an episode from Get Smart?

misschessplayer · 06-26-2009, 11:28 PM

so, in order to set up a home studio, can i use my current office, after throwing out the cat and the husband, shut the door and start recording, or do i have to create a 'Cone of Silence' ?

mcp

Mike Sommer · 06-27-2009, 01:15 AM

If your intentions are to practice, yes.

Tells us what your set up is.

As you progress you can add sound control to the room (bass traps and the like) and then you test and find mics and preamps and gear that make you sound yummy.

FLZapped · 06-27-2009, 05:27 PM

You have to at least control room echos. However, a purring cat might make for an interesting watermark.....

-Bruce

connieterwilliger · 06-28-2009, 10:32 AM

I recorded recently at a "studio" recently that was configured like a living room, complete with large loud purring cat.

The whole house was pretty much a studio for music production, but one room had all the computers, some musical instruments, a leather couch and a mic on a stand in between. The cat was at my feet and I actually heard him purring during the session and suggested that perhaps he should be put out of the room at least temporarily. The clients were on the leather couch a few feet to my right and the engineer a few feet to the left.

Truthfully, the result was a radio spot so compressed and tweaked that the audio sounded practically distorted. My delivery was magnificent of course <grin> and the next time I recorded for the same client, I went to a different studio with an isolation booth.

But interestingly enough, that same week I went to another studio (again primarily for music) where I saw the same basic set up. All of us in the same room - 'cept for the cat. The result of that session was a TV spot for Amtrak that turned out great.

The other interesting thing about this story is that after not getting any local gigs for months (98% of my work these days if in my own studio), I had several in a row and none were in familiar studios.

Mike Sommer · 06-28-2009, 12:28 PM

MCP-
If you can kill the echos in the room, this would be best as Bruce suggested. You can record in a walk in closet (full of cloths), hang heavy moving blankets on the walls, anything to remove echos.

All in one recording rooms are a no no. Let the performer have his own space. Connie I'm sure for that one recording session they used a lot of noise reduction, such applications can really destroy the over all sound of anything.

misschessplayer · 06-28-2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Sommer

If your intentions are to practice, yes.

Tells us what your set up is.

As you progress you can add sound control to the room (bass traps and the like) and then you test and find mics and preamps and gear that make you sound yummy.

So far, I own headphones and a microphone from Alesis, an Audacity CD, a book "There's Money Where Your Mouth Is" by Elaine Clark, and this comment from Such A Voice:

"Thanks for being in my class today. I was impressed with your voice and style, and would love to discuss with you the possibility of going further and making a demo. Here is the assessment I wrote down about your voice: "You have a warm, sweet, soothing voice that is delicate and kindhearted. A beautiful sound that records well - I can see you succeeding at this!"

That's my 'set up', such as it is.

mcp

Mike Sommer · 06-28-2009, 04:42 PM

Wooooo Nelly!!!!!!!! They are talking about Demos already. That's a bit of a red flag. There are so many things one needs to know and understand so be careful. Once you see and hear what you are up agents in the booth you'll know when you're ready for the demo.

Which Alesis mic, is it a USB unit.
Just start reading out-loud, an hour or more everyday. Read from the news paper, books (children's books, novels) Make sense of the copy and tell it like a story.

Clark's book is a good one.

A very fine book is "The art of Voice Acting" by James Alburger. (Jim covers everything)

"VO: Tales and Techniques of a Voice-Over Actor" by Harlan Hogan

"How to Read Copy" by Adrian Cronauer It's out of print but shows up on Amazon now and again.

Voice for Hire Randy Thomas and Peter Rofe, is interesting.

misschessplayer · 07-03-2009, 05:22 PM

Okay, I like the list, and they are all available on Amazon for good used prices.....thanks

shesagemm · 07-03-2009, 08:55 PM

Ditto for me too, love the book list. I also learned with my the birth of my first child, there's only so much you can get from the books, but experience..now that's a real kick!

I'm doing some volunteer work at Librivox and really learning from that too. Lots of little things that I'm learning every time I hit "record" and play it back, that I'm not aware of or not getting if I just 'read outloud'. I have Alburger's book on order, anxiously awaiting...

I guess "How To Read Copy" is pretty good or being used for a textbook someplace, its $72 new. Used is $22.30. Guess which one I'll be ordering!

