podcast image for Get A Better Broadcast, Podcast and Voice-Over Voice
Get A Better Broadcast, Podcast and Voice-Over Voice
Description

Year THREE of short daily episodes to improve the quality of your speaking voice.


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 for a while - download every episode!


And as themes develop over the weeks (that is, they are not random topics day-by-day), this is a free, course to help you GET A BETTER BROADCAST, PODCAST AND VOICE OVER VOICE.


Look out for more details of the book during 2024.

Contacts: https://linktr.ee/Peter_Stewart

Audio recording script and show notes (c) 2021, 2022, 2023 Peter Stewart


Peter has been around voice and audio all his working life and has trained hundreds of broadcasters in all styles of radio from pop music stations such as Capital FM and BBC Radio 1, the classical music station BBC Radio 3 and regional BBC stations. He’s trained news presenters on regional TV, the BBC News Channel and on flagship programmes such as the BBC’s Panorama. 


He has written a number of books on audio and video presentation and production (see contacts clink above) and presented hundreds of radio shows (you may have heard him on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4, Virgin Radio or Kiss, as well as BBC regional radio) with various formats. He has read tens of thousands of news bulletins and hosted 3,000+ podcast episodes.


The podcast title refers to those who may wish to change their speaking voice in some way. It is not a suggestion that anyone should, or be pressured into needing to. We love accents and dialects, and are well aware that how we speak changes over time. The key is: is your voice successfully communicating your message, so it is being understood (and potentially being acted upon) by your target audience?


This podcast is London-based and examples are spoken in the RP (Received Pronunciation) / standard-English / BBC English pronunciation, although invariably applicable to other languages, accents and dialects.


The 'Peter Stewart' show is perhaps of great interest to those in broadcast voice overs, the broadcast voice, how to start a voice podcast, broadcasting voice training, your speaking voice, breathing technique, and conversational speaking. You may also find it useful if you are searching for information on voice coaching, voice training, voice overs, podcasting, broadcasting, presenting, being a voice over actor and newsreading, audio branding, public speaking, the recorded voice, vocal tips, performance, vocal health education, vocal technique and voice over training.


Music credits: all Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license 

"Beauty Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5025-beauty-flow



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes
  • 2023 / 9 / 26
    1000 - The End

    2023.09.27 - 1000 - The EndThanks for the loan of your ears, for one-thousand consecutive daily episodes. All of my contacts are here: https://linktr.ee/Peter_Stewart Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

  • 2023 / 9 / 25
    0999 – The Diction-ary of Voice – V and W

    2023.09.26 – 0999 – The Diction-ary of Voice – V and W**VVerbal tic – the repeated use of words or phrases such as “like” or “y’know what I mean?”Velum – the soft palate at the back of the roof of the mouth....

  • 2023 / 9 / 24
    0998 – The Diction-ary of Voice – T

    2023.09.25 – 0998 – The Diction-ary of Voice – T**TTag (or ‘slogan’) – the branding phrase at the end of a commercial Take (as in ‘go for a take’) – a recording. Also see ‘pickup’Take a level (or ‘take a bit...

  • 2023 / 9 / 23
    0997 – The Diction-ary of Voice – S

    2023.09.24 – 0997 – The Diction-ary of Voice – S**SScratch Track - a temporary recording that is a ‘place-holder’ for the final voice-over. Not ‘broadcast quality’ it is used to help producers feel the pacing...

  • 2023 / 9 / 22
    0996 – The Diction-ary of Voice – R – Part 2

    2023.09.23 – 0996 – The Diction-ary of Voice – R – Part 2Riding the gain (or ‘riding the mic’ or ‘riding the levels’) – the constant adjustment of the input levels as the sound unexpectedly (and often...

  • 2023 / 9 / 21
    0995 – The Diction-ary of Voice – R – Part 1

    2023.09.22 – 0995 – The Diction-ary of Voice – R – Part 1**RRate – the speed of someone speaking or readingRate – the amount paid to a voice-over for a day, hour or scriptRaw audio - unprocessed recorded...

  • 2023 / 9 / 20
    0994 – The Diction-ary of Voice – P

    2023.09.21 – 0994 – The Diction-ary of Voice – P  Polyp - usually unilateral (one vocal fold) mass that grows off the surface. Can be hemorrhagic (filled with blood) or not, and’s usually due to voice...

  • 2023 / 9 / 19
    0993 – The Diction-ary of Voice – P - Part 2

    2023.09.20 – 0993 – The Diction-ary of Voice – P - Part 2 Pharynx – the area between the larynx and the nasal cavitiesPhonation – the process of making sounds into words, which articulation turns into...

  • 2023 / 9 / 18
    0992 – The Diction-ary of Voice – N and P

    2023.09.19 – 0992 – The Diction-ary of Voice – N and P **NName check – saying your name on airNarrative non-fiction – a true-story podcastNarrative voice - the voice you use for the...

  • 2023 / 9 / 17
    0991 – The Diction-ary of Voice – M

    2023.09.18 – 0991 – The Diction-ary of Voice – M Marking copy – different markings on a script (underlinings, arrows, circles) to show which words require different voice presentations such as...

  • 2023 / 9 / 16
    0990 – The Diction-ary of Voice – L

    2023.09.17 – 0990 – The Diction-ary of Voice – L **LLabiodental – very few sounds use the sound created when the upper teeth rest on the lower lip, but say ‘very’ and ‘few’ and you will hear twoLapel (or...

  • 2023 / 9 / 15
    0989 – The Diction-ary of Voice – I

    2023.09.16 – 0989 – The Diction-ary of Voice – I **IImpromptu (or ‘ad libbed’) – a comment made ‘off the cuff’ without a script or prior rehearsalInflection – the lifting or lowering of the pitch of an...

  • 2023 / 9 / 14
    0988 – The Diction-ary of Voice – H

    2023.09.15 – 0988 – The Diction-ary of Voice – H**HHaemorrhage (‘vocal cord bruise’, ‘hematoma’) - a collection of blood in the vocal fold that develops after considerable voice use and leads to severe...

  • 2023 / 9 / 13
    0987 – The Diction-ary of Voice – G

    2023.09.14 – 0987 – The Diction-ary of Voice – GGlottal – a softer ‘coughing’ sound when used in speech, often when used instead of proper pronunciation in words such as ‘hot’ or ‘water’ when the tongue has...

  • 2023 / 9 / 12
    0986 – The Diction-ary of Voice – F

    2023.09.13 – 0986 – The Diction-ary of Voice – F **FFade (in, out, up, down, under) - to gradually adjust the volume of sound from low to high or high to lowFader – an audio channel’s level...

  • 2023 / 9 / 11
    0985 – The Diction-ary of Voice – E

    2023.09.12 – 0985 – The Diction-ary of Voice – EEllipsis – the marking on a script (‘…’) usually indicating that a pause is requiredEmphasis list - if an author wants to stress a point, they an emphasis list...

  • 2023 / 9 / 10
    0984 – The Diction-ary of Voice – D Part 2

    2023.09.11 – 0984 – The Diction-ary of Voice – D Part 2Dry audio – a voice recording without any music underneath (which would be a ‘mixed’ recording)Dry mouth – literally having little saliva in one’s mouth,...

  • 2023 / 9 / 9
    0983 – The Diction-ary of Voice - D Part 1

    2023.09.10 – 0983 – The Diction-ary of Voice - D Part 1 DAW - Short for ‘Digital Audio Workstation’ (or ‘Workspace’), said variously D.A.W and DAW (as in ‘door’). The software you use to record,...

  • 2023 / 9 / 8
    0982 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 4

    2023.09.09 – 0982 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 4 Cue – the instruction to a presenter to start talking or performing. This could be verbal or by a light or a audio ‘cue tone’Cue – the short script...

  • 2023 / 9 / 7
    0981 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 3

    2023.09.08 – 0981 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 3Conversational read (sometimes ‘transparent read’) – when a script doesn’t sound as though it is being read, so, using an authentic, friendly or...

  • 2023 / 9 / 6
    0980 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 2

    2023.09.07 – 0980 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 2 Clipped – when a recorded signal has gone past the 0db threshold (or any other maximum recording level set by the engineer) and the computer...

  • 2023 / 9 / 5
    0979 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 1

    2023.09.06 – 0979 – The Diction-ary of Voice - C Part 1 **CCadence - rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or word (see: ‘inflection’) Camera panic – anxiety about being in a video affecting someone’s...

  • 2023 / 9 / 4
    0978 – The Diction-ary of Voice - B Part 2

    2023.09.05 – 0978 – The Diction-ary of Voice - B Part 2 Binaural – a type of recording and/or processing that allows a 3D sound space to be conveyed over headphonesBit depth – refers to...

  • 2023 / 9 / 3
    0977 – The Diction-ary of Voice - B Part 1

    2023.09.04 – 0977 – The Diction-ary of Voice - B Part 1**BB2B / B2C – different marketing or advertising models. ‘B2B’ stands for 'business to business', that is, an advert for a product or service services...

  • 2023 / 9 / 2
    0976 – The Diction-ary of Voice - A Part 2

    2023.09.03 – 0976 – The Diction-ary of Voice - A Part 2 Alveolus – the area just behind your upper teeth and where your tongue darts to in the final sound of the word ‘sin’Ambience (‘ambient noise’,...

  • 2023 / 9 / 1
    0975 – The Diction-ary of Voice - A Part 1

    2023.09.02 – 0975 – The Diction-ary of Voice - A Part 1The Diction-ary of Voice ON GOOD SPEAKING TERMS **AAbdomen – your stomach area that moves out as you breath in, as the diaphragm lowers to allow the...

  • 2023 / 8 / 31
    0974 – Whispering Voice

    2023.09.01 – 0974 – A Whispering VoiceWhispering voiceSymptom: Speaking very softlyPrescription: Don’t. A whisper needs vocal fold tension, with the sound produced in a small gap between them. Instead talk in...

  • 2023 / 8 / 30
    0973 – The Whining Voice

    2023.08.31 – 0973 – The Whining Voice Whining voiceSymptom: As you might expect, this sound is related to the ‘unnatural pitch’ described above. It too is a higher-pitched voice, with the added issue of...

  • 2023 / 8 / 29
    0972 – ‘Vocal Fry’ Voice

    2023.08.30 – 0972 – ‘Vocal Fry’ Voice‘Vocal fry’ voice[1],[2]Symptom: We have covered this in some depth previously, especially in episode 38: the low, glottal, creaky, choppy, breathy delivery often...

  • 2023 / 8 / 28
    0971 – Valley Speak

    2023.08.29 – 0971 – Valley SpeakValley speak (short for ‘Valley Girl-speak’)[1]’[2]Symptom: This is a combination of several vocal features (nasality, uptalk, fast-paced run-on sentences, breathiness and...

  • 2023 / 8 / 27
    0970 - Uptalk

    2023.08.28 – 0970 - UptalkUptalk[1]Symptom: Most sentences end on a lower inflection than how they start, to give a signal that the end of the thought has been reached. Apart from sentences which end...

  • 2023 / 8 / 26
    0969 - The Unnaturally Pitched Voice

     2023.08.27 – 0969 - Unnaturally pitched voiceUnnaturally pitched voiceSymptom: This is similar to the ‘mono-tone’ (but where that is usually a lower pitch, this problem is usually one of being too...

  • 2023 / 8 / 25
    0968 – The ‘Tired’ Voice

    2023.08.26 – 0968 – The ‘Tired’ Voice Tired voiceSymptom: You sound dull, flat and a little ‘slurry’ as your tongue has trouble forming words.Prescription:...

  • 2023 / 8 / 24
    0967 - The ‘Throwaway’ Delivery

    2023.08.25 – 0967 - The ‘Throwaway’ Delivery ‘Throwaway’ deliverySymptom: When your voice trails off on the last word or two of a sentence. This makes them sound unimportant and sometime unintelligible...

  • 2023 / 8 / 23
    0966 - Throat Clearing

    2023.08.24 – 0966 - Throat Clearing Throat clearingSymptom: Throat clearing can become a habit. The slightest tickle and you may cough, but this irritates the vocal folds even more and makes them more...

  • 2023 / 8 / 22
    0965 – The ‘Thin’ Voice

    2023.08.23 – 0965 – The ‘Thin’ VoiceThin voiceSymptom: A voice which is weak, with a lack of air, energy and resonance. It may lack authority.Prescription: ·        It...

  • 2023 / 8 / 21
    0964 - Stumbling

    2023.08.22 – 0964 - StumblingStumblingSymptom: Verbal mistakes in adlibbed conversations or more likely, when reading as script: restarting words, mispronunciations, mis-intonations, repeated corrections and...

  • 2023 / 8 / 20
    0963 - Stammering –

    2023.08.21 – 0963 - Stammering –Stammering – also called ‘stuttering’Symptom: Stammering is when someone:·        repeats sounds or syllables – for example, saying...

  • 2023 / 8 / 19
    0962 - 'Sloppy' Speech

    2023.08.20 – 0962 - 'Sloppy' SpeechSloppy speechSymptom: Good diction doesn’t (usually) matter (!). As I have said several times in different ways (such as in epsiode 263), what’s important is whether your...

  • 2023 / 8 / 18
    0961 – The ‘Sing Song’ Delivery

    2023.08.19 – 0961 – The ‘Sing Song’ DeliverySing Song DeliverySymptom: This presentation or reading style is characterised by an artificial, repetitive pattern of a gradual rise in pitch for the first part of...

  • 2023 / 8 / 17
    0960 – The ‘Sibilant’ Voice

    2023.08.18 – 0960 – The ‘Sibilant’ VoiceSibilant voiceSymptom: When a voice is perceived to have excessive ‘s’ sounds it may be because the microphone is picking up and exaggerating that particular...

  • 2023 / 8 / 16
    0959 - The 'Script-reading' Voice

    2023.08.17 – 0959 - The 'Script-reading' VoiceScript-reading voiceSymptom: When you sound as though you are reading words rather than communicating or telling a story. When you sound wooden, bored, flat...

  • 2023 / 8 / 15
    0958 – The ‘Quiet’ Voice

    2023.08.16 – 0958 – The ‘Quiet’ VoiceQuiet voiceSymptom:  I once worked with two people in the same office who spoke very quietly. Neither of them seemed concerned or embarrassed when their colleagues...

  • 2023 / 8 / 14
    0957 - Popping on the Mic

    2023.08.15 – 0957 - Popping on the MicPopping on the micSymptom: Some letters are pronounced by the lips temporarily stopping and then releasing a flow of air from your mouth. That means that when you say...

  • 2023 / 8 / 13
    0956 – The ‘Plonking’ Speech Pattern

    2023.08.14 – 0956 – The ‘Plonking’ Speech Pattern Plonking speech pattern Symptom: This is when a reader doesn’t know which word to highlight in their intonation, so they do it either randomly or, like a...

  • 2023 / 8 / 12
    0955 – Noisy Breathing

    2023.08.13 – 0955 – Noisy Breathing Noisy breathingSymptom: Your in-breath is clearly heard on the recording, sometimes as a suck (occasionally this comes with a lip-smack as well), or a wheeze. This is...

  • 2023 / 8 / 11
    0954 – The ‘Nervous’ Voice

    2023.08.12 – 0954 – The ‘Nervous’ VoiceNervous voiceSymptom: These may include a higher-pitched, fluttering voice, quickly-snatched breaths, little variation in intonation and regular...

  • 2023 / 8 / 10
    0953 – The 'Nasal' Voice

    2023.08.11 – 0953 – The 'Nasal' VoiceNasal voice Symptom: This is when ‘too much’ sounded-air goes through the nasal cavity where the resonance of sound is changed (a ‘bunged up’ voice is one that doesn’t...

  • 2023 / 8 / 9
    0952 – The ‘Monotonous’ Voice

    2023.08.10 – 0952 – The ‘Monotonous’ VoiceMonotonous voiceSymptom: Spoken tonal delivery which has little variation, with a perception of a single (or ‘mono’) tone. Such a delivery gives the impression that...

  • 2023 / 8 / 8
    0951 – The ‘Hoarse, Husky or Croaky’ Voice

    2023.08.09 – 0951 – The ‘Hoarse, Husky or Croaky’ VoiceHoarse, husky or croaky voiceSymptom: A raw, scratchy voice (not necessarily low in pitch) which may signify overuse (such as shouting or talking...

  • 2023 / 8 / 7
    0950 – The ‘Gravelly’ Voice

    2023.08.08 – 0950 – The ‘Gravelly’ Voice Gravelly voiceSymptom: A low, deep voice with little energy, projection or intonation.Prescription: This may be reduced by losing weight which could enhance...

  • 2023 / 8 / 6
    0949 – The ‘Gabbling’ Voice

    2023.08.07 – 0949 – The ‘Gabbling’ VoiceGabbling voice[1]Symptom:  Different situations require different speeds: a brash ‘pile ‘em high and sell ‘em cheap’ commercial is likely to be faster than one for...

  • 2023 / 8 / 5
    0948 – The ‘Forced Pitch’ Voice

    2023.08.06 – 0948 – The ‘Forced Pitch’ VoiceForced pitch voice (also see: unnatural pitch)Symptom: Some people force their voice to produce sound at a different pitch than is normal or comfortable for them....

  • 2023 / 8 / 4
    0947 – Filler Words

    2023.08.05 – 0947 – Filler WordsFiller words (over-use of) Symptom: Verbal ticks in conversation, links and adlibs include words like “umm”, “so” and “yeah?” (and, indeed, “like”), or phrases such as “you...

  • 2023 / 8 / 3
    0946 – The ‘Ending Pattern’ Voice

    2023.08.04 – 0946 – The ‘Ending Pattern’ Voice ‘Ending Pattern’ voiceSymptom: A variety of the ‘sing song’ pattern discussed below, this presenter may (annoyingly and predictably) end a phrase or...

  • 2023 / 8 / 2
    0945 – The ‘Choppy’ delivery

    2023.08.03 – 0945 – the ‘Choppy’ Delivery ‘Choppy’ deliverySymptom: This is the style of [breath] having to take a breath [breath] after every few words [breath] in a sentence. The scrip is disjointed....

  • 2023 / 8 / 1
    0944 – Bunged up voice

    2023.08.02 – 0944 – Bunged up voiceBunged up voice (also see ‘nasal voice’)Symptom: This permanent ‘cold-like’ sound is caused by ‘not enough’ sounded air to get to the nasal cavity, where the resonance of...

  • 2023 / 7 / 31
    0943 – Breathy Voice

    2023.08.01 – 0943 – Breathy VoiceBreathy voiceSymptom:  A voice with lots of air, which disperses the sound waves, makes the voice weak, and soon runs out (such as that of Marilyn Munroe[1]). The cause...

  • 2023 / 7 / 30
    0942 – Dry Mouth Problems

    2023.07.31 – 0942 – Dry Mouth ProblemsDry mouthSymptom: Unable to move your tongue around your mouth properly to form words leading to poor articulation and...

  • 2023 / 7 / 29
    0941 – The Boring Voice

    2023.07.30 – 0941 – The Boring VoiceBoring voice (aka ‘dull’, ‘flat’, ‘monotonous’, ‘uninterested’)Symptom: If you are having trouble being engaging it may be because your voice lacks variety, and so...

  • 2023 / 7 / 28
    0940 – YOUR ‘GET A BETTER VOICE’ SYMPTOMS AND PRESCRIPTIONS

    2023.07.29 – 0940 – YOUR ‘GET A BETTER VOICE’ SYMPTOMS AND PRESCRIPTIONS Although requirements for broadcast, presentation and voice-over work has changed over the years, less ‘announcer’ to more...

  • 2023 / 7 / 27
    0939 – Emotional Stress After Vocal Injury

    2023.07.28 – 0939 – Emotional Stress After Vocal Injury Emotional Stress After Vocal InjuryThe flip-side of emotion causing changes to the voice, is when vocal damage then affects you psychologically,...

  • 2023 / 7 / 26
    0938 – How Emotions And Trauma Affect How You Sound

    2023.07.27 – 0938 – How Emotions And Trauma Affect How You Sound Tears and cryingThey may be tears of joy, sadness, relief or something else, but tears can create vocal...

  • 2023 / 7 / 25
    0937 – Studio ‘Corpsing’

    2023.07.26 – 0937 – Studio ‘Corpsing’CorpsingThis is when you collapse in uncontrollable fits of laughter, perhaps from a perfectly innocuous remark by a colleague, and you can’t get over your ‘fit of the...

