Master VO

Hi Master VO:

I'm wondering about technology. I am able to record at home and ftp to websites. That's no problem. But...how do I record from home and have the client get the file with just a few seconds delay? I know the technology exists, because a colleague uses it. Here's what I've found...

We have worked out a way to broadcast an audio-stream from our studio's computer to any other, using the Internet, allowing the receiving end to record the audio stream with high quality results -- as good as, or better than ISDN -- without the normal ISDN equipment or fees.

Except for an occasional check to see if we are streaming, it runs much like a regular phone patch session -- the difference being that the content is delivered immediately and you know exactly what you are getting (Audio levels, EQ, overall sound quality etc).

Got any ideas as to how he does it??

Thanks, in advance, for any enlightenment you might offer.

Diane

Welcome to the Dojo of VO, Diane,

Your friend, a very established VO pro, has all the bases covered. As professionals, we need to make like Boy and Girl Scouts and "Be Prepared." Now, does that mean taking out a second mortgage to pay for every technology a client might require for us to deliver files? ahhh.. Master VO says...no. As you might suspect, I have some rather strong opinions on this.

First, a definition; ISDN. ISDN (Integrated Digital Services Network) is essentially a Digital Service Line or DSL. In the recent past (Like, over the last 10 years) VO artists with home studios used an ISDN line to send real-time, two-way studio quality audio to a second studio. The reason for this is so a producer or director at a big agency could direct the talent as if he or she were in the studio with them. It requires an expensive "Black Box" at each end to make it work. You have to pay for the ISDN line from your local phone company or other provider, invest in the hardware (between 3 & 5 Grand!) and then pay line charges for the time you are on the line. I suppose if you are making $10,000 for a session or even 1500, that might make sense. However, if you are doing a great deal of business-to-business work, and not going through a big studio, why pay more than you're making to send your voice?

Recently, an audio software manufacturer in England, AudioTX, made a software based ISDN program for about $900 where you just needed a computer with an ISDN connection (and a special $200 ISDN modem card) (see a pattern here?) that enabled studio-to-studio, real-time, two way studio quality audio transfer. AudioTX also has a mode where a client can go to a URL and get the audio as streaming audio. I think that's what Ari is doing.

Now, the big question. Why the overkill? The modern Voice Over industry is an evolution and REVOLUTION in technology! Digital file transfer of MP3, WAV and AIFF (Mac format Wav's) files, via E-mail and FTP, as far as Master VO is concerned, makes this entire "Real-Time" process, in my humble opinion, obsolete!

Diane, you mention a "phone patch" session. Isn't that all you need to have a director direct you through the copy? VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) systems like Vonage and SKYPE make it REAL CHEAP! Why does a client need files in "real-time?" Oh, I suppose there are a few Cleo award winning, superstar producers out there that insist on this convenience, but if you aren't in that league. why bother?

If you must use the real-time, there is a new technology that is becoming available that uses a VOIP audio Codec, rivals the audio quality of ISDN, and is far cheaper. There are two companies rushing to get there products to market. "iSpeek" , and "Source Connect" . Source Connect is VST plug-in that currently only works with high end multi-track recording programs like Cubase, Pro-Tools and Sonar. A young technician there informed me that they will be coming out with a "stand-alone" product in the very near future. Seeing as I speek, i-Speek doesn't even have a product for sale, I can't speek to its usefulness. Go to the websites and check these products out.

These systems do show promise. If they can rival ISDN then I'd say it's a good tool to have in your VO studio toolbag.

I still have a problem with investing huge sums into products you don't necessarily need. When you are making over $50,000 a year with your voice over career, I might consider having one of these when some big shot with an unlimited budget calls your number!

Thanks for your question Diane,

Master VO out....(((((Gong)))))

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