REBECCA HAUGH Female Voice Actor

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Rebecca@lovethatrebecca.com

310-584-7379

ASAP Voiceover Quote

Audio Trends, Branding, and the Client Experience

business, online vo sessions, production, VO tech, voiceover

headphones

Voiceover is part of many creative elements within a project serving a business need. It could be for internal onboarding or training of employees. It can be direct consumer advertising campaigns or part of a marketing mix. It’s sometimes embedded within products for sale, from audiobooks and podcasts to film. And that spans from Alexa to Disney, from Yahoo to the old ‘Got Milk’ campaign. Even with simple or sophisticated phone systems, the voice is still a part of the experience within the brand.

As content marketing expands in all markets, in multiple channels, the opportunities for branding also multiply. Will the opportunities for voiceover bloom, as well?

There are exciting new trends in how audio is created or used in marketing and to enhance the client experience. It’s a new way of considering business, impacting audio and, yes, even voiceover.

Have you heard about sonic branding?

A strong trend to consider – sonic branding is a unique sound of your brand or company or even a specific product. We’re not talking about the ‘jingle’, although I’d say that fits under this umbrella. From what I understand, sonic branding considers not only the elements like music, effects, voice and theme but additionally who is the audience, what pleases them and draws them in.

You create a unique sound that is always included in a specific experience. I suppose it’s similar to using a company logo for any media. Insert the sonic brand wherever the audio fits, just like you would your logo. I’m hearing of multiple audio-only agencies sprouting up to assist companies with creating and managing their sonic brand. One, in particular, MassiveBass, created a new data-driven sonic branding tool using brand archetypes and values matched to music, to create unique sonic branding strategies. And recently one well-known brand, MasterCard, launched its own sound for all ads and purchase moments.

As the big companies embrace sonic branding, will your team as well?

Other exciting new audio trends…

There’s a whole new platform in audio-only called Clubhouse. An exclusive audio-only invite-only social app, gaining huge traction since launch March 2020. It features spontaneous and scheduled voice-only conversations centered around specific topics. Companies are sponsoring events here, so I’m told. As membership grows, and you get invited, invite me! Although I’m hesitant to add more social media, I’m very curious and would love to ‘get a hear’!

Podcasts are not so new, however, are rising in popularity for businesses. Podcasts with branded original content targeting B2B, B2C and internal audiences are growing. It seems to have taken a while for businesses to figure out how to embrace them beneficially. I’m noticing how podcasts are targeted to support onboarding, employee development, product usage and probably more. Some companies have invited me to voice specific product line trainings distributed via podcast, using other voices for different product lines. Another client is using my voice with internal business podcast intro/outros, matched with script and music to uniquely identify the specific sales topic. This company uses star performers’ voices, as well.

These are the biggest trends I see that also seem to have longevity built-in. Although I’m less sure about Clubhouse, unsure about the ‘trendy’ part of sonic branding, and quite sure about podcasts. Let’s check in after another year!

Filed Under: business, online vo sessions, production, VO tech, voiceover Tagged With: audio, Clubhouse, marketing, social media, sonic branding, Trends, voice actor, voice talent, voiceover

Controversial — Is ‘Line Reading’ Acceptable for Voiceover?

business, online vo sessions, production, voiceover

Image of microphone and LTR logo

A while back I asked my media production clients for questions for Voice Actors (VOs). Several clients wanted to know how VOs feel about line reading. Are they for or against it? Is it a sensitive topic?

What is a ‘Line Reading’?

It’s when the person directing (a Creative Director, a Media Producer, or Product Marketing Manager, etc.) reads aloud the scripted line with a specific tone, energy, and emotion as an example of how the line should be said. It’s predetermined and meant to be mimicked by the VO. That’s a line reading. It can be either offered by a director or asked for by an actor.

What’s the Controversy?

In the broader acting community, a line reading is considered undesirable – a red flag for limited capability on the part of the director or actor. As straight forward as it is, a line reading can dilute the collaborative process, or imply a lack of trust for the giver or the receiver.

At the same time, in a single voiceover session, there’s always a deadline and usually multiple stakeholders. A line reading can move the process forward for either a director or an actor who feels stuck under pressure.