  • 2023 / 7 / 24
    0936 – Breaking News

    2023.07.25 – 0936 – Breaking NewsBreaking News StoriesNews readers need to be cool under pressure. There are occasions when a story breaks just before, or while you are on air and it has to be covered...

  • 2023 / 7 / 23
    0935 – Stopping Silly Script-reading Slip-ups

    2023.07.24 – 0935 – Stopping Silly Script-reading Slip-upsOther mistakesDon’t let yourself get in your own way! Knowing some of these will help you avoid them in the first...

  • 2023 / 7 / 22
    0934 – If It *Does* Go Wrong

    2023.07.23 – 0934 – If It *Does* Go WrongIF IT DOES GO WRONG The Number One Rule Never swear anywhere near a studio. By keeping to this, the chances of you swearing on air are greatly minimised. It is not...

  • 2023 / 7 / 21
    0933 – Confidence Vs. Cockiness

    2023.07.22 – 0933 – Confidence Vs. Cockiness Confidence is being pleased that you have been hired for the gig, proud that someone wants you to be the voice of their product, and certain that you can...

  • 2023 / 7 / 20
    0932 – Beta Blockers To Help Studio Nerves

    2023.07.21 – 0932 – Beta Blockers To Help Studio Nerves Beta-blockersPerhaps one of the last resorts to cope with mic fright is the use of drugs.[1]That could be drink, tobacco, (il)legal drugs such as...

  • 2023 / 7 / 19
    0931 – Look After Each Other

    2023.07.20 – 0931 – Look After Each Other  VOICE BOXLook after each otherIf you see a colleague going through an anxious moment, support them by being positive. Helpful phrases are ones such as:“I...

  • 2023 / 7 / 18
    0930 – Earn Your ‘On Air’ Miles

    2023.07.19 – 0930 – Earn Your ‘On Air’ MilesEarn your ‘on-air’ miles Of course, overcoming a fear of failure comes from experience: your miles at the mic. When I was still at university, I’d spend hours...

  • 2023 / 7 / 17
    0929 – Gobble Up The Feedback

    2023.07.18 – 0929 – Gobble Up The FeedbackFeedback A constructive debrief is part of the ‘Plan and Prepare, Execute and Reflect and Evaluate’ feedback loop. (More on this in episode #629.)Such a ‘post...

  • 2023 / 7 / 16
    0928 – Warming Down

    2023.07.17 – 0928 – Warming Down After The Studio SessionWarm Down ExercisesHear episodes from #804 for specific exercises but doing these are part of the process to build confidence for next time. After...

  • 2023 / 7 / 15
    0927 – What To Do In The Moment When The Nerves Feel Real

    2023.07.16 – 0927 – What To Do In The Moment When The Nerves Feel Real VOICE BOXWhat to do in-the-moment when the nerves feel very real? STOPP: S – Slow downPause and look and take it in. T –...

  • 2023 / 7 / 14
    0926 – ‘Park’ Perfection

    2023.07.15 – 0926 – ‘Park’ PerfectionThink about:·        Your single listener across the room: it will help you focus your attention on reassuring realities rather...

  • 2023 / 7 / 13
    0925 – Pause and Breathe, Focus and Relax

    2023.07.14 – 0925 – Pause and Breathe, Focus and RelaxPause and BreatheHigh levels of adrenalin affect the body’s chemistry for violent action which it doesn’t get. Burning off energy by filling your blood...

  • 2023 / 7 / 12
    0924 – Pre-Performance Routines

    2023.07.13 – 0924 – Pre-Performance Routines  Pre-performance routinesHaving a routine reminds the mind of what’s coming next: a live show or a session recording. We’ve spoken about all of these...

  • 2023 / 7 / 11
    0923 – Positive Self-Talk

    2023.07.12 – 0923 – Positive Self-TalkDuring The Studio Session – or pre-performance routines immediately beforePositive self-talkRemember that you were chosen for your talents ahead of everyone else. So...

  • 2023 / 7 / 10
    0922 – Step By Step Positive Songs

    2023.07.11 – 0922 – Step By Step Positive Songs Listen to a Positive SongMusic is a great emotion-bringer, so when you get up on your ‘big day’ pick one that gives you positive energy and brings a smile...

  • 2023 / 7 / 9
    0921 – Nutrition and Hydration

    2023.07.10 – 0921 – Nutrition and Hydration Nutrition and HydrationEating gives you the fuel to stay focused and keep going under pressure. Healthy food of a single ingredient (so fruit, vegetables...

  • 2023 / 7 / 8
    0920 – Rest and Relax

    2023.07.09 – 0920 – Rest and RelaxPreparation – Your Voice We have covered plenty of exercises to help you have a strong, healthy and agile voice, both in how it sounds and also how it sounds with particular...

  • 2023 / 7 / 7
    0919 – Does Practice Make Perfect?

    2023.07.08 – 0919 – Does Practice Make Perfect? Preparation - The content - Be familiar with the script, the format, the role, the studio tech … If you’re not prepared, you will know it, even deep down....

  • 2023 / 7 / 6
    0918 – Counselling For Mic Fright

    2023.07.07 – 0918 – Counselling For Mic Fright Psychological help and counsellingIf your jitters are more serious and long term, therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy[1] may help discover the reasons,...

  • 2023 / 7 / 5
    0917 – Have a No-Stress Rehearsal

    2023.07.06 – 0917 – Have a No-Stress Rehearsal Have a Mental RehearsalVisualise success – Research shows that our brain reacts the same in a real situation as in an imagined one, so do what athletes do and...

  • 2023 / 7 / 4
    0916 – Remind Yourself Why You Care

    2023.07.05 – 0916 – Remind Yourself Why You Care Remind yourself why you careWhy is this broadcast, podcast or voice-over opportunity important to you? Tell yourself, out loud, how excited you are...

  • 2023 / 7 / 3
    0915 – Renaming and Reframing Mic Fright

    2023.07.04 – 0915 – Renaming and Reframing Mic Fright Re-naming and re-framing: Positive self-talk Our physical reactions to different emotions are often similar.Think how you feel when you’re excited...

  • 2023 / 7 / 2
    0914 – Be “Channelin’ The Adrenaline”!

    2023.07.03 – 0914 – Be “Channelin’ The Adrenaline”!“Channelin’ the adrenaline”!Remember, if you are nervous, it shows you care. You want to perform well, you want to be careful and professional, not slipshod...

  • 2023 / 7 / 1
    0913 – Know Your Nervous Triggers

    2023.07.02 – 0913 – Know Your Nervous Triggers  OVERCOMING MIC FRIGHT BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER YOUR STUDIO SESSION BEFORE Pre-performance routines the weeks and days beforehandThose ‘butterflies’ in...

  • 2023 / 6 / 30
    0912 – Your Mindset At The Mic

    2023.07.01 – 0912 – Your Mindset At The MicINTRODUCTIONPerformance anxiety is rarely researched and so we understand very little about the specifics of this complex condition. We know some hacks… but we also...

  • 2023 / 6 / 29
    0911 – Your Guests’ Nerves

    2023.06.30 – 0911 – Your Guests’ NervesDon’t forget the guestsThey get nervous too. The presence of a microphone can cause some people to panic. Perhaps that’s not surprising in some situations: pouncing on...

  • 2023 / 6 / 28
    0910 – How The Audience Reacts To Your Nerves

    2023.06.29 – 0910 – How The Audience Reacts To Your NervesHow does the audience react to your nerves? Nerves not only affect you; they also affect your listeners. They want to feel taken care of, that they...

  • 2023 / 6 / 27
    0909 – How Video Meetings Can Cause Stress

    2023.06.28 – 0909 – How Video Meetings Can Cause StressVOICE BOXHow video meetings can cause stress:More focus is needed to process non-verbal communication such as facial expressions, tonal variation, body...

  • 2023 / 6 / 26
    0908 – When You Simply Can’t Speak At All

    2023.06.27 – 0908 – When You Simply Can’t Speak At AllThe clinical name for hoarseness is ‘dysphonia’ and complete (or almost complete) voice loss is ‘aphonia’.Often the symptoms are caused by infection,...

  • 2023 / 6 / 25
    0907 – The Vocal Effect Of Mic Fright

    2023.06.26 – 0907 – The Vocal Effect Of Mic Fright Vocally: ·        When stressed, the muscles that control the larynx can become tense.[1] (Periods of prolonged...

  • 2023 / 6 / 24
    0906 – The Respiratory Effect Of Mic Fright

    2023.06.25 – 0906 – The Respiratory Effect Of Mic Fright Respiritorally:·        Held tension will restrict your ability to drop your diaphragm and open up your...

  • 2023 / 6 / 23
    0905 – The Physical Effect Of Mic Fright

    2023.06.24 – 0905 – The Physical Effect Of Mic Fright Physically:·        Sweating under the arms, down the back and clammy...

  • 2023 / 6 / 22
    0904 – The Mental Effect Of Mic Fright

    2023.06.23 – 0904 – The Mental Effect Of Mic Fright The effect of nerves and stress on the body  psychosomatic/ˌsʌɪkə(ʊ)səˈmatɪk/adjective1.   A physical illness or condition caused...

  • 2023 / 6 / 21
    0903 – The Studio ‘Caveman’

    2023.06.22 – 0903 – The Studio ‘Caveman’This survival mechanism developed so humans could react quickly to life-threatening situations. But even though we don’t experience many saber-toothed tigers down the...

  • 2023 / 6 / 20
    0902 – Mic ‘Flight and Fight’

    2023.06.21 – 0902 – Mic ‘Flight and Fight’Mic fight and flight[1]The ‘fight or flight’ response is well known: an automatic physiological reaction that’s perceived by the ‘caveman’ in us as...

  • 2023 / 6 / 20
    0901 – Lack of Prep Time

    2023.06.20 – 0901 – Lack of Prep Time·        Lack of time or effort to prepare mentally – perhaps you are tired, ‘under the weather’, in pain or returning after a...

  • 2023 / 6 / 18
    0900 – Confidence And Self-Esteem

    2023.06.19 – 0900 – Confidence And Self-Esteem·        Lack of confidence – most of us have a fear of failure, but we can only survive and thrive by putting ourselves...

  • 2023 / 6 / 17
    0899 – Underlying Reasons For Mic Fright

    2023.06.18 – 0899 – Underlying Reasons For Mic FrightWhat the underlying reasons could be So, just why are some broadcaster-performers exhilarated and energized in front of the mic, while others feel a...

  • 2023 / 6 / 16
    0898 – Causes Of Mic Fright

    2023.06.17 – 0898 – Causes Of Mic Fright So, what’s going on?Extreme nervousness is one of the most unpleasant experiences to go through: physical and mental suffering that, if you are a broadcaster, may...

  • 2023 / 6 / 15
    0897 – Studio Excitement

    2023.06.16 – 0897 – Studio Excitement ExcitementYes, finally, nervousness might be excitement in disguise[1]. Physiologically, they certainly have some of the same symptoms: knees shaking, heart racing,...

  • 2023 / 6 / 14
    0896 – Studio Sensitivity

    2023.06.15 – 0896 – Studio Sensitivity Sensitivity to snarkiness Like a physical issue any underlying emotion can also be ‘heard’ in your voice: angry or anxious, stressed or depressed, walking on...

  • 2023 / 6 / 13
    0895 – Studio Workaholism

    2023.06.14 – 0895 – Studio Workaholism Workaholic-ismStress may come from being too focused on your mic work, at the expense of your family and friends, hobbies and health. If you have too much on your...

  • 2023 / 6 / 12
    0894 – Studio Perfectionism

    2023.06.13 – 0894 – Studio Perfectionism  PerfectionismYou may get stressed in the studio because everything has to be ‘just so’: asking for take-after-take because the next one will “be the best one”;...

  • 2023 / 6 / 11
    0893 – Studio Imposter Syndrome

    2023.06.12 – 0893 – Studio Imposter Syndrome Imposter syndromeDo you sometimes feel overwhelmed by self-doubt and nervousness before turning on your mic or camera? You feel as though you’re “not good...

  • 2023 / 6 / 10
    0892 – Studio ‘Voice Confrontation’

    2023.06.11 – 0892 – Studio ‘Voice Confrontation’ Voice confrontation (or “I Don’t Like My Voice!”) You may be visibly uncomfortable hearing your voice live, in your headphones, or when your...

  • 2023 / 6 / 9
    0891 – Studio Embarrassment

    2023.06.10 – 0891 – Studio Embarrassment EmbarrassmentAs a voice-over, you have perfected a cast of characters while alone in your home studio and then you get your big break: a director wants you for a...

  • 2023 / 6 / 8
    0890 – Studio Disillusionment

    2023.06.09 – 0890 – Studio Disillusionment Disillusionment On occasion, you may simply not feel up to presenting a podcast. Your voice may be fine but you’re not ‘feeling it’, not in ‘the zone’ and don’t...

  • 2023 / 6 / 7
    0889 – Studio Claustrophobia

    2023.06.08 – 0889 – Studio Claustrophobia  Claustrophobia Sitting alone in a home studio booth with several screens, a mic and a mixer, but no air conditioning, recording a voice-over session for an...

  • 2023 / 6 / 6
    0888 – Studio Depression

    2023.06.07 – 0888 – Studio DepressionIf it’s not nerves, stress or anxiety, it may be something elseLet’s not just stick with ‘feeling nervous’, there are other feelings and emotions which may arise in and...

  • 2023 / 6 / 5
    0887 – Studio Anxiety

    2023.06.06 – 0887 – Studio AnxietyAnxiety is persistent and may not be linked to a specific situation. The intensity may ebb and flow, but it never completely goes away, and with ongoing feelings of...

  • 2023 / 6 / 4
    0886 – Studio Stress

    2023.06.05 – 0886 – Studio StressStress may be seen as ‘extreme nervousness’. It too is triggered by a ‘presenting situation’ and is usually short-term. If controlled appropriately, a rush of chemicals in...

  • 2023 / 6 / 3
    0885 – Studio Nervousness

    2023.06.04 – 0885 – Studio NervousnessNerves, stress and anxiety Nervousness, stress and anxiety are part of the same bodily reaction of fight-flight-freeze which we’ll look at in a bit more detail later, and...

  • 2023 / 6 / 2
    0884 – Mic Fright

    2023.06.03 – 0884 – Mic Fright  "The actor's nightmare", “…what it must be like to give birth"Laurence Olivier, on stage fright INTRODUCTION Do you want to express yourself, but it feels like a boa...

  • 2023 / 6 / 1
    0883 – Self Massage

    2023.06.02 – 0883 – Self Massage Self-massage·        Put your first and forefinger together on each hand. Gently at first and then with stronger pressure stroke...

  • 2023 / 5 / 31
    0882 – Vocalisations of Different Voice Sounds

     2023.06.01 – 0882 – Vocalisations of Different Voice Sounds  These are sometimes described different, with different words and terms[1]. Ok let’s go for...

  • 2023 / 5 / 30
    0881 – Surgery And The Voice

    2023.05.31 – 0881 – Surgery And The Voice SurgeryIf you are given anaesthetic, it’s likely you will be intubated, that is have a tube put down your throat and past your vocal folds, to help you...

  • 2023 / 5 / 29
    0880 – Vomiting And The Voice

    2023.05.30 – 0880 – Vomiting And The VoiceVomitingWe’ve mentioned this a few times in terms of acid reflux and alcohol consumption. Let’s take a second to look at it a little more closely. (Ugh!)Vomiting is...

  • 2023 / 5 / 28
    0879 – HPV And The Voice

    2023.05.29 – 0879 – HPV And The Voice HPVThe Human Papilloma Virus can be sexually transmitted but can also be shared in other ways not fully understood. It causes many different diseases, often in the...

  • 2023 / 5 / 27
    0878 – Alcohol And The Voice

    2023.05.28 – 0878 – Alcohol And The VoiceAlcoholIt’s unlikely you’ll be having a drink just before a broadcast show, podcast recording or studio session, but what might be the damage to your voice if you’ve...

  • 2023 / 5 / 26
    0877 – Steroids And The Voice

    2023.05.27 – 0877 – Steroids And The VoiceSteroidsThese might be used to reduce swelling in the body, in our case, the vocal folds, perhaps caused through misuse, which may then return to a more natural size...

  • 2023 / 5 / 25
    0876 – Vaping And The Voice

    2023.05.26 – 0876 – Vaping And The Voice VapingThis trend is too young for there to be hard and fast stats on how it may affect the larynx and voice, and that’s probably good enough reason in itself to...

  • 2023 / 5 / 24
    0875 – Cocaine And The Voice

    2023.05.25 – 0875 – Cocaine And The VoiceCocaineWhile smoked cocaine will have a similar effect to smoking marijuana, snorted cocaine will damage your nose and nasal septum (‘nasal deformity’) and so affect...

  • 2023 / 5 / 23
    0874 – Marijuana And The Voice

    2023.05.24 – 0874 – Marijuana And The VoiceWhile soft and hard drugs use is quite common in society, it’s even more prevalent in the entertainment business. It could be because of the amount of money some of...

  • 2023 / 5 / 22
    0873 – More Cures For Summer Allergies

    2023.05.23 – 0873 – More Cures For Summer Allergies ·        Antihistamine or steroid nasal spray or antihistamine pills – although they can have a drying...

  • 2023 / 5 / 21
    0872 – Cures For Summer Allergies

    2023.05.22 – 0872 – Cures For Summer Allergies Trouble is, you have to balance drying out the mucous and not over drying the folds[1]:·        Hydration - the...

  • 2023 / 5 / 20
    0871 – Your Pitch and Post Nasal Drips

    2023.05.21 – 0871 – Your Pitch and Post Nasal Drips We already know about the ‘post-nasal drip’, a lovely term that refers to the secretions from your nose and sinuses which can drip into the back of...

  • 2023 / 5 / 19
    0870 – Pollens and Blossoms: Summer Allergies and Your Voice

    2023.05.20 – 0870 – Pollens and Blossoms: Summer Allergies and Your VoiceWe all love the lazy, hazy crazy days of summer, right? Well not if you have a seasonal allergy, and by ‘seasonal’ I mean anything from...

  • 2023 / 5 / 18
    0869 – Your Voice in Winter - 4

    2023.05.19 – 0869 – Your Voice in Winter - 4 8. Let Your Mic Do The WorkIf you’re on stage in a show, MCing an event, turning on Christmas lights, remember the difference between volume and energy (loads...

  • 2023 / 5 / 17
    0868 – Your Voice in Winter - 3

    2023.05.18 – 0868 – Your Voice in Winter - 3 6. Prep and Pacing  Packed public transportation as people rush to prep, humans hurrying from one side of the city/county/planet to the other for the...

  • 2023 / 5 / 16
    0867 – Your Voice in Winter - 2

    2023.05.17 – 0867 – Your Voice in Winter - 2 4. Be Careful of Rich Food and RefluxParty and holiday food can be rich and creamy (think chocolates, fried or spicy finger food, plus carbonated soft or...

  • 2023 / 5 / 15
    0866 – Your Voice in Winter - 1

    2023.05.16 – 0866 – Your Voice in Winter - 1Winter can be a challenging time for your voice. To quote the song, “the weather outside is frightful” with cold air, there’s warm dry heated air inside, and if the...

  • 2023 / 5 / 14
    0865 – Coping With Covid

    2023.05.15 – 0865 – Coping With Covid Coping with long covidA small percentage of people who have had Covid-19 continue to have symptoms after 12 weeks, but because of the huge number of people who have...

  • 2023 / 5 / 13
    0864 – Don’t Forget Your Ears

    2023.05.14 – 0864 – Don’t Forget Your Ears EarsYou need to know what you sound like so you can adjust your voice or your mic, and make some sometimes subtle changes in pitch or timbre. You may be asked...

  • 2023 / 5 / 12
    0863 – Eye Exercises

    2023.05.13 – 0863 – Eye ExercisesAnd a few exercises:Pencil Push-UpsHold a pencil at arm’s length and focus on the tip. Move it closer and continue to focus. Repeat, moving it back and forth forcing your eyes...

