Punch and roll…

As a voice talent who is far from perfect, I am always on the lookout for more efficient ways of recording and editing my takes. I recently stumbled on an article that does exactly that! Punch and roll is a feature that is built into pro tools a very complex recording software that is way more complex than most of us voice-over talents need to do the recording and production that we need to do in our normal daily routines.

Being a user of Adobe Audition 3.0, I have never been able to figure out on my own how to create a script to allow me to use punch and roll in Adobe Audition. That was until I saw this article written by Adam Verner! A marvelously written article on how to very easily incorporate the proper settings to add the punch and roll feature to Adobe audition! In literally less than five minutes I had the feature installed set-up and ready to use! Click on the link below to the article and incorporate this useful tool to your arsenal of great production tools.

http://voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=27umwzdu

What features have you found to speed up your audio editing in Adobe Audition?

Noise Gates

Whether you are a voice-talent with a home studio, a public address announcer, or providing live sound for an event, noise gates have a very useful purpose keeping background noise at a minimum. I recently ran across a well written article that explains the basic functions and how to set up a noise gate by Dan Lenard.  Dan is not only a great voice-over talent, but he is also known as the “The Home Studio Master” helping folks with their home studio problems. He also co-hosts along with George Whittam on their Ustream channel show EWABS (East West Audio Body Shop) broadcast live via the Internet on most Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ewabs A show that discusses different topics each week regarding home studios. I have covered more details about their show in an earlier blog.

Below is a link to this article which explains how a noise gate works, the variables, and settings to use as a starting point to help you get started in setting up your own.

http://voicethedream.com/2012/01/19/close-the-gates-by-home-studio-master-dan-lenard/

Do you use a noise gate in your studio audio chain? If so what settings do you find work for you?

What it takes today, to be a successful voice-over artist.

I have recently found some great articles on voice-over techniques and what works and what may keep you from being cast. One of the most succesful voice-over artists right now is Mike Rowe, you know him from his Discovery channel show Dirty Jobs, he has also been the voice for several Ford commercials recently, and of course his narration work on Deadliest Catch and so on. Well, if your like me you probably have asked yourself the question, what is it that makes him so successful as a voice talent? Check out these interview audio snippets by Mary Windishar from Internet Voice Coach, as she asks these very questions to the man himself.  Mike explains when to abandon certain voice-over techniques and why he believes the honest voice is not only valuable, but  the way of the future.

http://www.internetvoicecoach.com/public/Mike_Rowe_on_Dirty_Jobs_Voiceover_and_more_2.cfm

Do you have anything different that you feel makes you a success in the current voice-over marketplace? I would love to hear what you may have to add!