Audio Book Practice

Scott Feighner · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 55

Practicing my Audio Book Technique while my wife watching "Dancing With The Stars."

Comments appreciated.

Thanks for your time and your consideration.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008, 12:27 (GMT) Post subject:

Okay, Scott, you said "comments appreciated" so I'm going to go out on a limb here and give you a heart-felt critique.

Let me open up by saying I REALLY like the sound, texture and tonality of your voice. Very smooth and velvety. Very pleasing.

Beyond that - to be perfectly honest - I did not like this piece.
For starters the music opening was too long and when you started reading it was too loud and got in the way. If you're going to use this as a demo, fade the music out at some point so we can just hear your voice.

Next: the read. I very quickly found myself getting drowsy and I tried to analyze why. I think there was way too much of a repetitive cadence to the read without there being any real individual emphasis at key points. Also - and I just don't know a delicate way to phrase this - but the actual delivery just wasn't real clear. The thought that went thru my mind was "He sounds slightly tipsy". Perhaps you were TOO relaxed when you read it. I'm sorry, but this is what I got out of this.

Again, you have the voice. No doubt about it. Very, very nice. But as for an e-book demo; I don't think this will do you justice.

Just my .02 cents. Let's see what others think to balance it all out.

James Lorenz · **Voice Talent** Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 254

I didn't mind the length of the intro, but the overall music was definately too loud. I also like the quality of your voice and can see listening to it in long form, but on this clip I was distracted early on by some overenunciation. It's not as apparent in the second half but there is some choppiness in the cadence.
Also, something I like to hear in an audiobook demo, is the transitioning in of characters to show versatility.

All in all though you definately have the right tonal quality for audiobooks. Maybe the cadence would even grow on me during the course of a book but I would look to smooth it out.

Scott Feighner · **Voice Talent** Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 55

Allen Brown · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008, 12:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Scott -

I had a hard time making it out, but was the word "braggadocio" in there?

You might want to check the pronunciation. You can hear it pronounced here:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/braggadocio

Good luck.