2022.01.06 – S2006 – 0371 - Changing Your Reading Rate Changing Your Reading Rate If you speak too slowly an audience may lose interest; if you speak too quickly, they may lose the thread of what you are saying. If you keep up the same pace throughout you may sound like a wall of sound – or a smartspeaker A.I device with a monotonous pace and style of delivery. It’s important therefore to consider variety if you want to move your content from ‘boring’ to ‘absorbing’. Having a subtle change of te...
Jan 06, 2022•4 min•Season 2Ep. 371
2022.01.05 – S2005 – 0370 - The Average Read Rate The Average Reading Rate This is one which is comfortable for the reader, clear to the listener, and which suits the style of the content. For example, on a radio station that could be anywhere between 140 and 220 words per minute, depending on whether it’s a music station or a news station. The standard calculations are: · Conversational speed - about 150 words per minute · A scripted read (spoken with more fluency and less hesitancy) – about 18...
Jan 05, 2022•4 min•Season 2Ep. 370
2022.01.04 – S2004 – 0369 - Your Natural ‘Read Rate’ YOUR NATURAL READ-RATE There is no ‘correct’ speed to read. It is likely to be determined by: · the amount you have to say · the time that you have got to say it in · the content of the script and · the energy that you are being asked to bring to it. Let’s take a look at each of those. With a commercial voiceover, it may be that you are asked to say “ Probably the best lager in the world ” and make it last 5 seconds. Or have a 50-word Terms an...
Jan 04, 2022•3 min•Season 2Ep. 369
2022.01.03 – S2003 - 0368 – The Speed of the Read With voice skills I often think of one of the last scenes of the classic film “ The Wizard of Oz, ” when Toto pulls away the curtain to show the Wizard pulling various levers, spinning dials and cranking handles. Reading aloud or presenting, also involves changing (albeit with more finesse and care) so many different ‘settings’: your pitch, tone, projection, and also your speed (sometimes called ‘the tempo’). In this chapter we’ll look at the dif...
Jan 03, 2022•4 min•Season 2Ep. 368
2022.01.02 - S2/002 - The Speed of the Read - Introduction A new year and a new topic to get your teeth in to. Today, an overview of the skills in reading fast and slow, and everything in between - including dead slow or stop: the pause! Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021, 2022 Peter Stewart Through these around-5-minute episodes, you can build your confidence and competence with advice on breathing and reading, inflection and projection, the roles played by better scripting and bett...
Jan 02, 2022•5 min•Season 2Ep. 367
2022.01.01 – S2001 – A Look Ahead To Season 2 Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021, 2022 Peter Stewart Through these around-5-minute episodes, you can build your confidence and competence with advice on breathing and reading, inflection and projection, the roles played by better scripting and better sitting, mic techniques and voice care tips... with exercises and anecdotes from a career spent in TV and radio studios. If you're wondering about how to start a podcast, or have had one fo...
Jan 01, 2022•5 min•Season 2Ep. 366
In which I look back at the voice topics covered in Season 1 of the unique, daily podcast series. Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021 Peter Stewart Through these around-5-minute episodes, you can build your confidence and competence with advice on breathing and reading, inflection and projection, the roles played by better scripting and better sitting, mic techniques and voice care tips... with exercises and anecdotes from a career spent in TV and radio studios. If you're wondering ab...
Dec 31, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 365
The last of three bonus episodes in which I’m joined by a fellow broadcaster and voice over artist ANTHONY DAVIS with his own insight and perspective on voice and presentation skills. Anthony is a British broadcaster, writer and voiceover artist, born in London and now based in LA, he’s worked on radio and TV shows, in news and presentation, and has voiced campaigns and commercials, documentaries and live events. Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021 Peter Stewart Through these around-5...
Dec 30, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 364
Over three bonus episodes I’m joined by a fellow broadcaster and voice over artist ANTHONY DAVIS with his own insight and perspective on voice and presentation skills. Anthony is a British broadcaster, writer and voiceover artist, born in London and now based in LA, he’s worked on radio and TV shows, in news and presentation, and has voiced campaigns and commercials, documentaries and live events. Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021 Peter Stewart Through these around-5-minute episodes...
Dec 29, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 363
Over the next three bonus episodes I’m joined by a fellow broadcaster and voice over artist ANTHONY DAVIS with his own insight and perspective on voice and presentation skills. Anthony is a British broadcaster, writer and voiceover artist, born in London and now based in LA, he’s worked on radio and TV shows, in news and presentation, and has voiced campaigns and commercials, documentaries and live events. Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021 Peter Stewart Through these around-5-minute...
