Jason Levine – Healing People Daily with the Power of Digital Video & Audio

You know, everywhere I travel, no matter what kind of CS3/Production Premium material I'm presenting, people are always inquiring about recording voice-overs. Without fail, I'll have at least 3-5 people (on average) asking about 'best practices' for not only capturing the recorded voice, {Is a USB mic plugged into my laptop good enough quality?} but also on how to actually 'mix' and 'master' the voice so that it sounds, well, like a broadcaster!

Now, I always tell people...there aren't any special tricks that are suddenly going to make you sound like 'that movie announcer guy' (note: for my European and Asian friends, there's a guy in Hollywood named Don LaFontaine, and he's responsible for about 90% of all movie trailers and TV sitcom VOs; he's THAT guy, and you'd know his voice the second you heard it!)

So first, what can't processing do? Well, for one, you can't add grit and age if you don't have it; in other words, if it's not there to begin with, you're only going to be wasting time 'attempting' to 'simulate' a certain sound, and I can honestly say, no one's really going to go for it. Obviously, you could take up smoking, suck down a pack or two and THEN do your voice overs! Certainly, it'll give you a bit more 'rasp' and a little 'grit'...but I certainly wouldn't recommend smoking, and, well, that's a bit extreme, even for me! (however, I've known guys and gals who've done it...again, I DON'T recommend this!) Also, if you've got a fairly 'pitchey' kind of voice, or you tend to speak in a fairly monotone kind of way, processing is not going to add 'life and personality' to your voice. That really has to come from within. (read on: it's all about 'belief')

Now, keep in mind that back in the day, to be in radio and broadcast, you had to have PIPES (ie, big voice, big presence). PIPES were the essential characteristic for *any* up-and-coming radio personality. But over the years (largely, since the mid-90s), it became apparent that the (older) dudes with the big voices really just didn't speak to most people, not anymore. That's not to say that having good pipes (ie, low, bellowing, mysterious, 70s late-night-disco voice) won't get you work...it's just that most radio DJS, and most radio personalities that do commercial Voice Over work are typically 'regular' people voices. They sound young (though age is rather subjective, and doesn't really matter, especially given the subject matter or product), they sound motivated (somestimes, TOO motivated, but high-energy is must), and they DON'T sound like a used car salesman (again, see: 70s late-night-disco-voice man). It's all about trust, you see...and, for good or bad, the 14-42 year olds just don't really 'believe' or 'trust' those old-school pipes anymore. Again, that's not to say that NO ONE is doing it (there are still a few great classic voices out there, and if you've got a legacy, you can keep going), but really, it's all about BELIEVABILITY and selling YOURSELF (and your naturally-inspiring tones) moreso than putting on a faux-midnight voice and trying to make the ladies swoon (guilty, as charged! I actually have tapes of me doing radio voice-overs at age 12. You WOULD NOT believe your ears. And yes, I was doing 70s late-night-meets-Barry White-voice! llol)

Now...what can good vocal processing do for you? Well, for one, it can make your voice a little bigger, a little louder, and it can even out your (potentially) uneven dynamics...which, right away will make YOUR voice-over sound ten times more professional than your friend who recorded his or hers WITHOUT evening out the dynamics. This is often achieved with a little compression and/or limiiting...but a little goes a long way, and the pay-off is dramatic and 100% professional and broadcast ready. It can also add that needed sparkle and presence, particularly in the mid, and high-mid EQs, just to give you that additional 'polish', even if you're not on an expensive microphone (again, the power of good digital filters....Audition and Soundbooth)

So...now that I've given this massive text introduction, I'm sorry to say that I'm having some kind of problem uploading screen shots (which is essential to the next part of this voice-over lesson)...so my blog, though long and wordy, will have to end here for now!! (aww...I make you read all the way through and then don't give you the goods?? Well, in the words of Elvis Presley, circa 1969 in rehearsals for his Vegas International Hotel premiere, "That's just the way it is." ;)

Bare with me, my friends. I hope to get this sorted tomorrow or the next day. Hang in there, and remember...it's all about selling 'the belief'. If you believe it, well, your listeners will believe it too...don't you believe me?? ;)

Believe me! (believe me!), Believe me! (believe me!), I can't help but love you...but believe me, I'll never let you down!! (okay...who can name that song?? hint: it's Elvis, and it's from the same era/album I just alluded to)

Blog on (and hopefully, with pictures next time, cutting to the chase, sans-narration...here I go again!)

---JL