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May 25, 2013, 9:11am

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niftykoala
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Voice Acting (A Net VA's Beginners Guide)
« Thread Started on Aug 31, 2005, 4:49am »

(Fellow VA's like Haruko/Kagome already knows this stuff this is for everyone else. Also this is ONLY a suggestion guide..No one is telling you to buy anything...I am NOT the final voice on the subject. If anyone wants to add to this thread, please do so.)

VOICE ACTING GUIDE

Software:
Good software makes it easy for the average voice actor (VA) to stretch their talent by sometimes modifying the voice in order to get a certain effect (Example the Monitor's Hollow Voice from the Halo 1 game), as well as make clear recordings to be used. Software that allows multi-tracks, allows for Voice Actors to add Music and/or backroud sound in order to create professional sounding demo reels.

Demo reel:
A demo reel is important to show case your ability in a short amount of time. Most demo reels for are either 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 1 minute 30 seconds. VA's need need to show ability without boring the person looking for that "Perfect Voice". Also vey long demo reels make it hard for potential Producers to Find the right voice of yours without all your characterization running together. If you have an online resume, you can list multiple demor reels in order to give the perspective producer a choice. (Examples Being: Scarry Characters, Non human Voices, Accents, Impressions, etc.)

Resumes:
Unless you already have your head shots from Glamor Shots and your demo reel mix by DJ Carl, your going to want to start with an online resume.

There are alot of similaries to Newgrounds Voice Actors Club(Nod in Haruko/Kagome's direction) in this example of what to put in the resume(Aside from cute picture and things that draw the eye-DON't go crazzy with bells an whistles(if your limited in bandwidth) it's Your voice they are after not the website):

Real Name:
We All have our Net handles, but have a way people can refrence you that won't have them getting confused with the other SUPERSPARTAN2K's on the Net. Some put their "Net Name" between their first and last name. Make sure your net handle is something people will "WANT" to recognize..Swear words handles are now always good when producer are looking to credit you or your "Net handle"

Location: Anyplace USA/UK/Aus/Rus,etc, Greater Land Mass, Earth
This allows people to understand when you'll be awake or asleep

Ways to contact you:
AIM,E-mail,Chatclients(NOT YOUR HOME PHONE AND HOME ADDRESS!!)

Studios:
If you are part of a VA studio outside the net..help bring in more possible VA's for the studio.

Links to your Demo Reels and Vocal Samples:
It is more helpfull and less jumbled on your webpage if this is a separate page.

Work:
This can be it's own page if it gets really long.(Like some +200 project, people I know out there )

This should include:

Completed work:
Like it sounds..What work have you done, What production, what characterm, and what medium is it in (Flash, Radio Play, Cinematic, FanDub, Studio Dub) and what year it came out. If it's on the net or has a web page..Link it!

In production:
Works that you have finished the VAing for and have yet to be published online or on digital media for the masses. Due date are helpfull if you have fans waiting for your next VA work.

Outside Work:
Stage Actors, Improve Comedians, Summerstock...if you have this it shows your diversity in differnt mediums of work that require clear voices.

Microphones:
Microphones are very important in order to create good audio.
For voice actors it is very important that your work be clear and easy to understand as well as free from "Pops" and "hisses" that can be created by human breath To undertand what I mean place you hand 2 inches from your mouth and say "Peter Picked a Pickeled Pepper"..What you feel on your hand can be picked up on a mic as FFF or SHH or PAH sounds. Not Good. Ambient noises (such as a TURBO CHARGED cooling fan on your computer, or the dog barking) are also bad.
Depending on your sound card or whatever. It may determin what type of mic you should get.
Here are the main important things to remember about mics. Most studio voice actors utilize condenser mics. A condenser mic has a big aperature and diaphram to collecet all the little nuances of your voice. This allows for people who do high and squeeky as well as low and gravelly to not loose any of the undertones in their voice and to make the "stange" voices sound as though they really exist in normal everyday life. Condenser mics are also good for those of you who play Unmodded Acustic Guitars.
Now for you singers, you CAN use a condenser mic to pick up your work but finding a vocal mic is probably better.

So how do I get started?

Pro sound on a Budget:

The software:

Audacity is a freeware (FREE!!!) product that allows for direct audio recording from any allowed audio source. The program is out for Mac/PC and has many basic bells and whistsles that anyone wanting to record audio would find usefull (Check website for details). It is a very robust product for being freeware. Keep in mind that the Noise reduction features are beginner level and pretty decent, but not the current industry standard for noise removal.
Costwise a step up from this is/was Cool Edit Pro (Google it) wich may have been bought by Adobe's Audition (A very HIGH END $$$ Product).

The microphone:
Low End Cost (Decent to Okay):
Radio Shack (Non Condenser Mics) and Best Buy ($20-$50) or the mic that came with your computer. You will be able to record your voice and it may be even pretty clear. Even those $20 mics people use for gaming are okay but it's hard to keep from "Pop"ing in them...Case in point..Almost all the original male Voice acting in Bonus Stage. Keep in mind you can still produce wonderfull and clear demo's and lines with these but you have to look very carfully before you buy. Make try to find those that supports up to 44-48 kHz sampling rates. Many Webproducers want you to be able to record your work in this frequency.

High End Range: Condener Mic($80)
Samsion Audio has put out a studio USB Condenser Mic that runs on Mac and PC. A much step up, with a larger diaphram than your average mic. This has it's own phantom power supply(Via USB) and allows for line in clarity(Trust me it's alot clearer)

Reume and Audio Reels:
If you have your own web page already, that's great. Here is a good choice for beginners.
There are many free web spaces out there...Do a Google search and you'll run into a ton. Things to remember when selecting your location (If free is your budget).
1.The size of files you can up load.(If a file of yours is 3 meg, you need to be able to upload it.)
2. Bandwith per month.(If you only have a small amount when people DL your Demo reel. Others won't be able to see your resume...Ways around this...Free linking Audio streaming sites like Putfile.com <Drawback is they'll be able to hear it but not DL to desktop>)
3. Webspace.How much can you put on your site?

<Again if anyone wants to add to this thread please do so.>
If anyone is intrested I can also talk about pro-level software and microphones at a later date.