Edge Studio

more Voice Over Today past issues

This VOICE OVER TODAY Issue Includes:

1.) The Get Greater Event – For Voice Talent Looking To Go Further

2.) Why ‘Old School’ May Lead To ‘More School.’

3.) What is ISDN? And Do I Need It?

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VOICE OVER TODAY – September 6, 2005

Helping Voice-Talent Build Careers.

Published by EDGE STUDIO
888-321-edge
www.edgestudio.com
     New York training - 212-868-edge
     Washington DC training - 202-398-edge
     Connecticut training - 203-374-edge
     Tele-Training - 888-321-edge

SINCE: 1988
RECOGNIZED: Voice and Speech Trainers Association
MEMBER: Better Business Bureau
SPONSOR: National Public Radio, Recording For The Blind & Dyslexic

VOICE OVER CAREER BUILDING
- training, evaluations, demos, marketing resources, guidance, duplication

PRODUCTION STUDIO & CASTING
- commercial and narration productions

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An essential tool for those working in audiobook narration-the Audiobook
Reference Guide is worth checking out. This comprehensive sourcebook to
the audiobook industry has over 375 listings for audiobook publishers,
producers, and directors-with their contact information.

To order your print copy now for only $49.95 (inc. s/h), call AudioFile at
800-506-1212 or visit www.audiofilemagazine.com

Be sure to check out the section on Voice Talent-and sign up for YOUR
listing in the online edition. For info on the Voice Talent listings email
guide@audiofilemagazine.com or visit www.audiofilemagazine.com

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1.) A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO…
ECONOMICALLY AND PROFICIENTLY ADVANCE YOUR VOICE OVER CAREER!

The “3-Day Get Greater” Event

SEMINARS
• Business
• Marketing
• Home Studio Set-Up
• Website and CD

WORKSHOPS
• Audiobook
• Promo
• Foundation for Commercial & Narration
• Character & Animation
• Telephony

STUDIO DAY
• Assessment Of Your Marketable Niches
• Studio Recording, including Demo Excerpt
• Microphone Experience, Copy Reading
• Direction and Career Guidance

Classes are small (we do not believe you will benefit well with large class size)

DETAILS
Receive $100 off a Demo Production package for participating.
October 28,29,30
$999
At Edge Studio’s acclaimed midtown New York production facility - within 3 blocks of major hotels, Penn Station, Madison Square Garden, and great restaurants.

$ QUALIFY FOR DISCOUNTS? $
SAG, WIFV, AFTRA, APA, AEA, EQUITY members = $100 discount.
Training with another school or instructor? Or completed their training in the last 30 days? = $100 discount.
Refer someone = $100 discount.
In college? = $100 discount.
In the Military? = $150 discount.

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2.) WHY ‘OLD SCHOOL’ MAY LEAD TO ‘MORE SCHOOL.’

While its roots go back to the early days of radio (early 1900s), voice over has only been a main-stream profession since the 1980s, and it’s only been a common household name since approximately the year 2000.

During its short life, there have been many transitions. Yet not everyone who speaks about voice over is up-to-date. Therefore many people speak about the voice over industry “the way it was” as opposed to “the way it really is.”

Which makes it important to verify that any coach/voice over school who helps you is up-to-date. If they are not, any coaching, advice, and resources they offer, such as marketing questions and voice delivery technique, may not be beneficial. If trained by them, you may obtain less work and eventually require seeking guidance and training from someone who is up-to-date.

As with anything, feel comfortable with who you look to for advice. Confirm they are immersed in the industry, understand current trends, styles, and resources, and can offer useful guidance.

Here are some major changes:

• VOCAL STYLE: has gone from dominantly announcer style to natural style.

details: In the early days of voice over, microphones were not as sophisticated as they are today, and did not pick up high frequencies, such as low volumes and female voices. Therefore male voices — especially deep, strong ones — were preferred.

This strong announcer style delivery was also appropriate because groups of people would gather around a single radio to listen to a radio program together. Therefore, from the voice over artist’s perspective, a stronger tone was appropriate since he was projecting to a large group of people.

Then between the 1960s and 1980s, three things changed that caused the voice over producer to typically request a conversational vocal delivery. First, as technology advanced, microphones were developed that could pick up natural voices. Second, more people listened to radio and television programs by themselves, making a natural, more intimate delivery preferred. In other words, the public generally prefers to be ‘spoken to’, as opposed to ‘announced at’. Third, narration work became more and more popular, and since this was not “selling,” a natural style vocal delivery was used.

