Cash Converters

Cash Converters is a pawn shop chain common in the UK and USA. Each region has localised adverts for their population, each of which come with their own unique, memorable jingles.

UK version

The UK version has flute elements that play a familiar tune, following the same melody as their original jingle: “Cash con-verters…”, which I can’t seem to find anywhere, or maybe the jingle made me imagine the lyrics…

US version

In typical US fashion, there’s more production budget behind their jingle, covering their main USPs in a rap song. Credits to jingleandcompany.com behind this one. 

Eastern Motors

An ad that was most popular among the US people, mainly those within the East Coast, Eastern Motors was an iconic tv jingle. One of the better, more catchy ones on the list, with Mexican-style trumpets setting the scene. 

This iconic ad jingle was written by Ray Lewis, LaVar Arrington, Clinton Portis!

GoCompare

One of the most iconic car insurance ad campaigns in the UK. 

This advert, more specifically the chorus of the following jingle, became the official sound to represent GoCompare for a good decade after its release. 

Go Compaaaaaaare!

Nowadays they don’t use the same jingle, but they have a similar looking Italian opera singer guy in the more modern commercials. With the reputation he built for the brand, he doesn’t even have to sing anymore, you see him and the song starts in your head. 

Compare The Market

The notorious meerkat, otherwise known as “Sergei” sharply rose in popularity following a smart marketing campaign highlighting the amount of visitors looking for Comparethemarket.com, but mis-spelling the site as Comparethemeerkat.com.

Prior to the meerkat character stealing the spotlight, the original slogan was a typical jolly: “Compare the market, dot com!”, as shown in the ad below. 

That genius ad campaign got them to a point where they simply show a meerkat on screen and we know it’s talking about Compare The Market. 

McDonald’s: I’m lovin’ it

One of the most popular phrases in the world, the iconic catchphrase: I’m lovin’ it. 

Made popular by the talented artists Pusha T and Justin Timberlake, a shortened version of the song was used as the company’s official jingle. 

We’ve all heard the iconic, 4-syllable slogan before: 

“da-da-da-da-da… I’m lovin’ it!”, still popular to this day. Check out this 5 second clip to take a trip down memory lane. 

Nowadays ads still play the melody, just not always the traditional vocal one. One of the few slogans that people worldwide likely know. 

Moonpig.com

Any non-UK visitor reading this is probably really confused as to what the hell “Moonpig” is. For those from the rest of the world, Moonpig is like Hallmark, a custom greeting card company, except, completely online. 

The company was made popular with their simple but effective, regularly aired commercial with the infamous jingle: “Moonpig.com!”. Below you can view the same commercial millions of people in the UK grew up with. 

Simple, but effective right?

Meow Mix

This one’s old but gold for those from the USA. A smart play on words with their catchphrase: “it’s the only brand cats ask for by name.”

Check out this advert aired for years with the memorable jingle, love it or hate it…

Nowadays the sound is still sometimes used in Tiktok videos and reels all over the internet, but mainly for viral cat videos. 

Webuyanycar.com

This was another memorable UK ad campaign that swiftly grew in popularity with the simpl;e lyrics: “We-Buy-Any-Car, dot com!”

Check out the original British favourite:

A bit outdated for the Gen Z audience reading this, but as an older Gen Z member I still remember this from my childhood.

The importance of sound identity for branding

We at Voicebooking understand the importance of sound identity when it comes to your audio projects. That’s why you get professional audio production with every project you book through our platform. 

Sound identity goes way beyond just production, it also takes other elements such as sound design into account. It’s key for enticing the audience, targeting their emotions and senses, mainly people’s natural love for melody, and sense of humour. 

We hope you enjoyed this post on the most iconic commercial jingles, check out our other blogs here. 

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Short attention span videos

Videos. Videos. That’s all we talk about here. Who doesn’t love a good video?

As the years go by, it’s interesting to see how audiences’ preferences change. It’s no secret that TikTok changed the entire video landscape. People started enjoying quick videos and this started reflecting in society as a whole. Suddenly clips of 10 minutes length felt like a long film. 5 minutes? Too long. 1 minute? Forget about it. Welcome to the era of seconds-long videos.

Psychologist Dr. Gloria Mark even showed in her research that, on average, people only pay attention for47 seconds when watching clips. And I dare to say that this number is getting shorter by the day. And how can you entertain a crowd with only a few seconds?

Short attention span videos means that videos now have to grab your attention instantly. You are living in a moment where short clips have to go straight to the point to be most successful.

Short-form videos are basically created by slicing long-form videos apart. Which is a simple way to create multiple in bulk and share them on all platforms. But you have to create that wow effect. In 2024 this will be no different. You are now stepping into a zone of not just short videos, but they have to be as fast paced as possible. This is an essential trend for marketers and content creators to know about.

Let’s talk TikTok.

Let’s dance? Or let’s sing. Discuss society. Gossip. Let’s even promote companies. On TikTok you get this all at once. Since its global rise in 2020, the platform has not stopped growing and new opportunities became a reality marketers truly underestimated.

But going back to the love for short-form videos. You can agree with me when I say that Vine started it all. Their platform changed the creative landscape by introducing 6 second-long videos. Creators had to adapt to fit their short message in the most clever way possible. Vine really introduced us to the world of short video content. But Tiktok revolutionised it.

