Production Library-starting from scratch...

Russ Reilly · **Voice Talent** Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 9

Greetings-

I also posted this in the Pro thread-sorry for the repeat- wasn't sure which would be more appropriate....

I want to put together some imaging demos. I currently do not have ANY imaging or sfx elements at all- I'm starting from scratch.

Now I've looked at the free sites that have been recommended here, and I really want something more professional and immediately usable than what those sites seem to offer. I'm willing to invest some $$$- can you steer me to some excellent websites, or particular companies which market these products? I want a good starter kit for producing my own commercials, promos and imaging in my home studio.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

Russ Reilly

Jim Feldman · **Voice Talent** Joined: 12 Oct 2004 Posts: 77

www.sound-ideas.com.

don't know your budget, but you'll find sound effects and music libraries there. i always also recommend FirstCom Music (www.firstcom.com). their stuff is great! westar music is ok too (www.westarmusic.com)

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008, 18:45 (GMT) Post subject:

And digital juice.

http://www.digitaljuice.com/

John Biggs · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 14

Try these guys!

http://www.markertek.com/ProdList.asp?cat=STOCKFTG&subcat=&prodClass=STOCKM&search=0&off=

Regards,

John

Dave DeAndrea · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008, 22:06 (GMT) Post subject:

615 Music is a phenominal library with a ton of variety. They're always the first one I recommend. They're based in Nashville, TN (with the 615 area code) and have the top studio musicians on their tracks. They also work with other great producers from around the world. Check 'em out.

http://www.615music.com/

Doug Parks · **Voice Talent** Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 227

I was just on the Digital Juice site. Looks good! Thanks for the tip, Scott.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008, 11:29 (GMT) Post subject:

And I went to 615Music, but the problem I have with that is that it's NOT a buyout; it'a a needledrop or a blanket usage. I didn't think ANYONE still did production music that way. That's too restrictive for my uses and too much trouble to have to report and pay that way. I just want a total buyout on the stuff I'm going to use.

Dave DeAndrea · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008, 21:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott wrote:

John Weeks · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 186

615's product is AWESOME, but like Scott said, not user friendly to the voice over community. Back in the 80's I had a guy pitching me on thier service, which was good, but he was charging a $75 per spot needle drop fee. At the time I was only charging $50 a spot.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008, 00:17 (GMT) Post subject:

I'm enjoying getting into this discussion since I've been using production music since the early 80's. When I was a video producer for BellSouth in the 80's we subscribed to the Network Production Music library and actually got the music sent to us on vinyl lps! Wow. We also used a library that even THEN sounded dated, Omni. In past years I've used Sound Ideas, FirstCom, DeWolfe, Bruton, and probably a dozen others I can't recall off the top of my head.

The thing is, the industry has had to change just as the v/o industry has, what with people independently producing from home. I remember at BellSouth we paid some annual fee to Network ranging into the tens of thousands of dollars. You can't do that nowdays.

Another thing I LOVE about Digital Juice is the Stack Traxx where you can customize the songs by eliminating certain instruments. I do that a LOT when laying down backing tracks so that the music won't compete as much with the vocals. Personally, I love the direction production music has taken over recent years; better quality, more flexibility and more affordability.

Dave DeAndrea · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008, 01:52 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott,

Like you, I've been using prod libraries since the mid 80's... gotta love those old vinyls! So far, in my personal VO work I haven't really had the need for a library except occasionally on an audition to give the feel. There have only been 2 or 3 times where a client has asked for music or imaging effects... most of it has been "just send us the voice" type stuff... not enought to justify buying a library yet. I do have a couple small buyouts that do the trick for now.

Do you (or any others) get a lot of requests to fully produce a spot or project with music? Enough to justify the cost of buying a new library?

Scott Pollak · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008, 02:00 (GMT) Post subject:

I do, Dave, but my situation may be a bit different than many v/o folks since I do a fair amount of freelance work from home for the local radio station that I do p/t work for. I'd say I produce a couple of fully produced spots each week from home.

I also have had a LOT of non-radio clients request that I add appropriate music behind my reads for their website or on-hold message. Obviously I charge additional for my time and the music usage. My investment in Digital Juice has paid for itself MANY times over.

John Weeks · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 186

Most of mine is straight voice, but on occasion I do fully produced stuff. That's when I pull out the old Pepper and Tanner library on vinyl.
The Digital Juice product looks interesting. I wonder if I could get it on LP's!

Dave DeAndrea · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008, 03:34 (GMT) Post subject:

Ya know... Sharper Image now sells a turntable with a USB cable so you can tranfer your vinyl straight to the computer. Kinda nice if you want to preserve some of those old libraries... or that old Lenny and Squiggy record that hasn't found it's way to CD yet. Laughing

John Weeks · **Voice Talent** Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 186

Remember the "beep" just before each cut?
Those were the days!