Kim Crow's Voice Over Tools and Guides for the Voiceover Artist

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Enjoy Ear Candy, the commercial, character and narrative demos from voiceover actress Kim Crow, The Voice of Delicious Flavors!

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kim crow

Voice Over resource g u i d e

So many have asked me, 'I want to be a voice actor. What do I do?' Find Your Own Voice. Prepare, persevere and keep breathing! Mean what you say ... and say it like you mean it.

Like every work in progress, this page is constantly being updated to help pass on resources that I've found beneficial.

I use Digidesign ProTools LE in my all Mac 10 x 10 studio, Digidesign 001 Interface, a Mackie1202-VLZ Pro mixer, ProVocal dbx Digital Vocal Processor, a Gentner SPH 10 Phone Patch, Primi LT Bi-Directional Codec, MBox, Ipod with Shure KSM 32SL, AKG Solitube and Studio Projects C1 mics.I love my Manhassett music stands with lights. I constantly use my 2 pairs of Audio-Technica ATH-M40fs (very comfy) headphones. I also use Sony MDR-7506 headphones, which are nice and bright as well as a pair of Sennheiser HD 202 for radio patch work. My studio monitors are Tannoy Active - love 'em. I also have a Markertek Portable Sound Booth which I use for recording when I'm away in our little cottage in the Ocala National Forest for a little r & r - you see, voice actors are always on call. And yes! keep those calls a comin' and it is my grateful pleasure to perform and serve.

CatmanDrew is my husband, Drew Strouble, America's Premier Cat Artist. I've know 'Battlefield Hope' author Susan Blakely for several years and have done the voicework for her website. I had the great pleasure of meeting author Michael Bofshever in Orlando and he tells it like it is - which is good!. Julia Cameron's 'The Artist's Way" will keep you on track. Keep the Faith!" Legendary Harlan Hogan is the greatest, as is Elaine Clark and Jim Alburger. The truly great are truly good. Enjoy!

Perhaps you would like to test-drive your dream job on a Voice-Over Actor VocationVacation with premier voice-over actress and voice-acting coach, Kim Crow?

On the Job Reference

Shop @ The Sound Professionals, Inc. One of my favorite vendors.

Merriam- Webster Online Listen to Standard American Pronunciation of any word and more. Indispensable!

Voice Over Resource Guide Great LA / NY resources for casting, rates, agencies, etc.

ProTools Learning Demos Try your hand at learning ProTools. Remember as a VO artist, most of your recordings with be single track!

Read Reference Many thanks to you, Unknown Colleague, for this read chart:

Average person reads 3 words per second (range is 2 to 4)
Average person reads 88 words per half-minute (range is 60 to 120)
Average person reads 170 words per minute (range is 135 to 215)
Average person reads 10,320 words per hour (range is 8625 to 12,030)

LINE COUNT (12 point Arial, double-spaced, margin-to-margin)

Average 21 lines per page
Average number of lines per 30-second spot: 7.5
Average number of lines per 60-second spot: 15

WORD COUNT (12 point Arial, double-spaced, margin-to-margin)

Average words per line of text: 13 (range is 8 to 18)
Average words per page: 273 (range is 168 to 378)

READING TIME IN SECONDS

Average reading time per line: 4
Average reading time per page: 100

PayPal Click here and get your PayPal merchant account.

5 Steps to Building your DAW Here's a terrific overview of what you will need for signal processing and building your own Digital Audio Workstation, from Sweetwater.

Brian Loney at Sweetwater helped me config my studio. (800) 222-4700 Ext. 1310. Give him a call for other configurations. Here are some of his suggestions for Good - Better - Best outfitting for MAC & PC.

C01usb Lg Diaph USB Condenser Mic
ATHM3X Closed-Back Studiophones
CubaseSE Audio/MIDI Software Mac/P
MicStdDesk Adjustable Height Desk Stand

Snowball USB Dual-Capsule Cndnsr Mic
EH150 Closed Studio Headphones
Tracktion Audio Recording Software

MBox2 2x2 Pro Tools LE System
AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Mic
MicStdDesk Adjustable Height Desk Stand
XLR3 3' XLRF - XLRM Cable
HD280Pro Closed Circumaural Headphones

Markertek Great soundproofing materials and every thingumajig you're going to need. They also have a nice portable foam 'studio' set up, good for low noise rooms that you want to deaden.

Throat Wellness Spray This is Marsha Mason's organic throat support. My favorite. Alberto in Customer Service is simply wonderful. Tell him I sent you.

Source-Connect enables audio connections between digital audio systems anywhere in the world, allowing direct-to-the-timeline recording with real-time, broadcast-quality audio using only T1, Cable, or DSL internet connections. Doesn't require expensive ISDN lines, hardware, subscription fees, or minute-by-minute line charges, so your professional, home, or portable studio can affordably access any studio and any talent - anywhere in the world.

Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. Perfect for practicing with your computer's built in mic If you are not using a professional software and hardware interface or even with a USB Snowball mic.

Web Sites I use Hostica for my domain names and satellite sites. GoDaddy.com is another good resource - just make sure they have a 'SiteBuilder' feature and you can upload your mp3s to your site. If you have any questions for any website provider and domain name provider, call tech support before you buy, tell them what you want to do, if they support that and what do they recommend for voice actors.

Audiofile Magazine and Resource Guide A must read and buy if you're wanting to break into the audio book industry. Producers and publishers to submit your demo to.

Have not tried any of these, but here are 3 possible leads for portable mic isolation accoustics: The Mic Thing, The RealTraps Portable Vocal Booth and The Reflexion Filter.

Digital Watermarking -check out how you can protect your audition demos from unauthorized usage. "What a world! What a world!" said the Wicked Witch of the West.

Find thousands of legal and business forms at MegaDox.com

ProTools. Not one, but two series to help you get going with Digidesign's ProTools Free software. Great articles from Transom.org

Be sure to listen to the wonderful Elaine Clark's 'Acting in the White Space' http://video.aol.com/video-detail/elaine-clark--acting-in-the-white-spaces/4021893345 Elaine is a superb voice coach, talent and director. If you are in the San Francisco area, take advantage of her expertise at Voice One Online. Her seminal book 'There's Money Where Your Mouth Is' needs to be in your arsenal. It is in mine! Had the great opportunity to work with her and Harlan Hogan at a seminar in my hometown, presenting tips for Florida Voice Actors. Infused with her passion, her technique is impeccable.

Speaking of a talent that continues to astonish, delight and redefine, Harlan Hogan now has an additional Amazon website featuring his dandy Porta-Booth and other Voiceover Essentials. I just purchased the Porta-Booth and am looking forward to putting it through its paces with my Ediral RO-9 and my field recording for my latest project FloridaFootpaths.com. Do browse and enjoy.