Applications You May Need for VO

Hey Everyone,

Here is a rundown of a few applications I use and love.

1) Audacity:

This is a bare bones audio editor, has everything you need to get started. It's a great starter app. You can add plugins and render as well. Best of all, it's FREE, get it if you are starting out.

2) Vegas Video

Vegas Video is my favorite because of the visual. While using a high quality audio production editor for less than $50, you are also learning how to edit video.

I'm biased because I used to edit video and shoot film a long time ago. This app has everything you need. The particularly awesome option is that you can render it out to so many different formats. From wav, to mp3, to aif, there are a lot of uses for those higher quality files.

Also, from a editor's perspective, it's good to see the audiofile as a whole, be able to cut and move things around. There's countless plugins included, plus you mess with the audio through envelopes.

This is a great all around app. I love it and I've used it for years and it's cheap as hell. Plus, you can go off and make movies with it.

3) Open Office

We all may have our own office applications and if you were lucky enough to have one installed in your computer, then awesome. Me? Not so much. Open office is the free version of office for everyone. No ads, no crazy catches. Just free. You'll need an office application to open up scripts, not to mention make invoices.

4) Xara Web Designer (optional)

If you end up making a website, I am a firm believer in this app. It's very simple, you don't have to know anything about programming and the learning curve (though slightly steep) is doable. It also won't cost an arm and a leg.


5) VLC Media Player

When you come upon audio files that may not work on your regular player, try this little guy out. I use it all the time.

There you GO!
All of these are for the most part Free or Dirt cheap. Don't go spending hundreds of dollars on apps. The cheaper ones here are complicated enough that you can delve into it but simple enough that you can just get the job done.

When You Are Not Getting Jobs, What to DO!

Here's a few things that you can do, when your jobs are getting more sparse.

1) Work LinkedIn

If you have a client base, go back to all the jobs you've done and try and connect them to linkedIN. I had a great client that I would have never had if I didn't get in touch with them through linkedin.

2) Make a website

A website will help you gain ground. It's something you will need as more clients find you.

3) Find the videos

If you've done a few jobs, FIND THE VIDs. You'd be surprised how easy it is to find some of those lost gems. Once you do, post them to your website, post them to linked in, show that you are in demand.


Just those three things will help you gain ground in the slow times and it will pay off in the long run. DO IT!

Back to Blogging: To WaterMark or Not

Hey everyone,

I wanted to do a quick little blog about Watermarking. For those of you who don't know, Watermarking is adding a little beep during your audition, rendering the audition unusable but still good enough to hear.

This is your own little security blanket. What do I think?

I don't really use it, for all I know my stuff could be stolen a million times over, but I have a little bit of trust here or there.

Alternatives to Watermarking:
1) Don't do the whole script

Clients sometimes have an extremely long script and your audition is just a sample. In that case, watermarking may just annoy a client, so if you look at the details of how long the script is and if it's obvious this is just a part of the script, then no need to watermark.

2) Slate your name

It's the smallest thing you can do to secure your script. It means the client has to edit a TINY bit. I make it a priority to slate because it gets you into a script better, plus if you end up doing union auditions or bigger commercial auditions, EVERYONE SLATES.

3) Pay attention to the script

Some scripts use ACME or OUR COMPANY inc or some generalized term for the company which implies that they can't use the name for the auditions or that they don't know what the company name is yet. In this case, you can just read it, since it isn't the real thing.

HOW TO WATERMARK!!

Here's how I do it, I use a video editor, (sony vegas video), so I'm able to add an audio track ABOVE the track itself. Visually, it would be one bar over the VO bar.

I do a quick google for a Beep sound, it can be like the sound that bleeps a curse word.

I then add one or two beeps above  (not inside) the track, if you put it onto the track itself it messes with the VO, you want the client to be able to hear what you say under the beep. Two tracks seems to work best.

Bleeping around the company name and maybe a mid sentence once or twice should be good.

REMINDER:

You will have a small percentage of jobs that require this, but better safe than sorry.

Take care,
Justin