E-Learning!

Debbie Deutsch · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007, 19:43 (GMT) Post subject: E-Learning!

I could use some advice or guidelines...
What are your production tips while voicing elearning projects?
Any shortcuts or words of wisdom from the more experienced in the
e-learning world of voice over?
The majority of my experience is several audio book projects and industrial training films.
Any secrets to E-Learning voicework?

I'll be voicing a 4-5 hour elearning project, and the clients wants many, many small files emailed to him from my studio....yes, I know...
time-consumimg but I'm ready and eager!
Any tips will be helpful....
Thankyou, Thankyou so much! Wink

Connie Terwilliger · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007, 19:52 (GMT) Post subject:

Always a lot of work for those projects. I guess my advice is to get "into the groove" as quickly as you can. The fewer mistakes you make, the easier the editing.

If you have Vox Studio for telephony work and you work off the screen for your copy you could turn the script into a specially formatted txt file and then use Vox Studio's prompting feature to record and save the files as you go. Or record first in a big chunk on Audition, do some quick editing to separate the paragraphs (or "files) with silence and then use the Slicer feature in Vox Studio to chop up the big file into your separate named files using that same formatted txt file.

I always caputure at the highest quality no matter what format I end up in. Then you could go back into Audition and do any editing that is needed. Vox Studio isn't a good editor. The files would already be named, so that labor has been taken care of.

Then batch convert to whatever format the client asked for. You can do that in Audition.

Debbie Deutsch · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007, 20:15 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Connie, that's very helpful....I'm looking forward to it!

Martyn Kinch · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 27 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Hi Debbie

I was just browsing the forums and saw your request. I have been creating voice based elearning for over 8 years now, but from the programming and sales side. So I get an idea, we get a designer to script and put it together, then bring all the voices and programming together, then (in theory) sell the completed product.

From my side, as the person that sells these courses, the biggest area I have problems with is a change in volume from one page or module to another - also slight change in pace. When the voices are done together this is not a problem, but we always end up re-recording some bits a month or two later, and they can get inconsistent with first run.

We always use two voices, as it breaks the delivery up, typically alternating every couple of pages, or one person on description, and one asking questions. We started out with 100's of small files which we timeline against a script, but now it seems to work as well with larger audio files, except when we need to change a word.

In my environment we listen for clarity and pace, and for no particular reason, some VO are more suited to this type of delivery than others. Our courses are of a technical nature, so too fast a voice leaves the in-experianced behind, too slow a voice turns the proffesionals off. That bit is so diificult to judge, and sometimes its not until we have completed a lesson that we realise its not quite right. But thats down to our course designers, rather than the VO.

Sometimes we dont know how a voice will really sound until we have a complete lesson, what sounds good on short soundbites can be non-engaging on a complete lesson.

Elearning gets a lot of stick, quite rightly sometimes, so when we demonstrate it the first couple of seconds of voice can make or break the sale (assuming the content is right of course), more so when it is in a competitive environment.

From my perspective, if you were doing this for me, I would ask a couple of questions?

- Can you see any samples of other work they have done? What speed do they run at, how do the graphics look, what does the course 'feel' like. Often that can help.

- Is it aimed at proffesionals who know the subject (slightly faster pace) or newbies (perhaps more paced)

- Is it custom designed for a client? If so then it should be more straightforward. If its for commercial use, then your voice is a big factor in reselling it, do you need to research it any more.

- If the course is technical, do you understand the jargon, is there anything you could read that would help you speak the 'technical' words correctly

Just some thoughts - its a great forum and web site, and I hope we are able to work with people from here over the coming years

Diane Havens · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007, 12:26 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks for the insight, Martyn. Very helpful!

Maggie's Voice · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007, 20:35 (GMT) Post subject:

Debbie Deutsch · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007, 07:31 (GMT) Post subject:

Martyn,
Very, Very Helpful! Thanks so much for your insight and guidance. You don't know how much we appreciate hearing from you Voice Seekers, really Exclamation

I can understand how volume and pitch changes must be so annoying to you! I try very hard to keep things the same, recording in one L-O-N-G session, same time of day, body position, etc... to maintain continuity and quality.
Thank you again for responding...

Diane Havens · Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007, 12:43 (GMT) Post subject:

What helps me keep consistency is creating a "character" I can get into for the project, like when I was stage acting. Then when I get into character, the voice comes with me. I can do this and still break up my recording sessions.