Newbie needs VO critique

Randy Stewart · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007, 18:09 (GMT) Post subject: Newbie needs VO critique

My first VO effort. Two in English and one in Spanish.

I have no formal training or experience in this field and would love to hear the experienced member's recommendations for books, materials, and classes on VO. Some of us can use all the help we can get! Smile

I've strung three reads into a 1 min. VO demo. Recorded at home with minimal equipment, I find many areas needing improvement but need feedback in areas I've overlooked.

I've decided to post it here as I've seen others get fantastic advice from those "in the know".

Be kind enough to give it a listen and have at it. If not good, I can take the negatives where and when necessary. Only way to grow.

Thanks for any input as I'm serious about fine tuning and improving my effort.

NOTE: The VO demo is several posts down as it was replaced with improved efforts for critique. Or at least I hope they are improved.

Randy

September Day Leach · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007, 19:44 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Randy!

the good stuff: good voice. Touch of gravel, which I like. Nice fullness and you sound like you could be in your 30's and that's good because a lot of men can't. The Spanish is hot!

the not-so-good: ahhhh!!! white noise!!! whatever program you're using, find your noise filter option, get to know it, love it, take it to dinner. Finish your words, especially "world". Never quite heard the "d" any time you said it. You tend towards ending every sentence with the same inflection, downward. Spice it up a bit. In the first bit, you say "love" like "lahve". Did you sing in a choir? I know chorus teachers teach you to sing it that way, but you don't have to say it that way, trust in "luhve" Wink

And you drag out "be" way too long.

You've got the ingredients, now you just have to learn to cook!

My favorite books:

"The voice actor's Guide to Home Recording"
"There's Money Where Your Mouth Is"

Welcome aboard!!

-September

Randy Stewart · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007, 20:15 (GMT) Post subject:

Yay! A response. Thank you for your input September Day.

Soooo.....the white noise IS there. I thought it was these cheap speakers I listened with. Hmm...

Let me list specs of tools being used in case anyone else has used these:

Dell PC
Samson CO1U USB Studio Condensor Microphone
Metal Stedman Pro Screen 101
Audacity (for recording and some editing)
Audio Converter Studio to convert file audio formats

That's it for now.

I think my next step is to figure out how to control the white noise using Audacity. I'll post in another topic regarding this problem.

As for the pronunciation and dropped letters etc., you are right. The current effort took some 10 takes before I could get it to that point. Some letters I have a tendency to run past or drop as I they will cause me to stutter. Yes, I said, "stutter". Making Mel Tillis sound like a virtuoso of a speaker. This will be one of the handicaps I have to work on and improve.

I also noticed I pronounced, "love" as "lahve" as you mentioned. To this day, I don't know why I would pronounce it that way nor was I aware I had done it until I heard it. Pronouncing it as "love" will not be a problem as long as I remain conscious of the need to change it.

As for singer in choir, no, I can't sing to save my life. Thus I won't even try my hand at jingles - sounded awful! At 39 years of age, I sounded like one afflicted with a puberty stage voice attack. Not good to the ears! Hehehehe.

I'll be ordering the books you recommended. Should be great food for thought and directing information.

Finally, for those reading this thread, how would you describe my voice in a profile once it's cleaned up?

Again, thanks!

Randy

Robert Jadah · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007, 20:29 (GMT) Post subject:

Hard to tell, Randy...the hissing is very distracting.

You must get rid of it before posting a demo or moving ahead in any way.

From what I could tell, though, the voice sounds smooth, deep, warm, husky, convincing and moderately hiss-drowning.

Voice On!

Randy Stewart · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007, 20:52 (GMT) Post subject:

Vance Elderkin · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007, 20:52 (GMT) Post subject:

Randy:

Do you have your Audacity input switched to Samson C01U, or are you using your sound card as the input source?

And are you using Samson's software controller with your mic?