In fact, the prediction is that TikTok might surpass Facebook as the main marketing platform by the year 2024. As other platform’s viewing times are decreasing, TikTok’s just keeps growing. It’s no secret that the amount of influencers birthed through this app have changed the media landscape when it comes to influencer marketing. Now, audiences have a truly never-ending well of options, from micro to mega influencers, and the content simply doesn’t stop. TikTok is on its way to overtake both Instagram and YouTube.

Not only did TikTok incorporate short-form videos into their platform, they also developed a fully personalised algorithm. People got access to not only viral content but to a whole world of fully personalised content. Every like, every comment and every save influences what the user is going to see next.

Videos got shorter and users were convinced to post multiple times a day by the pressure of a fast-paced algorithm. The quick dynamic of TikTok threw a spanner in the works towards short-lived attention spans. Brands now need to get on board with that. Not just for ad purposes, but for storytelling, products and services, press releases and everything you can think of. Now more than ever companies need to hop on the train of creative content, but most importantly, relatable content.

With algorithms that offer so many options, audiences can easily skip anything you create. The content prioritised needs to instantly catch people’s eyes. And it needs to follow the trending sounds and even jokes created by the users.

Duolingo does a great job at relating to its audience with quick, funny videos, creating a combination of being silly and reminding people of its service:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeNxqEPT/

Or like Ryanair is doing with joking about themselves to connect with their audience

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeLpnYWT/

But let’s not forget, this is not only a TikTok trend, Instagram is following suit in the form of shorter reels, and even YouTube has introduced shorts. I never expected to say this, but the shorter the better.

Another Voicebooking favourite: Podcasting

Audio is booming once again. And we are loving it. At Voicebooking, we are no strangers to the world of audio. So it’s not with little excitement I share this trend for 2024.

As time passes, the number of podcast listeners are on the rise. Can you blame them? The amount of different podcasts out there is pretty much infinite. Listeners can get into politics and history, learn about the environment and animals. But also listen to the latest celebrity gossip or the most gory true crime stories. I could go on and on with all the different types of podcasts (share your favourite podcast in the comments, I promise to check it out). Ok wait – I am losing focus thinking about the next podcast I want to listen to…

Right now the most successful podcast in the world is the one from the one and only Joe Rogan. I dive even deeper into the secret to podcast success by discussing the Joe Rogan formula in this YouTube video. You can learn a lot on how to be ahead of the curve when creating your own podcast.

But what is interesting regarding podcasting, are its’ advertising opportunities. In 2024, the prediction is that investments in podcast advertising are to increase. Research has shown us again and again how audiences are willing to listen to the advertisements without skipping when tuning into their favourite podcasts.

It’s safe to say Spotify wears the crown. Their exclusive range of content has maintained loyal users for the podcasts available on their platform. And not to mention how Spotify Advertising allows advertisers to create free voice ads with text to speech technology, played within the platform. At Voicebooking, we are proud to work with Spotify, supplying those ads in The Netherlands.

Not to mention, this year, Voicebooking has officially expanded the podcast services. With over 10 years of experience, we finally started offering our services exclusively with handy packages from podcast recording to podcast mixing. With us, you have the control to determine exactly what you need, and we’ll assist where necessary.

Let’s bring AI into this conversation.

Okay. Let’s talk about the big elephant in the room. Nowadays… this elephant is probably AI generated. Back in 2022, and even more so this year, AI was the biggest topic in tech and the business world in general. And this will only increase in 2024. Let’s explore the latest trends in AI.

Organisations have started incorporating AI tools into their work, and even marketers have started making use of AI for their own creative processes and production. Since the focus is on content, it’s important for you to take a moment to learn about automated content creation. For example, Runawayml.com offers videos within seconds. You can request them easily through simple prompts. Just think of what you want. And it will be created for you.

These automated tools can create both written and visual content you may use by simply adapting to your inputs and requests. You can use it to publish content in all social media platforms with just a few clicks.

AI is essentially a talented marketing assistant that can work on content creation and planning, depending on how you choose to use it. We’ve put together a list of content creation tools which utilise AI, if you want to learn a little more about this for yourself.

The opportunities with AI are endless. The growth of tools have shown the amount of ways people have started using AI to benefit themselves and smoothen their path of work:

(Source: X)

But let’s talk about the biggest skeleton in our closet: AI voices. As of the start of 2023, the rise in demand for automated voices has grown dramatically. As one of the newest AI trends, this Google trends report shows exactly how the demand has increased in the past 5 years. And with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. With AI voices going through sophisticated processes and growing more realistic by the day, the future of voice over may lie at the mercy of artificial intelligence.

But wait. We aren’t quite there yet. There is a reasonable amount of growth to do before AI voices can truly replace a human. There is no doubt that AI voices have gained traction this past year, which will continue in 2024. The prediction stands that 60% of employees will be using AI tools regularly for their work.

Though as I said, it is a tricky situation for voices. Companies still have a preference for a human touch when it comes to voice overs. Audio experiences are essential for brands to communicate with their customers. And AI doesn’t quite fit the bill – so far…

As we are a company that is always working with audio, we are not strangers to AI. We have been offering our own AI Voice Over Generator since 2019. We always thought that this service can offer you to test out your voice over script for timing and impact in the best way.