Thanks again to all of you who very generously share of your experience... How to Read Copy $22.30... Experience...Priceless!

shenecke · 07-04-2009, 01:32 PM

"and this comment from Such A Voice:

"Thanks for being in my class today. I was impressed with your voice and style, and would love to discuss with you the possibility of going further and making a demo. Here is the assessment I wrote down about your voice: "You have a warm, sweet, soothing voice that is delicate and kindhearted. A beautiful sound that records well - I can see you succeeding at this!"

Run fast and far far away!

06-26-2009, 11:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
misschessplayer one tall drink of water Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 17	an episode from Get Smart? so, in order to set up a home studio, can i use my current office, after throwing out the cat and the husband, shut the door and start recording, or do i have to create a 'Cone of Silence' ? mcp __________________ keep ur i on the prize

06-28-2009, 10:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
connieterwilliger User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Diego - serving the world Posts: 132	I recorded recently at a "studio" recently that was configured like a living room, complete with large loud purring cat. The whole house was pretty much a studio for music production, but one room had all the computers, some musical instruments, a leather couch and a mic on a stand in between. The cat was at my feet and I actually heard him purring during the session and suggested that perhaps he should be put out of the room at least temporarily. The clients were on the leather couch a few feet to my right and the engineer a few feet to the left. Truthfully, the result was a radio spot so compressed and tweaked that the audio sounded practically distorted. My delivery was magnificent of course <grin> and the next time I recorded for the same client, I went to a different studio with an isolation booth. But interestingly enough, that same week I went to another studio (again primarily for music) where I saw the same basic set up. All of us in the same room - 'cept for the cat. The result of that session was a TV spot for Amtrak that turned out great. The other interesting thing about this story is that after not getting any local gigs for months (98% of my work these days if in my own studio), I had several in a row and none were in familiar studios. __________________ Connie Terwilliger New VO Blog isdnvoicetalent.wordpress.com

07-03-2009, 05:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
misschessplayer one tall drink of water Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 17	Okay, I like the list, and they are all available on Amazon for good used prices.....thanks __________________ keep ur i on the prize

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06-27-2009, 01:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,164	If your intentions are to practice, yes. Tells us what your set up is. As you progress you can add sound control to the room (bass traps and the like) and then you test and find mics and preamps and gear that make you sound yummy.

06-27-2009, 05:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
FLZapped User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 75	You have to at least control room echos. However, a purring cat might make for an interesting watermark..... -Bruce

06-28-2009, 12:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,164	MCP- If you can kill the echos in the room, this would be best as Bruce suggested. You can record in a walk in closet (full of cloths), hang heavy moving blankets on the walls, anything to remove echos. All in one recording rooms are a no no. Let the performer have his own space. Connie I'm sure for that one recording session they used a lot of noise reduction, such applications can really destroy the over all sound of anything.

06-28-2009, 04:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mike Sommer User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,164	Wooooo Nelly!!!!!!!! They are talking about Demos already. That's a bit of a red flag. There are so many things one needs to know and understand so be careful. Once you see and hear what you are up agents in the booth you'll know when you're ready for the demo. Which Alesis mic, is it a USB unit. Just start reading out-loud, an hour or more everyday. Read from the news paper, books (children's books, novels) Make sense of the copy and tell it like a story. Clark's book is a good one. A very fine book is "The art of Voice Acting" by James Alburger. (Jim covers everything) "VO: Tales and Techniques of a Voice-Over Actor" by Harlan Hogan "How to Read Copy" by Adrian Cronauer It's out of print but shows up on Amazon now and again. Voice for Hire Randy Thomas and Peter Rofe, is interesting.

07-03-2009, 08:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
shesagemm User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8	Ditto for me too, love the book list. I also learned with my the birth of my first child, there's only so much you can get from the books, but experience..now that's a real kick! I'm doing some volunteer work at Librivox and really learning from that too. Lots of little things that I'm learning every time I hit "record" and play it back, that I'm not aware of or not getting if I just 'read outloud'. I have Alburger's book on order, anxiously awaiting... I guess "How To Read Copy" is pretty good or being used for a textbook someplace, its $72 new. Used is $22.30. Guess which one I'll be ordering! Thanks again to all of you who very generously share of your experience... How to Read Copy $22.30... Experience...Priceless!

07-04-2009, 01:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
shenecke Steven Hennecke, Voicer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central California Posts: 239	"and this comment from Such A Voice: "Thanks for being in my class today. I was impressed with your voice and style, and would love to discuss with you the possibility of going further and making a demo. Here is the assessment I wrote down about your voice: "You have a warm, sweet, soothing voice that is delicate and kindhearted. A beautiful sound that records well - I can see you succeeding at this!" Run fast and far far away!