Tension lies within communication, creativity, limited time and the ability for specific creatives to ‘connect’ or ‘get each other’ within this constraint. The Director uses words to describe the desired creative result. An acceptable result is required in a specific and limited period of time… The controversy is whether to use a line reading as a shortcut through that process.

Is Line Reading Acceptable for Voiceover?

Let’s consider the parties involved in voiceover. Everyone in the production, including voice actors, takes their profession seriously and wants to be as creative and collaborative as possible, within time constraints. Everyone would love to have a creative, collaborative voiceover session where acting and directing shine like gold. That often happens.

Like other creatives, focused and successful VOs train and develop their talent. VOs come with acting skills to break down, interpret and perform the script. They compete for jobs via auditions. Once hired, they want to use their creative skills and give clients the best performance possible.

The Short Answer is… It Depends

Voiceover sessions can be for audiobook, animation, commercial or promo campaigns, series narration, and website or product videos. Each is a unique type of session.

Frequently, not always, the voiceover script is the last phase of production. Time buffers may have been used up prior to the voiceover session. No one really wants to use line reading, and yet sometimes it can be a useful tool for saving time.

I asked several VOs about this. Most said they welcome line readings openly. A smaller subset does feel limited by it and wants to avoid it. It wasn’t a scientific survey.

Since each VO session is unique, there is no right or wrong. But there is a general stance to avoid line reading from the greater acting community. That doesn’t mean the small group in your voiceover session believes that or needs to work within that paradigm.

Considering everything I’ve mentioned, the answer lies within the team at the session.

Tips for Hirers of VOs (and VOs)

When you’re part of the team at a voiceover recording session, you’re there for a reason. Everyone has a role. In order to have an effective session, which is why line readings come up, here are some basic tips.

Prior to sessions, VOs should prepare their script by seeing it earlier and being able to bring questions. We all know this isn’t always possible, but it’s a good goal.

After session introductions, any participant can ask, “How do you feel about line reading?” Be open and flexible with any answer.

Key creatives can share the project vision, the audience, and how the script message fits into this.

VOs and Directors can use questions to encourage collaboration. Specify if you’re referring to a specific line or set of lines:

    • Can we try it with a different choice?
    • Would we like to shift the performance somehow?
    • Can I give / Can I get some guidance for that?
    • What’s driving the delivery of that line?
    • How about a final take to just go with gut feeling?

Collaborate

Like all things in life, it’s not as simple as yes or no. In my experience, it really does depend on the specific situation. I understand why the controversy exists, particularly for the projects that have more time for rehearsal and collaboration.

I love the creative collaborative process. It’s a huge reason I do this for a living. And, rarely, the question, “How about a line read?” has popped up. It’s always been a ‘yes’ answer, followed by the slight release in tension for the freedom to use this technique. It’s often a new opportunity to try something different, maybe even the final ‘safety’ take.

If you’ve enjoyed this and would like to collaborate with me further, please reach out via my email listed above.

Filed Under: business, online vo sessions, production, voiceover Tagged With: line reading

Directed Voiceover Sessions – Zoom Caution and Alternates

online vo sessions, post-production, production, VO tech, voiceover

video meeting

Zoom Caution – Use a password

I confess – I was a huge fan of Zoom and now I’ve tempered that but still use it, particularly since I use the audio-only option for voiceover. If you didn’t know, due to the huge migration of people from office to remote working due to COVID19, Zoom usage surged, and their security and privacy flaws quickly became ‘talk of the town’. Most circumstances I’ve heard about were large group Zoom events, some open to the public. This is different from a voiceover session with as few as 2 to a likely maximum of 10 participants. Keep that in mind. However, security and privacy issues still exist, so use with caution.

For a voiceover session, use Zoom by incorporating a password and ask people to sign in (vs a simple link). I’ve used Zoom for several years now and haven’t any security breaches, but again my sessions are a handful of people only. If you are using Zoom for other purposes or larger gatherings, I suggest looking at your alternatives.

