Coaching, studio reviews, demos and more.
One thing is for certain, you better like to read.
We do a lot here, and write about most of it in exhaustive detail.
This business, as well as how we approach our voice over related services, are not for the faint of heart. Everything about the business and the craft, at least as far as we see it, is pretty serious, so we tend to treat it as such. The time, patience, and financial investments involved in getting established in the business are vast – so – we tend to treat everything with the same level of seriousness. Don’t have the time and patience to read? Then the voice over pursuit probably isn’t for you – and you can stop reading now.
For those who are beyond just curious, there might be a seat at the table for you. Carry on…
Technical Coaching – Audio Reviews – Voice Over Demos – Audio Editing – Mastering – Custom Production Music.
Free Services:
Free Q&A and Consultation:
We’re more than happy to answer questions, offer guidance and provide general consultation at no cost to anyone who is willing to ask their questions and have them answered publicly – SOML – So Others May Learn.
For free guidance about voice over – and general consultation – please ask your questions here – Voice Over “AMA”
One Free “How does it sound?” for everyone:
Any voice over talent, aspiring, training, or established, is welcome to send us any audio file of their choice – once – and ask for our opinion as to how it sounds. When we can get to it, we’ll let you know in short order how we think it sounds, but that’s about it. Unless we REALLY, REALLY love it – the replies will be pretty short – but objective, and hopefully useful and of some value.
Remote test connections:
Have new software (Source-Connect, ipDTL, SessionLink, ConnectionOpen) and want to do a test connect to confirm your setup? Feel free to schedule a time during normal business hours to do a test connection – and we’ll happily help you check your system – gratis.
The connections will be very short and sweet – some might say “curt” – as they’ll only be long enough to confirm that they are working, and that there is a usable incoming audio signal.
However – we will not have time for tech-support or much idle chit-chat beyond basic pleasantries. If you can’t hear us – or we can’t hear you – we’ll have to bail after a minute or two. If a session fails for any reason – we can always schedule another attempt at a later time. No harm, no foul. Thank you for your understanding.
Paid Services:
Tech Support: $3 per minute – minimum 15 minutes.
Get technical support with most anything related to the business of voice over. Audio hardware and software, wiring, networking, web site, equipment configuration, I/O issues and signal routing. You name it. If you’re struggling with it – send us a note with a description of the issue and we’ll help as soon as we can.
Noise Floor Analysis & Evaluation: $45
Send in your raw, unprocessed noise floor audio for a thorough examination of isolation and acoustics related issues. We’ll get back to you with a written report outlining any areas of concern. Audio can be any length, though we prefer a minimum of :60 to :90 seconds of pure, unedited recording of noise floor from inside the recording environment. Please, for your benefit, make it raw, untouched audio without anything in the mic chain beyond the A/D convertor and the microphone. Also – please walk away from the microphone and allow it to record the environment only.
48k – 16-bit minimum resolution .wav or .aiff for the most accurate results.
PAYPAL PAYMENT LINK for Noise Floor Analysis & Evaluation
Personal Consultation – Live 1-on-1 – via Phone, Zoom, Teams, Source-Connect or ipDTL: $6.00 per minute
Need to have a live discussion about voice over. Sign up for live 1-on-1 consultation. No minimum.
PAYPAL PAYMENT LINK for Live 1-on-1 Consultation
Non-Linear Technical Voice Over Training and Coaching currently comes in 4 flavors..
We define “non-linear” as not in any particular order, not on any set schedule, and not on any established recurring basis. Sessions are scheduled as they come in, on a case by case basis. We do not have any set times on a weekly or monthly basis, and generally like to meet during the regular work week, during normal business hours – with some allowance for various time zones and talent schedules.
Self Directed Studio Technical Review:
Audio file dissection, analysis, marking and reporting – $90.00 per minute of file length.
Send in your raw, unprocessed audio for a complete fine-tooth go-over for quality and sound analysis. You can supply us with previously recorded audition audio, or something recorded specifically for this process. Please, for your benefit, make it raw, untouched audio without anything in the mic chain beyond the A/D convertor and the mic. Compressed and processed audio run through any plugins or “special settings” is of very little use to us, or you.
The file will be reviewed, marked for necessary edit points and any areas of concern. We’ll look at everything from a production, directorial and audio engineering perspective and provide a full written report, along with a marked up audio file with details in the comments. The purpose of these reviews is to determine the quality and usability of submitted audio. Is it ready for prime-time? Would we pass it along to our clients? Is it great? If not, what could/should be done to make it better? Are there any noise issues which need to be addressed?
