- 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. Good luck and Happy trails! If you would like to train as a voice actor or need some expert coaching, I can take you there one-on-one by Skype, phone or here in my studio. I am dedicated to your success. Email me to discuss your particular needs.
- I use Digidesign ProTools LE in my all Mac 10 x 10 studio, Digidesign 001 Interface, Digi M Box, Apogee Duet, ProVocal dbx Digital Vocal Processor, a Gentner SPH 10 Phone Patch, Ipad 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. Kim Crow VO Resources.
- Links to more Products & Resources
suggestions for Good - Better - Best outfitting for MAC & PC.
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!
- FORVO.com Listen to native speakers - great for audio book narration
- 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 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
- 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.
- 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 as a starter.
- 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 (now Avid's) ProTools Free software. Great articles from Transom.org
- Be sure to listen to the wonderful Elaine Clark's 'Acting in the White Space' 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 VoiceActors. Infused with her passion, her technique is impeccable. You can order the book right here
- Speaking of a talent that continues to astonish, delight and redefine, Harlan Hogan now has an additional Amazon website featuring his dandy Porta-Booth . Do browse and enjoy. Voice Over Essentials for all your Voice Over needs.
- Voice Talent | Voiceovers from The Voiceworks
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