Feedback Forum

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    Topic
  • #15468
    David Goldberg
    Edge Studio Staff

    Hi! Upload your recordings, and get feedback from your peers!

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    Replies
  • #81369
    Jefftuttle
    Participant

    Hi, Everyone! I’m submitting a couple of practice reads for a homework assignment I’m working on. I’d definitely appreciate feedback. Thanks

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    • #81400
      becksflatt
      Participant

      nice! both of these really show off your warm inviting tone

    • #81399
      billmull
      Participant

      I like the ACS read very much. The only thing that struck me was the way you read the first sentence, i.e. “It’s tough to quit smoking.” You read it in a kind of matter of fact way, almost too matter of fact. I suspect that someone who has struggled with quitting smoking would say this with more conviction. Otherwise, awesome read!

      As far as “Jazz-Radio” goes, it’s been a while since I’ve listened to commercial radio, but the beginning of this sounded much too slow and low key. I think more excitement would work better especially towards the beginning. But your deep voice certainly sounds like it has excellent potential for radio imaging.

    • #81397
      Pamela B
      Participant

      Really liked the jazz radio read, sounded like you were having fun with it.

  • #81367
    SamWaxmanVoice
    Participant

    Hi all. Attaching some narration homework below, and would love anyone’s thoughts. Appreciate it!

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    • #81393
      Hazaro
      Participant

      Great pacing, tone, and clarity! I love the expression you bring to this. With your voice having such a natural gravitas quality, feel like you could do even less and the intonations would still be there. You got more lighthearted as it went through which was fun.

  • #81361
    jadethevo
    Participant

    (Trying this again, my files didn’t upload properly and I can’t edit my post)

    Hello, fellow VO folks!

    I’m looking for feedback on these reads, nothing technical though.

    Take 1 & 2 I tried to vary the intonation and pacing, Take 3 was an attempt to sound more conversational. Take 4 was me winging it, and trying to match my voice to what I imagined the visuals might convey.

    Thanks in advance for the constructive feedback!

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    • #81389
      Lyle Blaker
      Participant

      Great work. I really like take 1. Your personality came out nicely and has energy but not pushed. For my money, I’d love to hear the energy of the first line a little more throughout the rest of the commercial, that makes sense. Well done!

    • #81375
      Hazaro
      Participant

      Thought you did a great job with these! Heard the difference with each and they all sounded organic.

  • #81360
    jadethevo
    Participant

    Hello, fellow VO folks!

    I’m looking for feedback on these reads, nothing technical though.

    Take 1 & 2 I tried to vary the intonation and pacing, Take 3 was an attempt to sound more conversational. Take 4 was me winging it, and trying to match my voice to what I imagined the visuals might convey.

    Thanks in advance for the constructive feedback!

  • #81356
    Grace17
    Participant

    Hi everyone,
    I’m practicing presenting different attitudes. I’ll appreciate feedback on the believability and any other technique tips. I was going for motivated without too much excitement in the last audio but it doesn’t seem to me like it came off as very motivated. What do you think? Thanks in advance!

    note: In this script, there are actions that are meant to be taken in between the phrases so that’s why it probably sounds a bit disjointed. Like I’m supposed to interact with a cashier using my coins checkout app, then leave the coffee with the good news.

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    • #81396
      billmull
      Participant

      Hi,

      Nice job!

      You sound believably excited across all three reads, but I’m not sure I was picking up so much on differences in attitude. The excitement in the “awkward” version may have been slightly muted but still excited.

      The excitement in your voice comes across as motivated across all three reads not only the “motivated” version.

      Just my thoughts.

      • #81426
        Grace17
        Participant

        Thank you, I appreciate your insight:)

  • #81349
    JeffBukowski
    Participant

    So, I was letting myself get caught in obsessiveness about getting these perfect before I posted them, until I managed to remind myself that’s…kind of the point, isn’t it?

    Fumbling at commercial and narration/ e-learning. It might be obvious I have more of a head for the E-learning angle at the moment.

    Of note, I’m aware of the mouth clicks, and how that would need to be fixed. That said, any advice on that besides ‘adjust foods’ is welcome: microphone distance, messing with the gain, etc. alongside any other feedback. Of all of these I’m happiest thus far with the second E-learning take and the Social Security take, but! Never done any of these genres before, so I’m a bit adrift!

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    • #81354
      becksflatt
      Participant

      Really nice reads on all of these! They all seem to be at a good volume but Social Security was a little bit quiet. If the gain was the same for all 4 takes you may have been a little far from the mic? I know I sometimes back away from the mic when I’m concerned about mouth sounds so I don’t know if maybe that was a factor here. Even still, not so quiet that it couldn’t do with a little boost in whatever software you’re recording with.

  • #81344
    RCori
    Participant

    Hi All! After a few years I’m finally getting back into the VO game/training so I’m a little rusty. I’m working on sounding less performance and more conversational on my commercial reads, also let me know what you think about the pace (Creative feedback only, not working from a professional home studio yet, NO technical feedback, please!).