AI voices are trending after all, so we want to have the option for you to work smarter, and not harder. The Voice Over Generator makes it possible to do this more conveniently, saving you time (and hassle) in having to edit audio in-app.

Personalisation of media

With everything I talked about so far, one important takeaway is: personalisation. It has never been this important. Trends have always existed. But with the even faster paced algorithms now, consumer trends have become the centre of all marketing activities. In an ocean of content, companies can only really stand out when they focus on people’s individuality. Around 60% of customers have been expressing how they become loyal with personalised experiences. And about 88% of marketers in the US have already made it clear how personalised efforts have made a big difference for their brands.

Let’s look at Spotify, again. They did genius work with creating the Spotify Wrapped. A moment at the end of the year where people get to reminisce on what they have been listening to all year.

It’s the perfect way to start a conversation with your customer. And it gives them a nostalgic and personalised feeling of their experience with the service. Because the more tailored your content is to your audience, the more you will interact and get their attention. People want to feel special and create connections with the brands they choose to buy from or use the service.

So forget traditional marketing. Forget the usual promotional steps you want to take when talking about your brand. Think outside of the box. Think of ways you can approach your audience from different angles. Ask them questions. Let them speak to you. Make jokes that are relatable. Be silly. Be authentic. And most of all, show why you can give them exactly what they need without the boring facts that they are tired of hearing.

And that’s a wrap.

That’s it. I know trends can be a bit overwhelming. You need to pay close attention to the constant changes in the digital world.. But you got this. The focus continues to shift more and more towards personalisation and making sure your brand is being authentic. The increasing amount of tools to help your production will only make your life easier. So don’t worry. You need to focus on telling your story and being able to relate to your audience. Try to pay close attention to the sounds that are viral, the types of videos that are getting the most traction and you can implement this for your own benefit.

Maybe start brainstorming your very own podcast? Maybe have fun at the office with videos showing your staff and work? Maybe even sit down and try to create work that balances playful storytelling and informational content. But make sure you are having a conversation. Make sure you understand the importance of consumer preferences now more than ever.

At Voicebooking, we will keep sharing our best tips and tricks for content. Let us guide you through the digital madness. Start creating. Start watching. And you will be ahead of the game.

The post Content Trends 2024 appeared first on Voicebooking.

Let’s go through how some of the big Hollywood studios produce their sound effects, with videos to show you how to do so yourself with a studio and microphone. 

Action-related sound effects 

Firstly, we’ll go through some of the more commonly used sound effects that you’d hear in action movies. So whenever you hear a slap, punch, or broken bone, this is likely how they did it. 

Slap sound effect

Are you filming a drama show? Maybe you just want a slapstick-like sound effect for an engaging advert of some sort. 

All you need to produce the same result are:

• A plate
• A large piece of meat

Next, you will place the meat on the plate, position your microphone above it, then slap away! Get a few in and see which sound works best, and there you have it, an original slap sound effect. 

Check out our YouTube short on how to create a slap sound effect

Body blows sound effect

For intense action shots where you’re filming a fight scene or something similar, you’ll find this one handy. 

To create the body blow sound effect, you’ll need:

• A pillow

When you get into your studio setup, bring your pillow, and hit it – Literally. So if you’re creating a short film and want some genuine sound effects, you can produce it yourself without relying on other commonly used sounds.

Squelch sound effect

Are you the next Tarantino? Maybe you want to create a Kill-Bill-Esque movie where the main character gauges someone’s eye out, or steps into a zombie’s corpse… Maybe something less sinister, like a footstep into unknown alien territory. 

For an effective squelching sound effect, all you need is:

• A tomato

Now you can up your indie film’s special effects budget, with an everyday household vegetable – well, technically it’s a fruit…

Here’s what it sounds like…

Breaking bone sound effect

Ever wanted to incorporate a broken bone in your production? One for the horror movie enthusiasts, the classical bone breaking sound effect is one that also doesn’t take too much effort to create. In fact, it’s much harder to depict a bone breaking through visual effects than it is through sound. 

To recreate the snapping sound of a broken bone, all you’ll need is:

• A celery stick

To create this effect, all you need to do is position your microphone above a celery stick, then snap it. With that you’d get a perfect, detailed snapping sound effect. It’s literally that simple, and you’ll never want to chop your celery normally when cooking again!

DIY atmospheric sound effects

Now that you’ve got to grips with how to create effective sound effects for action scenes, let’s go through how to create homemade sound effects to help set the atmosphere, or better yet, set the scene. 

The sound of walking in snow

The ambience of snow, whether you’re setting up a winter wonderland scene, or working on a Christmas ad, you can help set a better scene by creating some sound effects that imitate walking through snow. 

It’s also easier than you think, all you need is:

• A thick tea towel
• Cornflour/cornstarch
• Walking boots

Now that you’ve got everything together, you will now need to capture two separate sounds. 

The first is going to be the regular sound of footsteps, for this you can lower your mic and simply trod up and down on the spot in a rhythmic fashion, until you have enough to loop (around 4-7 steps should do). 