Dec 28, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 362
2021.12.27 – 0361 – Projection Through A Mask As I write this, the world is still mid-pandemic, and even though the use of masks has declined somewhat it’s a chance to write some notes on what we have learnt since early 2020. Wearing a mask: · it is harder to be heard, which can lead to a strained voice o so, you need to be clearer with your diction · it is harder to be heard, which can lead to a muffled voice o so, you need to consider a greater variety of modulation, tone, intonation and focus...
Dec 27, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 361
2021.12.26 – 0360 – Volume and Your Vocal Strength A loud voice, when it is necessary, comes from having a good foundation in ‘vocal strength’, and as we saw earlier, the foundations of that come from things like good breath support, how you sit and stand, and relaxation. It’s a bit like a family car and a supercar: they can both do 50mph but the supercar will do it more easily and comfortably with more support. It is a capability more within its range. When you raise your voice and shout, your ...
Dec 26, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 360
2021.12.25 – 0359 – Volume, Mics and Processing Studio work is different from stage work: as we have already discussed you usually don’t need to be projecting your voice or raising it beyond the level of a normal animated conversation with someone sitting close to you. That is, a level that if someone was siting almost touching you, they’d neither lean in to catch what you were saying, nor move away. Presenters who shout, are often pushing their listener away from them. Again, it is this real, c...
Dec 25, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 359
2021.12.24 – 0358 – Volume In Character A certain volume or projection may be part of a character you play – perhaps in an animation, video game, commercial, voiceover or book reading. You need to be able to recall the vocal characteristics of that character so they sound the same page after page, or (hopefully) booking after booking. You can make notes describing the level but that can be a tricky. What you may find better is a description of who you ‘channel’ when in character, the kind of per...
Dec 24, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 358
2021.12.23 – 0357 – Volume Variety One of the most important tools to use to engage and persuade is a variety of voice volume - there is a huge power in dropping or raising your voice. To read every story with the same projection level is wearing on your voice and on the listeners’ ears and is not conducive to understanding. Information as a wall of sound is less-easily interpreted than ‘light and shade’, where you might present significant news with more projection than a lighter ‘and finally’ ...
Dec 23, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 357
2021.12.22 – 0356 – Getting A Louder Voice This obviously depends on which of the above issues (or others) is the cause but here are a few pointers: For (suspected) physical reasons – consult your family doctor or GP in the first instance about issues to do with breathing, and talk with them about a possible referral to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist, or a speech therapist. For confidence issues – speak with a doctor about any worries, insecurities or anxieties you may have and who may...
Dec 22, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 356
2021.12.21 – 0355 – Reasons Why Some People Talk More Softly There may be physical, psychological and social reasons someone speaks softly. Physical: · Weakness in their vocal cords or breathing problems · Nerves can lead to a feeling that your vocal cords are ‘closing down’ – we looked at this previously – a mental attitude that can lead to tension and shallow breathing · Lack of practice! If someone has not spoken for a while, perhaps working from home, their voice may be easily strained on th...
Dec 21, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 355
2021.12.20 – 0354 - Voice Extremes: The Softer Voice The softer you sing, the louder you're heard Donovan , musician, ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine (9th November 1967) We saw some elements about a quieter voice earlier, when we looked at the situations in which we used different volumes, and compared ‘loud’ with ‘soft’. The advantages of the ‘soft sound’: · People responded better to being ‘connected with’ rather than being ‘talked at’. It’s a matter of ‘telling not yelling’ · You can use less volume...
Dec 20, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 354
2021.12.19 – 0353 – Screaming And Shouting – Part 2 Remember that screaming and shouting isn’t necessarily about sheer volume. A similar affect may be achieved perhaps by a shaking voice and a whimper, an “ urgh ” or exclamation may replace a ‘ level eleven ’ guttural shout. And even if you are specifically screaming or shouting, the microphone itself can do a lot of your work for you. After all, you’re in a recording studio, not an open-air theatre, and the effect of loudness can be made more e...
Dec 19, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 353
2021.12.18 – 0352 – Screaming And Shouting – Part 1 Screaming and shouting It may be that a script, say in an animation, calls for you to scream – the epitome of projection. This can potentially cause damage to your folds if you don’t prepare correctly, and could limit your work for the next few hours, days or longer. ‘Hydration before violent projection’ is part of the answer. Wet folds are less easily damaged than dry ones slamming against each other. But as we have seen this is more than sips...