    Side note – any tips on raining in the extra saliva while recording is greatly appreciated (I’ve tried lots of water although I’m sure I could always drink more, as well as mouthwash before recording). Thank you!

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    • #81391
      Lyle Blaker
      Participant

      You have a great sound. HookOnPh. read is really nice. I think, based on my own coaching, if you take out some of the glottal stops and smooth out the read just a smidge more, it would be *chef’s kiss* and would likely be the conversational sound you are looking for. The last two sentences were great and a reference for what I mean in smoothing it out. And the Aruba take is also very nice. The natural smile in your tone will get you a lot of work. Spit balling here: I wonder what would happen to your energy level if you did the script in 15 seconds and also got rid of the micro pauses within sentences.

      Mouth noises are such a pain in the b***y. Green apples help (something about the acidity) and honestly, de-mouth click software is a LIFESAVER. I use RX9 software.

      Great work!

    • #81355
      becksflatt
      Participant

      These are really engaging! Hooked on Phonics has such a great inviting feel to it. When listening to Aruba, your voice sounds great but I think I wanted to see the picturesque views in the read. Like listening to a friend who just got back from the best trip of their life.

      I also struggle with extra saliva and am still exploring options for that. Lately, I’ve been popping in a honey throat lozenge before recording and it seems to thicken the saliva so it isn’t so noisy.

  • #81337
    JDM
    Participant

    Hi, all. I had my first coaching session, and now I’m just uploading a couple of practice recordings for feedback.

    Re Decoding N**i Secrets: I was told that I needed to go slowly enough that one could imagine the narration working over documentary footage but that I also needed to avoid pausing in ways that would make it sound weird given that it is actually audio-only. I was also told to give individualized inflections to the items in the list that starts about 23 seconds in so that that part wouldn’t sound boring. How did I do?

    Re Corneal Epithelium: I was told that I ought to sound friendly and personable. Again, how did I do?

    Other feedback is also appreciated!

    Lastly, I’m still figuring out my home-studio setup, and I’m not very familiar with any DAW yet to boot. I’m realizing that I have sound-quality problems that I don’t know how to solve. Does anyone have a favorite YouTube tutorial for learning Audacity or REAPER, or for trouble-shooting home-studio issues?

    Thanks much!

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    • #81342
      Kent
      Participant

      Wow. That is some of the best reading I’ve heard on here.
      I think the speed of the first is bordering on too slow, but with the subject matter’s seriousness, you certainly don’t want to rush. As to delineation of the items, you could vary some more. They almost sound like separate sentences if they’re not individualized (pitch-wise) enough.
      With the second, it sure sounds good and informative. Friendly and personal descriptions of the eye are what everyone is clamoring for, of course. But, if it’s less stodgy and more relatable(?) that are the goals, I’d say maybe speed it up a bit and use some higher tones. When you’re dictating facts, it’s tough to think, and therefore sound that way – at least it is for me.
      I find Audacity to be a great tool and it’s simple. Maybe check YouTube for a 5 Step video by Serge M. It’s old and bare bones, but a good framework to build from. At least it helped me.
      Keep up the good work!

  • #81334
    billmull
    Participant

    Hello Folks,

    The Attached was for an audition. The direction was “Male or Female – USA voice over. Professional and business sounding but not too vo sounding. Some warmth and connection.”

    Also, the direction asked for two takes so the file includes two which are identified.

    I am looking for feedback as to how well the two takes align with the direction. I am not looking for feedback regarding recording quality.

    Thanks for any feedback.

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  • #81329
    Kent
    Participant

    Well, I recorded my narration demo yesterday. Yay! A bit nerve-wracking, but I feel pretty good about the whole thing.

    So, concentrating on wrapping up commercial. I grabbed some stuff from the library and thought I’d give it a shot with the narration pointers/ideas/methods still fresh in my mind. I purposely loosened things up to contrast, ala commercial. I have a “seems ezif” and a “y’see” in Mailboxes, Etc., for sure. What is the consensus? How informal can you go and still remain clear?

    Recorded the radio station ID first, as an ice breaker after yesterday’s demo anxiousness. Listen for the differences in the two KATT takes– they’re very subtle. (That’s a little joke you’ll get only if you listen. Does anyone really record VO like that anymore?) There is a big blast at about 4.5 second mark in KATT DJ that I’m not sure I sufficiently tamed with software. Any thoughts on it being too much?

    Loving this stuff. Thanks for the reviews. I look forward to the input!

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    • #81376
      Hazaro
      Participant

      Ha! These were great Kent. All of them clear and hold their own weight.

    • #81366
      jadethevo
      Participant

      I really enjoyed listening to these.

      I think, even in your attempts to make them informal, these are all very clear. I think the Geico one was very well done in particular.

      On your DJ read for KATT, I think you need a cleaner break between each phrase, or maybe to take a deeper breath before you start. I can imagine that was a bit challenging considering how you’re changing your voice.

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