Next, add a decent amount of cornstarch to the teatowel, fold, so as to block all gaps, and squeeze, to mimic the sound of crushing snow. 

Lastly, combine the footstep sound effect to the snow crushing sound in an editing tool such as Logic or Ableton, then you’ve got yourself a stepping through snow sound effect. 

The sound of a crackling fire

Want to create a cosy scene of ambience? Perhaps you have a short film with a scene of a family around a fireplace, or even want to encapsulate the crackling sound of a campfire. 

This sound effect is surprisingly easy to produce, all you need is:

• Bag of chips/crisps

Firstly, empty the bag of chips and dispose of them how you deem best, you’ll only need the empty bag for this. 

Next, softly squeeze the empty chip bag to create the ambient sound effect of gentle fire crackles. Then, add some firmer squeezes for a few of the harder snap sound effects. 

Lastly, gently blow into the microphone to add somewhat of a white noise sound effect to the mix. And there you have it, a homemade fireplace sound effect. 

The sound of rain (and thunder)

The sound of rain is key for sad scenes, or even to create an ambience of being in a rainforest. The thunder sound is a bit more tricky, but we’ll take you through. 

You will need:

• A rainstick 
• A sheet of aluminium foil

The rainstick is the easy part, all you have to do is flip it and vary between heavier and softer rainfall sounds, to create a rainfall ambience. 

Next, with the aluminium foil sheet, ensure it’s rolled out flat, place it on top of the mic, and gently press it whilst on the microphone until you capture some sounds that mimic the sound of thunder. 

This part is a bit more tricky, so we recommend getting a good few takes in before stopping. To create an even more realistic thunder-mimicking sound, play with the reverb in your audio editing tool, to create a truly realistic thunderous sound. 

For those on a low budget, with access to a studio, here are 7 sound effects that you can do yourself. Alternatively you can speak to our sound design team and they can design unique sound effects that can be used for any type of production!

We hope you enjoyed this post and learned something of value today. Was there anything here that surprised you? Let us know in the comments below!

The post DIY sound effects for your videos appeared first on Voicebooking.

We’ll start right off with what the tricky thing about podcast marketing is. It’s not an article you quickly scroll through, like a blog. A podcast lasts, say, half an hour to an hour, and you have to take your time with that as a listener. The moment someone is in the loo briefly scrolling through their socials is not the time to also listen to a podcast for an hour. 

So when is it? People mostly listen to podcasts while doing other things. Travelling by car or by public transport or at home while doing the dishes or vacuuming. Moments when you don’t stare at a screen for a while, but can listen properly. The trick is to get people to listen to your podcast during those moments.

Netflix

Let’s talk about Netflix. Because this is also a challenge for them. For example, they don’t share direct links to their TV shows or movies on social media. The fleeting moment you scroll through your timeline is obviously not the moment you are going to watch the first episode of Stranger Things. Of course, the same applies: when you plop down on the sofa after a long day, you don’t want to search for what’s a great series first. At Netflix, they generate exposure in other ways. During Gay Pride in Amsterdam, for instance, a Netflix boat sailed along, entirely in the style of the bus from the series Orange is The New Black. The result? It was frequently talked about on social media.

@JOR_ID voor mij de winnaar van Gay Pride 2018, de boot van Netflix!!! #gaypride2018 #amsterdam #Netflix 💖💜🧡💛💚💙❤ pic.twitter.com/4XNSPlXgrm

— Tessa Rietveld (@TessaRietveld) August 4, 2018

Netflix is the king of playful marketing campaigns. But don’t forget that a rock-solid trailer and word-of-mouth can also be very powerful. If a friend tells you that a new series is really worth watching, chances are you will watch it too.

The same goes for podcasts. And even if you don’t have a huge marketing budget, anyone can help out in creating engaging artwork to share. Create teasers of an episode or as much content about your podcast as possible. Do whatever it takes to get people in touch with what you’ve created.

Of course, as you probably expect from us, let’s also dive into the deep with some practical tips.

1. Find a media partner

One thing that can help with promoting your podcast is to find a media partner. And then of course one that has similarities with your target audience or discusses the same subject as your podcast. They can share your podcast through their channels, such as newsletters, website and social media. But it can go much further. In Adformatie, for instance, you will see interviews about upcoming talks in CMO Talks, which we produce with Energize, by the way. By writing an article based on an interview in your podcast, your media partner has free content and you can get extra attention for your podcast within your target audience. It’s a win-win situation, without having to talk about money.

2. Read up on Apple Podcasts

To get high up the ranks on Apple podcasts, you need reviews. So ask your listeners if they would like to leave a review for you. If you do it really well then maybe even link a contest to it. You can give something away in each podcast to motivate more inspiring reviews. For example, an interesting book you have written, or you can give away an hour of coaching.

3. Share short snippets

Sharing short snippets on social media can also be very effective in attracting attention. Some sites where you can host your podcast, such as Anchor and Simplecast already offer teasers by default. And otherwise there are services like Wavve, which allow you to put a face to your audio in an engaging way. The master of sharing short clips is Joe Rogan. Watch our video here to see exactly how he does it.