Primary areas of assessment are:
- Noise floor – Please capture at least 5 to 10 seconds of quality noise floor. (It does not count against the length of the file). Quality noise floor means – just the sound of the room/booth or recording environment.
- Microphone positioning and placement.
- Microphone proximity to the talent and surrounding environment.
- Frequency analysis for standing waves or any problematic signal buildup or early/late reflections.
- Recording levels and capture settings.
- Brief performance related notes.
PAYPAL PAYMENT LINK for 1, 2, and 3 minute files
Self Directed Studio Technical Review + Editing:
Audio file dissection, analysis, marking and reporting, plus editing – $125.00 per minute of file length.
This is the same service detailed above, and comes with a complete editing pass of your supplied audio which you can keep for reference and educational purposes. This allows you to see and hear how audio sounds when it leaves the studio on the way to post-production and animation. It serves as a great baseline for the type of product anyone in the production chain likes to work with.
This of course all depends on the quality of the submitted audio in the first place. Garbage in equals garbage out.
This option is better for more established talent who are fairly confident in their audio – but need some confirmation and would like to have produced samples of their audio to reference and study. We do not recommend choosing this option if you are just starting out – or are unsure about the overall quality of your audio signal. We can fix a lot of things in post – but we’re not miracle workers.
PAYPAL PAYMENT LINK for 1, 2, and 3 minute files.
Live, 1-on-1 Recording Session Rehearsal – 30 minutes (+5) – $200
This is the real deal – and the closest thing to what you’ll actually be doing during any live directed, remote recording session, with a side-order of technical coaching – and performance guidance thrown in.
Gather your copy, schedule a live rehearsal recording session, show up 5 minutes early (remote studio connection software provided) – and get started on your performance.
You will be directed and recorded through a real recording scenario, in the exact same style, tempo and manner as any of our other studio sessions. Your performance will be recorded in its entirety. Afterwards, the raw session audio, as well as an edited, finished audio file will be returned to you. You will gain live recording experience, more confidence in the process, experience working with a professional producer, as well as have a produced audio file to use in future projects, demos, and samples to send to clients.
The live recording experience is invaluable when it comes to polishing your delivery, professional presentation, and performance integrity. It also helps to red-flag any studio bugs, audio and signal routing misconfigurations, and any other situations that pop up during live remote sessions. Very few things are as valuable as actual “seat time” in the booth, while being directed and recorded in a real environment and scenario. There’s really nothing quite like it.
It is a great exercise, a way to spread your wings, learn valuable techniques, get better at taking and interpreting direction and shake off performance jitters, in the safety of a private rehearsal space with a caring, compassionate director rooting for you the entire time.
Here is the “fine print” – right out in the open – and not really that fine… Same font size on purpose.
As with everything – there are certain caveats and things to consider. This service is offered with the assumption that you already have equipment, understand how to use it for the most part, and are capable of making a live remote connection. It is also assumes that you have some copy available, a quiet place in which to perform and are not a complete beginner.
It is perfectly fine to be new. We all had to start somewhere. But – if you don’t already have a basic recording setup and environment, and hopefully some training from a talented, qualified performance coach, this is not the right service for you. This is a real recording and performance process and not a great stage for novices. You will be much better served working through some Self Directed Studio Technical reviews until you are at a level where you can understand and appreciate the professional recording environment a little better. You need to be at a certain level before considering this as a viable, valuable option.
Our focus during these sessions covers a lot of ground. We look at these recording sessions just as we do any other. We want the same things we always want. On-time talent, a connection that works immediately, quality signal level, a quiet room on the far end, a decent microphone, an eager voice talent, ready to perform and take direction, who shows up and means business. The (+5) added to the session is there to get the basics established – and is customary when making remote connections. If there’s any time for chatting – it’s during that time period. But when the recording is rolling – it’s all about the read.
PAYPAL PAYMENT LINK for Live Recording Session Rehearsal
Live, 90-Minute, In-Depth Studio and Performance Technical Evaluations: $500
For highly granular voice over studio technical reviews, designed to assess your overall readiness for work in the business – our live evaluations, while expensive, will give you a very high resolution look at your entire studio setup, recording, editing and performance capabilities.