorry I can't help you about your question. I'm starting out on the set up myself.

Paddyo
www.radiotheatrenyc.com

Bruce · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 7:43 am Post subject:

From someone who does produce commercials with multiple voices, music, jingles, sound effects etc., production is a lot of fun, especially with digital editing. However, there's a huge learning curve involved in mixing all those elements together to achieve a good sound. You'd also want to invest bit by bit in music and SFX libraries.

If you want to get into production, go for it, and all the major software programs will allow you to do that very well, but if you're happy just grilling the steaks, why worry about making all the side dishes?

B
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mythwoman · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 8:48 am Post subject:

Hi guys,

Thank you so much for your time and responses. This helps tremendously. Though now my thoughts are on ISDN since that's how clients direct you.

But it's terribly expensive for me right now and I don't even have a client list yet. So I assume it's best to wait until I've made some good working relationships.

And yes, all I've done so far is submit dry auditions with no effects, and no music. I'm VERY relieved that I don't really need to do all that.

But I must say that I'm interested in it still because if I'm not doing voice work I can do something else on the side to make a little income. That way I'd still be working in audio field.

It's a thought at best.

Vo-BB is a blessing. I know for certain that I'd drive myself insane without everyone's guidance!!!

You're all awesome folks! Keep up the good work!
Mary aka Mythwoman

glittlefield · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:04 am Post subject:

Mary,

If you're anywhere near San Antonio, I can try contacting a friend who used to do classes in production.
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Greg Littlefield
VO-BB Member #59

sdelgo · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 9:07 am Post subject:

jrodriguez315 · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 10:07 am Post subject:

Mary,

There is a new recording product from Adobe called Soundbooth that theoretically makes about 99% of what most VO people do much easier to do without to learn to be a sound engineer. You might want to take a look at it as an alternative to Soundforge, although personally, I have version 5 of Soundforge and I really liked it.

There are some links I posted about it in this thread.
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Joe Rodriguez, Bilingual Voice Actor | The Voiceover Thespian Blog