Voiceover Talent: Should You Add Source-Connect To Your Studio During The Pandemic?
Mike Tobin
Bilingual Voice Over (English AND French) | MC & Event Announcer | Co-host: The Voiceover Round Table
In these challenging times, a lot of voiceover talent are asking questions about Source-Connect (and other similar solutions)...which is great!
However, I want to offer a few words of caution for talent who might not know much about it but are still considering offering it now for the first time:
Source-Connect is a communication tool that allows for high-quality recording of YOUR audio by another party (usually a studio). The audio is transmitted via software over the internet. That means your RAW audio - unprocessed, untouched by noise-reduction software, what-you-hear-is-what-you-get...well, you get it, right?
Sure, you can be running hardware or software (think Universal Audio stuff) before the signal goes out, but for the most part, it's pretty unforgiving!
Source-Connect will NOT improve your sound.
It will not hide a poorly treated recording space.
It will not make your USB mic sound like a 416.
If you're not sure about how your recording space, setup, and connection will perform over a Source-Connect or other live-record solution, please reach out to an established audio professional specializing in setups for voiceover. They can do a quick assessment of an audio sample and give you guidance if action is required. Some that come to mind are VO Tech Guru (aka Tim Tippets), (Uncle) Roy B. Yokelson, Georgethetech Whittam...and I'm sure there are more (please post whomever I missed).
PLEASE KNOW that I am not trying to discourage fellow talent from getting connected with these tools - I just don't want people to think that they'll provide a "magic bullet" for getting hired in these times of social-distancing, quarantine, and "shelter-in-place". Before you spend the money on Source-Connect or other services, make sure your recording space, gear, as well as training, demos, etc. are all in order first!
Finally, as should be expected, the support team at Source-Elements is extremely busy these days and prioritizing help to "purchased license holders". However, there is a very helpful Live Community Chat.
Be safe, and stay healthy!
#voiceover #directedsessions #audio #studio #technology
About the author...
Mike Tobin is a bilingual voice talent based in Ottawa, Canada, recording projects in English and French. He is also very active as an MC and public address announcer.
Find his work online: bilingualvoiceover.ca
Connect with Mike on LinkedIn here.
Audiobook Narrator & Voiceover Talent: Playful, Charming, Self-Confident - An injection of wicked smart for your story.
4 年Thank you, this is very helpful. I have been thinking about getting Source Connect. Based on this, I'm going to look into it now!
Voice Actor + Narrator | Spread your message with a voice like butter
5 年Great points! You should add Tim Ratledge, aka "VO Tech Buddy" to your list of peeps to help with your audio. He's here: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/tim-ratledge-i-voice-actor-i-audio-edtior-30860752/
Voiceover Guy, Narrator, Radio Imager, Author of "Forget Having Kids. I'm Having Fun"
5 年Interestingly, I added it a month ago
Bilingual eLearning Narration Ninja! Unaccented US & CAD English, CAD French.
5 年I've spent a total of 12 hours in Source Connect sessions over the past two weeks. I recommend yes. :-)
Founder-Paris for Seniors; Voice Actress, Screenwriter, Script-writer/producer for travel, E-learning and Settlement English sectors.
5 年Great post Mike. You are so right about the raw recording quality needing to be pristine from the source. I have done sessions with Paris, France using IPdtl at their end with me just logging in and it was great. Skype can work but is a bit clunky (like the "cone of silence!" on Get Smart). I have the free trial version of Source Connect and await my PACE iLOK3 USB gadget to get going. Looking forward to it but know there is a learning curve. In this pinch and, often actually, clients are happy with a phone sesh before recording and then my sending them a few versions with me on stand by to tweak. Not a perfect world but..desperate times call for "any way to get er done well!" Thanks again for sharing and take good care of you and yours.