#audioproduction

by

It’s a soggy Thursday afternoon here in Eau Claire, and the temps are starting to drop even further. Going outside is about as enjoyable as having your gums tattooed.

 

I’ve been playing mad scientist again with the software I have, trying to see what boundaries I can push with it while still managing to sound good. It’s a fine line between making your voice sound smoother and thicker, or making it sound like Popeye.

There’s a set of guidelines when recording for Audible and other clients; there’s a certain noise floor, a certain level of normalization, so there’s not a ton you can do while messing with it all, but in the name of experimentation, it’s a lot of tinkering to see if you can get it to sound “perfect” or close to it.

I’ve managed to create a button on my StreamDeck (a touchpad where I can make buttons for shortcuts in the recording software) that does all the mastering work for me, and to anyone reading that’s starting out, I REALLY recommend getting one to help automate part of the post production process.

Been taking interest in seeing how music engineers work, as well. Always had an interest, but as I have little musical skill, other than listening to it, VO post-production always made more sense. But knowing how to mix, engineer, produce not just vocals, but the rest of the sound has always sounded intriguing. Time to binge some YouTube vids on the process.

Ok everyone, kind of a hodgepodge of a blog today, but alas, this is where my brain is at.

 

L

https://www.goettlvoices.com/305-2/

Hills, Valleys, and Mesas

by

Hello everyone, it’s a wet evening here in Eau Claire, a very wet introduction to Friday, which is also supposed to be just as wet.

Just finished a book for a client in nearly record time, and was properly compensated for it. I haven’t recorded many audiobooks in the course of one week, but in this case, I have. Didn’t even have to work nights. Being able to work during the day has made an immense difference in my workload and how fast I can manage to get it done.

Speaking of workload, went through a spell that was drier than usual. Par for the course, these things happen when you’re freelancing it. This instance seemed longer, even though it was similar to a dry spell I had back in January of 2020. It’s nervewracking, the unknown; not knowing if/when the next book comes in…it can make you a bit on edge. It also lights a fire. I motivated myself to keep auditioning, audition more than I have, seek more opportunities, and diversify. It paid off. There’s something to be said about not taking your foot off of the gas, and now I’m busier than I’ve been in a while.

Part of what I’m working on is audio editing for other people, which is something I used to do, but up until recently, it’s been all my work. I like it, since it seems like it’s working on half a project, which essentially, it is. But I get to work on narrating the projects I choose, and have plenty of time to work on editing/production on the side.

Finally, training with Scott Brick next week. This has been a dream in waiting. Love the guy’s work, and if you’re not familiar, he’s one of the true artists when it comes to audiobooks. His voice can elevate a mediocre book into something special. Hopefully, I can handle what he throws at me.

Alright everyone, stay dry, and have a great weekend!

Nerding Out

by

Years upon years ago, I was a 7 year old that had a cassette recorder. I also had a Fisher Price record player, and had the luxury of  the millions of rock records that my parents had. Naturally, I had to have my own countdown show. I’ve got some cassettes hiding somewhere with me counting down to #1 spinning records.

 

It was addicting from the start.

I always had some sort of audio recording, whether it was making top ten shows, recording friends, or, like everyone else did in that time, recording songs off of the radio.

The fun of it was using the equipment. from the aforementioned Fisher Price record player, various tape recorders, moving on up to boomboxes, then an actual stereo (complete with massive speakers, and if that wasn’t enough, my dad gave me used car speakers to use as EXTRA speakers). If I didn’t have a microphone, I could use one of the cheap headphone speakers as a makeshift mic. It actually worked!

I learned if you hit pause lightly while recording, it’d distort your voice. The result was hilarious. Wasn’t great on either the cassette or the stereo, but it was funny.

Once I started working at an actual radio station, it was fun to play with the gear there; actual RECORDING mics, headphones, professional recording equipment, sound effects…I was like a kid in a candy store. Unfortunately, there was only so much time an 18 year old kid working part time could work in the studio, and, well, there were actually people WORKING, so my time having fun was limited.

 

Flash ahead to today. I’ve got just about all the gear I could ever want, all sorts of funky software to make me sound like I’m an old time radio guy to a demented robot, and it amazes me. There’s so much experimentation I can do with this stuff, and I love it. And after spending all these years working with the technology, it’s made me a better audio producer.

Moral of the story: That one thing that you did as a kid might end up becoming a full time career.

Audiobooks and The Endurance Factor

by

Hi everyone, it’s me with another blog.

Finished an #audiobook a little while back, and have been editing a special project, and it got me thinking about all that goes into putting these things together.

The first one I worked on was an Elon Musk biography. Starting out, I had a Blue Snowball mic. For those not in the know, these things are more for fun than they are for actual work. Next, I recorded in my work office. Not an audiobook work office, but the office where Amanda and I did our day jobs. No sound treatment, other than a blanket over the desk where I had my laptop. No voiceover training, and no acting lessons. Just a pretty straight read. The only thing I had going for me was my audio production skills, but, alas, it’s hard to polish a turd. It sounds exactly like I said it did, like it was recorded in an untreated room.

 

Flash ahead to this past year, where I got the go-ahead from a PenguinRandomHouse engineer to record from my own studio for Seth Rogen’s Yearbook audiobook. I didn’t master that book, obviously, but I am responsible for how I sounded, and I thought I sounded pretty damn good.

The big difference between 2018 and 2021 is immense; I’ve upgraded equipment, had my own studio built (and rebuilt), got some training (from the esteemed Johnny Heller), went to a few online conventions and learned a few new tricks. Everything has built off of everything else.

But you can’t stop.

I still plan on taking more acting classes, visiting more conventions, upgrading equipment as needed (although, unless a U87 is dropped into my lap, I’m more than happy with my Sennheiser 416).  And getting new software is always a blast.

Anyhow, this was just a little insight as to how I got here, and what it took. Going to keep doing what it takes to make sure I can give Johnny Heller and Scott Brick a little competition. Gotta dream big.

©2021 Lee Goettl // Voice Over Site by Voice Actor Websites