• TYPE OF WORK: has gone from dominantly commercial work to narration work.

details: Originally, radio commercials were the brunt of the work. Then came along television commercials. Then came along a new type of voice over: narration. This style included educational and informational narrations. While the number of voice over commercials continue to increase every year, narrations now total approximately 92% of the industry.

• RECORDING MEDIUM: has gone from analog recording to digital recording.

details: Practically every engineering function has changed with the advent of digital technology. Productions are now completed significantly faster while simultaneously significantly more precise. With digital editing, voice talent can simply re-record a sentence, phrase, or even single word when they make a mistake, and the engineer can digitally ‘edit’ it into the recording in place of the mistake. (This eliminates the necessity to re-record an entire passage.) Clients can request that engineers give them options, as engineers can easily offer multiple versions of a production, each with different music, sound effects, and/or mix. Recording studios are now inexpensive, portable, and higher in quality. Yet by far, most engineers will confirm that the greatest benefit of digital technology is the ‘undo’ button.

• GENDER: has gone from dominantly male work to almost half female work.

details: As mentioned above, since early microphones did not pick up high frequencies, female voices were not used much. Plus since the feminist movement had not occurred in the early days of voice over, female voices were not used much.

As microphone technology advanced, and as women began doing more professions that were considered “male work,” women began narrating more voice over work.

Today, women perform almost half of the voice-over work. Female voices are considered to be more believable than male voices. Male voices are considered more authoritative than female voices.

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Commercial Voices.com 5th Anniversary Sale September 15-30th includes
expansion into the UK with Commercial Voices.co.uk

CommercialVoices.com is a global leader for professional VO talents and we
are now celebrating our 5th Anniversary and announcing our expansion to the
UK. Join us as we celebrate with Sale prices on VO talent memberships for
both our North American and UK web sites. Free VO talent membership
giveaways, cash and prizes. Click here or copy and paste to see all the
exciting details: www.CommercialVoices.com and
www.CommercialVoices.co.uk

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3.) WHAT IS ISDN? AND DO I NEED IT?

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a system of digital phone connections, which allow recording studios to 'link up' digitally, and share and transmit audio files simultaneously around the world with digital quality.

Specifically, ISDN connects the voice-talent, who is at one studio (their own studio or a local studio) and the client (producer) who are at another studio (generally their own studio). Because they are digitally connected, both parties hear the recording in real-time, with perfect quality, and have the ability to record the audio. This allows the producer to hire voice-talent regardless of their location, produce them as clearly as if they were at the same studio, and have the recording when the session is completed (as opposed to having the voice-talent email or FED-EX the recording when complete).

ISDN is very popular in the voice-over industry. In fact, many full-time voice over artists generate the bulk of their voice over income by using ISDN.

Therefore it may be advantageous to offer this ISDN to your clients.

However since an ISDN set-up is rather expensive (at least $2,000 for the ISDN unit), plus a few hundred dollars to have your local telephone company hook up ISDN phone-lines into your home-studio, you may do better by making a deal with a local studio to use their ISDN unit. While you’ll need to pay “out of pocket” each time you have a client that requires ISDN, you will save all the expense and learning-curve of this technology.

When you have enough business that requires ISDN, then perhaps it is time to purchase and set-up your own ISDN unit.

On a final note – a few companies now offer computer software that simulates ISDN units and works through your Internet connection. While the software tends to cost around $1,000, special hook ups from your telephone company are not necessary, as your Internet connection is all you need.

Call with any additional questions - 888-321-edge

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NYU-trained screenwriter-filmmaker needs voiceover artists to read aloud 1)
produced full-length screenplays (American Beauty, Shawshank Redemption,
etc.) and 2) drafts of his own full-length screenplay. 3-hour sessions.
Straight reading of all text. No acting/voiceplay. Readings are held in his
small Chelsea studio apartment on weekends and weeknights. No pay, but good
practice accurately cold reading screenplay text and taking direction.
Email slaymakerb@sullcrom.com for 1-page audition, which can be done by
phone. (Full-length readings usually done in person, but can be done by
phone.)

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HAVE A DEMO?

We're always searching for new voice-talent.
Please email your MP3 demo to: demosubmission@edgestudio.com

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HAVE A WEBSITE?

Adding active links on your website can expand your profile while
increasing search-engine results. Take this opportunity to add a link
to Edge Studio. Visit www.edgestudio.com/link.htm

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WANT TO ADVERTISE in Voice Over Today?
Results have been great!
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Copyright 2005, Edge Studio, LLC. All rights reserved. This article is
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