Alternatives – Rebecca’s top two choices:

Webex

It’s the same idea as Zoom: video and audio conferencing. The audio on this is as high quality as Zoom, and I use it as easily as Zoom. There’s a free basic level just like Zoom. I’ve used it for several clients and it was flawless.

Skype

It’s the same idea as Zoom: video and audio conferencing. I’ve used it many times in audio sessions. There is a free basic level. However, I do not prefer because it can create conflicts when connected to my audio recording software. Since that’s the whole point with a voiceover session, I actually try to avoid Skype.

I hope this helps you give proper consideration to Zoom. There are many more options here, where I got portions of my information:

  • https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/1/21202945/zoom-alternative-conference-video-free-app-skype-slack-hangouts-jitsi
  • https://9to5mac.com/2020/04/01/10-zoom-alternatives-more-secure-video-calls/
  • https://mashable.com/article/private-zoom-video-chat-alternatives/?europe=true

Filed Under: online vo sessions, post-production, production, VO tech, voiceover Tagged With: post production, production, voiceover

Directed Voiceover Sessions With What Online Platform?

online vo sessions, post-production, production, VO tech, voiceover

Friendly platforms for online directed voiceover sessions

An online directed voiceover session means having a high-quality audio connection over the internet to let a client direct a voice actor as if they were in the same place. An online directed voiceover session connects the voiceover talent with an engineering studio and clients. It’s multiple locations online at the same time, to direct and record a script for a creative project.

Online directed sessions are used for all types of audio and video production and post-production. From public-facing projects like films, advertising and corporate videos to internally facing projects like corporate training or sales presentations. And more.

It’s a relatively simple concept. A client directs the voice actor. The voice actor performs the script. Recording is either remotely done by the audio engineer or locally by the voice actor. There can be more or less people and responsibilities, but this is the basic idea.

Below are great options for sessions online.


Platforms for online sessions with remote recording by an audio engineer:

My ‘go to’ platform is Source-Stream, from Source-Connect.

I use Source-Stream almost weekly. Why is it my ‘go to’ platform? Clients use it! At least that’s why I started with it. Source-Connect is a very easy to use app. It’s relatively low-latency, which can vary based on internet providers. They offer a bridge to ISDN if needed. Finally, they have terrific support and it’s affordable.

Per Source-Elements the parent company, “Automatic Network Configuration is … Source-Stream, a new feature that allows for global, low-latency firewall traversal for your connections.” Source-Elements has been in business since 2005. My experience with clients worldwide is that most audio producers use Source-Connect, while some still use ISDN.

 

I highly recommended the lesser known SessionLinkPRO.

I have only used this a few times, but it was even easier to use than Source-Connect. It is used through your browser. I experimented with it both as a VO actor and as an audio producer. Pretty straight-forward and I didn’t feel any latency. I got the sense that for someone not expert at audio, this might be a viable option for a remote or online directed session. My wish is that more pros start checking out this little darling of a platform.

 

Additional platforms allowing online directed voiceover sessions (as of 2020)

I have found out about but not yet used Connection Open. Recommended by others, I’m looking forward to testing it out and trialing it with any willing producers.

 

I have trialed and have an account with ipDTL. Also recommended by others, I haven’t used ipDTL professionally yet because no clients have asked for it.

 


Platforms for directed sessions with local recording done by me, the voice actor:

Many clients prefer me to handle the recording locally. This again is a simple arrangement. The clients and the voice actor are not in the same location, so you want an online solution.

Primarily I prefer web-conferencing services like Zoom, and then WebEx. I’ve used both with much success and little to zero latency nor interference with my local audio interfaces. Multiple people log into the session from multiple locations.

My last choice but still functional options are a VOIP like Skype, or a Telephone ‘patch’. This is a phone call into my studio. My client won’t hear the same audio fidelity as all of the other services above, but it gets the job done.This is my last choice because I sometimes run into issues or interference with my audio interfaces. Skype specifically doesn’t like connections longer than an hour!


These findings are based on several years of experience in the trenches, and I’m happy to share with you.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have questions.

Filed Under: online vo sessions, post-production, production, VO tech, voiceover Tagged With: directed session, online, post production, production, voice actor, voice talent, voiceover

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