  • 2023 / 5 / 11
    0862 – Don’t Forget Your Eyes

    2023.05.12 – 0862 – Don’t Forget Your EyesYour eyes and earsMost voice trainers overlook these critical body parts and the role they play in helping you get a better voice, but let’s spend a few moments doing...

  • 2023 / 5 / 10
    0861 – Feeling Attractive vs. Sounding Unobstructed

    2023.05.11 – 0861 – Feeling Attractive vs. Sounding Unobstructed Even though Connie was a radio presenter, she always came in immaculately dressed. Fitted suits, or tight jeans or blouses that left...

  • 2023 / 5 / 9
    0860 – Tight Clothes, Tight Voice

    2023.05.10 – 0860 – Tight Clothes, Tight Voice What else will affect your vocal performance?ClothesWhat won’t help, anything that causes constriction or discomfort Tight dresses, trousers, blouses and...

  • 2023 / 5 / 8
    0859 – Myth 5: Dark-coloured Pee Means You Are Dehydrated

    2023.05.09 – 0859 – Myth 5: Dark-coloured Pee Means You Are DehydratedMyth #5: Dark-coloured pee means you're dehydratedPee is dark because of the concentration of various elements in it, but that doesn’t of...

  • 2023 / 5 / 7
    0858 – Myth 4: Drinking Water Can Help You Lose Weight

    2023.05.08 – 0858 – Myth 4: Drinking Water Can Help You Lose WeightMyth #4: Drinking water can help you lose weightOK, maybe if you drink a few glasses before a meal, you’ll eat less[1] but that’s not the...

  • 2023 / 5 / 6
    0857 – Myth 3: We Need ‘Sports Drinks’

    2023.05.07 – 0857 – Myth 3: We Need ‘Sports Drinks’Myth #3: We need sports drinks to replace salt and other electrolytesThere’s usually no need to reach for the expensive coloured water after a work-out as...

  • 2023 / 5 / 5
    0856 – Myth 2: Caffeine Makes You Dehydrated

    2023.05.06 – 0856 – Myth 2: Caffeine Makes You Dehydrated Myth #2: Caffeine makes you dehydratedThe effect is almost miniscule and the 1928 research the claim is based on[1] doesn’t hold up to todays’ more...

  • 2023 / 5 / 4
    0855 – Myth 1: You Need To Drink at Least Eight Glasses of Water a Day

    2023.05.05 – 0855 – Myth 1: You Need To Drink at Least Eight Glasses of Water a DayH2O No-Nos – Busting 5 Myths About Water and Hydration[1] Myth 1: You need to drink at least eight glasses of water a...

  • 2023 / 5 / 3
    0854 – The Food And Drink Good List

    2023.05.04 – 0854 – The Food And Drink Good List  The ‘good’ listHave these in moderation; you don’t want to feel full and bloated during a four-hour radio show. Neither do you want to feel...

  • 2023 / 5 / 2
    0853 – The Food And Drink Naughty List

    2023.05.03 – 0853 – The Food And Drink Naughty List  The ‘bad’ listDairy - Milk, yoghurt, cheese can all be difficult for the body to break down and so cause acid reflux which can ‘burn’ your vocal...

  • 2023 / 5 / 1
    0852 – The Food And Drink That Can Damage Your Voice

    2023.05.02 – 0852 – The Food And Drink That Can Damage Your Voice   EATING AND DRINKINGIt’s not so much what you should eat as what you should not, because, apart from foods which add to your...

  • 2023 / 4 / 30
    0851 – Your ‘Goldilocks’ Vocal Folds

    2023.05.01 – 0851 – Your ‘Goldilocks’ Vocal Folds   ‘Breathy (or ‘aspirated’) onset’ – when they don’t close enough This happens when there is a lack of firm closure of the vocal folds, so...

  • 2023 / 4 / 29
    850 – Vocal Trauma

    2023.04.30 – 0850 – Vocal Trauma  A secondary problem comes when you release that breath through the previously tightened folds.  Added together you have the very real possibility of ‘vocal...

  • 2023 / 4 / 28
    849 – Sub-Glottal Pressure

    2023.04.29 – 0849 – Sub-Glottal Pressure  VOICE BOXSub-glottal Pressure OK, so ‘sub’ is ‘below’, so this is the pressure below the glottis. A ‘glottal stop’ is the stop-start airflow from your...

  • 2023 / 4 / 27
    848 – Help! The Gym Has Wrecked My Voice!

    2023.04.28 – 0848 – Help! The Gym Has Wrecked My Voice!  But beware: ·        Strong physical exertion soon before a presentation can cause physical exhaustion...

  • 2023 / 4 / 26
    847 – Fit Body Factors: intensity and balance

    2023.04.27 – 0847 – Fit Body Factors: intensity and balanceFactors to consider:·        Exercise intensity – how hard you push yourself and for how...

  • 2023 / 4 / 25
    846 – Fit Body, Fit Voice

    2023.04.26 – 0846 – Fit Body, Fit Voice Physical fitness and trainingOf course, your voice needs the rest of you to be in shape, your overall health, fitness, strength and posture, not just the actual...

  • 2023 / 4 / 24
    845 – Birthday Candles

    2023.04.25 – 0845 – Birthday Candles Birthday candles Stand as previously described, with your feet firmly on the floor shoulder-width apart, knees very slightly bent rather than locked, with dropped and...

  • 2023 / 4 / 23
    844 – Sue-eeeeee

    2023.04.24 – 0844 – Sue-eeeeeeSue-eeeeeeStand as previously described, with your feet firmly on the floor shoulder-width apart, knees very slightly bent rather than locked, with dropped and relaxed...

  • 2023 / 4 / 22
    843 – Let It All Out

    2023.04.23 – 0843 – Let It All OutLet It All OutFocussing on full exhalations helps expand your diaphragm.·        Lie on the floor in a semi-supine position (the...

  • 2023 / 4 / 21
    842 – It’s Hip to Breathe Square

    2023.04.22 – 0842 – It’s Hip to Breathe SquareIt’s Hip to Breathe SquareSquare Breathing is used by US Navy Seals among others to create calmness and control....

  • 2023 / 4 / 20
    841 – The Crunch and Stretch

    2023.04.21 – 0841 – The Crunch and Stretch The Crunch and StretchRib stretches open up the intercostal muscles (the ones that run between the ribs, and help form and move the chest wall), and release tension....

  • 2023 / 4 / 19
    840 – How To Know Your Air Flow

    2023.04.20 – 0840 – How To Know Your Air Flow How do you know, your air-flow?Watch the clockTake a standard breath (not a huge gulp) and then let it out as though gently releasing air from a balloon:...

  • 2023 / 4 / 18
    839 – Don’t Take Fish Gulps

    2023.04.19 – 0839 – Don’t Take Fish GulpsBut be aware of you use of air: do you tend to gulp? Or are you squeezing out the final words in a sentence with the last ounce of air you have spare? What about your...

  • 2023 / 4 / 17
    838 – Excessive Oxygenation

    2023.04.18 – 0838 – Excessive Oxygenation Excessive oxygenationYou only really want to take in as much air as you will need to get to the end of your adlibbed phrase or sentence, or to read what’s been...

  • 2023 / 4 / 16
    837 – Efficient Air-Use Exercises

    2023.04.17 – 0837 – Efficient Air-Use Exercises Now consider these exercises to help you create:·        The most efficient way to get air in to your...

  • 2023 / 4 / 15
    836 – The Deep Breathing Double Whammy

    2023.04.16 – 0836 – The Deep Breathing Double Whammy So short and shallow breathing from your upper chest results in a tightening and tensing of neck and throat muscles (as well as affecting the pecs which...

  • 2023 / 4 / 14
    835 – “Why Do I Run Out Of Breath?”

    2023.04.15 – 0835 – “Why Do I Run Out Of Breath?” Running out of breath before the end of a sentence could be the effect of poor support (you did not take in enough to start with), or poor writing (the...

  • 2023 / 4 / 13
    834 – The Breath Control Process

    2023.04.14 – 0834 – The Breath Control ProcessBreath control (or ‘supportive breathing’) ensures that your vocal folds are getting just the amount of air based on what it is you want to say.[1]1. Your brain...

  • 2023 / 4 / 12
    833 – Breath Support and Breath Control

    2023.04.13 – 0833 – Breath Support and Breath Control  Breath Support and Breath ControlThese two terms are often used interchangeably (I do so myself), but there is a specific...

  • 2023 / 4 / 11
    832 – Passive and Active Breathing

    2023.04.12 – 0832 – Passive and Active BreathingA quick reminder that air is what fuels and carries your voice and that you invariably speak on the outbreath, when your stomach is coming in, a bit like an...

  • 2023 / 4 / 10
    831 – The Key Thing of Breathing

    2023.04.11 – 0831 – The Key Thing of BreathingBREATHINGWe’ve looked before at the importance of proper breathing, not just to give you life (!) but to give your voice enough support so your words are heard...

  • 2023 / 4 / 9
    830 – Lion Yawns

    2023.04.10 – 0830 – Lion YawnsHave a large, lion-like yawn to focus on getting the blood flowing into your throat and face.·        Then move all the muscles of the...

  • 2023 / 4 / 8
    829 – Cooling Down After Voice Work

    2023.04.09 – 0829 – Cooling Down After Voice WorkCooling down after voice workMost people know the importance of warming up the voice, even if not sure exactly how. But cooling down the voice? Not so much.But...

  • 2023 / 4 / 7
    828 – Yoga For Your Voice

    2023.04.08 – 0828 – Yoga For Your VoiceYoga for your voiceTraditional yoga is an ancient form of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to...

  • 2023 / 4 / 6
    827 – Stretching Cats and Wobbly Babies

    2023.04.07 – 0827 – Stretching Cats and Wobbly BabiesTense and release·        Actively applying tension to parts of the body and releasing and...

  • 2023 / 4 / 5
    826 – The Forward Flop

    2023.04.06 – 0826 – The Forward FlopForward flop·        Stand with your feet hip-width apart. ·        Inhale and as you do so,...

  • 2023 / 4 / 4
    825 – Side Slides

    2023.04.05 – 0825 – Side SlidesThe side slides·        Stand with your feet slightly further apart than your hips, for added...

  • 2023 / 4 / 3
    824 – Yes and No

    2023.04.04 – 0824 – Yes and NoYes and No·        Move your head from side to side in a wide but slow ‘no’ gesture·        Move...

  • 2023 / 4 / 2
    823 – Hands Down

    2023.04.03 – 0823 – Hands DownHands down·        Slowly lift your hands over your head…·        And as you do so breathe...

  • 2023 / 4 / 1
    822 – Hula Hoops

    2023.04.02 – 0822 – Hula HoopsHula hoops·        Stand with your feet hip-width apart and with your knees slightly...

  • 2023 / 3 / 31
    821 – Shoulder Shrugs and Rolls

    2023.04.01 – 0821 – Shoulder Shrugs and RollsShoulder shrugs and rolls·        Raise and lower your shoulders in a slow exaggerated shrug. Up to your ears and then hold...

  • 2023 / 3 / 30
    0820 – Windmill Arms

    2023.03.31 – 0820 – Windmill ArmsWindmill arms·        Stretch your arms out from the side (not the front or back) of your...

  • 2023 / 3 / 29
    0819 – Be A Crawler

    2023.03.30 – 0819 – Be A CrawlerBe a crawler·        Do some big ‘front crawl’ swimming movements with your arms, slowly and gently for 20 seconds in a full circle....

  • 2023 / 3 / 28
    0818 – Hum and Drum

    2023.03.29 – 0818 – Hum and DrumHum and drum·        Stand and breath in deeply – remember from your diaphragm!·        Breathe...

  • 2023 / 3 / 27
    0817– Make A Stand!

    2023.03.28 – 0817– Make A Stand!First, make a stand! Many presenters and voice-over artists prefer to stand at the mic anyway. It enables alertness and better breath...

  • 2023 / 3 / 26
    0816 – Whole Body Warm Up Exercises

    2023.03.27 – 0816 – Whole Body Warm Up ExercisesWhole Body Warm Up Exercises[1](Some of these exercises incorporate ‘sound’ as well as ‘structure’, that is you may use your voice while you are physically...

  • 2023 / 3 / 26
    0815 – Relaxation From Tension

    2023.03.26 – 0815 – Relaxation From TensionThe flip side of tension is relaxation. Hopefully you will have seen by now how so many parts of the body are involved in creating the sound we call voice: your...

  • 2023 / 3 / 25
    0814 – Ten Tell-Tale Signs of Tension

    2023.03.25 – 0814 – Ten Tell-Tale Signs of TensionSome physical tension creeps up on us. We don’t notice small changes to the body until it’s ‘too late’. So here are Ten Tell-Tale Signs of...

  • 2023 / 3 / 24
    0813 – Your Studio Desk Set Up

    2023.03.24 – 0813 – Your Studio Desk Set Up Your Studio Desk Set UpAre the screens in your studio laid out so you can see them without twisting and turning, actions which will causes spinal stresses and...

  • 2023 / 3 / 23
    0812 – Nine Lines On the Spine (7-9)

    2023.03.23 – 0812 – Nine Lines On the Spine (7-9)7.  Similarly wearing high heels can also throw your body out of alignment, you may have to stick your bum out to counterbalance your weight, causing...

  • 2023 / 3 / 22
    0811 – Nine Lines On the Spine (4-6)

    2023.03.22 – 0811 – Nine Lines On the Spine (4-6) 4. The larynx is at the top of the trachea which runs along the same line as your spine. What you do with your head and neck alignment has a knock-on...

  • 2023 / 3 / 21
    0810 – Nine Lines On the Spine (1-3)

    2023.03.21 – 0810 – Nine Lines On the Spine (1-3) Nine Lines On the Spine1. Why is this important? Well, your voice is affected by your postural alignment, and you will have better breathing and...

  • 2023 / 3 / 20
    0809 – Vocal Tension From Sitting and Standing

    2023.03.20 – 0809 – Vocal Tension From Sitting and Standing  Physical tension can come from sitting down and standing upIt is very easy to stay still in a studio and only at the end of a programme...

  • 2023 / 3 / 19
    0808 – The Causes of Vocal Tension

    2023.03.19 – 0808 – The Causes of Vocal Tension What Causes Tension Nerves. Overwhelm. Anxiety. Excitement. The unknown. Panic. Being underprepared. Being worried about how you sound. Concerns about your...

  • 2023 / 3 / 18
    0807 – Tension and Relaxation

    2023.03.18 – 0807 – Tension and Relaxation We looked at releasing tension in the mouth, jaw, tongue and lips in the previous chapter, but as the Voice Box above shows, physical tension that can affect...

  • 2023 / 3 / 17
    0806 – Stretching and Strengthening Your Laryngeal Muscle

    2023.03.17 – 0806 – Stretching and Strengthening Your Laryngeal Muscle There are around 27 muscles in and around the larynx, 15 of these are outside the larynx and hold it in position in the neck, 12 are...

  • 2023 / 3 / 16
    0805 – Your Physical Health

    2023.03.16 – 0805 – Your Physical Health In the previous chapter we looked at your vocal zones and how looking after them affects the way you sound. Earlier in the course we discussed the ‘art of breathing’...

  • 2023 / 3 / 15
    0804 – The Cool-Down Low-Down

    2023.03.15 – 0804 – The Cool-Down Low-Down % The cool down low-downThere is a need to ease yourself back to normality after extensive vocalising, resetting to ‘neutral’ rather than just stopping...

  • 2023 / 3 / 14
    0803 – Green Kings Singing

    2023.03.14 – 0803 – Green Kings Singing  Green Kings Singing·        Slowly and carefully say the phrase “green kings sing-ging” . Note how I’ve written the...

  • 2023 / 3 / 13
    0802 – The ‘siNG soNG’ Vocal Warm Up

    2023.03.13 – 0802 – The ‘siNG soNG’ Vocal Warm Up Nasal It’s important to be comfortable in diverting sounded air from your nasal cavity to the mouth and vice-versa. The Nasal...

  • 2023 / 3 / 12
    0801 – The ‘This & That’ Vocal Warm Up

    2023.03.12 – 0801 – The ‘This & That’ Vocal Warm Up This & ThatSay the word “this” and “that” and you’ll notice that to make the “th” you put the tip of your tongue between your...

  • 2023 / 3 / 11
    0800 – The ‘Puh-Tuh-Kuh Puh-Tuh-Kuh’ Vocal Warm Up

    2023.03.11 – 0800 – The ‘Puh-Tuh-Kuh Puh-Tuh-Kuh’ Vocal Warm Up The Puh-Tuh-Kuh exercise·        Without pushing or forcing, sound “puh-tuh-kuh” individually,...

  • 2023 / 3 / 10
    0799 – A Trill-iantly Easy Lip Warm-Up

    2023.03.10 – 0799 – A Trill-iantly Easy Lip Warm-Up  Lip trills These encourage you to relax your mouth and lips, easing the muscles associated with enunciating, warming them up and encourage a...

  • 2023 / 3 / 9
    0798 – Giving Your Lips A Work-Pout

    2023.03.09 – 0798 – Giving Your Lips A Work-Pout LipsGive your lips a work-pout with these great exercises. Lip pouts ·        Make an exaggerated extended lip-purse as...

  • 2023 / 3 / 8
    0797 – The ‘Pucker Muscle’ and the ‘Smile Muscle’

    2023.03.08 – 0797 – The ‘Pucker Muscle’ and the ‘Smile Muscle’ The ‘Pucker Muscle’ and the ‘Smile Muscle’ The ‘pucker muscle’ that controls lip movement to shape sounds is the ‘orbicularis...

  • 2023 / 3 / 7
    0796 – Bits About Lips

    2023.03.07 – 0796 – Bits About Lips Bits About LipsLips are more than just the ‘lipstick bit’, their muscles extend into the cheeks and so affect (and are affected by) the whole of the face and...

  • 2023 / 3 / 6
    0795 - The ‘Mouth’s Mystery Muscle’

    2023.03.06 – 0795 - The ‘Mouth’s Mystery Muscle’ Tongue Root Tension and the ‘Mouth’s Mystery Muscle’  We all know about the tongue yeah? We can see it in our mouth, we know it is very sensitive to...

  • 2023 / 3 / 5
    0794 – Blowing Raspberries

    2023.03.05 – 0794 – Blowing Raspberries Blowing Raspberries·        Relax your mouth, lips and cheeks and slightly stick out your tongue, resting it on your lower...

  • 2023 / 3 / 4
    0793 – The Right Way To Use Tongue Twisters As An Articulation Exercise

     2023.03.04 – 0793 – The Right Way To Use Tongue Twisters As An Articulation Exercise Tongue TwistersOnce you have warmed up the tongue, you can try some tongue twisters to put it through its paces (if...

  • 2023 / 3 / 3
    0792 – The ‘Tongue Curl’ Vocal Exercise

    2023.03.03 – 0792 – The ‘Tongue Curl’ Vocal ExerciseCurled Tongue·        Put the tip of your tongue behind your lower front teeth, and arch the middle of your tongue...

  • 2023 / 3 / 2
    0791 – A Drumroll For The Tongue

    2023.03.02 – 0791 – A Drumroll For The TongueTongue Trills·        Relax your mouth and tongue and have your lips slightly apart. Purr like a cat (or like a drumroll),...

  • 2023 / 3 / 1
    0790 – The ‘Toothpaste Tongue’ Vocal Exercise

    2023.03.01 – 0790 – The ‘Toothpaste Tongue’ Vocal ExerciseToothpaste Tongue·        Imagine there’s a blob of toothpaste on the tip of your tongue and give each tooth...

  • 2023 / 2 / 28
    0789 – Getting a ‘Slug Tongue’

    2023.02.28 – 0789 – Getting a ‘Slug Tongue’ Slug TongueRelax the jaw, drop the tongue out of the mouth and count slowly out loud to 10. Then recite the ‘Happy Birthday’ song or something similar, keeping...

  • 2023 / 2 / 27
    0788 – Tongue Stretches

    2023.02.27 – 0788 – Tongue Stretches Tongue Stretches·        Open and relax your mouth with your lips apart, then stick out your tongue as far as it will stretch....

  • 2023 / 2 / 26
    0787 – Tongue Fun

    2023.02.26 – 0787 – Tongue FunThe TongueYour tongue is a major articulator helping form sounds into recognisable words (as well as being used in swallowing and eating). It moves courtesy of eight muscles:...