4. A picture says more than…

If you prefer to go for still images, create an image for Instagram, for example, with a quote from your podcast. Make sure the style is in line with the branding of your podcast, so that it’s immediately recognisable as your production. Of course, the challenge then lies in choosing just that bit that grabs your target audience’s attention and leaves them wanting more. Just like Netflix does in the example below, as we discussed in a previous blog.

5. But a video says even more

Combine the previous tips and think visually. If you want to get likes on social media, you really need to do something with video. That’s why we have a number of cameras in our studio, which we run when we make podcasts. That way, we always have footage that we can combine with the podcast audio. If you are going to cut the audio, make sure you have multiple camera positions, so it is more engaging and you have the flexibility of different angles. An added advantage is that advertising the podcast this way can also be done on YouTube, which is a great podcast strategy! Like Lance Armstrong is doing with THEMOVE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNPCZYzGbYo6.

7. Dare to use your network

Don’t underestimate the power of personal networks. A new podcast may not have any fans at the start, but the host or guests naturally have people around them. Who in your network has valuable connections to your target audience? Ask them to put you in touch with two people about your podcast.

8. Take what you can get

By this I actually mean: dare to promote your podcast on your own channels. Netflix does that too, by the way. With push notifications, e-mails and even the home screen where they promote their own TV shows. If you don’t dare to share your podcast, ask yourself: why not? Do you think the podcast is not good enough? Are you afraid of what people will think of it? Is there enough support within the organisation, including management? Especially if you work for large organisations, there are many existing channels you can use. Amazingly, there are still large organisations that do not share their podcast in their newsletter. My advice is: don’t be afraid to go public. If in doubt, just try it once and see what the reactions are. Be confident of your work. 

Even if your podcast has only a few listeners in the beginning, there is no reason to panic. You will have to first invest heavily to build the relationship with your listeners. In doing so, also dare to use different tools than you are used to initially. It may take some time, but the investments you make in time and money will eventually pay off. Your first loyal fans will help you ensure your podcast becomes a hit in time.

And remember… Podcasting is radio. And radio is media…Media is entertainment….And so the same applies to podcasting: invest time. Success can rarely be counted in days. It takes months, sometimes more than a year before a podcast really becomes a hit. As I also said in our previous blog: show business is a slow business.

The post 7 ways to promote your podcast appeared first on Voicebooking.

Morgan Freeman

If you haven’t heard of Morgan Freeman in relation to voice over, you must be living under a rock. This man’s undeniable talent has mesmerised generations of audiences for decades with his unique, calming, commanding voice. 

Being nothing short of remarkable, Morgan Freeman has been involved in various projects such as the voice of Vitruvius in the Lego Movie, as well as Scooby Doo’s Mystery Inc’s nemesis: “Mr. E moreover”, and Batman’s infamous Lucius Fox. 

There’s very few people in this world who can even scratch the surface of Morgan Freeman’s voice over legacy. 

The late Don Lafontaine

The reason why the trailer voice is as it is today is due to the work of the late Don Lafontaine, legend who passed back in 2008, dubbed “the voice of god”. Unparalleled in his delivery and infamous for his catchphrase “in a world”, he’s dominated the world of trailer narration for years, recording over 5,000 trailers in his lofty career.

A true standard set, he’s able to convey emotion, drama and suspense through his voice, he’s set a true legacy that many have drawn inspiration from. We have a voice over on our roster that can also emulate the “trailer voice” in question here, his name’s Boet, and you can hire him today!

Tara Strong

A name on the list for her versatility, especially in depicting male character voices, Tara Strong is a voice over that’s worked as a voice for Dil Pickles from Rugrats, Timmy Turner from Fairly Odd Parents, and even Meg Griffin from Family Guy. 

Her ability to embody Timmy Turner’s youthful male voice in the cartoon is unparalleled, going to show how incredibly talented this voice over artist is. Her contributions to these iconic shows have left a lasting mark on the hearts of many children (and adults), one legacy that is hard to shake indeed. 

David Attenborough

One of the most truly iconic voice overs in British television history, Sir David Attenborough is known for being the voice of the average nature documentary as we know it in the UK. If you grew up in Britain, you’d know that nature documentaries just aren’t the same without his unique voice telling the story.

A voice you simply can’t imitate; whether it’s the passion, the personality or simply the art form he’s mastered, David Attenborough’s a true national treasure, the world simply doesn’t make voices like his anymore.

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones is a household name that has left a true mark on the cinema world with his unique, deep voice. Known for his commanding presence, he has been the genius behind various iconic characters, including Mufasa from Lion King as well as Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise. 

Not only has he played his part in breathing life into two of the most legendary villains in cinema history, he’s also shown versatility in the comedy classic “Coming to America”, as the King Jaffe Joffer. Though not playing the voice over role in that film, his resonating voice was truly a legacy set for years to come. 

Nancy Cartwright

Yet another example of an iconic female voice over who has voiced male cartoon characters. Considered a specialist in the game, her claim to fame is none other than Bart Simpson himself, from the popular cartoon “The Simpsons” (right?!). 

Not only that, but she’s also the voice of Rufus from Kim Possible, as well as Chuckie’s voice from Rugrats! Her talent is truly unparalleled, setting a standard for voice artists for years to come, especially when it comes to embodying iconic male character voices. A true legend of the voice over world. 