Dec 18, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 352
2021.12.17 – 0351 – Sounds That Drown What loudness means ‘Authority’ does not mean talking loud. ‘Authority’ comes, as we have seen before, from understanding the story and having the confidence to explain its significance to your listeners, with appropriate vocal expression. The louder you are, the more control of a conversation or of someone you are trying to achieve. That’s not ‘authority’, that’s ‘bullying’. Shouting does not necessarily mean excitement. It does, though, usually mean simply...
Dec 17, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 351
2021.12.16 – 0350 – Voice Extremes: The Louder Voice From a whisper to a booming voice of a ‘hurry, hurry, buy now, offer ends on Saturday’ commercial, your volume speaks volumes about the message and the character. The ‘size’ and drama of a louder delivery can indicate urgency, importance, confidence, power, resolve or anger. A softer voice can convey a secret, an intimate word, a warmth, discretion, or indeed indiscretion. Getting the volume and energy right can often be the key to the read. L...
Dec 16, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 350
2021.12.15 – 0349 – Projection And The Audience The audience Your volume will alter depending on how many people are listening, where they are and what they are doing. We have seen some of this already when we discussed vocal proxemics and how you adjust your projection if you can’t see your audience. Let’s develop that a little. What if your audience is captive? Not in a hostage situation you understand, but if they are watching a video presentation such as an online training or webinar as part...
Dec 15, 2021•4 min•Season 1Ep. 349
2021.12.14 – 0348 – Projection And The Message The message Lowering your volume has a double effect: it not only makes your voice softer and quieter, but it also becomes more resonant. As we saw earlier, this means the sound is more-full and more pleasant to listen to. Think about it, a loud voice or shout is far from ‘smooth’ or ‘rich’ or ‘resonant’. Therefore, a softer voice may be appropriate for messages that convey trust, experience, maturity and warmth. That isn’t to say you whisper – it’s...
Dec 14, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 348
2021.12.13 – 0347 – Projection And The Location The location We have already seen how we usually speak louder outside than in, and, obviously speak louder when there are other noises to compete against. But there are other elements which affect the volume we choose to use too. We may speak more loudly when we are trying to excite, and perhaps more softly when encouraging – but I’m sure you may be able to think of circumstances when we do quite the opposite. For instance: the manager of a school ...
Dec 13, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 347
2021.12.12 – 0346 – Projection And Character Volume is a key part of presentation from a script, whether in voice overs, voice acting, reading or presenting, and that volume needs to be appropriate for the character, the location, the message and the audience. The clues to the volume you use will be in the script, the written or studio direction, or in the outline / brief / specs provided by the scriptwriter / agency / client. It is your job to take all the clues and direction and create content...
Dec 12, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 346
2021.12.11 – 0345 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Where They Are Summon up an image of where that person will be when they are watching you on tv or listening to you on the radio, will also alter how you talk live, or record a piece of copy. Will it be played on breakfast TV? Is it for an instore commercial? Is it for a podcast? If you are presenting on the radio, you are likely to have a different style of presentation for a breakfast show to a late-night show. Not only will the content be d...
Dec 11, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 345
2021.12.10 – 0344 – Imagining Your Hidden Audience – Who They Are Imagining Your Hidden Audience Who are they? One way to achieve an appropriate ‘point of vocus’ for your projection is by putting a photo of someone at a distance from you in the studio, that you’d imagine an actual listener to be if they were with physically you. So, if the voice-over is personal and intimate then the image would be close to you and the mic, and a louder, announcer read may require a photo the other side of the r...
Dec 10, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 344
2021.12.09 – 0343 – The Point of Vocus The Point of Vocus Put simply, the microphone is usually positioned in our ‘inmate’ zone 6-8 inches from our mouth. If it was a human ear rather than a mic that we were talking to at that distance, we would be very friendly indeed with that person! Our voice would drop in volume, the tone would change (and so too would the content – but that’s another book). But it would be inappropriate to read the news or usually to introduce a song in that kind of ‘intim...
Dec 09, 2021•3 min•Season 1Ep. 343
2021.12.08 – 0342 – Vocal Proxemics – Part 2 So, you have a different voice when you are with your lover in the ‘ Intimate Zone’ ( a very soft level that you might use to tell a secret to a friend or whisper ‘sweet nothings’ to a lover), than you use to a room of people in a ‘ Public Zone’ (a louder volume used in front of lots of people who may be further away). Translate that into the studio situation. The ‘ Personal ’ voice level is one to use when you’re neither making-out… nor want to shout...
Dec 08, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 342
