Friday Oct 10, 2014

EWABS Episode 159 September 29, 2014 with Marc Cashman

Episode 159, September 29, 2014

Guest: Marc Cashman and his new book V-Oh!

George answers fan questions

Dan shows his clicker editing

0:01:49 They begin!

0:03:35 If you have questions for George or Dan, write to ewabshop@gmail.com

0:04:20 Q: What’s the best material for a VO floor? A: Carpeting.

0:05:16 Dan adds that wooden flooring will absorb sound some, George adds that floor reflection generally go back into your mic.

0:06:25 Joe Cipriano is looking for better internet connection. George helped him and found California Internet http://cainternet.net/. They provide “the last mile” to Joe’s house with microwave. The downside is you need line of sight from the tower with the signal. Another vendor: Towerstream (http://www.towerstream.com/)

0:09:06 Satellite is another option, but latency (delay) may be an issue. Microwave has very low latency. Satellite can add 2 sec. of latency. This could be an issue with Skype and ipDTL.

0:10:32 Q: What are your opinions on ipDTL? A: Dan discusses. A common question is how do you record at your end? Dan mentions SoundFlower. http://soundflower.en.softonic.com/mac. Others: Audio Hijack https://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro/

0:12:40 This will be a year of transition, George predicts.

0:13:20 Q: Resources for newbies.

0:13:50 George plays the question.

0:14:58 George and Dan answer. (The question came via Speakpipe. To send in a spoken question, go to http://www.ewabs.net/, scroll down to the SEND QUESTION sideways tab you’ll see.) First, great audio quality! But, if you don’t have a budget for training, you may not be able to start a VO business. Lots of coaches work remotely.

0:16:23 Start at Episode 1 of EWABS. Or, google “EWABS coach” and you’ll see every issue of EWABS where a coach was on.

0:17:19 Break. VO Studio Tech. Larry Davis bumper.

0:18:45 Dan has a webinar coming up on October 15 on VoiceOverXtra (http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs110/1102478472127/archive/1118561011103.html)

Dan will talk about audio quality for auditions.

0:20:13 Tip of the Week: Using sound codes for audio recording and editing.

0:26:22 George tries out another sound!

0:27:01 Write to Dan if you have a Tip of the Week topic at ewabshop@gmail.com.

0:27:47 Break. Home Studio Master and Sponge Bob.

0:29:12 They’re back with Marc Cashman. http://www.cashmancommercials.com/ Dan recalls the last time Marc was on, giving Dan directions for a read. See Episode 139, April 7, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGfhFMIT_wY

0:29:55 Marc shows his new book, V-Oh!, 35 years in the making. http://www.amazon.com/V-Oh-Tricks-Techniques-Sustain-Voiceover/dp/0990395804/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1412091907&sr=8-2&keywords=V-Oh!

0:30:40 The book is a compilation of 15 years’ worth of writing, plus 25 percent more.

0:34:39 Dan asks for an example of a tidbit from the book. Marc talks about the chapter called “The Sounds of Punctuation.” Punctuation has sounds! Marc explains.

0:36:45 We are voice actors and our audience is “blind.” They can’t see us. We have to compensate. Sometimes it comes down to the “sound” of a punctuation mark.

0:37:55 Dan recounts his favorite tip, that the script isn’t in stone. Marc says you just have to know when it’s appropriate to know where the script IS in stone.

0:38:50 Audiobooks and plays are in stone. Legal copy is set. E-learning modules have to be right to the letter.

0:39:53 You can change advertising copy, if you’re judicious about it. Don’t be a VO lemming. Correct obvious mistakes.

0:41:08 Q: Is there an audiobook version of the book? A: That’s his last big project of the year.

0:42:26 Dan asks how much voice work Marc does himself. Marc says it varies month to month. Every day is different.

0:43:42 Dan talks about taking classes. What is teaching a class like?

0:44:07 Marc is going on 15 years of teaching. He recounts how he got into it. Through substituting for another teacher, he began developing a curriculum and syllabus.

0:45:45 Now his classes are in a professional, commercial studio with an engineer to record the work and direction. Classes are on Saturdays and include mid week homework, and other material like scripts and articles.

0:49:00 Commercials are your Bachelor’s degree in VO. Specific genres like audiobooks and promo are advanced degrees.

0:49:30 The best actors never stop learning, never.

0:50:07 Example: Al Pacino wants to go back to stage acting, to be on the wire without a net. Marc knows VO actors who are in workout groups that meet regularly to keep honed. He brings the tough scripts he has trouble with to those groups.

0:52:15 It’s Harlan Hogan’s birthday. To help EWABS, use the banner ad at www.ewabs.net to reach Voiceover Essentials. There’s now a lot of video content at Harlan’s site. See the Digital Media library at http://voiceoveressentials.com/

0:55:06 They’re back with questions for Marc. Q: Discuss the process of taking eyes off the script. A: Marc discusses. As an aside, he’s developed techniques to help actors with dyslexia. Marc asks his students to take eyes off the script for cut lines and key phrases.

0:57:12 Marc describes stage actors learning to “throw” or “lift” lines without reading the script. Get off the script whenever you can. The last line is one natural place to do that. To not sound like you’re reading, don’t read!

0:58:58 Keep your eyes on the script when the copy is dense. But for short lines, there’s no need to read them. Anytime you can get your eyes off the page without losing your place, you’ll sound sincere.

1:00:08 Q: What are you thoughts about ad libbing? A: Be judicious. When they say “be conversational,” you can ADD (not change what’s on the page)—enhance rather than change. You’re not an editor or copywriter, you’re an actor whose job is to bring copy to life. “You know,” “you see,” and so on, can be added when appropriate and be judicious. Pick your places. And make it better.

1:02:52 Q: Please talk about things to keep in mind when you self direct? A: Marc talks about working in a vacuum, as we do when we’re in our booths.

1:04:05 How many takes is too many? When it starts sounding studied. Sometimes you won’t know until you listen back during editing. Other times, you may need to take a break.

1:06:45 Q: Can Marc read a passage from the book? A: Marc reads from page 162:

1:07:22 A 21st Century Rant. How to say the year we’re in.

1:10:07 Q: What is “tough stuff” for you? A: Marc discusses how really short copy is really hard for him.

1:11:46 Also, poorly written copy is hard and he refuses to audition for it.

1:12:42 Marc’s book is at Amazon and his website, cashmancommercials.com. Coming soon: the ebook on Kindle. The audiobook is coming.

1:14:18 Break. VoiceoverXtra. And several bumpers.

1:15:33 They’re back with announcements.

1:59:59 George’s mom and Ella are in the studio.

1:16:51 New sponsor: Narratorhelper.com, which can help audiobook narrators with post production work, proofing, and pre-reading. Amy Whittam does this.

1:17:55 October 6: Anthony Mendez will be the guest.

1:18:30 October 13: Randi Thomas will be the guest.

1:18:55 October 20: Audio Masters Roundtable for personal studio technology. Send questions to ewabshop@gmail.com.

1:20:07 Thanks to sponsors Edge Studio, VoiceOver Essentials, VoiceOverXtra, VO Peeps, Home Studio Master, and more!

EWABS Episode 159 September 29, 2014 with Marc Cashman

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