  • 2023 / 2 / 25
    0786 – The Exaggeration Vocal Exercise

    2023.02.25 – 0786 – The Exaggeration Vocal Exercise Over EnunciationSilently say a phrase (“Get A Better Broadcast, Podcast and Voice Over Voice”) with really exaggerated mouth, lip and jaw movements. Repeat...

  • 2023 / 2 / 24
    0785 – Jaw Massage

    2023.02.24 – 0785 – Jaw MassageJaw Massage Let your jaw drop slightly and put the balls of your hands just under your cheekbones. Rub firmly into the hollows of your cheeks as you let the lower jaw drop into...

  • 2023 / 2 / 23
    0784 – The Toffee and Chipmunk Jaw Exercises

    2023.02.23 – 0784 – The Toffee and Chipmunk Jaw ExercisesThe JawIf you experience a popping or clicking in their jaw, it’s a possible sign that you are tensing or clenching it too much. But of course, you...

  • 2023 / 2 / 22
    0783 – The ‘Silent Laugh’ Vocal Exercise

    2023.02.22 – 0783 – The ‘Silent Laugh’ Vocal Exercise  The Silent LaughImagine you’ve just been told a joke but you’re not allowed to laugh out loud, instead do so silently and gently inside your throat...

  • 2023 / 2 / 21
    0782 – The ‘Yawn Sigh’ Vocal Exercise

    2023.02.21 – 0782 – The ‘Yawn Sigh’ Vocal Exercise   Throat The Yawn SighYawning opens and stretches muscles at the back of your throat.·        Stand up and...

  • 2023 / 2 / 20
    0781 – The Ubiquitous Panting Exercise

    2023.02.20 – 0781 – The Ubiquitous Panting Exercise PantingYour vocal folds make a tense and strained sound if they are closing too tightly over the airflow, but a pleasant and easy sound is made when...

  • 2023 / 2 / 19
    0780 – Tarzan and The Wake-Up Hum

    2023.02.19 – 0780 – Tarzan and The Wake-Up Hum    Let’s start with the larynx. Larynx Your voice needs to start slow, so we’ll start by awakening the cords with humming, a great go-to for...

  • 2023 / 2 / 18
    0779 – Why Warm Up Your Voice?

    2023.02.18 – 0779 – Why Warm Up Your Voice?     Warming upThe intensity, speed and duration of any voice-over work can cause vocal fatigue. Not warming up will lead to a longer recovery...

  • 2023 / 2 / 17
    0778 – Vocal Exercise Advise

    2023.02.17 – 0778 – Vocal Exercise Advise    A quick health warning:·        Like at the gym, always do a warm-up before you do a...

  • 2023 / 2 / 16
    0777 – Vocal Work-Outs, Warm-Ups and Winding Down

    2023.02.16 – 0777 – Vocal Work-Outs, Warm-Ups and Winding Down    %VOCAL WORK-OUTS, WARM-UPS AND WINDING DOWNA dance or sports person wouldn’t dream of performing without a warm-up, or suddenly...

  • 2023 / 2 / 15
    0776 – Help! I’m Getting A Cold!

    2023.02.15 – 0776 – Help! I’m Getting A Cold!    Help! I’m getting a cold! (Or blocked nose, sneezes and sniffles, itchy mouth, catarrh, sore throat, dry cough, headache, hoarseness and general...

  • 2023 / 2 / 14
    0775 – Vocal Fold Haemorrhage

    2023.02.14 – 0775 – Vocal Fold Haemorrhage    Continued talking may lead to ‘vocal nodules’ on your folds, which are common with loud, tense, constant talkers. (Polyps are similar but usually...

  • 2023 / 2 / 13
    0774 – Voice Advice From Justin Timberlake and Larry Hagman

    2023.02.13 – 0774 – Voice Advice From Justin Timberlake and Larry Hagman   ‘Resting’ actorsLarry Hagman was best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime...

  • 2023 / 2 / 12
    0773 – Polyps, Nodules and Phonal Trauma

    2023.02.12 – 0773 – Polyps, Nodules and Phonal Trauma   Treating your voice badly, shouting[1], smoking or straining it, is not showing it the respect it deserves. These actions can lead to ‘phonal...

  • 2023 / 2 / 11
    0772 – The Greatest Vocal Athletes

    2023.02.11 – 0772 – The Greatest Vocal Athletes   The voice-overs with perhaps the most vocal stamina have to be the audiobook narrators. Recording day after day for a total of 70 hours is not...

  • 2023 / 2 / 10
    0771 – Vocal Conditioning Through Proper Pacing

    2023.02.10 – 0771 – Vocal Conditioning Through Proper Pacing  If your body is tired, your voice sounds tired: it’s one of the first areas where your lack of zeds shows itself.  Before a recording...

  • 2023 / 2 / 9
    0770 – Why Having A Secret May Be Hurting Your Voice

    2023.02.09 – 0770 – Why Having A Secret May Be Hurting Your Voice  Whispering – Normal speaking is with a regular airflow and closure. With whispering you get no closure and you need more effort to...

  • 2023 / 2 / 8
    0769 – Why African Elephants In Underpants May Be Hurting Your Voice

    2023.02.08 – 0769 – Why African Elephants In Underpants May Be Hurting Your Voice  VowelsSay the following phrase aloud, word by word: “African. Elephants. In. Our. Underpants”. Each word begins...

  • 2023 / 2 / 7
    0768 – What To Say To An Anaesthetist

    2023.02.07 – 0768 – What To Say To An Anaesthetist Surgery – Intubation is when a tube is fed into your mouth (‘endotracheal intubation’) or nose (‘nasogastric intubation’) and then into the airway to help...

  • 2023 / 2 / 6
    0767 – How A Kettle Can Help Your Voice

    2023.02.06 – 0767 – How A Kettle Can Help Your Voice Steam inhaling - can help the health of the vocal folds and the mucous membranes that line the nasal and mouth cavities. Steaming once or twice a day...

  • 2023 / 2 / 5
    0766 –Voice Problems Caused By Shouting and Smoking

    2023.02.05 – 0766 –Voice Problems Caused By Shouting and Smoking Shouting – causes the folds are slammed together harshly. Consider why you are shouting – perhaps it’s because of a loud and busy...

  • 2023 / 2 / 4
    0765 – How Snoring May Be Causing Voice Problems

    2023.02.04 – 0765 – How Snoring May Be Causing Voice Problems  Mouth breathing and snoring - can dry your vocal folds (as we saw previously, part of the job the nostrils have is to humidify the air as it...

  • 2023 / 2 / 3
    0764 – How Meds Can Hurt Not Help Your Voice

     2023.02.03 – 0764 – How Meds Can Hurt Not Help Your Voice Medications – Again, sticky-sweet, tongue colour-changing over-the-counter lozenges do not touch your vocal cords. Although they might have...

  • 2023 / 2 / 2
    0763 – How Your Voice Is Affected By Oestrogen, Progesterone and Androgens

    2023.02.02 – 0763 – How Your Voice Is Affected By Oestrogen, Progesterone and Androgens  Menopause can also affect the voice.[1] Vocally speaking,...

  • 2023 / 2 / 1
    0762 – How Hormones Affect Your Voice

    2023.02.01 – 0762 – How Hormones Affect Your Voice  Hormones - We know how boys’ voices change as they go through puberty, but so do girls’. Testosterone and oestrogen not only affect the voice directly...

  • 2023 / 1 / 31
    0761 – The Voice Enemies Of Air Con, Carphones and Coughing

    2023.01.31 – 0761 – The Voice Enemies Of Air Con, Carphones and Coughing Air conditioning – a dry throat can be caused by heating or air conditioning in homes, offices, trains, planes and cars. Try...

  • 2023 / 1 / 30
    0760 – Signs Your Voice Isn’t As It Should Be

    2023.01.30 – 0760 – Signs Your Voice Isn’t As It Should Be   (How To Use Your Voice For A Four Hour Show And Not Damage Or Lose It)??Signs that your voice isn’t as it should be Of course, only you...

  • 2023 / 1 / 29
    0759 – Potentially Unhelpful Vocal Rest

    2023.01.29 – 0759 – Potentially Unhelpful Vocal Rest   Potentially ‘unhelpful’ vocal rest This might include:Not speaking for two days before a studio session to “prepare my voice” – as an...

  • 2023 / 1 / 28
    0758 – The Importance Of Voice Naps

    2023.01.28 – 0758 – The Importance Of Voice Naps   If you are using your voice a lot, try and schedule some specific ‘voice naps’ into your day, where you don’t talk for 5-15 minutes at a time on...

  • 2023 / 1 / 27
    0757 – Outside Elements Damaging Your Voice

    2023.01.27 – 0757 – Outside Elements Damaging Your Voice   As well as external environmental issues such as:·        Air humidity - dry air is thought to...

  • 2023 / 1 / 26
    0756 – Your Vocal Battery

    2023.01.26 – 0756 – Your Vocal Battery   PROFESSIONAL VOCAL STRAINIt is of course better to ‘defend not mend’ – and prevention is easier than a remedy. So, look after your folds and everything else...

  • 2023 / 1 / 25
    0755 – Why Your Evening Meal Could Be Killing Your Voice

    2023.01.25 – 0755 – Why Your Evening Meal Could Be Killing Your Voice   Acid reflux[1] This is when digestive juices (made up of strong acids and enzymes) find their way from the stomach into the...

  • 2023 / 1 / 24
    0754 – Why ‘Thirst’ Is Unreliable

    2023.01.24 – 0754 – Why ‘Thirst’ Is Unreliable Your unreliable dehydration warning systemWhen you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated. That’s because whereas the body treats food with a ‘store now -...

  • 2023 / 1 / 23
    0753 – Hydration Oughta Be Water, But…

    2023.01.23 – 0753 – Hydration Oughta Be Water, But…Where hydration comes fromHydration oughta be water, plain, pure and at room temperature. But if you’re struggling to drink enough...

  • 2023 / 1 / 22
    0752 – Hydrate to Sound Great. Here’s Why…

    2023.01.22 – 0752 – Hydrate to Sound Great. Here’s Why…The more dehydrated you are:·        The drier the cords·        The...

  • 2023 / 1 / 21
    0751 – A Moment On Mucus

    2023.01.21 – 0751 – A Moment On MucusSo, hydration affects the folds specifically in two ways:·        ‘Systemic hydration’ is the term for hydrating your whole body,...

  • 2023 / 1 / 20
    0750 – The Hydration Situation

    2023.01.20 – 0750 – The Hydration Situation The Hydration Situation (or How to ‘Get A Wetter Broadcast, Podcast and Voiceover Voice’)Up to 60% of the human adult body is water[1]: the brain and heart are...

  • 2023 / 1 / 19
    0749 – Why Cough Sweets Are A Con

    2023.01.19 – 0749 – Why Cough Sweets Are A ConFirst up, it’s important to realise that nothing you swallow touches your vocal folds. Yep, those soothing cough sweets you take for example, go nowhere near them...

  • 2023 / 1 / 18
    0748 – Vocal Health as Asset Protection

    2023.01.18 – 0748 – Vocal Health as Asset ProtectionAs we have seen, the vocal cords are super thin muscular folds the length of your thumb nail. Air exhaled from the lungs passes over the taut cords and they...

  • 2023 / 1 / 17
    0747 – You Are A Vocal Athlete

    2023.01.17 – 0747 – You Are A Vocal AthleteWe are vocal athletes! Those of us who speak for a living are trained and skilled, we have physical strength, agility and stamina. We can get highly stressed...

  • 2023 / 1 / 16
    0746 – Exercise Advisories

    2023.01.16 – 0746 – Exercise AdvisoriesOver the years in the many training sessions I have led, I have just known that the advice I have given to my clients in this area is going to be ignored: lip trills...

  • 2023 / 1 / 15
    0745 – Your Vocal, Physical and Emotional Health: an introduction

    2023.01.15 – 0745 – Your Vocal, Physical and Emotional Health: an introduction ‘The first thing to be considered is what sort of voice we have and next, how we use it. The natural power of the voice is...

  • 2023 / 1 / 14
    0744 – Telephony Voiceovers

    2023.01.14 – 0744 – Telephony VoiceoversTelephony voice over – (‘voicemail’, ‘Message On-Hold’, ‘MOH’, ‘Integrated Voice Response’ or ‘IVR’ “for sales press 1, for help press 3…”)These voices have to...

  • 2023 / 1 / 13
    0743 – Voiceover Cut-Throughs

    2023.01.13 – 0743 – Voiceover Cut-ThroughsA voice-over might hope that with a commercial read they may be asked to record another ad for the same brand, but it’s not a given. That job may be a one-off. But...

  • 2023 / 1 / 12
    0742 – Station Imaging Voiceovers

    2023.01.12 – 0742 – Station Imaging Voiceovers Station imagingThese are the branded voices that are used on promotional trailers for radio and TV stations. So not on the commercials advertising other...

  • 2023 / 1 / 11
    0741 – Voicing Public Service Announcements.

    2023.01.11 – 0741 – Voicing Public Service AnnouncementsPSAsIn times of disaster, be it natural or human, a Public Service (or Safety) Message may be the best way to get information out fast and elicit...

  • 2023 / 1 / 10
    0740 – The Tonal Scale on Political Voiceovers

    2023.01.10 – 0740 – The Tonal Scale on Political VoiceoversWith negative ads, you are unlikely to be shouting and screaming in fury, instead, your style will be more measured and composed although still...

  • 2023 / 1 / 9
    0739 – Political Ad Voiceover Styles

    2023.01.09 – 0739 – Political Ad Voiceover Styles Like most advertising where the style of such campaigns was once very ‘announcery’, both of these content styles are now much more conversational,...

  • 2023 / 1 / 8
    0738 – Finding The Key Points in Political Voiceover Scripts

    2023.01.08 – 0738 – Finding The Key Points in Political Voiceover ScriptsAs a voice-over you have to immediately identify:·        Is this ad actively promoting the...

  • 2023 / 1 / 7
    0737 – Political Voiceovers: Lead Ins and Pay Offs

    2023.01.07 – 0737 – Political Voiceovers: Lead Ins and Pay OffsAds of either style often start with a question, another rhetorical device that gets the listener to ‘fill the vacuum’ with an...

  • 2023 / 1 / 6
    0736 – Key Words to Highlight in Political Ads

    2023.01.06 – 0736 – Key Words to Highlight in Political Ads All styles usually have a script that is clean, clear and sharp, one which has a point of view to catch the attention and emotion of its target...

  • 2023 / 1 / 5
    0735 – Voiceovers For Political Ads

    2023.01.05 – 0735 – Voiceovers For Political Ads Political adsThese are most common in the US and can be divided into these categories: [1], [2]·        Positive –...

  • 2023 / 1 / 4
    0734 – Movie Trailers Voiceovers

    2023.01.04 – 0734 – Movie Trailers VoiceoversMovie trailersThe ‘god’ of these was the iconic voice of Don LaFontaine who recorded more than 5,000 film trailers and hundreds of thousands of...

  • 2023 / 1 / 3
    0733 – Medical Narration Skills

    2023.01.03 – 0733 – Medical Narration SkillsMedical VOsThese can be quite content-rich and may be for professional medical education or maybe for drug or equipment reps, and will likely have pharmaceutical...

  • 2023 / 1 / 2
    0732 – The 4 P’s of Speaking Outdoors

    2023.01.02 – 0732 – The 4 P’s of Speaking Outdoors VOICE BOXSpeaking outdoors ‘Public speaking’ at out-door events, garden parties, open-air weddings, theatres and so on can put an added strain on...

  • 2023 / 1 / 1
    0731 – Sport Stadium Announcing

    2023.01.01 – 0731 – Sport Stadium Announcing In this category could also come ‘announcers’ such as those as sports events. Bob Sheppard was the long-time public address announcer for more than...

  • 2022 / 12 / 31
    0730 – Skilling Up To Be Godlike

    2022.12.31 – 0730 – Skilling Up To Be GodlikeAdditional skills·        You need to be able to ask questions, use initiative and take direction when presenting in this...

  • 2022 / 12 / 30
    0729 – Your Godlike Presentation

    2022.12.30 – 0729 – Your Godlike PresentationYour presentation·        Don’t talk too fast or information may be missed. There may be a busy room with hubbub and people...

  • 2022 / 12 / 29
    0728 – Your Bow Tie And Ball Gown Prep

    2022.12.29 – 0728 – Your Bow Tie And Ball Gown Prep·        Seeing a script in advance will let you prep any unusual terminology. Perhaps it’s a sports event and you...

  • 2022 / 12 / 28
    0727 – Prepping For ‘Voice of God’ Announcements

    2022.12.28 – 0727 – Prepping For ‘Voice of God’ Announcements Preparation·        Ensure you get the script well in advance so you can read and rehearse. There may be...

  • 2022 / 12 / 27
    0726 – Your ‘Voice of God’ Voice

    2022.12.27 – 0726 – Your ‘Voice of God’ VoiceYour voice·        In this position you are often the face, or rather the voice of the event: the conductor. Assess the...

  • 2022 / 12 / 26
    0725 – Live Event Announcement Skills

    2022.12.26 – 0725 – Live Event Announcement SkillsLive Events Announcements (‘Voice of God’ aka VOG)These are the announcements made at an event (maybe a conference, ball or theatre), signposting what the...

  • 2022 / 12 / 25
    0724 – Reading Cast Lists

    2022.12.25 – 0724 – Reading Cast Lists This is the part of the cast list for an episode of the world’s longest-running continuing drama, BBC Radio 4’s “The Archers”:Pat Archer ….. Patricia Gallimore...

  • 2022 / 12 / 24
    0723 – Reading Lists

    2022.12.24 – 0723 – Reading Lists Lists (or ‘strings’) and creditsLists are boring so it is your job to make them sound less so.  We’re talking about maybe a news story on the selling points of a showbiz...

  • 2022 / 12 / 23
    0722 – Possible Hazards in e-Learning Narration

    2022.12.23 – 0722 – Possible Hazards in e-Learning Narration Possible trip-upsWatch out for:·        Jargon and unfamiliar terms and phrases – check each pronunciation...

  • 2022 / 12 / 22
    0721 – Explainer and Training Video Narration

    2022.12.22 – 0721 – Explainer and Training Video Narration Explainer videos by their definition are structured in the classic problem > solution style, often featuring the owner of the business or a member of...

  • 2022 / 12 / 21
    0720 – Sight-Reading Skills For Your e-Learning Narration

    2022.12.21 – 0720 – Sight-Reading Skills For Your e-Learning Narration Sight reading - As the scripts are likely to be quite long, you need to be able to scan once (to check for potential stumble-ridden...

  • 2022 / 12 / 20
    0719 – Stamina and Timing For Your e-Learning Narration

    2022.12.20 – 0719 – Stamina and Timing For Your e-Learning NarrationOther skillsStamina - Such reads may be quite demanding: explaining a new procedure to an oncologist or orthodontist may involve complex...

  • 2022 / 12 / 19
    0718 – Intonation and Projection For Your e-Learning Narration

    2022.12.19 – 0718 – Intonation and Projection For Your e-Learning NarrationIntonation - people need to trust that you know what you are explaining to them, so correct intonation is paramount. A mis-stress can...

  • 2022 / 12 / 18
    0717 – Pace and Tone For Your e-Learning Narration

    2022.12.18 – 0717 – Pace and Tone For Your e-Learning Narration Your e-learning voiceYou will be the ‘brand voice’ of the product or service, so you will reflect those values as well as those of the target...

  • 2022 / 12 / 17
    0716 – e-Learning Narration

    2022.12.17 – 0716 – e-Learning Narratione-Learning NarrationFor every industry there is something to learn and the aim is to make it engaging and interesting, understandable and memorable. E-learning and...

  • 2022 / 12 / 16
    0715 – Voiceover Dubbing Multi-Skills

    2022.12.16 – 0715 – Voiceover Dubbing Multi-SkillsYou don’t need to be able to understand the original language, in fact knowing it may be a distraction as you’ll be able to understand what you’re replacing....

  • 2022 / 12 / 15
    0714 – Lip-Sync, Phrase-Sync, Non-Sync, Bilingual and Narration Dubbing

    2022.12.15 – 0714 – Lip-Sync, Phrase-Sync, Non-Sync, Bilingual and Narration DubbingDubbing can also be used to describe the voice given to animated characters or computer-generated characters in video...