Seth Macfarlane

A man who’s pioneered and pushed the limits of the adult cartoon world, Seth Mcfarlane is a legend for the voicing of characters Peter, Brian and Stewie Griffin. 

Not only has he voiced various Family Guy voices, but he’s also the main character voice for the Ted movie franchise, though he does use his “Peter” voice, his voice is known for its versatility and ability to embody the characters he plays.

Walt Disney

One of the pioneers of animation as we know it, the late Walt Disney left a legacy like no other, leading to the classic Disney cartoon movies such as Jungle Book, Lion King and the projection of Pixar studios.

What you may not have known is that he was also a very talented voice actor, providing the original voice for the iconic Mickey Mouse character, before his untimely death in 1966. A voice actor who set the scene for years to come, it would be wrong to leave him out of this list.

We’ve also covered Disney’s content strategy in more detail in a past post, for those interested in reading more about his legacy.

Robin Williams

There’s very few people in this world who can even scratch the surface of the energy, raw talent and overall impression this man has left on the world.

The beloved actor, known for his roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji and Good morning Vietnam, Robin Williams, sadly passed away in 2014. The late Robin Williams was also the talented voice behind the infamous Genie in Aladdin, Fender Pinwheeler from Robots, as well as Ramon & Lovelace from Happy Feet.

Iconic voice overs 

These iconic voice-over artists have left an untouchable mark on the entertainment industry, captivating audiences and bringing characters to life with their extraordinary skills. Let’s recap the incredible contributions of these legendary voices:

Morgan Freeman: With his commanding presence, Freeman brought depth and authority to characters like Vitruvius in The Lego Movie and Lucius Fox in Batman Begins, a legend as legendary as they come.

Don LaFontaine: Known as the “Voice of God,” LaFontaine revolutionised trailer narrations and created a captivating cinematic experience with his deep and resonant voice.

Tara Strong: With her versatile range, Strong breathed life into characters like Dil Pickles in Rugrats, Meg Griffin in Family Guy, and Timmy Turner in The Fairly OddParents. 

David Attenborough: His smooth and buttery voice has truly left a mark on British culture, being the literal only memorable voice of nature documentaries, a national treasure, and unforgettable narrator.

James Earl Jones: His majestic voice embodied characters such as Mufasa in The Lion King and Darth Vader in Star Wars, leaving a lasting legacy.

Nancy Cartwright: Her portrayal of Bart Simpson in The Simpsons and Chuckie Finster in Rugrats showcased her exceptional talent for crafting memorable and beloved characters.

Seth MacFarlane: The creator of Family Guy, MacFarlane’s vocal talents brought characters like Peter Griffin and Stewie Griffin to life, solidifying his reputation as a master of comedic voice acting.

Walt Disney: The man who brought Disney to the world, and was the original voice artist for Mickey Mouse, setting a standard for the world of cartoon and voice over.

Robin Williams: With his captivating energy and unmatched talent, the late Robin Williams truly left a lasting legacy for years to come.

These iconic voice-over artists have gifted us with timeless performances, unforgettable catchphrases, and a magical world of animated and cinematic experiences. 

The post Iconic voices: True Legends of the voice over world appeared first on Voicebooking.

Boots #specialbecause (2014)

Aired just under a decade ago, this ad captures what a white Christmas eve looks like. Capturing the journey home for a busy careworker, only to be met by her friends and family, showing the true meaning of Christmas – Bringing people together. 

One of the more emotional ones on the list, a truly heartwarming Christmas ad by the one and only boots.

Heathrow Airport “Coming home for Christmas” (2016)

This ad follows two bears on their way through an airport, on their way to see their family for Christmas. Representing the old and forgotten gifts such as when a simple teddy bear would suffice, over tech and other modern gadgets. 

It really captured the moment when grandparents see their grandchildren at the airport, once again encapsulating the premise of reuniting families in the Christmas season.

Sainsbury’s “1914” (2014)

This UK Christmas ad is set during the first world war, showing how even through adversity, even opposing sides united for a moment, for the sake of the holiday.

It depicted a German and English squad momentarily coming together, despite their differences, playing some football and forgetting about the war. This may actually be one of the best Christmas ads of all time. 

McDonald’s “Reindeer ready” (2019)

This iconic christmas ad starts off with an animated young girl knocking on her moody teenage older sister’s door to play reindeers, only to be rejected. She was then upset and went outside, only to be joined by a real baby reindeer. 

Further towards the end you notice that the “reindeer” was actually her pet dog, when it fades to live action. I’m sure all of us remember what it’s like to be a child and have a vivid imagination, and this ad captures that perfectly.

John Lewis “Unexpected Guest” (2021)

This John Lewis ad could only be related to a stranger things episode. A young boy sees a rocket crash-land in a forest, to see a young (alien) girl come out. 

This ad truly captures the magic of Christmas and how children, regardless of the planet they’re from, can appreciate and be in awe about the festive period. One of the best Christmas ads we’ve ever seen.

The post The best Christmas ads of the last few years appeared first on Voicebooking.

