FREE VOICEOVER LESSONS: BASICS/TECHNIQUE PT. 1, MICROPHONE PLACEMENT

I discontinued voice-over training and coaching, and for years still received inquiries about how to start a voice-over career (which simply has no concise response.)  While no longer teaching, I have decided to post increments from my Basics Training Event Workbook here, with a link to an audio track narrated by me.  It's my hope to help those interested in learning more about voice-over and what's involved in starting a career.

The 9th in the series of voice-over basics is on the Microphone Placement.

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SPRING INTO VOICE-OVER!

© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

Microphone Placement

As with the voice, where you place your mouth in relationship to the microphone also effects your sound. The best way to discover this for yourself is practice. Get a microphone, download free Audacity recording software on the Internet and play around with how close or how far you are from the mic, whispering or shouting, talking at the mic directly or from a side angle, walking up to the microphone speaking, etc. Here are a few basic tips:

Distance

Basic, traditional distance from your mouth to the microphone is five fingers (standing directly in front of the microphone place your hand with your pinky finger touching the mic (or pop filter) and your thumb touching your lips. Close-up distance from your mouth to the microphone is three fingers. Same methodology as above – remove pinky and thumb.

Setting Levels
A good engineer will set your microphone with you in front of it. Then, she will move to the engineer booth where she will set volume levels with you reading the copy in front of you. Keep reading the copy, even if over and over, until the engineer tells you to stop. Your levels are set, you are planted. If you do walk-ups to the microphone for effect, remember where your first mark was (I use a pen or pencil at my feet before moving). For narration or audio book jobs, I have been asked to set different volume levels based on scenes where I may be shouting or getting very quiet. This is something for you and your engineer to discuss.

Effects

Yelling
Never yell into the mic. You will sound horrible and distorted and cause damage to your sound engineer’s poor eardrums (not to mention the fact you may never be asked back!). There are a couple of ways you can get a “yell” effect at the microphone. One way is to step a good foot directly back from the mic. If you do this, remember where your engineer placed you initially when setting levels and try to walk back into that spot. The other way is by turning your head away from the mic (staying planted) to the left or right at approximately 10 or 2 o’clock.

Whispering. Pat Fraley suggests not whispering into the mic as it doesn’t sound that great, but instead lowering your voice to what is called “Sotto Voce” at the close-up distance at the mic (or even closer – I feel I’ve swallowed the mic at times) creating a very soft effect. Think about volume used talking to a sleeping baby or an aside to someone when you don’t want the others in the room to hear.

Groups

Not very common, but it does occasionally happen (like at the agent’s office when auditioning in a group read for a voice-over) where you find yourself with 1, 2 or even 3 other people around a microphone, and most likely with script in hand. If one- page (and okay with the person who gave you the script) fold up your script into the tiniest one page possible, retaining all of the lines you need of course (this usually means getting rid of extra white space, Halo Data or video description in the case of TV commercial voice-over copy). 

© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO FOR FREE VOICE-OVER LESSONS: BASICS/TECHNIQUE PT. 1, MICROPHONE PLACEMENT, NARRATED BY ME!

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FREE VOICE-OVER LESSONS: BASICS/CONVERSATIONAL READ

I discontinued voice-over training and coaching, and for years still received inquiries about how to start a voice-over career (which simply has no concise response.)  While no longer teaching, I have decided to post increments from my Basics Training Event Workbook here, with a link to an audio track narrated by me.  It's my hope to help those interested in learning more about voice-over and what's involved in starting a career.

The seventh in the series of voice-over basics is on the Conversational Read addressing Traditional vs. Modern Announcer.
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© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

CONVERSATIONAL READ

Traditional vs. Modern Announcer

In my two decades of recording commercial voice-over scripts (“copy”) nearly all copy with Announcer roles give the direction to be “real” or “conversational,” and sometimes “non-Announcery.”  What the people want who write or give this direction is to hear a voice talking as if you were just having a normal conversation with one other person.  They don’t want someone selling or pushing their product onto them.

Pamela Lewis has a really great way of introducing this idea to basic voice-over talent with a simple script for what she calls the “Traditional” vs. “Modern Announcer.”

Now, the Traditional Announcer is not by any means pushing or selling his product either, or have a voice in the old fashioned game show Don Pardo style (think The Price is Right and “Teri Clark Linden…come on down!”).

Traditional Announcer

Here is the direction Pamela gives for the Traditional Announcer’s two lines:

Line 1: Statement of love.