  • 2022 / 12 / 14
    0713 – Full-Dubbing Skills

    2022.12.14 – 0713 – Full-Dubbing SkillsFull dubbing (or ‘revoicing’) is when a whole new audio version of the dialogue is created, for example re-recording all of the characters in a Canadian English-speaking...

  • 2022 / 12 / 13
    0712 – Dialogue Replacement Skills

    2022.12.13 – 0712 – Dialogue Replacement SkillsDubbingAutomated Dialogue Replacement (ADR)This is when a line or more of a movie or TV dialogue that was recorded on location, is re-recorded in a studio. It...

  • 2022 / 12 / 12
    0711 – Brand Voices

    2022.12.12 – 0711 – Brand VoicesBrand voicesGo back and read ep 258You need to be:·        Adaptable and be able to voice different kinds of content – ads, phone...

  • 2022 / 12 / 11
    0710 – Audio Guide Narration Skills

    2022.12.11 – 0710 – Audio Guide Narration SkillsSome of these parts may be played by actors, but often it may just be a narrator – the ‘glue’ that links all of the information together. They will do the...

  • 2022 / 12 / 10
    0709 – Voicing and Producing Audio Guides

    2022.12.10 – 0709 – Voicing and Producing Audio GuidesAudio GuidesThese are pre-recorded guides for places such as museums, galleries and historic houses or street walks and are often on players you pick up...

  • 2022 / 12 / 9
    0708 – Voicing Audio Descriptions

    2022.12.09 – 0708 – Voicing Audio Descriptions  Audio description – ADThis is a voice-over describing what is happening in the scene of a movie to benefit those who are visually impaired, who can hear...

  • 2022 / 12 / 8
    0707 – Growls and Grunts, Snorts and Squeaks

    2022.12.08 – 0707 – Growls and Grunts, Snorts and SqueaksAnimal noises This is not giving a human voice to an animal, but literally making growls and grunts, snorts and squeaks. (Yep, we’re talking voices and...

  • 2022 / 12 / 7
    0706 – Staccato Chickens and Hissing Snakes

    2022.12.07 – 0706 – Staccato Chickens and Hissing SnakesThen read your lines with these attributes, threading the ‘animal sounds’ into human speech: words are perhaps growled (as a ferocious dog might) or in...

  • 2022 / 12 / 6
    0705 – Animal Characterisations

    2022.12.06 – 0705 – Animal Characterisations Animal characterisationsAnthropomorphism is giving animals human-like characteristics and emotions – it’s the basis of many children’s books such as the famous...

  • 2022 / 12 / 5
    0704 – Advertisements / Commercials

    2022.12.05 – 0704 – Advertisements / Commercials Advertisements / CommercialsPerhaps one of the main attributes of a radio, tv or movie commercial read is a voice with charismatic qualities. That is one...

  • 2022 / 12 / 4
    0703 – Animal Noises, Political Ads, IVRs and VOGs: Other voiceover roles

    2022.12.04 – 0703 – Animal Noises, Political Ads, IVRs and VOGs: Other voiceover roles  Advertisements / CommercialsAnimal characterisation and animal noisesAudio descriptionsAudio guidesBrand...

  • 2022 / 12 / 3
    0702 – At The End Of An Audiobook Recording

    2022.12.03 – 0702 – At The End Of An Audiobook Recording  When recording Finish each session at an appropriate point in the plot – that’s usually at the end of a section, chapter or scene. It’s here that...

  • 2022 / 12 / 2
    0701 – Character Relationships In Audiobook Narration

    2022.12.02 – 0701 – Character Relationships In Audiobook Narration A further step may be to note the relationships between characters. As we have seen before we adapt our vocal style depending on who we are...

  • 2022 / 12 / 1
    0700 – Post-Dialogue Attributions In Audiobook Narration

    2022.12.01 – 0700 – Post-Dialogue Attributions In Audiobook NarrationMark any ‘post-dialogue attributions’, where the name of the person who just spoke is written after their statement, (“Merlin said”,...

  • 2022 / 11 / 30
    0699 – Preparing a Text For Audiobook Narration

    2022.11.30 – 0699 – Preparing a Text For Audiobook Narration Preparing the textSince you’re reading a long piece, it’s essential to skim the book beforehand. Mark unfamiliar words and check their...

  • 2022 / 11 / 29
    0698 – Story-telling For A Young Audience

    2022.11.29 – 0698 – Story-telling For A Young AudienceStory-telling for a young audienceFor younger pairs of ears, think particularly about the storytelling journey. Children’s books are often very much about...

  • 2022 / 11 / 28
    0697 – Potential Problems When Voicing Audiobook Characters

    2022.11.28 – 0697 – Potential Problems When Voicing Audiobook CharactersA potential problem - When you create a very distinctive voice for a minor character, who then has a greater role than you’d...

  • 2022 / 11 / 27
    0696 – Voicing ‘Minor Characters’ in Audiobook Narration

    2022.11.27 – 0696 – Voicing ‘Minor Characters’ in Audiobook NarrationMinor characters - You don’t need a totally unique voice for each character. Listeners know you are telling a story, not pretending to be...

  • 2022 / 11 / 26
    0695 – Audiobook Character Voices

    2022.11.26 – 0695 – Audiobook Character VoicesCharacter voices(This is in addition to the in-depth look at character voices in the ‘animation’ section previously.)The main character – Create a voice that you...

  • 2022 / 11 / 25
    0694 – Projection And Pace For The Audiobook Narrator

    2022.11.25 – 0694 – Projection And Pace For The Audiobook Narrator Projection – we have looked at loudness before, but as a quick reminder that with audiobooks especially, people will be listening alone...

  • 2022 / 11 / 24
    0693 – Impartiality For The Audiobook Narrator

    2022.11.24 – 0693 – Impartiality For The Audiobook Narrator Be interested, invested and informed …– only read the genres you enjoy to be more emotionally connected to the text and to draw the listener...

  • 2022 / 11 / 23
    0692 – Analysis and Agility For The Audiobook Narrator

    2022.11.23 – 0692 – Analysis and Agility For The Audiobook Narrator Analysis – be somewhat of a student of literature. Understand what makes a story, a story and how one moves through a sequence (the...

  • 2022 / 11 / 22
    0691 – The Audiobook Narrator’s *Own* Character

    2022.11.22 – 0691 – The Audiobook Narrator’s *Own* CharacterThe narrator’s own characterDepending on which POV you are reading the story from, your ‘character voice’ will be different. If you are one of the...

  • 2022 / 11 / 21
    0690 – The Narrator’s Various Points of Views

    2022.11.21 – 0690 – The Narrator’s Various Points of ViewsNarration - First understand who you, the narrator, are in the story. That is, whose point of view (POV) is the story told...

  • 2022 / 11 / 20
    0689 – Fiction Audiobook Narration Skills

    2022.11.20 – 0689 – Fiction Audiobook Narration SkillsFiction skills for an audiobook narratorFirst a few definitions:Solo narration – when a reader either differentiates between each character with their...

  • 2022 / 11 / 19
    0688 – Non-Fiction Audiobook Narration Skills

    2022.11.19 – 0688 – Non-Fiction Audiobook Narration SkillsNon-fiction for an audiobook narratorRecording a non-fiction text is considered by some to be more straightforward than recording fiction. That’s...

  • 2022 / 11 / 18
    0687 – Vocal, Physical and Mental Health For Narration

    2022.11.18 – 0687 – Vocal, Physical and Mental Health For NarrationGood vocal, physical and mental health – you will be spending a lot of time by yourself in a booth, concentrating, so you need to be mentally...

  • 2022 / 11 / 17
    0686 – Clarity, Consistency and Concentration in Voice Acting

    2022.11.17 – 0686 – Clarity, Consistency and Concentration in Voice Acting A clear voice – people will be spending a lot of time with you, so you need to have a voice that will not jar or grate on their...

  • 2022 / 11 / 16
    0685 – ‘Punch And Roll’ Voice Recording

    2022.11.16 – 0685 – ‘Punch And Roll’ Voice RecordingVOICE BOXLearn the ‘punch and roll’ technique to save recording timeThis is when you mark (‘punch in’) the point in your recorded audio where you made a...

  • 2022 / 11 / 15
    0684 – Voice Over Eye>Brain>Mouth Control

    2022.11.15 – 0684 – Voice Over Eye>Brain>Mouth Control Eye-Brain-Mouth Control – you have to be good at reading accurately, just sticking to the text. You will probably have skim-read the text before you...

  • 2022 / 11 / 14
    0683 – Narration Stamina

    2022.11.14 – 0683 – Narration Stamina  Stamina – you will need to read a lot of words in a short period of time: 4-6 hours in front of a mic each day is not unheard of for an audiobook narrator. So, you...

  • 2022 / 11 / 13
    0682 – Natural Narration Foundations

    2022.11.13 – 0682 – Natural Narration Foundations Natural Narration FoundationsIn the main, we have been looking at short reads, commercials and news stories and the like, but sometimes you may have a longer...

  • 2022 / 11 / 12
    0681 – Audiobook Narration

    2022.11.12 – 0681 – Audiobook Narration Audiobook narrationAudiobooks have become increasingly popular[1] as people consume books while commuting, exercising or doing chores and with the ease of...

  • 2022 / 11 / 11
    0680 – Voice Acting In Gaming

    2022.11.11 – 0680 – Voice Acting In Gaming Games  Voice acting in the video game business is similar to doing animation work, although the portrayals have to be more ‘realistic’ than say, those...

  • 2022 / 11 / 10
    0679 – Concatenation Concerns

    2022.11.10 – 0679 – Concatenation ConcernsCharacter creep can cause particular problems when combined with concatenation. This is where a voice-over has to read a short list of incomplete sentences, and then...

  • 2022 / 11 / 9
    0678 – Character Creep

    2022.11.09 – 0678 – Character CreepCharacter creepIf you try and be someone who you’re not[1], then there is a chance that over the course of a contract or studio session, your ‘persona’ might change. It may...

  • 2022 / 11 / 8
    0677 – Keeping In Character

    2022.11.08 – 0677 – Keeping In CharacterWhen you have developed a voice from scratch and you’re comfortable with it and do it well, keep it and add it to your cast of characters, and then build another...

  • 2022 / 11 / 7
    0676 – Vocal Exaggeration In Animation

    2022.11.07 – 0676 – Vocal Exaggeration In AnimationVocal exaggeration in animation[1]You must have the muscular strength to host the vocal gymnasium that is required in animation. Work on the instrument daily...

  • 2022 / 11 / 6
    0675 – Using Props To Get Into A Character Properly

    2022.11.06 – 0675 – Using Props To Get Into A Character ProperlyUsing props As well as holding yourself in a certain way to get into your character’s voice, some voice actors also hold an appropriate prop....

  • 2022 / 11 / 5
    0674 – Be A ‘Moody’ Voice Actor

    2022.11.05 – 0674 – Be A ‘Moody’ Voice ActorSo, develop various attitudes in your voice: the tone, volume, speed, and energy. And remember that a character is more than one ‘mood’ and will go through various...

  • 2022 / 11 / 4
    0673 – Animation Attitudes

    2022.11.04 – 0673 – Animation AttitudesAnimation ‘attitudes’You should be good at reacting as well as acting, be able to read a situation and know what your character would do in that situation. This is not...

  • 2022 / 11 / 3
    0672 – More Non-Verbal Sounds in Voice Acting

    2022.11.03 – 0672 – More Non-Verbal Sounds in Voice Acting·        The performance may also require you to bring more physicality to your voice: your character may be...

  • 2022 / 11 / 2
    0671 – Non-Verbal Sounds in Voice Acting

    2022.11.02 – 0671 – Non-Verbal Sounds in Voice Acting·        What is the rest of your body doing? The face obviously, but also your back and arms… Physically become...

  • 2022 / 11 / 1
    0670 – Voice Acting Mannerisms

    2022.11.01 – 0670 – Voice Acting MannerismsOther voice mannerismsNow consider ‘fleshing out’ your character. Don’t add to the words on the page, but don’t only read the words on the page....

  • 2022 / 10 / 31
    0669 – How Visuals Help Your Animation VoiceOver

    2022.10.31 – 0669 – How Visuals Help Your Animation VoiceOverOf course, attributes of animated characters are usually extreme and will have been drawn in conjunction with the story editor. Everything you see...

  • 2022 / 10 / 29
    0668 – Getting An Animation Voice That Fits The Visuals

    2022.10.30 – 0668 – Getting An Animation Voice That Fits The Visuals Getting a voice that fits the visuals When auditioning for an animation role you will be sent a ‘vocal reference’, a few lines of the...

  • 2022 / 10 / 28
    0667 – Your Character’s ‘Voicernality’

    2022.10.29 – 0667 – Your Character’s ‘Voicernality’ It’s more than the ‘voice’Remember that a character’s voice (including your very own!) is partly based on one’s physicality: how they talk is affected...

  • 2022 / 10 / 27
    0666 – The Value of Creating Character Catchphrases

    2022.10.28 – 0666 – The Value of Creating Character Catchphrases  For example, perhaps you have created a character voice you call ‘Perfect Pat’. Pat is, as their name implies, bright and positive and...

  • 2022 / 10 / 26
    0665 – Creating a Character Catalogue

    2022.10.27 – 0665 – Creating a Character CataloguePlay around with it and practice and then when you think you have the character, give each a name (‘Smoking Susan’, ‘Sharp-suited Shaun’…) and a bit of a...

  • 2022 / 10 / 25
    0664 – How To Steal A Character Voice

    2022.10.26 – 0664 – How To Steal A Character VoiceConcentrate on listening, not just hearing but truly paying attention to voices:·        their...

  • 2022 / 10 / 24
    0663 – Creating a Cast of Core Character Voices

    2022.10.25 – 0663 – Creating a Cast of Core Character Voices Creating a cast of core character voices(This section is also of use for the following part on ‘audiobook narration’ when you may be required...

  • 2022 / 10 / 23
    0662 – Characters in Cartoons, Animations and Gaming Acting

    2022.10.24 – 0662 – Characters in Cartoons, Animations and Gaming ActingCharacters in Cartoons, Animations and Gaming Acting This is when the character you develop a voice for is heard but not seen in, for...

  • 2022 / 10 / 22
    0661 – The Variety of Voiceover Opportunities 2

    2022.10.23 – 0661 – The Variety of Voiceover Opportunities 2·        Gaming – Acting in character for online games·        Live...

  • 2022 / 10 / 21
    0660 – The Variety of Voiceover Opportunities 1

    2022.10.22 – 0660 – The Variety of Voiceover Opportunities 1Voiceover CategoriesThese could be as wide-ranging as – but not limited to – the following:...

  • 2022 / 10 / 20
    0659 – Specialised Scriptreading Skills

    2022.10.21 – 0659 – Specialised Scriptreading Skills This chapter is looking at the variety of scripts you may be asked to read as a voice actor and the specialised skills that are called for in those...

  • 2022 / 10 / 19
    0658 – Re-takes and Re-records

    2022.10.20 – 0658 – Re-takes and Re-records Re-takes and Re-recordsIf at all possible, try to avoid having to re-do lines. Whether in a pro-studio or a home-studio, the re-take may stand...

  • 2022 / 10 / 18
    0657 – Avoiding Studio Hiccups Caused By Hiccups

    2022.10.19 – 0657 – Avoiding Studio Hiccups Caused By HiccupsSneezing and hiccupsThis is another situation which will come sooner or later, and may either be a sneeze you feel approaching or one that suddenly...

  • 2022 / 10 / 17
    0656 – On-Mic Panting

    2022.10.18 – 0656 – On-Mic Panting Being out of breathThis usually happens because you’ve run in the studio late or in the nick of time. You’ve probably not done a sprint, but the tense situation, panic...

  • 2022 / 10 / 16
    0655 – Why We Get Studio Giggles

    2022.10.17 – 0655 – Why We Get Studio GigglesThese are signs of nervousness and panic. Such laughter is seldom sparked off by genuine humour; it is the psyche’s safety valve blowing to release a build up of...

  • 2022 / 10 / 15
    0654 – Dead Good Advice On Studio Corpsing

    2022.10.16 – 0654 – Dead Good Advice On Studio Corpsing Corpsing (that is, laughing uncontrollably)  ‘There’s one hazard that no amount of preparation can avoid: the collapse into inappropriate...

  • 2022 / 10 / 14
    0653 – When your Insert Goes Down

    2022.10.15 – 0653 – When your Insert Goes DownIn a radio or podcast studio, confusing the audience with technical jargon can compound the problem, like: “I’m sorry, but that insert seems to have gone down”....

  • 2022 / 10 / 13
    0652 – Classic Voice-Over Cock Ups

    2022.10.14 – 0652 – Classic Voice-Over Cock Ups“Police are finding it difficult to come up with a solution to the murders … the commissioner says the victims are unwilling to co-operate.” (US Radio)“Well, the...

  • 2022 / 10 / 12
    0651 – When To Expect Verbal Trips and Slips

    2022.10.13 – 0651 – When To Expect Verbal Trips and SlipsMany fluffs occur when you are expecting trouble, like a difficult foreign name, or when you have already fluffed and their mind is side-tracked. The...

  • 2022 / 10 / 11
    0650 – Verbal Trips and Slips

    2022.10.12 – 0650 – Verbal Trips and SlipsTrips and slips‘Things’ happen. Verbal and technical slips and trips. Mouths and machines can stop working. The wrong bit of audio can come out of either of them!...

  • 2022 / 10 / 10
    0649 – Practicing Talking To Time

    2022.10.11 – 0649 – Practicing Talking To Time Practice Talking To TimeAs we saw in episode 427Take some copy which has a required duration indicated on it, and read it aloud like you might in a demo,...

  • 2022 / 10 / 9
    0648 – Talking To Time

    2022.10.10 – 0648 – Talking To Time Talking to time Developing a sense of time is hugely important for most people speaking ‘on mic’.As a voice artist you may need to record a script to the half-second...

  • 2022 / 10 / 8
    0647 – Why We Hit Script-Reading Speed Bumps

    2022.10.09 – 0647 – Why We Hit Script-Reading Speed Bumps Why We Hit Speed Bumps·        Not being prepped-up, to rev-up – if your engine of articulation is not...

  • 2022 / 10 / 7
    0646 – Speed-Reading

    2022.10.08 – 0646 – Speed-Reading Speed readingWith commercial reads especially, you have to be able to talk to time, and that may mean talking faster than you may usually do. But this can often lead to...

  • 2022 / 10 / 6
    0645 – Rehearsing Cold Reading

    2022.10.07 – 0645 – Rehearsing Cold ReadingRehearsing Cold ReadingIt is easy to practice this at home or at work – sight-read stories from the newspaper, or print off the national summary and make yourself...

  • 2022 / 10 / 5
    0644 – Script-Reading and Peripheral Vision

    2022.10.06 – 0644 – Script-Reading and Peripheral VisionPeripheral visionIt also helps to be able to read in your head more than a few words ahead of what you are actually saying out loud. If a story has just...

  • 2022 / 10 / 4
    0643 – Warming Up To Cold Reads

    2022.10.05– 0643 – Warming Up To Cold ReadsWarming up to cold readsSight-reading is what many rolling news presenters have to do: pick up a news script and read it straight off, with the correct pacing and...

  • 2022 / 10 / 3
    0642 – Sight-Reading Scripts Tips

    2022.10.04– 0642 – Sight-Reading Scripts TipsCold-Reading (or ‘sight-reading’ or ‘off-the-page’) This is when you read a script aloud previously sight-unseen. You’ve not had a chance to proof read it, spot...

  • 2022 / 10 / 2
    0641 – Extracting Distracting Fillers 2

    2022.10.03– 0641 – Extracting Distracting Fillers 2 ·        Increase your confidence and reduce your nerves – again, we have looked at this topic together in the...

  • 2022 / 10 / 1
    0640 – Extracting Distracting Fillers 1

    2022.10.02 – 0640 – Extracting Distracting Fillers 1 Overcoming FillersNot all filler words need to be cut out, especially if you’re aiming to sound conversational (although it would be odd in a news...

  • 2022 / 9 / 30
    0639 – Why “Umm” May Make You Sound Dumb

    2022.10.01 – 0639 – Why “Umm” May Make You Sound DumbYou may not realise you’re using these words, but they could be really distracting to your listeners and the impression they give is that you’re poorly...