1. Creating Conversations – Livestreams

With the rise of the internet, the world has gotten smaller as people can interact with each other over huge distances. A simple livestream now allows people to have real-time conversations with anybody in the world. And now that they are used to it, tomorrow’s audience wants to have conversations instead of just being spoken to. Therefore, live streaming content through platforms such as Twitch, Facebook and Youtube has become increasingly popular, as it allows for people to have live interactions with you and your content, making it all feel much more authentic.

If we take Facebook for example, only 12% of marketers are making use of its live streaming platform, Facebook Live. This means that even doing a quick and easy Q&A stream could set you apart from your competition, and allow you to come across way more authentic. Honestly, with 80% of people saying that they prefer watching a live stream to reading a blog, I might need to rethink my own content.

2. Power to the people – Interactive content

While live streamed video is one way of facilitating interaction with your audience in an authentic manner, there are also other ways to satisfy people’s need for interaction. One example of this interactive content can be seen in 360 degree videos, a medium that gives your audience the opportunity to look throughout the entire scene instead of being locked into a single viewpoint.

You can make audience members feel unique by allowing them to make decisions in your content, for example through an interactive quiz. Giving them power and influence over your content allows them to fully engage with it. As long as you create some way for your audience to control and affect the content they are watching, they will be more engaged with the content. And with 90% of marketeers already reporting boosted sales after making use of interactive content, you can only expect this trend to last even past 2023.

3. The rise of goldfish content – Short video content

Ever heard of goldfish content? We just came up with it ourselves. With the massive amount of content options available nowadays. It’s easy for audiences to switch to something else when they are bored. Short video content allows you to get messages across before they get bored, allowing you to hook these people instantly. This is very important since their attention span is very short.

According to research, our attention span has dramatically decreased in recent years. In 2000, it was 12 seconds. 15 years later, it has shrunk significantly to 8.25 seconds. As a matter of fact, we now have shorter attention spans than goldfish, who are able to focus on a task or object for 9 seconds. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that incredibly short video content on a platform like TikTok has gotten amazing traction in recent years. And there is no change for 2023.

People simply want to watch some quick little clips while on the toilet, instead sitting through a full 15 minute video. Even on a platform like Youtube, with its primary focus on more long form content, times are changing. Currently 75% of its audience watches Shorts every month, to put that into perspective: that is 1.5 billion people watching Shorts. This is a number that will likely grow, so make sure to get into short content in 2023, as there is a massive audience to capitalize on.

4. Make them work for you – User generated content

With so many companies vying for their attention nowadays, audiences are starting to get more and more media savvy. User generated content is the key to break through these new barriers. By using user generated content your content will be viewed as authentic, and like it’s endorsed by actual people. Research even tells us that 72% of consumers believe reviews and testimonials from customers are more authentic than a brand’s conversations about its own products.

User generated content is simply more relatable as opposed to content from a company directly. The people of 2023 are looking for brands they identify with, and there is nothing easier to identify with, than other people. A simple example is  encouraging people to write reviews of your products that you can share on social media. It was discovered that 84% of consumers trust peer recommendations above all other sources of advertising. The consumer from 2023 is more aware than ever about what is corporate marketing content and attempts to filter it out completely. User generated content allows you to get around this problem, and back into the heads of your audience.

5. Showcase why and how – Brand building content

Your video content should wholly revolve around selling your products, instead it should be about selling your brand. It is Brand Building Content that forms the future of marketing. Don’t focus on what you are selling, but why you are selling it. This means creating content like behind the scenes videos, interviews and brand stories. To give you an idea, look at this video from KIA where they highlight their brand value and try to stand out from other companies.

Or, merely get on social media during pride month in the summer, when the rainbow themed company logos are suddenly everywhere. As long as it showcases the values your brand stands for, it’s gold. Since 57% of people say that they increase their spending with a brand when they feel truly connected with them, it’s important that you make sure your content taps into this need for audiences to have a connection with your brand as a personality. In 2023 we need to realise that audiences don’t consist of the mythical “Homo Economicus”. Instead, audiences are following their heart more and more, so make them feel good about not only your products, but also your brand values. 

6. Creative Computers – AI generated content

Some of the things that we thought were impossible only 10 years ago, we now see on a daily basis. One of technologies that is currently making giant leaps forward is AI generated content. It was often thought that the only thing machines could never do was the concept of creativity. But nowadays there are a multitude of startups that have developed AI’s that can perform a whole host of creative endeavours.  From stories to videos and from images to music, they can do it all.

Our own AI voice generator is even able to make whole voice overs out of thin air. And with the development of new technologies going so fast, we are sure to see major innovations in 2023 allowing more and more marketing uses for this technology. Recently ChatGPT gained a lot of popularity with its ability to understand prompts like no other, and Dall-e Image generator has improved massively in only a single year as you can see here:

New AI projects develop constantly, some of them are able to make incredibly realistic AI art. Midjourney for example can create images that look incredibly realistic:

Considering that, in 2021, marketing and sales represented 20% of AI adoption across all industries, this will surely have more growth going into 2023. Possibilities could be in generating video descriptions or facilitating more effective creative processes through the visualisation of written prompts. When it comes to AI generated content, the sky’s the limit.

