Digital Audio Production Basics - Lesson 3

This is the third of a series of video tutorials dealing with the basics of digital audio production - specifically Adobe Audition, but a lot of these lessons could be applied to other audio editing software. These videos are just one of my ways of giving back to the voice-over world. Please let me know what you think and/or if you have any questions.

In this lesson, something I call "Pick up and Roll." You might call it "editing on the fly."

Enjoy!

Aflac!!!

So I was cleaning up and maintaining my YouTube site the other day, and I saw this new thing that lets me create animated videos using text-to-speech. What the heck. I love gadgets as much as the next guy. So I gave it a try. I went with what was on my mind. I had just received my "thanks but no thanks" email from Aflac regarding my audition for the voice of their duck. So that's where I started, but when I was done I had picked on text-to-speech software and British people. And I'm half-British... so I have an unofficial license. So there. Here's the final product.

Adobe Audition Keyboard Shortcuts Tutorial

I’ve been a fan of Adobe Audition since it was first introduced as Cool Edit by Syntrillium in the early 1990s. Audition just fits my needs as a voice actor and producer. I have tried other programs, but most of them are just too complex for the needs of a voice actor.

One of my favorite features of Audition is the ability to customize it to work the way you want it to work. If you are an Audition user, and you are not using keyboard shortcuts, you are wasting valuable time. Watch my video and learn just how easy it is to customize those shortcuts.

Learn how to create custom keyboard shortcuts. It’s easier than you think.

Happy Editing!

My Best Friend

Ten years ago today, my wife Stacy and I stood on the Royal Grounds of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, and exchanged wedding vows that we had written for each other. It was a beautiful day in many ways, and it's hard to believe that it's been 10-years already. Time flies when you're madly in love with your best friend. I'm not just saying that. We really are one. Sounds cliche, I know, but we're living it.

So there I was, in my studio, thinking about my bride. Don't ask me what possessed me, but suddenly an old "Flintstones" episode popped into my head. Maybe you remember it. A group of guys sing "Happy Anniversary" to Wilma, and keep singing it over and over again. When I was a radio guy, I used to do a rendition of the bit on my show for people who called in anniversary dedications.

I just had to do that for Stacy today. So without further ado... (does anyone say that anymore?)... my lounge lizard bit for my bride of 10-years.

Click to Play--> Happy Anniversary, Babe!

And many more...

10 Tips On How to Get Into Voice Acting

Has anyone ever said to you, "Hey, you've got a great voice. You should be on the radio." If so, I have good news for you. You're on your way! Well... you're about 1% there. Yup. A "great voice" is about 1% of what it takes to get started.

"What!?" you say. "If I've got the voice, all I have to do is get in front of a microphone and read the script, right?"

Uh... no.

Just what makes a "great voice" anyway? I believe most people have a good voice that can be used in various types of voiceover projects; however, before your voice can be used, you have to know how to "use" it.

Like many others in the voiceover world, I get several emails, phone calls and even face-to-face requests for advice on getting into voice acting. Recently, I decided to compose a 10-point list of tips, a list that would make it easy to attach to each email to voiceover hopefuls. It's not the law of the land, just my personal thoughts on what it takes to get started.

1. Keep your day job. Rarely does anyone, even an experienced voiceover talent, make enough in the first few years to call it "a living."

2. Consider a voice coach. Ask them for references!

3. Read everything you can about voice acting.

4. Polish and update your demos at least once, preferably twice a year. If necessary, hire a professional to produce your demos. Like me. ;-)

5. Join every Internet forum and community you can, and network, network, network.

6. Watch experienced voiceover talent on the job whenever you can, and take notes. This includes watching videos on the Internet.

7. Join the pay-to-play sites. In many cases, you do not have to sign up for a paid subscription unless you feel you're ready to start auditioning. My top preference is Voices.com. You can learn a lot there.

8. Market your demos to and establish relationships with businesses in your community.

9. As with any other trade, practice whenever you can - in the studio, in the car, on a break, in the shower, in bed, wherever you can!

10. Network, network, network.

Voice acting is a lot of fun. It's also a lot of hard work that does not involve time behind the microphone; in fact, most of your time in the business will be spent doing things to keep your business moving forward.

If you think you've got what it takes, and you're more than just a "great voice," I wish you much success. Break a lip!