  • 2022 / 9 / 29
    0638 – Do You Like “like”?

    2022.09.30 – 0638 – Do You Like “like”?Do you like “like”?Many people find the developing use of this word infuriating. Critics say that it makes speakers sound stupid (“It’s like, when you’re, like…”), and...

  • 2022 / 9 / 28
    0637 – Umm, Err, Well, Kinda

    2022.09.29 – 0637 – Umm, Err, Well, Kinda Filler wordsIt’s easy for your ad-libs, conversations and questions to be littered with verbal crutches (properly called...

  • 2022 / 9 / 27
    0636 – Giving Good ‘Libbing’

    2022.09.28 – 0636 – Giving Good ‘Libbing’Giving Good ‘Libbing’Be aware of adlibbing minefields. You may find yourself travelling down a conversational cul-de-sac unless you are very sure of your territory. So...

  • 2022 / 9 / 26
    0635 – Killing Your Presentation With Bullets

    2022.09.27 – 0635 – Killing Your Presentation With BulletsKilling It With BulletsUsually what appears to be a spontaneous adlib has actually been prepared to a certain extent, either a moment before we speak...

  • 2022 / 9 / 25
    0634 – When To Ditch The Studio Script

    2022.09.26 – 0634 – When To Ditch The Studio ScriptThe role of the scriptA script is great when you need to fit in the accepted role as a broadcaster, maybe on the news bulletins or news programmes. It is...

  • 2022 / 9 / 24
    0633 – Other Voice Skills: Adlibs, Cold Reading and Talking To Time

    2022.09.25 – 0633 – Other Voice Skills: Adlibs, Cold Reading and Talking To Time OTHER SPEAKING SKILLSAn alphabetical list of other conversational considerations, from ad-libs to coping with verbal...

  • 2022 / 9 / 23
    0632 – Giving Yourself Voice Direction

    2022.09.24 - 0632 – Giving Yourself Voice DirectionSelf-directingIf you are a voice actor working from home, an ‘amateur’ podcaster[1], or broadcaster without an active producer or manager, then you will need...

  • 2022 / 9 / 22
    0631 – Your Role As A Voice Script ‘Meaning Miner’

    2022.09.23 - 0631 – Your Role As A Voice Script ‘Meaning Miner’Your Role As A ‘Meaning Miner’Sometimes when direction or a Brief is unclear, you need to do the hard work yourself. Well, you should always do...

  • 2022 / 9 / 21
    0630 – Voice-Over Studio Direction

    2022.09.22 - 0630 – Voice-Over Studio DirectionTaking directionPay attention, listen, ask questions, take advice and understand the process. Some directors don’t know how to explain things very well and...

  • 2022 / 9 / 20
    0629 – Getting Feedback On Your Voice

    2022.09.21 - 0629 – Getting Feedback On Your Voice VOICE BOXGiving and Receiving Notes Directors:·        Only have you give the feedback not everyone in the control...

  • 2022 / 9 / 19
    0628 – Voice Over Guide Tracks

    2022.09.20 - 0628 – Voice-Over Guide TracksGuide Track  In some circumstances, a ‘dummy track’ of someone else reading the voice-over script may already have been recorded before you go into a...

  • 2022 / 9 / 18
    0627 – How Voice Directors Can Help You Feel Part Of The Production Team

    2022.09.19 - 0627 – How Voice Directors Can Help You Feel Part Of The Production TeamVOICE BOXDirectors – make your talent feel part of the team:·        Introduce them...

  • 2022 / 9 / 17
    0626 – The Limits Of Line-Reading

    2022.09.18 - 0626 – The Limits Of Line-ReadingSecond, in asking you to “sound like this” it’s likely they will be putting other elements into their read that they may not realise. And you as a professional...

  • 2022 / 9 / 16
    0625 – Line-Reading For Voice Training

    2022.09.17 - 0625 – Line-Reading For Voice TrainingVOICE BOXLine readingA director may read your script to you, in the style they want you to emulate: a line-reading. This is slightly different from a...

  • 2022 / 9 / 15
    0624 – What’s Really Happening in a 1-by-1 Voice Over Read

    2022.09.16 - 0624 – What’s Really Happening in a 1-by-1 Voice Over Read·        “I must be rubbish. They’re asking me to record every line one-by-one!” – this isn’t...

  • 2022 / 9 / 14
    0623 – Don’t Nix The Mix

    2022.09.15 - 0623 – Don’t Nix The Mix ·        “Is this going to be mixed with music?” – as we saw before, when you talk with music underneath you, it affects your...

  • 2022 / 9 / 13
    0622 – Take Your Time and Sound (More Than) Fine

    2022.09.14 - 0622 – Take Your Time and Sound (More Than) Fine·        “This is taking ages…” Every job will have its challenges and it’ll all take as long as it takes....

  • 2022 / 9 / 12
    0621 – What To Do If Your Script Has Alarming Timings

    2022.09.13 - 0621 – What To Do If Your Script Has Alarming Timings·        “There’s no way I can fit all of this script into just 30 seconds” – there are too many words...

  • 2022 / 9 / 11
    0620 – Don’t Introduce An Excuse For Your Poor Voice Performance

    2022.09.12 - 0620 – Don’t Introduce An Excuse For Your Poor Voice Performance·        “Yeah, I’m rubbish today because the cat was sick, I had a row with my daughter...

  • 2022 / 9 / 10
    0619 – When It Hits That the Script Is Sh*t

    2022.09.11 - 0619 – When It Hits That the Script Is Sh*t·        “This script is really bad. It’s so poorly written, it makes no sense and ungrammatical” – don’t...

  • 2022 / 9 / 9
    0618 – How To Return After A Verbal Slip

    2022.09.10 - 0618 – How To Return After A Verbal SlipTurning Voice-Over Worries Into ‘Wonderful’·        “Sorry, I slipped on that. Sorry. I gotta concentrate. That was...

  • 2022 / 9 / 8
    0617 – How To Make A Sound Engineer Your Friend

    2022.09.09 - 0617 – How To Make A Sound Engineer Your FriendHow To Make A Sound Engineer Your Friend·        Turning up on time and being ready...

  • 2022 / 9 / 7
    0616 – The Voice-Over Studio Workflow

    2022.09.08 - 0616 – The Voice-Over Studio WorkflowLet’s just take a quick look at what happens when you go into a voiceover studio.·        Read the Brief and the...

  • 2022 / 9 / 6
    0615 – Voice Director Skills

    2022.09.07 - 0615 – Voice Director SkillsThe skills of a director[1]·        They are a bridge between the actor and client. They are likely to work with voice artists...

  • 2022 / 9 / 5
    0614 – Talking About Studio Talkbacks

    2022.09.06 - 0614 – Talking About Studio TalkbacksTalk-back micsThe gallery production area will have mics which are used to ‘talk back’ to you in the studio. Sometimes these may be left on (or ‘open’) as you...

  • 2022 / 9 / 4
    0613 – How ‘Control Room Characters’ May Shape Your Voice

    2022.09.05 - 0613 – How ‘Control Room Characters’ May Shape Your VoiceThe Control Room (AKA: ‘gallery’, ‘production area’, ‘ops’ [operations area], or simply ‘studio’!)While you are alone in the studio, other...

  • 2022 / 9 / 3
    0612 – Taking Voice Production Notes

    2022.09.04 - 0612 – Taking Voice Production NotesAlways keep a record of the takes that you do in a session, the number and the direction requested of you for it. That’s because in some recordings you may...

  • 2022 / 9 / 2
    0611 – What To Take Into A Voice Recording Session

    2022.09.03 - 0611 – What To Take Into A Voice Recording SessionPerformanceOk here we go. All that training and preparing comes to the moment the red light goes on! But we’re not there yet. Not...

  • 2022 / 9 / 1
    0610 – Top ‘Studio Day’ Tips

    2022.09.02 - 0610 – Top ‘Studio Day’ TipsOn the day of a recording or live ‘mic moment’·        Eat early - Don’t take a growling bear into the studio with you: the mic...

  • 2022 / 8 / 31
    0609 – What Is Not In Your Briefs

    2022.09.01 - 0609 – What Is Not In Your Briefs·        Context is important for the style of the read. Words on a page describing a family of tigers, their lifestyle...

  • 2022 / 8 / 30
    0608 – Your Voice Mixed With Music

    2022.08.31 - 0608 – Your Voice Mixed With MusicMusic and rough cuts – commercials, commentaries, documentaries and so on, often have the voiceover second-tracked together to play over the top of a music...

  • 2022 / 8 / 29
    0607 – Your Voice Over Role

    2022.08.30– 0607 – Your Voice Over RoleWhat is your role? – You are never ‘the voiceover’. Depending on the script, the situation, the story, the audience and so on, you may be a frazzled dad coping with the...

  • 2022 / 8 / 28
    0606 – Who Will Hear Your Voice?

    2022.08.29– 0606 – Who Will Hear Your Voice?Where will this recording be played? – Again, it can change your tone as a voice actor if you know that it’s for TV or radio or cinema, or to be played in an...

  • 2022 / 8 / 27
    0605 – What’s In Your Briefs

    2022.08.28– 0605 – What’s In Your BriefsWhat’s in your briefsWho is this for? - In other words, who is your target audience, the listener you want to hear this message and act upon it. That should usually be...

  • 2022 / 8 / 26
    0604 – The Brief For A Voice-Over Recording

    2022.08.27– 0604 – The Brief For A Voice-Over RecordingThe brief for a script recordingA written brief, a short but clear sheet of directions, will help everyone involved in a recording session in several...

  • 2022 / 8 / 25
    0603 – Pre-Prep To Keep In Step

    2022.08.26– 0603 – Pre-Prep To Keep In StepFor radio and podcast presenters specifically, your preparation may include:·        Planned spontaneity - Have a rough idea...

  • 2022 / 8 / 24
    0602 – On The Day Prep To Get A Better Voice

    2022.08.25– 0602 – On The Day Prep To Get A Better VoicePrepping promotes polished performances. ‘With-the-script’ and ‘on-the-day’ Preparation.For anyone talking on mic, your preparation will...

  • 2022 / 8 / 23
    0601 – How The Way We Sound Shapes Our Identities

    2022.08.24– 0601 – How The Way We Sound Shapes Our IdentitiesHow The Way We Sound Shapes Our IdentitiesOur voices convey so much more than just information. They can tell other people something essential...

  • 2022 / 8 / 22
    0600 – Vocal Confidence Through Familiarisation With The Script And Situation

    2022.08.23– 0600 – Vocal Confidence Through Familiarisation With The Script And Situation ·        Familiarisation with the subject – the knowledge of the script, not...

  • 2022 / 8 / 21
    0599 – Vocal Confidence Through Familiarisation With Yourself

    2022.08.22– 0599 – Vocal Confidence Through Familiarisation With Yourself ·        Familiarisation with yourself – we have to turn nervous self-consciousness to...

  • 2022 / 8 / 20
    0598 – Vocal Confidence Through Relaxed Breathing

    2022.08.21– 0598 – Vocal Confidence Through Relaxed Breathing  ·        Relaxed breathing – we have looked at this a few times. If you breathe properly your...

  • 2022 / 8 / 19
    0597 – The Vocal Confidence Quotient

    2022.08.20– 0597 – The Vocal Confidence Quotient The Confidence QuotientEffortless attention is when the challenge and the skill, are in balance. That balance is called ‘confidence’. To put it...

  • 2022 / 8 / 18
    0596 – Work Variety To Increase Your Vocal Experience

    2022.08.19– 0596 – Work Variety To Increase Your Vocal Experience  Work varietySome of that practice may come from lots of work in which you’ll be experiencing different kinds of reads and learning new...

  • 2022 / 8 / 17
    0595 – Why We Sound Different In Our Headphones

    2022.08.18– 0595 – Why We Sound Different In Our HeadphonesSelf-feedbackYour voice is very personal to you – get used to hearing it, learn to like it – but be aware of what you need to do to improve it. And...

  • 2022 / 8 / 16
    0594 – Wrapping Up Presenting Unboxing Videos

    2022.08.17– 0594 – Wrapping Up Presenting Unboxing Videos On screen presenters, whether that is for livestreams, or video conferencing or pre-recorded videos for YouTube or webinars, often find it...

  • 2022 / 8 / 15
    0593 – How To Practice Ad Libbing Skills

    2022.08.16– 0593 – How To Practice Ad Libbing Skills Looking lotsReally looking at the world around you. On your walk or commute to work (be careful if you are driving!), take an effort to notice what you...

  • 2022 / 8 / 14
    0592 – How To Practice Talking To Time

    2022.08.15– 0592 – How To Practice Talking To TimePractice Talking To TimeYou will also benefit from being able to ‘talk to time’, that is to fill exactly 10 seconds - or 7 or 12 or whatever - and to make...

  • 2022 / 8 / 13
    0591 – The ‘Two Brains’ Skill You Need To Master

    2022.08.14– 0591 – The ‘Two Brains’ Skill You Need To MasterPractice Having Two BrainsA way to practice receiving information and delivering it at the same time is to ‘parrot’ someone else’s news bulletin, or...

  • 2022 / 8 / 12
    0590 – How To Practice Sight-Reading

    2022.08.13– 0590 – How To Practice Sight-ReadingPractice Sight-ReadingAnother way to help you sight-read is to read aloud and ad-lib around the credits at the end of a TV show as they scroll up. Doing...

  • 2022 / 8 / 11
    0589 – How To Practice Script-Reading Accuracy

    2022.08.12– 0589 – How To Practice Script-Reading AccuracyPractice AccuracyKeep up your eye-to-mouth accuracy by reading lots of every style, and out loud. It could be bedtime stories to the kids, newspaper...

  • 2022 / 8 / 10
    0588 – The Cheeky Hack To Sound Like Other Voice Artists

    2022.08.11– 0588 – The Cheeky Hack To Sound Like Other Voice Artists Listen to Other Voice Demos Go onto voice agent websites and listen to the demos of other voice artists. After all, they have got an...

  • 2022 / 8 / 9
    0587 – Life’s Free Voice Training Opportunities

    2022.08.10– 0587 – Life’s Free Voice Training OpportunitiesListening lotsDon’t skip through the commercials on radio or TV, the internet or cinema! Watch and listen to every ad that comes on.[1]...

  • 2022 / 8 / 8
    0586 – 10,000 Kicks To A Better Voice

    2022.08.09– 0586 – 10,000 Kicks To A Better Voice Continual Practice I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once,but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.Bruce...

  • 2022 / 8 / 7
    0585 – The 3-P Formula For A Better Voice

    2022.08.08– 0585 – The 3-P Formula For A Better VoiceTHE THREE P’s FORMULAIf you want to claim you have a professional presentation (albeit sounding adlibbed), then you need to work at your craft.In the same...

  • 2022 / 8 / 6
    0584 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 3

    2022.08.07– 0584 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 3  Look at the lens·        Keep looking the camera lens ‘in the eye’ in the same way as you’d look at someone if...

  • 2022 / 8 / 5
    0583 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 2

    2022.08.06– 0583 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 2 Rehearse·        Have the font set to suit your sight. Although, the larger the font, the fewer words will appear at a...

  • 2022 / 8 / 4
    0582 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 1

    2022.08.05– 0582 – How To Be An Auto-Cutie 1 How to be an auto-cutie The speed of the read·        The prompter operator should follow your pace. That is, you...

  • 2022 / 8 / 3
    0581 – Prompts On Using Your Voice With A Teleprompt

    2022.08.04– 0581 – Prompts On Using Your Voice With A Teleprompt TelepromptersWhile we are talking about reading from a screen, a few words on systems[1] which project the words you have to read, onto...

  • 2022 / 8 / 2
    0580 – Video Call Voice Confidence Tricks

    2022.08.03– 0580 – Video Call Voice Confidence TricksVideo confidence tricks:So once you have set the lights and background how you want them, find the button on your video-platform that allows you to turn...

  • 2022 / 8 / 1
    0579 – Why Video Calls Lead To Vocal Loading

    2022.08.02– 0579 – Why Video Calls Lead To Vocal LoadingBut then neither is the whole tech and protocol of video-conferencing:Talking to people we can see and hear but are not physically with and so can’t see...

  • 2022 / 7 / 31
    0578 – How ‘Zoom Dysmorphia’ Affects Your Video-Call Voice

    2022.08.01– 0578 – How ‘Zoom Dysmorphia’ Affects Your Video-Call Voice How ‘Zoom Dysmorphia’ Affects Your Video-Call Voice [1]Seeing ourselves (and others) on screen can cause micro-stresses, and so,...

  • 2022 / 7 / 30
    0577 – How To Prepare Your voice For Video-Calls

    2022.07.31– 0577 – How To Prepare Your voice For Video-Calls How Your Schedule Affects Your Video-Call VoiceVideo-calls are perhaps more likely for those working from home, but try not to roll out of bed and...

  • 2022 / 7 / 29
    0576 – Why Video Calls Are Exhausting

    2022.07.30 – 0576 – Why Video Calls Are Exhausting  And don’t forget video-calls are really quite exhausting[1]And dullness saps your energy – mentally, physically and...

  • 2022 / 7 / 28
    0575 – Why Voices Are Raised On Video Calls

    2022.07.29 – 0575 – Why Voices Are Raised On Video Calls Why voices are raised on video calls Research has shown that when we cannot hear someone well because of noise, we speak louder, and make...

  • 2022 / 7 / 27
    0574 – The Zoom Settings To Make You Sound Better

    2022.07.28 – 0574 – The Zoom Settings To Make You Sound BetterHow to sound better on ZoomThere are a few tweaks that you can make in the settings that will make a huge difference to your voice. Zoom...

  • 2022 / 7 / 26
    0573 - … And What You Can Do About It.

    2022.07.27 – 0573 - … And What You Can Do About It.It stands to reason that the higher quality the input, the better you'll sound to your listeners, and it’s important to sound your best if you hope to leave...

  • 2022 / 7 / 25
    0572 - How You Hear Affects Your Video-Call Voice…

    2022.07.26 – 0572 - How You Hear Affects Your Video-Call Voice… How You Hear Affects Your Video-Call VoiceVideo-chat software compresses audio in a conversation, so it ends up not as clear as being...

  • 2022 / 7 / 24
    0571 - How You Sit Affects Your Video-Call Voice

    2022.07.25 – 0571 - How You Sit Affects Your Video-Call Voice  How You Sit Affects Your Video-Call Voice Bad posture can affect how you sound: ·        We are...

  • 2022 / 7 / 23
    0570 – How Appearing On Video Calls Affect Your Voice

    2022.07.24 – 0570 – How Appearing On Video Calls Affect Your VoiceLet’s briefly spend a few days looking at your voice on video such as home-studio webinars or YouTubes and Zoom-type classes or...

  • 2022 / 7 / 22
    0569 – A Piece On Earpieces

    2022.07.23 – 0569 – A Piece On EarpiecesEarpiecesBecause TV presenters don’t usually wear headphones on screen (although social media video presenters often do), they have small earpieces which perform the...

  • 2022 / 7 / 21
    0568 – What To Think Of When Buying Studio Headphones

    2022.07.22 – 0568 – What To Think Of When Buying Studio HeadphonesHeadphone considerationsA pretty good pair of headphones are worth it:·        Not all headphones will...

  • 2022 / 7 / 20
    0567 – Headphones: The ‘One Ear On, One Ear Off’ Style

    2022.07.21 – 0567 – Headphones: The ‘One Ear On, One Ear Off’ StyleThe case for only partly wearing headphones Some presenters wear headphones so that one ear is covered and the other is not, as it helps them...

  • 2022 / 7 / 19
    0566 – Why Some Presenters Go ‘Headless’

    2022.07.20 – 0566 – Why Some Presenters Go ‘Headless’The case for not wearing headphonesSome voice-overs don’t wear headphones when they record their spot, so they can be more ‘in the moment of the copy’...

  • 2022 / 7 / 18
    0565 – SQUEAEAEAL!! Headphone Volume And Feedback

    2022.07.19 – 0565 – SQUEAEAEAL!! Headphone Volume And FeedbackHeadphone volume and feedbackIn a studio you will be able to control the volume of the headphones to a certain extent. This is though, usually...