I love this product. 

(Think, “I love my __________________,” and you fill in the blank – grandma, mate, kid, dog, corvette, whatever.  Be specific and mean it.)

Line 2: Come join me in the love.

I know you will too.

(Think, while smiling warmly and sincerely, “Come join me in the love,” and really want the other person you are talking to – and pick one person and really pick them, don’t fake it – to love your grandma, mate, kid, dog, corvette or whatever too!)

For the Modern Announcer, it’s the same commitment emotionally, but just more laid back, and you guessed it, “conversational.”  The Modern Announcer is just a regular person like you and likes what he is talking about too.  Again, pick a person you are talking to and put yourself into a scenario – like sitting across your kitchen table after breakfast over coffee, or in the backyard over the fence to your neighbor, or whatever.  The more specific you are the more the listener on the other end of the television or radio listening the commercial will connect with what you are saying and ultimately (because that’s what commercials are for) selling.  

Modern Announcer

Here is Pamela’s direction for the Modern Announcer:

Line 1.  

It’s a great product.  

(Think, “Yeah, sure…my grandma is pretty great.”)

Line 2.  

Why not check it out?  

(Think, “Sure, meet her or not, either way is okay & I’ll still like you anyway.”)

The difference here is Modern Announcer is not emotionally committed one way or another.  I’m not saying be apathetic and feel nothing.  But unlike Traditional Announcer where you really do connect emotionally with the product (or “Grandma”) you are talking about and want the listener (your one person) to join you in the emotional connection, Modern Announcer is more laid back and rather than expressing deep feelings for what he or she is talking about, is merely relaying the information – having a conversation.

Don’t worry if this doesn’t make sense or resonate with you right away.  Performing a “conversational” read in commercial voice-over is one of the most difficult things to do for a lot of very experienced and very talented people, especially those with a strong background in radio imaging and disc jockeying.  

TRADITIONAL VS. MODERN ANNOUNCER PRACTICE SCRIPTS

TRADITIONAL ANNOUNCER

I love this product.  

I know you will too.

MODERN ANNOUNCER

It’s a great product.  

Why not check it out?

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MY NARRATION OF TODAY'S LESSON ON CONVERSATIONAL READ/TRADITIONAL VS. MODERN ANNOUNCER.

CLICK HERE FOR THE YOUTUBE VIDEO OF TODAY'S POST ON CONVERSATIONAL READ/TRADITIONAL VS. MODERN ANNOUNCER.

My Son listening to one of my recent audio book narration files for the day (Aunt Dimity & the Wishing Well, by Nancy Atherton.)

© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

FREE VOICE-OVER LESSONS: BASICS/PROFESSIONAL PROTOCOL PT. 1

I discontinued voice-over training and coaching, and for years still received inquiries about how to start a voice-over career (which simply has no concise response.)  While no longer teaching, I have decided to post increments from my Basics Training Event Workbook here, with a link to an audio track narrated by me.  It's my hope to help those interested in learning more about voice-over and what's involved in starting a career.

The fourth in the series of voice-over basics is an introduction to Professional Protocol, which I have broken down into four points and will addressed over the next 3 blogs.
TCVO Presents…

SPRING INTO VOICE-OVER!

© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

PROFESSIONAL PROTOCOL

Attitude

Teri’s Golden Rules

Session Etiquette

Professional Apology

Attitude

In my opinion, there are two ways to define a professional performer: whether or not they belong to a professional performer’s union or by their attitude.  You can be a professional actor, member of the acting unions and still display amateurish behavior behind the microphone and to those around you.  On the reverse, you might not yet have your union cards but act completely professionally, treating those around you with respect and courtesy.

You can also choose to have a positive attitude regarding auditions and bookings, by not getting discouraged with jobs you don’t get and appreciating (rather than feeling it’s deserved) the ones you do.  Treat every voice-over audition or job you get as an invitation to a party.  Be thankful for the opportunity.  When around others, keep in mind they all desire the same end result, and that is to get the job done well, whether recording an audition or project.  Your positive attitude goes a long way in this business and will get you known and remembered as someone easy to work with.  No one likes an egomaniac.  No one likes being around negative people, or being criticized, especially in front of others.  

© Teri Clark Linden, 2014

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO MY NARRATION OF TODAY'S LESSON ON PROFESSIONAL PROTOCOL.

CLICK HERE FOR THE YOUTUBE VIDEO OF TODAY'S POST ON PROFESSIONAL PROTOCOL.