Character Demo with new equipment. Seeking critiques

Kevin Potter

Hi everybody, and thanks for your opinions. I've just finished this using some new equipment here, and would like some feeedback as to how it sounds. Here's the equipment used.
Bluebird Microphone
M-Audio Firewire 410
Pro Tools M 7.1
On a PC (sorry, havent gotten around to a Mac yet Embarassed

)

So, give me your opinions and tell me what you think

Kevin

Ted Jordan · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007, 18:08 (GMT) Post subject:

I think the voices are great! beware of some slight mic. techniques, watch the P's and T's. I think you are getting some Pop's at the end of some of you voices.

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007, 22:06 (GMT) Post subject: hmmm

Kevin,
I didn't hear much popping p's or t issues. Aside from some over modulation here and there, the sound seemed pretty good. Being able to enginner a decent sound is one thing and quite frankly, part of the problem with many of the critiques here is that they come from people who have 10 minutes in the business and really don't know.
Unfortunately, most of the working v.o. people don't come out and participate in these forums.

What I hear is someone who can do quite a few funny voices. Who would hire you and for what is a big question. I'm thinking that you along with about 85% of the people on V123 need to study up a little bit more on this industry. I've done characrter voices for over 300 interactive projects and CD games and I have in 3 years only gotten 2 jobs in that genre through V123. Cartoon and game people don't look here for talent. They may some day, but according to V123's last newsletter, the bulk of people looking for talent on this site hire for corporate narrative, commercials and voice mail.

But let's jump to your character voices demo. I do not hear any type of true ability to act and portray a broad range of emotions associated with your demo. It's a bunch of voices. They should be listened to in the context in which you might be asked to perform them. The work is also very underproduced. The production values for demos are going up all the time. Prospective clients want to hear music and sound effects.
Since you would be hired to do these voices to entertain, it is expected that your demo entertain. If it sounds like what you're saying could be actual work that you had been hired to do, then so much the better.

There is a reason why 99% of the pople who try to make it in this business fail. You either have to be really good, good enough and work really cheap or relatively good and be sleeping with the right person(s).

It also pays to now who your market is and the best ways to reach them. V123 is one of many tools that you can use to try and develop a career as a voice actor. It is not a replacment for training.

Kevin Potter · Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007, 02:23 (GMT) Post subject: Re: hmmm

JS,

Thanks for the critique, I was looking more towards the equipment as far as quality of sound, as opposed to the voices themselves. I am WELL aware of the limited need for character voices. I do mostly ad's and corporate reads in my area. As far as the charcter demo, thats something I did that primarily to test the new equipment I had in my studio set up as I just upgraded. I was not trying for acting or emotion in that demo. LOL But again, I thank you for your critique.

Kevin

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007, 22:34 (GMT) Post subject: hmmmm

Kevin,
sorry if I misunderstood the mission, but since this recording here is identical to the one on your V123 website called character demo I figured that was your character demo. Stupid of me I suppose. And I guess since you admit that it was underproduced and doesn't show acting<lol> then for some reason you want to have a demo up there that doesn't show you can act or emote.

(please refer to Kevin's post prior to this)

What is the reason someone should hire you?

Kevin, some of us have actually been doing this for a really long time and know a little about what we're talking about.

Take a class, buy a book and when somone takes the time out to offer you some constructive criticism, don't make them feel like an idiot.

(I'm sure he will pull this demo off of his site the second I post this.)

Simon Hill · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007, 03:08 (GMT) Post subject:

Cool demo man!

The voices are really something! The lay-out needs to be amped up though. Check out my character demo, try putting some production into your next demo with all those cool voices. Also, have one voice that's just normal. There's quite a bit of work for a young superhero sound!

http://simonhill.voice123.com

And btw, I'm with JS on that this site really ain't for us character guys. Just not our market! Unless you've got other tricks up your sleeve Smile

Colin Campbell · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007, 03:46 (GMT) Post subject:

To answer Kevin's original question, it sounds good technically EXCEPT for the noise. What's in the background man?

Other than the noise, the mic and interface are doing a great job.

Robert Jadah · Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007, 03:59 (GMT) Post subject: Potter's Field

Well, Kevin, since you only want tech feedback and that's as far from my forte as Timbuktoo is...
Sounded good.
Technically.
I'm sure you'll have the inside track on postings seeking "good technicality wanted; voices unimportant."
Voice On!