September Day Leach · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007, 20:56 (GMT) Post subject:

and check your mic level. If you're recording too low and then amplifying the whole thing, you amplify your background noise too.

Jon Robbins · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007, 21:53 (GMT) Post subject:

Interesting voice. Miss Ember is right on point in describing phrasing, inflection and diction issues. You may want to take an Oral Interpretation Class at your Community College or Intro to Drama. Curious though, is English a second language for you? Or did you grow up in a household where Spanish was spoken every day? Can't wait to hear a sample de-hisssssed. Keep at it.

Randy Stewart · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007, 08:34 (GMT) Post subject:

Randy Stewart · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007, 16:16 (GMT) Post subject:

Vance Elderkin · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007, 18:27 (GMT) Post subject:

Randy:

On Audacity, Go to Edit/Preferences and select the Audio I/O tab. Then look at the selection for Recording. See if you can switch whatever is there to Samson C01U. If you can't, then you need to load the Samson SoftPre Applet software.

The Samsom SoftPre for that mic allows you to bypass your sound card (which I'm guessing could be the source of your noise), and use the preamp built into the microphone. Turn up the slider control on the applet so you hit around -6 or so on the meter (for me, that's around 31 dB on the slider), and see if that noise doesn't vanish. I would HIGHLY recommend you use the applet if you use the C01U. You can download it from Samson's site:

http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1810

Also be sure you have updated the drivers. One other thing that frustrated me...first plug in the mic, THEN start the applet!

Randy Stewart · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007, 19:06 (GMT) Post subject:

Vance,

You are a genius! 10 von 10

Folks, the white noise has left the building! Yeshiree! Yeshiree! All the koodies are gone! I appreciate those of you who stood by during my awful struggle and sad moment of white noisititis Boo hoo!

Ugh...what a nerve wrackin' ordeal that was. It was like trying to shake off a nightmare. Well those of you kind enough to have a listen saw how bad the noise was. Or "heard" it that is.

OK, so the noise is gone just like a bad dream. Now I get to re-record the demos and re-load them. I will strive to deliver a better demo with no noise and we can take it from there.

Oh, and I'll make sure to clean up the diction as suggested by September Day Leach. Good pointers for sure.

I'll work on the new and improved demo first thing in the morning. I have a better, as September Leach put it, growl at that time.

Shoot. If I had a vaccine for that white noise crap I'd be a rich man for sure.

Randy Stewart · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007, 19:39 (GMT) Post subject:

Vance Elderkin · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007, 21:55 (GMT) Post subject:

Glad I was able to help, Randy.

Randy Stewart · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007, 23:09 (GMT) Post subject:

Well I think I managed to clear up the "white noise". Just put the same scripts together again.

September Day Leach mentioned my having dropped the "d" in "world". Well, shoot! I can't pronounce the "d" without loosing my tempo!

Driving me crazy! stumm

I then recorded myself in regular conversation with comments including the word "world". Guess what - I did it every single time! I guess I've been speaking the word that way all my life and didn't notice it.

Next, I wrote the word ending with a capitol "D" and stuck it to the monitor in front of me. What I found was interesting and think I know why I avoid the letter at the end. When I consciously put the "d" at the end of the "world", I stammered (hell, let's be honest, I stuttered) and would loose my tempo for the remainder of the read. This occured on the next 20 or so tries.

Oh the madness - not to mention the humanity.

For future use, I now know that I must practice, practice, and practice using the letter in such words. I just can't go around saying "worl".

Now I certainly have respect for anyone (Hollywood movie trailer guy) who can say "In a world....." with the dern D! You can picture me hearing it said properly and responding: "Oh what a lovely and dynamic D that was!".....

Bravisimo! On their feet! Bravisimo! Clapping with wild, glazed, and fixed eyes on performer. Grin from ear to ear.

Moving on, first my huge learning curb with this recording equipment and software etc, now the guy can't "spoke" right.....

So now I'll have to do the read again.

But is this second take better?