Think Like a Producer Series:"Practical Home Studio Advice for the Voice Over Talent"An Interview with David Louis of Audio Images KauaiIn the second installment of this 2 part series which began with Technology's Impact on the Voice Over Business, Professional Female Voice Talent Debbie Grattan VO Pro and Dave Louis of Audio Images Kauai discuss the practicalities and working relationship between voice producer and voice over artist.
DebbieG VO Pro: For people that have their own home voice over studios, what kind of advice can you give them from an audio engineering perspective? David Louis: Ambient noise is probably the number one problem as far as quality, so soundproofing is the most important thing a voice over talent should do in their home voice over studio. There is nothing worse than working remotely with a male or female voice over talent and having to pause the session because a dog is barking or a car is driving by. Secondly, make sure you have a really good microphone. The Sennheiser 421 Shotgun and the Neumann U87 are the standards of the industry as far as voice over recording goes. If you have a good microphone and a good quiet room, then all of the other peripheral stuff is just fluff. DebbieG VO Pro: How do you like to run a remote audio recording session? David Louis: I really like it when male and female voice over talent truly listens to my direction and takes it. If a voice over artist comes to the session with preconceived ideas, I have to stop and bring them down and get them onto my page. If I can give you direction and you can perform and do what my client and I need you to do, that's far better than telling me what you've been doing. I don't have huge problems with this, but it does happen. Also, don't let technical aspects and timing distract you. There is a continuity -- a rhythm -- that's lost when talent worries about these things. Make sure your VU meters are looking good in advance and then just let it roll. During the voiceover session, all I want you to do is focus on the script. DebbieG VO Pro: Is there anything else you expect male and female voice talent to bring to the table? David Louis: Aside from your talent and the ability to take direction, give me all of the takes. Don't bother editing or cleaning it up because I may use something in there. DebbieG VO Pro: Would your answer to this question be different if you were addressing a voice over talent just starting out in the business? David Louis: To sum it up in two words, my advice to new voice over talent is to be professional. Be open, be on time, be prepared, and be totally dedicated to doing that particular project at that particular time. When there is professional talent on the other end, I really don't have to do much. It makes the session easier and the performance is better, which is the most important thing to me. Check out Part 1 of this two part series which touches on the impact of technology on the voice over business for the typical female voice over talent working from a home voice over studio. ----- Debbie Grattan is a professional female voiceover artist who has been doing voice over work for nearly 25 years. She's the "go to" artist for many production companies and recording studios across the US. Check out her voice demos, voice over bio and home voice over studio specs for more information. © 2001 - 2012 Debbie Grattan. All Rights Reserved.
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Dave Louis and Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush take a break during a four-hour ADR session for "The King's Speech" at