  • 2022 / 7 / 17
    0564 – How Wearing Headphones Improves Your Voice

    2022.07.18 – 0564 – How Wearing Headphones Improves Your VoiceWearing headphones improves your voice and presentationWearing headphones gives you immediate feedback on how you sound, and so you can make...

  • 2022 / 7 / 16
    0563 – The Weird Things About Hearing Yourself Through Headphones

    2022.07.17 – 0563 – The Weird Things About Hearing Yourself Through Headphones Hearing yourself through headphones “Headphones take your ears from the side of your head and put them right in front...

  • 2022 / 7 / 15
    0562 – Three *More* Reasons You Need Studio Headphones

    2022.07.16 – 0562 – Three *More* Reasons You Need Studio Headphones·        To hear a ‘split feed’, when the sound in one ear of the headphones is different from that...

  • 2022 / 7 / 14
    0561 – Three Reasons You Need Studio Headphones

    2022.07.15 – 0561 – Three Reasons You Need Studio HeadphonesMonitors (or loudspeakers / speakers):So we can hear the final mix of recorded audio in a room-situation (that is, without headphones), so several...

  • 2022 / 7 / 13
    0560 – From Microphones To Headphones

    2022.07.14 – 0560 – From Microphones To HeadphonesMONITORS AND HEADPHONESThese are all ways to hear audio while in the studio, either the audio that we are creating inside it or audio from another source or...

  • 2022 / 7 / 12
    0559 – Using A Mic, Right

    2022.07.13 – 0559 – Using A Mic, RightFinal mic thoughtsThe mic is your friend so look after it. Treat it with respect and don’t shout at it. It is there to help you, but it is sensitive.Having said that it...

  • 2022 / 7 / 11
    0558 – Studio Bacteria

    2022.07.12 – 0558 – Studio Bacteria Pop shields, filters, headphones and desk controls in radio stations are a breeding ground for bacteria and Valhalla for viruses, with all the spit, sweat and skin...

  • 2022 / 7 / 10
    0557 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Sibilance

    2022.07.11 – 0557 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: SibilanceSibilanceThis is ‘too much’ (whatever that is) of an ‘s’ sound, and in our line of work the pitch of that sound can be picked up and exaggerated by the...

  • 2022 / 7 / 9
    0556 – Pop Screens and Filters

    2022.07.10 – 0556 – Pop Screens and Filters Pop filters[1] work by either displacing or slowing down the flow of the air, to make it less aggressive on the mic head. There are two kinds.There’s the foam...

  • 2022 / 7 / 8
    0555 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Popping Ps

    2022.07.09 – 0555 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Popping PsPlosives (or: ‘pops’)This is the name for the small blast of air that hits the microphone when someone says words starting with the letter ‘p’. Put your...

  • 2022 / 7 / 7
    0554 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Off-Mic Audio

    2022.07.08 – 0554 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Off-Mic AudioOff mic audioIf your voice is off-mic, it will sound thin, muffled and distant. Move closer to the mic, speaking more clearly across its top (not...

  • 2022 / 7 / 6
    0553 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Mouth Noise

    2022.07.07 – 0553 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Mouth NoiseMouth noiseWe all have this to some extent, the sound of too much saliva in the mouth, or too little! The sound someone may make as they open their mouth...

  • 2022 / 7 / 5
    0552 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Interference and Hum

    2022.07.06 – 0552 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Interference and HumInterference and humThis is another kind of distortion, usually from external factors such as air-con units, mobile phone signals (not phones...

  • 2022 / 7 / 4
    0551 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Hiss

    2022.07.05 – 0551 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: HissHiss (or: ‘static’)This is usually caused when levels are set incorrectly during the recording and so the mic is picking up and boosting the ambient noise of an...

  • 2022 / 7 / 3
    0550 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Echos

    2022.07.04 – 0550 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: EchosEchoIt’s not quite the same echo as you get when talking in a tunnel or cave, where your sound comes back a split second later, but it’s the same principle: the...

  • 2022 / 7 / 2
    0549 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Recording Distortion

    2022.07.03 – 0549 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Recording DistortionDistortion (or: ‘clipping’, ‘overmodding’)When the equipment is set at too high a level for the incoming audio, the resulting recording is...

  • 2022 / 7 / 1
    0548 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Clicks

    2022.07.02 – 0548 – Mic Muck-Ups Solved!: Clicks Clicks Seemingly inexplicable clicks and bumps on a recording can often be traced to handling noise from the microphone.  In a studio put the mic on mount...

  • 2022 / 6 / 30
    0547 – Listen Out For These Common Microphone Muck-Ups

    2022.07.01 – 0547 – Listen Out For These Common Microphone Muck-UpsAUDIO TROUBLESHOOTING Basic studio sound problemsForgetting to put the mic on or turn it on – even pros very occasionally omit to attach a...

  • 2022 / 6 / 29
    0546 – Noise-Gates and Ducking

    2022.06.30 – 0546 – Noise-Gates and DuckingNoise gating controls the loudness at which a sound will be picked up or recorded. If it’s too low a level, it simply will not be allowed to pass through the ‘gate’,...

  • 2022 / 6 / 28
    0545 – Equalisation, Compressors and De-Essers

    2022.06.29 – 0545 – Equalisation, Compressors and De-EssersEqualization – or EQ – is a form of audio processing which allows you (or rather the studio engineer) adjust the volume level of a frequency (or...

  • 2022 / 6 / 27
    0544 – Studio Tech That Could Make Your Voice Sound Great

    2022.06.28 – 0544 – Studio Tech That Could Make Your Voice Sound GreatAudio ProcessingThere are technical ways (such as EQ and compression) of adjusting the voice that is being (or has been) recorded to...

  • 2022 / 6 / 26
    0543 – Mike’s Mic Problem: A Case Study

    2022.06.27 – 0543 – Mike’s Mic Problem: A Case Study Mike was referred for voice help by his studio engineer – a rather unusual route to consultation. The engineer’s problem was that where he placed the...

  • 2022 / 6 / 25
    0542 – Your Mic Levels Mixed With Music

    2022.06.26 – 0542 – Your Mic Levels Mixed With MusicYour levels with musicWe looked at the use of music beds before, but the important thing to remember here is the balance of levels between the music and...

  • 2022 / 6 / 24
    0541 – Your Mic Levels With Headphones

    2022.06.25 – 0541 – Your Mic Levels With HeadphonesYour levels with headphonesIf you notice a lower level in your headphones, you might begin to speak more loudly to compensate, and suddenly you’re in a...

  • 2022 / 6 / 23
    0540 – Mics At Noisy Events

    2022.06.24 – 0540 – Mics At Noisy EventsVOICE BOXMics at a Noisy EventIf you are simply shouting over other noises (perhaps to convey the excitement of the event[1])...

  • 2022 / 6 / 22
    0539 – The Magic Balance Between Mic Position, Projection and Recording Levels

    2022.06.23 – 0539 – The Magic Balance Between Mic Position, Projection and Recording Levels You can increase the basic loudness of your voice by turning up the gain[1] on your mic, but this will make you...

  • 2022 / 6 / 21
    0538 – Maddening Over-Modding

    2022.06.22 – 0538 – Maddening Over-Modding On occasion it may be impossible to anticipate external noise and so be unable to use any of the techniques described above, and therefore over-modding may be...

  • 2022 / 6 / 20
    0537 – How To Fix A Recorded Level That’s Too High… Or Low

    2022.06.21 – 0537 – How To Fix A Recorded Level That’s Too High… Or LowIf your mic level is too lowYour ‘live’ level can be boosted, not just with the main microphone channel but also the booster ‘gain’...

  • 2022 / 6 / 19
    0536 – Automatic Level Control

    2022.06.20 – 0536 – Automatic Level ControlAutomatic Level Control versus ManualIn a home recording studio, your mixing desk or the recording set-up on a video call may have an ‘automatic level control’ that...

  • 2022 / 6 / 18
    0535 – Why A Studio Engineer Wants To Know About Your Breakfast

    2022.06.19 – 0535 – Why A Studio Engineer Wants To Know About Your BreakfastWhen asked for “a bit for level”, it is surprisingly difficult to think of what to say! It sounds obvious but many people...

  • 2022 / 6 / 17
    0534 – “A Bit For Level, Please”

    2022.06.18 – 0534 – “A Bit For Level, Please”“A bit for level”Part of working out your correct mic position before you start recording or go live, will involve of course, you speaking in to the mic so your...

  • 2022 / 6 / 16
    0533 – Don’t Interfere With the Sound Engineer

    2022.06.17 – 0533 – Don’t Interfere With the Sound EngineerA quick word to be kind to your sound engineer. This is the person in a voiceover or dubbing studio who is likely to be doing the technical side of...

  • 2022 / 6 / 15
    0532 – Why You Need To Love Your LUFS

    2022.06.16 – 0532 – Why You Need To Love Your LUFSSound levels are gauged with decibels and ‘LKFS’ and LUFS’[1] and on studio displays which light up vertically, or with needles that wiggle, but essentially...

  • 2022 / 6 / 14
    0531 – Loudness Standards

    2022.06.15 – 0531 – Loudness StandardsIn a network or voice-over studio, a sound engineer will adjust your volume settings so the volume of voice is balanced with a similar level of those of other sources, be...

  • 2022 / 6 / 13
    0530 – How Recording Levels Affect Your Voice

    2022.06.14 – 0530 – How Recording Levels Affect Your VoiceSo, you have optimised your recording space as far as you are able, and learnt about mic technique – knowledge of each will help you ‘get a better...

  • 2022 / 6 / 12
    0529 – What To Wear ‘On-Mic’

    2022.06.13 – 0529 – What To Wear ‘On-Mic’What you wear ‘on mic’The microphone is a sensitive piece of equipment which will ‘hear’ everything it can. That means your voice, your breathing, the squeak of a...

  • 2022 / 6 / 11
    0528 – On-Mic Breathing

    2022.06.12 – 0528 – On-Mic BreathingTake a breath before opening the mic, so the first thing a listener hears is a word not a gasp. Also beware of lip-smacks when you take subsequent breaths when you are on...

  • 2022 / 6 / 10
    0527 – The Off-Chance of Being Off-Mic

    2022.06.11 – 0527 – The Off-Chance of Being Off-MicIt may sound obvious but make sure that you know which part of the microphone to talk into! With some you talk into the top, with others you talk into the...

  • 2022 / 6 / 9
    0526 – Speaking On Mic

    2022.06.10 – 0526 – Speaking On MicSpeaking on micSo you are in the booth and you have your script stand, then you need to work out how you can talk into the microphone, but also be able to read from the...

  • 2022 / 6 / 8
    0525 – Finding The ‘Sweet Spot’

    2022.06.09 – 0525 – Finding The ‘Sweet Spot’Having said that, a greater mic-to-mouth distance will give your voice a lighter pitch, with more treble, a thinness to the sound and more of the room acoustics,...

  • 2022 / 6 / 7
    0524 – How To Get The ‘Barry White’ Effect

    2022.06.08 – 0524 – How To Get The ‘Barry White’ Effect VOICE BOXMoving the mic slightly towards or away from you raises other issues to do with what’s called The Proximity effect. This is a...

  • 2022 / 6 / 6
    0523 – Why Six Inches Is A Great Length

    2022.06.07 – 0523 – Why Six Inches Is A Great LengthSo, what is “the right mic-to-mouth position”? It’s usually about 6-8 inches’ distance. Indeed, a good rule of thumb is the literal rule of thumb, the...

  • 2022 / 6 / 5
    0522 – Microphone Headsets

    2022.06.06 – 0522 – Microphone HeadsetsSome radio presenters as well as podcasters and YouTubers use microphone headsets in which the mic is incorporated into the headphones, similar to the ones you might...

  • 2022 / 6 / 4
    0521 – Reading Scripts From A Screen

    2022.06.05 – 0521 – Reading Scripts From A ScreenIn 2020, I started to read radio news bulletins from a screen. Before that, scripts were always printed out and reading them on air often meant that your head...

  • 2022 / 6 / 3
    0520 – The Mic-To-Mouth Position

    2022.06.04 – 0520 – The Mic-To-Mouth PositionMic positionLook back at earlier in the book when we discovered how to sit and breath better. Hopefully you are still using that ‘home balanced-breathing position’...

  • 2022 / 6 / 2
    0519 – Mic Stands, Arms and Mounts

    2022.06.03 – 0519 – Mic Stands, Arms and MountsMic stands, arms and mountsIt makes sense that desk mics are those on a stand, on a desk. And touch of the base of the stand, or a knock of the desk itself, may...

  • 2022 / 6 / 1
    0518 – Types Of Mics

    2022.06.02 – 0518 – Types Of MicsTypes of micsMost microphones in audio studios are on table stands or arms fixed to the desk which are height and/or distance-adjustable. TV presenters use either fixed,...

  • 2022 / 5 / 31
    0517 – What You Need To Know About How Mics Affect Your Voice

    2022.06.01 – 0517 – What You Need To Know About How Mics Affect Your VoiceOK now we are in the studio, the next important piece of kit to make the most of your voice is of course, the mic. Speaking with...

  • 2022 / 5 / 30
    0516 – The Clap Test For A Better Voice

    2022.05.31 – 0516 – The Clap Test For A Better VoiceThe Clap TestAs you are treating your room, check the acoustic changes you have made by carrying out the ‘clap test’: stand in the middle of your space and...

  • 2022 / 5 / 29
    0515 – Treating Your Studio: At The Very Least Do This

    2022.05.30 – 0515 – Treating Your Studio: At The Very Least Do ThisIf sound-treatment is challenging for you to try to at least do three things:·        Have a...

  • 2022 / 5 / 28
    0514 – The Difference Between Sound ‘Proofing’ and Sound ‘Treating’

    2022.05.29 – 0514 – The Difference Between Sound ‘Proofing’ and Sound ‘Treating’There is a difference between ‘sound-proofing’ and ‘sound-treating’. The former is stopping the unwanted sound getting in and...

  • 2022 / 5 / 27
    0513 – All About Acoustics

    2022.05.28 – 0513 – All About AcousticsWhat is in your studio space is important for your voice because if your sound bounces around too much, it will appear to be ‘thin’ and ‘hollow’ rather than warm and...

  • 2022 / 5 / 26
    0512 – How The Studio Space Affects Your Voice

    2022.05.27 – 0512 – How The Studio Space Affects Your Voice THE STUDIORecording locationThe studio space will affect your voice because too much other noise may be a distraction, you may be lost in the...

  • 2022 / 5 / 25
    0511 – What’s Stuff About The Studio Got To Do With My Voice?

    2022.05.26 – 0511 – What’s Stuff About The Studio Got To Do With My Voice?What’s all this got to do with my voice?Knowing more about studios, mics and the electronic processing of your voice will simply help...

  • 2022 / 5 / 24
    0510 - Your Voice In The Studio

    2022.05.25 – 0510 – Your Voice In The StudioThis Part of the book is divided into three chapters. First, we will look at the different equipment in the studio. Don’t worry we won’t be getting too technical...

  • 2022 / 5 / 23
    0509 – Vocal Variety

    2022.05.24 – 0509 – Vocal VarietyVarietyIf your inflection patterns are too consistent, then you're sounding bored rather than interesting. Depending on the material, sometimes your delivery should be fast,...

  • 2022 / 5 / 22
    0508 – Your Injection Into The Output

    2022.05.23 – 0508 – Your Injection Into The OutputRapport begins with realising that each ‘consumer’, viewer or listener is an individual who in most cases, has invited you into their home, their world, their...

  • 2022 / 5 / 21
    0507 – Personality and Rapport

    2022.05.22 – 0507 – Personality and RapportPERSONALITY AND RAPPORTGood presenters are ones who establish rapport with their audience. “A lot of people have complimented me for sounding warm and I think...

  • 2022 / 5 / 20
    0506 – Stop Thinking What You’re Doing

    2022.05.21 – 0506 – Stop Thinking What You’re DoingFinally - stop thinking about what you’re doingWhen you read a story or a script for the first time, be mindful as to its immediate meaning. What jumps out...

  • 2022 / 5 / 19
    0505 – Rehearsing Conversationality

    2022.05.20 – 0505 – Rehearsing ConversationalityRehearsing reading out loud makes you a better communicator; it’s a skill that must be learnt and practiced so it sounds as though you are speaking off the top...

  • 2022 / 5 / 18
    0504 – A Giveaway That You’re Reading

    2022.05.19 – 0504 – A Giveaway That You’re Reading A Giveaway That You’re ReadingSometimes it’s obvious you’re reading something because it contains too much information that you couldn’t possibly know...

  • 2022 / 5 / 17
    0503 – 20/21 - Suspensions and Stumbles

    2022.05.18 – 0503 – 20/21 - Suspensions and Stumbles  20 - Suspensions and Stumbles Consider leaving in any genuine slips and trips - so OK, your recording may not be not perfect but it will be more...

  • 2022 / 5 / 16
    0502 – 19 - Unlock the Full Stops

    2022.05.17 – 0502 – 19 - Unlock the Full Stops 19 - Unlock the Full StopsFree the periods and commas to recreate a natural verbal fluidity. Don't pause where the full stop/period is. Instead, ignore them...

  • 2022 / 5 / 15
    0501 – 18 - Play With Your Voice

    2022.05.16 – 0501 – 18 - Play With Your Voice 18 - Play With Your VoiceWhen you are able to, surprise yourself with what you can do with your voice. For example, you don’t just say “no” as a single note...

  • 2022 / 5 / 14
    0500 – The Anchor/Reporter Rapport

    2022.05.15 – 0500 – The Anchor/Reporter RapportStructureYou are a reporter and so you need to be able to succinctly communicate the distinct points that ‘make the story the story’, boiling down the issue or...

  • 2022 / 5 / 13
    0499 – Off-The-Page and Off-The-Cuff

    2022.05.14 – 0499 – Off-The-Page and Off-The-CuffConversationalThe best two-ways are a balance between what’s off-the-page and what’s off-the-cuff. ‘Structured improvisation’ if you like, working with the...

  • 2022 / 5 / 12
    0498 – TV Two-ways

    2022.05.13 – 0498 – TV Two-ways  VOICE BOXTV Two-ways A two-way is when a studio presenter on radio or t,v interviews a reporter colleague (usually one who is on location, but maybe in the studio) about...

  • 2022 / 5 / 11
    0497 – The Lead In – Working Example

    2022.05.12 – 0497 – The Lead In – Working ExampleSCRIPT:“I’m fed up. Another Christmas lunch on the way battling with my worn-out kitchen. Stuck drawers, crammed cupboards and simply not enough surfaces. I’m...

  • 2022 / 5 / 10
    0496 – React To Act

    2022.05.11 – 0496 – React To ActOne way to do this is a ‘lead in’ (sometimes called ‘the moment before’ technique): think first (or maybe say aloud) part of the conversation that’d take you into that first...

  • 2022 / 5 / 9
    0495 – 17 - Lead in Lines

    2022.05.10 – 0495 – 17 - Lead in Lines 17 - Lead in LinesBy creating the atmosphere of a conversation, it’s easier to pretend you’re in one.Most commercial copy sets up a problem, and then provides a...

  • 2022 / 5 / 8
    0494 – 16 - Rhythm Nation

    2022.05.09 – 0494 – 16 - Rhythm Nation 16 - Rhythm NationA formal script will sound ‘script perfect’. Each phrase and sentence will come with the regularity of waves on a shore, every one much like the...

  • 2022 / 5 / 7
    0493 – Sounding Like An Expert

    2022.05.08 – 0493 – Sounding Like An ExpertBe conscious of how you sound when you explain something to a friend and try and capture that feeling, mood, zone and so on to sound conversational on air.Here’s an...

  • 2022 / 5 / 6
    0492 – 15 - Pausing

    2022.05.07 – 0492 – 15 - Pausing 15 - PausingPut pauses in different places - as you ‘search’ for the right word or phrase (just don’t make it too often). These may be silent, or vocalised (“errr”). I...

  • 2022 / 5 / 5
    0491 – 14 - Gestures

    2022.05.06 – 0491 – 14 - Gestures 14 - GesturesBig gestures and facial expressions can be ‘over the top’ in a conversational presentation. Reign them back to sound more real and believable. But...

  • 2022 / 5 / 4
    0490 – 13 - Conversational Intonation

    2022.05.05 – 0490 – 13 - Conversational Intonation 13 - Conversational IntonationFlattening out your intonation (but keeping it in the correct place) will, usually make your sound more conversational and...

