Pre-Newbie bordering on Incubator Stage

Diana House · **Voice Talent** Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 1

Hi,

Like some here, I have been encouraged by many clients that I should consider doing voice overs. As an Internet consultant, almost all of my contact with clients nationwide is via the phone. I guess I give good phone!

Anyway, I am on stuck since creating my profile here. Maybe this is much more than I bargained for:

Here are just some of my challenges before becomming a Voice123 Premier member:

1. How to create a demo: What equipment do I need, software, scripts, sounds, etc.
2. Can voice over work be done from home via phone & internet?
3. How much equipment and costs should I expect to have with a home studio. Is this like re-inventing Disney? Is the investment worth the payback?
4. How technically capable to recording equipment do I have to be. While I am very computer & Internet savvy - the maize of wiring for the TV, DVD, Sound system, Kareoke, Digital Cam and the rest of my electronic world is getting frustrating.
5. Is there a step-by-step training manual/DVD/website out there for VO Incubaby's like me.

Any assist, suggesstions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Diana

http://dianahouse.voice123.com/

Freddie Molina · Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006, 16:18 (GMT) Post subject:

Hello Diana,

I will try answering your questions. Let’s start from the beginning:

To start in the field the first thing you need is a great demo, if you have no experience doing your recordings it is recommended to use a local studio.
The Voice coaching part is very important and can make the difference in a voiceover´s career, so look for a good voice coach you can find them locally and on the Internet.

Regarding the recording equipment you can take a lot of routes, here’s some links to related forums:

http://voiceoversavvy.com/viewtopic.php?t=49

http://voiceoversavvy.com/viewtopic.php?t=76

http://voiceoversavvy.com/viewtopic.php?t=73

If you are comfortable with computers it should be quite easy to use any computer based recording interface.

About working from home, most of the leads sent out though Voice123 have no location requirements, meaning that the talent can do and send the recordings from their own studio.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted of your progress.

Todd Belcher · Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006, 20:22 (GMT) Post subject: welcome to our world!

Hi Diana,
I'm sure you'll get a lot of great advice here on this board. I'll put in my 2 cents:

1. As a guy who comes out of radio, I recommend you check around some local radio stations. All stations, small and large, have at least one person who's skilled at doing production/editing, and would love to show off their skill and help produce your demo for the cost of lunch or something. And of course they can provide copy to read and some basics on interpreting a script. Use this type of person, in addition to what you observe my listening to demos by experienced VO artists--listen critically.

2. Doing it at home via the internet might be the most challenging part for most people. I happen to have good computer skills like yourself, and I'm halfway web savvy, enough to build my own website and such (separate from Voice 123). I suggest learning all you can from community education courses, etc., surfing the web, and serendipity, about working with audio programs/files/editing, and ftp file transferring. With any success at all, you will want to branch away from depending on voice123 contacts and learn to establish your own website with demos, and to transfer WAV and AIF files (larger than MP3) using FTP and web administrator protocols. (Not nearly as hard as I might make it sound!)

3. And as for home audio equipment. Believe me, good equipment for doing straight VO from home is NOT very expensive--you don't have to have a state-of-the-art studio at all to do quality VO work! Again, being a radio guy, I recommend talking to a couple of radio station people (engineers and/or program directors). Tell them what you want to do. For the most part you need three main pieces of equipment to get started:

A... A studio quality mic (I use a "sufficient" Audio-Technica AT2020 condensor mic [around $150 or so]. The Cadillacs are the Electrovoice RE20 and models by Shure and Senheizer. I'd recommend used models from reputable sources if you get one of those.)

B... A pre-amp device to run between your mic and your computer recorder. Running directly into your computer sound card can be a mess. I highly recommend the Mobile Pre by M-Audio (USB powered, and has phantom power, if necessary for a condensor mic!)

and C... A computer to record on with an adequate software program. There's plenty of decent free shareware audio recording software that can help you get started (like Wavepad). But consider spending 1 to 2 hundred bucks for for Adobe Audition, Sony Sound Forge, Saw, et all.

4. Learning how to use this equipment will be EASY for you, and, if you have any technical skill at all, it will be A LOT OF FUN LEARNING AS YOU GO.

5. As for a training manual, the new Voice123 DVD that they've been promoting might be a real good resource. I'm waiting for mine to come in the mail.

I wish you all the best in your new venture!

Todd Belcher

Belchernet.com

Louis Tristan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 266

Hello Diana,

Welcome to the forum! Interesting questions you ask. First I'd like to say it's great that you've been encouraged, however don't get discouraged if things don't turn out the way you expected them to. You can't say it didn't work if you never tried. Just keep plugging away.

Soooo, sign up for the Premier Membership and explore the world of voiceovers.

Always take other suggestions with a grain of salt, because what works for somebody else may not work for you. These are just some ideas and possible solutions. As you start out you may find some of the ideas in the forum too savvy and intricate before it becomes second nature.

Question #1.
What sort of computer skills do you currently have and when it comes to OS (operating Systems),, what do you desire most: Windows, Mac, Linux, Atari 2600, Omega, Play Station II or DOS etc. You have to tailor the equipment you’re going to be investing in towards the OS of your machine if you get a Mac. Do you live on a crowded busy street with lot's of traffic or have kids running round the house screaming in the background? You may need a second closet if this be the case. So as you can see a lot of factors come into play when making such an investment. If you have a cigarette lighter in your car you can drive to a secluded area and plug your laptop in annnnnnd, well I think you get the idea.

Question #2.
Yes! voiceovers can be done from home but clients may ask you to come into the studio. Far from Disney but more like the Mickey Mouse Club.

Question #3
Well if you want your stuff set-up “now” am sure there are Premium Members in your area standing by who can help you set up or call 1800 Geeksquad. It’s sort of trial and error when setting up your equipment. Let's say for example: The audio interface you bought came out in 2005 and you buy a computer in 2006 chances are that install CD will make things buggy. What I do every time I buy a new device is make the trip to the manufactures website and down load the latest extensions. But that's just me you might be comfortable with just putting the CD into your machine to watch and see what happens.....Be careful with updates.

Question #4
Sign up for a course and get your premium membership.

I'd say the biggest return is the finished product you create. That's the reward. This is the Arts, you can't really make a living in the arts you have to fake it till you make it.

Have fun!!!!!

Just don't quit your day job! zylinder

Julie Williams · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Jan 2005 Posts: 168

voice-overs.Com

Hi Diana,

I have an extensive FAQ section at voice-overs.Com. Just go to the following link http://www.voice-overs.com/resources/ Then click on FAQ in the left hand panel.

If you have any more questions, I'll be happy to give you my two cents!

God Bless!
Julie Williams "voice-over Chocolate"
www.voice-overs.com
julie@voice-overs.com

PS You don't want to sign up here till you're ready and have a few good demos... but you won't get work till you get out and market yourself... and voice123 has been an incredible resource for me! LOTS of leads and auditions... and LOTS of work!

Maya Kuper · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 97

Hey Diana!

Don't put the cart before the horse on the "setting up a home studio" thing. Worry about getting a good demo, training, and marketing yourself first.

Check out this site for a great explanation of the demo, why you need one, and what it should include:
http://voiceoverinfo.com/faq.html

Enjoy![/url]

Louis Tristan · **Voice Talent** Joined: 07 Jul 2005 Posts: 266

I always wondered! What if it was the other way round?[/url]

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006, 13:32 (GMT) Post subject: Re: New career