  • 2022 / 5 / 3
    0489 – 12 - Volume and projection

    2022.05.04 – 0489 – 12 - Volume and projection12 - Volume and projectionA conversational read is low key, subtle, friendly, authentic and so the voice you need is one of sharing not shouting. You need to...

  • 2022 / 5 / 2
    0488 – The ‘Word Merge’

    2022.05.03 – 0488 – The ‘Word Merge’As we saw much earlier, stringing words together can be good because talking too precisely leads to a clunky script. Another issue is, and again we touched on this...

  • 2022 / 5 / 1
    0487 – 11 - Contractions and Elisions

    2022.05.02 – 0487 – 11 - Contractions and Elisions11 - Contractions and ElisionsEnsure you have natural conversational contractions in your delivery: “they’ll”, “couldn’t” and (if appropriate for your...

  • 2022 / 4 / 30
    0486 – A ‘Stream Of Consciousness’

    2022.05.01 – 0486 – A ‘Stream Of Consciousness’Ad-libbing is a way to inject some personality into a read, to humanise it. You’re not supposed to be just releasing the words, you are meant to be like the...

  • 2022 / 4 / 29
    0485 – 10 - Ad-libs

    2022.04.30 – 0485 – 10 - Ad-libs10 - Ad-libsAd-lib around, swapping out words as you come across themIt’s acting, isn’t it? And OK, it’s a bit odd to script sentences and then ignore the structure. And so too...

  • 2022 / 4 / 28
    0484 – Articulation In Conversationality

    2022.04.29 – 0484 – Articulation In Conversationality YOUR ARTICULATION Of course, people have to understand what it is you are saying, and as we saw before, the level of articulation has to be...

  • 2022 / 4 / 27
    0483 – Eliminate Banality and Formality

    2022.04.28 – 0483 – Eliminate Banality and FormalityObviously, the kind of words you use will differ depending on your audience – another reason why you should have your target demographic front of mind. If...

  • 2022 / 4 / 26
    0482 – 9 - The Form Of The Words

    2022.04.27 – 0482 – 9 - The Form Of The Words   THE SCRIPTSpoken language doesn’t need grammar to give a meaning to the sequence of words. The grammar of the written word evolved to replace the...

  • 2022 / 4 / 25
    0481 – Conversation Questions

    2022.04.26 – 0481 – Conversation QuestionsTo summarise, ask yourself·        Who is this information important to?·        How...

  • 2022 / 4 / 24
    0480 – Focus On The Message More Than Your Voice

    2022.04.25 – 0480 – Focus On The Message More Than Your VoiceYou may find it useful to go further and question:·        What exactly is this product or service I’m...

  • 2022 / 4 / 23
    0479 – Pitching Your Presentation

    2022.04.24 – 0479 – Pitching Your Presentation Changing the words, the style, the pace and so on helps the message become more effective. Having a picture in your mind of the ‘target listener’ and their...

  • 2022 / 4 / 22
    0478 – The Emotion Duplication

    2022.04.23 – 0478 – The Emotion DuplicationYou need to be able to identify the different parts of the script that instil those emotions in you, so you are better able to replicate them in your voice and so...

  • 2022 / 4 / 21
    0477 - 8 – Know What The Desired Response Is Of That Audience

    2022.04.22 – 0477 - 8 – Know What The Desired Response Is Of That Audience 8 – Know What The Desired Response Is Of That Audience[1]So, you have the message and the person it’s being delivered to, but...

  • 2022 / 4 / 20
    0476 - 7 – Imagine Where That Audience Is Listening / What They Are Doing

    2022.04.21 – 0476 - 7 – Imagine Where That Audience Is Listening / What They Are Doing 7 – Imagine Where That Audience Is Listening / What They Are DoingSo now you know the kind of person the story or...

  • 2022 / 4 / 19
    0475 – The Geller Principle

    2022.04.20 – 0475 – The Geller Principle Radio presentation trainer Valerie Geller[1] says “there are no boring stories, only boring storytellers” and she’s right: it’s how you tell the story the images...

  • 2022 / 4 / 18
    0474 – The Information Equation

    2022.04.19 – 0474 – The Information Equation Information + Presentation = Communication Successful communication is largely a matter of presentation, and that depends on how it’s written and how it’s...

  • 2022 / 4 / 17
    0473 - The Listener's B-S Detector

    2022.04.18 – 0473 - The Listener's B-S Detector If you do not care, don’t know the audience, or do not understand the content - and let it show - the listener is very likely not to bother either. Their...

  • 2022 / 4 / 16
    0472 - 6 – Understand The Story Or The Message

    2022.04.17 – 0472 - 6 – Understand The Story Or The Message 6 – Understand The Story Or The MessageOnce you know who you are talking to you need to understand the message that you are giving them....

  • 2022 / 4 / 15
    0471 - 5 – Know Who *You* Are

    2022.04.16 – 0471 - 5 – Know Who *You* Are 5 – Know Who You AreYou need to know your role in this script-reading, what perspective you are speaking from, what gives you the ‘right’ to pass on this...

  • 2022 / 4 / 14
    0470 – NPR Advice

    2022.04.15 – 0470 – NPR Advice “So many of us listen to audio stories through earbuds. It becomes really intimate. One person standing really close and telling a story right to someone's ear. And this is...

  • 2022 / 4 / 13
    0469 - Keep yourself single

     2022.04.14 – 0469 - Keep yourself single  Keep yourself singleIt will be easier to talk conversationally, as though to one person, if your script reflects that hypothesis.  Radio people...

  • 2022 / 4 / 12
    0468 – Intimate Audio

    2022.04.13 – 0468 – Intimate Audio To sound credibly intimate, and less like ‘an announcer’, you need to convince yourself that you are talking to one single person. That way each listener will fantasise...

  • 2022 / 4 / 11
    0467 – Talk To Teddy

    2022.04.12 – 0467 – Talk To TeddyWhen I’m podcasting I… talk and feel like I am having a conversation with somebody, as do other people.When I started off I actually got my old teddy bear out and I sat him in...

  • 2022 / 4 / 10
    0466 – Where Are They Listening

    2022.04.11 – 0466 – Where Are They Listening  The next step is, in your mind’s eye, place ‘your listener’ in an appropriate location to hear your message. It’s what we do naturally when we call someone...

  • 2022 / 4 / 9
    0465 – Your Audience Reminder

    2022.04.10 – 0465 – Your Audience Reminder That person should be:·        A specific person·        A real person – so not...

  • 2022 / 4 / 8
    0464 – 4 – Talk To Them One To One

    2022.04.09 – 0464 – 4 – Talk To Them One To One 4 – Talk To Them One To OnePart of feeling comfortable is also being able to continually monitor the audience, their face, body language and voice for...

  • 2022 / 4 / 7
    0463 – 3 - Know Who Your Audience Is

    2022.04.08 – 0463 – 3 - Know Who Your Audience Is  3 - Know Who Your Audience IsWhether it’s a news bulletin for a radio station, a YouTube video or a voice over, you need to know who you are...

  • 2022 / 4 / 6
    0462 - 2 - Be Comfortable

    2022.04.07 – 0462 - 2 - Be Comfortable  2 - Be Comfortable You will sound more natural, conversational and as though talking to a friend, if you are feeling confident and comfortable, warm and relaxed....

  • 2022 / 4 / 5
    0461 – 1 - Study Natural Conversations In The Wild

    2022.04.06 – 0461 – 1 - Study Natural Conversations In The Wild1 - Study Natural Conversations In The WildTo sound conversational, you need to give the impression that you are talking without a script. If the...

  • 2022 / 4 / 4
    0460 – The Keys To Conversationality

    2022.04.05 – 0460 – The Keys To ConversationalityTHE KEYS TO CONVERSATIONALITY or ‘Tips To Make It Sound Like You’re Making It Up’or ‘ABCDE: A Better Conversational Delivery for Engagement’.  Hosted on...

  • 2022 / 4 / 3
    0459 – Does A Conversational Read Lessen Your Authority?

    2022.04.04 – 0459 – Does A Conversational Read Lessen Your Authority? VOICE BOXThe best reads are a combination of intonation, volume, speed, pause, pitch – all slightly dialled up or down depending on...

  • 2022 / 4 / 2
    0458 – BBC Presentation Advice

    2022.04.03 – 0458 – BBC Presentation Advice ‘Be yourself. Keep your style natural, conversational, lively and engaging. Try to help the listener feel they’re part of the discussion. Address the listener...

  • 2022 / 4 / 1
    0457 – Don’t Be A Micro-Phoney

    2022.04.02 – 0457 – Don’t Be A Micro-Phoney Radio presenters talk to millions of listeners, one at a time and yet the best ones still sound natural. But some new (and young) presenters hide behind an...

  • 2022 / 3 / 31
    0456 – The ‘Level 1’ Read

    2022.04.01 – 0456 – The ‘Level 1’ Read Level 1Style: A very loose style, more ‘street speak’ perhaps. The style may be almost ‘throwaway’. Further contractions in the script, and the ‘slurring’ of words...

  • 2022 / 3 / 30
    0455 – The ‘Level 2’ Read

    2022.03.31 – 0455 – The ‘Level 2’ Read Level 2 - ConversationalStyle: More ‘articulate’ than 1 (below), but not too much more. It’s still a conversational ‘speak’, casual but more ‘chilled’ than...

  • 2022 / 3 / 29
    0454 – The ‘Level 3’ Read

    2022.03.30 – 0454 – The ‘Level 3’ Read Level 3Style: The style relaxes further, with a bit more character in the voice. In some situations, this may mean less projection, less pace, with a touch of...

  • 2022 / 3 / 28
    0453 – The ‘Level 4’ Read

    2022.03.29 – 0453 – The ‘Level 4’ Read Level 4Style: Serious, focused and formal; less ‘heavy’ and ‘polished’ than Level 5, and certainly warmer, but still reasonable slow, dry and articulate. At this...

  • 2022 / 3 / 27
    0452 – The ‘Level 5’ Read

    2022.03.28 – 0452 – The ‘Level 5’ Read Level 5 Style: Clear and paced diction, shorter sentences (or even ‘statements’), and quite directive. There’s a still a heightened performance, it’s energised,...

  • 2022 / 3 / 27
    0451 – “Can You Dial It Down A Bit?”

    2022.03.27 – 0451 – “Can You Dial It Down A Bit?” And in doing so, if a director says “Hmm, you may wanna dial that down a bit”, you’ll be more aware of what it is that you need to dial down on, to give...

  • 2022 / 3 / 26
    0450 – Considerations For Other Reading Styles

    2022.03.26 – 0450 – Considerations For Other Reading Styles There are of course many styles in between these two extremes of presentation, all with differing levels of some of those variables and more....

  • 2022 / 3 / 25
    0449 – The Conversational Style of Reading

    2022.03.25 – 0449 – The Conversational Style of Reading The Conversational StyleNow the desired sound is someone who is more authentic, relatable, believable and conversational. Consumers don’t want to...

  • 2022 / 3 / 24
    0448 – The Announcer Style of Reading

    2022.03.24 – 0448 – The Announcer Style of ReadingREADING STYLESThe Announcer StyleThe ‘announcer style’ was typically an American format in the 1980s and 90s, scripts read with aggression, projection and...

  • 2022 / 3 / 23
    0447 – Conversational Contradictions

    2022.03.23 – 0447 – Conversational ContradictionsSo, let’s take what we have learnt so far to the next level. Some of what follows will enforce what we have looked at before, but other parts may seem a bit...

  • 2022 / 3 / 22
    0446 – Sounding Conversational - Introduction

    2022.03.22 – 0446 – Sounding Conversational - Introduction Kids rarely say “can you read out loud to me?” they say “can you tell me a story…?” And that’s what this section is all about: sounding natural...

  • 2022 / 3 / 21
    0445 – Expression Conclusion

    2022.03.21 – 0445 – Expression ConclusionGestures will enhance your vocal presentation.They help you focus on the person you’re communicating with and the sense of the story, to concentrate on truly...

  • 2022 / 3 / 20
    0444 – Choosing The Right Gesture

    2022.03.20 – 0444 – Choosing The Right GestureIf you are nervous (and there’s more on overcoming stress, later), it may be that you suffer from ‘expression suppression’: the life drains from your presentation...

  • 2022 / 3 / 19
    0443 – The Nodding Dog Syndrome

    2022.03.19 – 0443 – The Nodding Dog SyndromeSome people get into the habit of ‘self-conducting’ while they are talking, especially when reading from a script. They nod along to the rhythm of the words, or...

  • 2022 / 3 / 18
    0442 – Expression Suppression

    2022.03.18 – 0442 – Expression SuppressionSometimes you may need to sit on your hands and suppress the pressure to gesture. For example, if a newsreader, if it’s a sensitive or emotional story you may benefit...

  • 2022 / 3 / 17
    0441 – Signature Gestures

    2022.03.17 – 0441 – Signature Gestures What to Remember When You Gesture Mind your mannerismsWhen does your ‘signature gesture’ cross from being a trademark (such as, for UK listeners, the Anne...

  • 2022 / 3 / 16
    0440 – Thaw Your Frozen Face

    2022.03.16 – 0440 – Thaw Your Frozen Face The most communicative voices have active facial language. The voice from a poker face – one that looks like a ventriloquist’s dummy, with no life in the eyes,...

  • 2022 / 3 / 15
    0439 – More Advantages of Gestures

    2022.03.15 – 0439 – More Advantages of Gestures More advantages of gesturesGestures affect your energy, help lower your tension and raise your resonanceOn video people will see your energy – it’s...

  • 2022 / 3 / 14
    0438 – Gestures In Voice Acting

    2022.03.14 – 0438 – Gestures In Voice ActingVoice-over is acting, it’s not just about ‘reading out loud’.  Getting your whole body involved will help you develop your character: a ‘little old lady’ voice...

  • 2022 / 3 / 13
    0437 – Eye Contact For Video And Stage Performers

    2022.03.13 – 0437 – Eye Contact For Video And Stage PerformersEye contact for video and stage performersOK this isn’t about the voice per se but let’s just spend a short time looking at this closely...

  • 2022 / 3 / 12
    0436 – Gestures For TV and Video Presentations

    2022.03.12 – 0436 – Gestures For TV and Video PresentationsExpressions on Televisions - Gestures on TV and VideoTV video work can be a bit different. With audio production (either radio or voice over work)...

  • 2022 / 3 / 11
    0435 – ‘Verbal’ Gestures

    2022.03.11 – 0435 – ‘Verbal’ GesturesVerbal gestures – ones which enhance what you are saying or replace what you’re thinking, maybe:·        Moving hands in front of...

  • 2022 / 3 / 10
    0434 – ‘Leading’ and ‘Ideas’ Gestures

    2022.03.10 – 0434 – ‘Leading’ and ‘Ideas’ GesturesDifferent types of gesturesWhen you are speaking with an audience face to face you employ any of these types of gestures to help you influence them. So even...

  • 2022 / 3 / 9
    0433 – Adopting Authentic Gestures

    2022.03.09 – 0433 – Adopting Authentic Gestures So, gestures along with the words we choose and the way we deliver those words (for example a timid or a robust voice) helps in communication – the message...

  • 2022 / 3 / 8
    0432 – Your Lesson In Physical Expression For Better Verbal Connection.

    2022.03.08 – 0432 – Your Lesson In Physical Expression For Better Verbal Connection. Now this is where we start your lesson in physical expression for better conversation and connection. Of course,...

  • 2022 / 3 / 7
    0431 – Face-To-Face Gestures When Talking Face-To-Mic

    2022.03.07 – 0431 – Face-To-Face Gestures When Talking Face-To-Mic The ‘father of modern public speaking’ Dale Carnegie, wrote, “A person under the influence of his feelings projects the real self,...

  • 2022 / 3 / 6
    0430 – ‘Using Your Hands To Help Your Voice’

    2022.03.06 – 0430 – ‘Using Your Hands To Help Your Voice’Hold on, this is supposed to be all about talking, with your mouth, isn’t it? Well yes and no. Talking also involves the rest of your body....

  • 2022 / 3 / 5
    0429 – What is A ‘Natural’ and ‘Conversational’ Sound?

    2022.03.05 – 0429 – What is A ‘Natural’ and ‘Conversational’ Sound?Now let’s enter a new section in the [1]‘voyage of the voice’, with more communication skills.So far we’ve looked at how the voice is...

  • 2022 / 3 / 4
    0428 – The Speed Of The Read – A Summary

    2022.03.04 – 0428 – The Speed Of The Read – A SummaryAnd that’s the challenge: to maintain clarity and inflection throughout the script.“Sometimes the most powerful sound in stories is a lack of sound, or a...

  • 2022 / 3 / 3
    0427 – Peter’s PT For Talking To Time

    2022.03.03 – 0427 – Peter’s PT For Talking To Time Take some copy which has a required duration indicated on it, and read it aloud like you might in a demo, and with a stopwatch to hand.How many words...

  • 2022 / 3 / 2
    0426 – Peter’s PT For The Fast Talker

    2022.03.02 – 0426 – Peter’s PT For The Fast Talker VOCAL YOGA – PETER’S PT for the fast-talkerHere’s one of those infamous ‘Terms and Conditions’ statements you often hear at the end of ads. Can you...

  • 2022 / 3 / 1
    0425 – Pod-Fasting

    2022.03.01 – 0425 – Pod-FastingPOD-FASTINGThis is when listeners play back your podcast really fast, perhaps 1.5 or even twice the originally recorded speed (often referred to as “2-ex” speed). They may be...

  • 2022 / 2 / 28
    0424 – The Pregnant Pause

    2022.02.28 – 0424 – The Pregnant Pause Pregnant pauseThis is a pause that is full of meaning (‘pregnant’ means ‘full’) – it builds suspension and signifies significance.“And Prime Mionsiter, did you ever...

  • 2022 / 2 / 27
    0423 – The Difference Between A Pause And ‘Dead Air’

    2022.02.27 – 0423 – The Difference Between A Pause And ‘Dead Air’A Pause and Dead Air – the differenceA pause is purposeful production. It’s been included for a reason, for effect, for punctuation and a dozen...

  • 2022 / 2 / 26
    0422 – Pausing Practicalities

    2022.02.26 – 0422 – Pausing Practicalities Pausing practicalitiesIf recording a voice over often it doesn’t matter if you pause for several seconds in the middle of a script. A producer or director will...

  • 2022 / 2 / 25
    0421 – Too Many Pauses

    2022.02.25 – 0421 – Too Many Pauses Too many pausesEven though it’s important that each word be properly pronounced, overly precise diction with a micro-pause after each word, can sound very...

  • 2022 / 2 / 24
    0420 – Silence In An On-Air Studio

    2022.02.24 – 0420 – Silence In An On-Air StudioVOICE BOXSilence in an on-air studio  If an audio signal is not sent to a radio station transmitter for a set period of time, an emergency ‘tape’ kicks...

  • 2022 / 2 / 23
    0419 – The Problem With Pauses

    2022.02.23 – 0419 – The Problem With Pauses PROBLEMS WITH PAUSESIn commercial voiceovers, the pauses are often edited out to leave a ‘word-wall of sound’. I was once asked to record a daily podcast for...

  • 2022 / 2 / 22
    0418 – Pausing In Podcast Presenter Teams

    2022.02.22 – 0418 – Pausing In Podcast Presenter Teams VOICE BOXPausing in teamworkA brief look at the pause when you have several presenters on your radio show or podcast. When you have one or more...

  • 2022 / 2 / 21
    0417 – The Janice Pause

    2022.02.21 – 0417 – The Janice Pause The ‘Janice pause’The exaggerated pause indicating stunned surprise, or comedic drama: a trend from ‘Friends’:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSmp1ZSvelY  Having...

  • 2022 / 2 / 20
    0416 – Silence In Different Cultures

    2022.02.20 – 0416 – Silence In Different CulturesSilence for different cultures  In general, eastern cultures value silence more than word-rich western ones. In their book ‘Communication between...

  • 2022 / 2 / 19
    0415 – Silence Shows You’re Listening

    2022.02.19 – 0415 – Silence Shows You’re Listening Silence shows you’re listening In an interview, your guest has just made a significant or poignant remark, and to show respect and empathy – pause....