7. Brands as influencers – Creator Content

As mentioned before, audiences nowadays want to connect with people instead of companies. They want to see Creator Content on their timeline instead of Corporate Content. And when you understand that this is especially the case for the younger generations, we can only expect this trend to keep growing into 2023, and spread across all generations. This is why it’s important that you learn to treat your brand itself more like a person.

The big drivers of engagement in 2023 will be those same individual creators that have built a massive brand around them. Therefore it’s key that you make use of this potential by emulating their content with your own content. What I am trying to say is that you need to take the same approach to relatable content when communicating with your audience.

The local brewery of Rhinegeist in the USA, for example, made use of the “give this to Kevin” TikTok trend from the classic holiday film Home Alone to promote their taproom. By placing employees front and center while leveraging a popular trend proved to resonate with audiences, as the TikTok racked up more than 269,000 views. That is the power of creator content.

8. Not just a translation – Localised Content

It doesn’t matter what content you are making, it needs to fit in accordance with local cultural norms of the audience you are making it for. In short, your content should be localised. Just look at something as simple as language for example. While English has quickly become the lingua franca of the western world, this doesn’t mean there is no need to think about releasing content in another language.

Because even though your audience might be able to technically understand what you are saying, 65% of non-native English speakers prefer content in their native language. And with only 5.4% of the human population being native English speakers, this means you are reaching way less people than you potentially could. Localisation is more than just translating however.

Say you are trying to do business in Italy and want to push a Christmas focussed content piece. By emphasising dates like Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, you will instantly be branded as an outsider, as Italians put their attention on January 6, the Epiphany. Making sure your content is localised for the new markets you are trying to enter allows you to come across as a genuine business partner.

It shows that you are a professional business that cares about its customers. Forgoing localisation can actually damage your reputation in this new market, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that we are seeing a big rise in the amount of voice over localisation requests ourselves. People have noticed that by not localising your content they are giving up on huge opportunities that their competitors could be taking advantage of.

9. Looking for love – Influencer Content

We have talked about user generated content and how brands behave more like creators nowadays. One of the ways we can bring all these aspects together is by making use of those same creators through Influencer Marketing. By developing long-term relationships with your influencers you will gain the trust of your audience. Long-term relationships between brands and influencers are expected to become the norm in the next five years as it allows your audience to relate to your brand on a more personal level.

And the more users can relate to something, the more likely they are to click through and make a purchase. As of now, influencer marketing is responsible for bringing in, on average, $5.20 for every $1 spent on this type of marketing. A number that is only expected to grow in 2023.

A classic example of good influencer marketing is Venus Williams and the partnership she has had with Nike for years. Nike’s brand values are all about showing everybody can make it to the athletic top, as long as you work hard for it. Being endorsed by an athlete like Venus does not only give Nike’s brand authenticity, but it reinforces their brand values, as these are values Venus herself has spoken about as well.

Just make sure you are careful when looking at exactly what type of influencers you need to endorse your brand. Since failing influencer marketing campaigns often come forth from choosing the wrong individuals who don’t have the relevant audience or reach that aligns with your demographic. But when you find that one influencer that aligns perfectly with your brand value and audience, you have struck marketing gold.

10. The vision of the future – AR and VR Video Content

Probably the most futuristic video content trend that 2023 has to offer is that of AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) content. AR refers to technology that overlays the digital world on the real world. A famous example is the game “Pokemon GO”. In this game, players can simply view the world around them through their phone’s camera, while digital Pokemon are superimposed over the image for players to catch and collect. VR, however, goes one step further.

Through VR headsets like the “Valve Index” users are transported into a fully digital world. Everything they hear and see is fully digital while motion sensors allow you to move through this digital world freely. This allows users to experience 3D environments like it exists in the real world, whereas AR can project 3D environments on top of the real world. It’s an emerging technology that is gaining more and more traction with the general public.

In 2017, there were just 22 million VR users in the U.S., and by 2020 there were 50.2 million users. This number is expected to continue to grow and reach just under 70 million by 2023. And that is only talking about the US. The growth of VR is astounding in China as well. Of the estimated $72.8 billion projected to be spent on AR and VR in 2024, China is expected to account for 36% of that. So if you want to get in on ground zero of an emerging technology in an emerging market, this is the time to start building AR and VR content.

What it all means

As you can see, there are a load of trends that will be important to pay attention to in 2023. While this might make you feel a little overwhelmed, there are two key takeaways you can start implementing in your video content right now. The first one is a bigger focus on authenticity and brand values. By using tools and trends like influencers, brand building and user generated content you can create a more sustainable relationship with your audience. You are looking to tell the story of your brand, instead of trying to convince them to buy your products. 2023 will be all about trying to sell your brand.

To sell your brand however, you need to be able to get the attention of your audience. Audiences who are not drawn to one-way communication. Instead, the audiences of 2023 want to feel like they are part of a conversation. By employing trends like live streams, Shorts, and interactive content you can stand out from the crowd, and gain the attention of these audiences. All while keeping an eye on the further development of more technological trends. Such like, AI, VR and AR in order to spot the opportunities where you can implement these new technologies into your content. 

The post The ultimate video content trends in 2023 appeared first on Voicebooking.

Tip #1: Offer real value

Only start a podcast if you are convinced you can offer real value to your listeners. Do you have a unique topic? A completely different take on an existing topic? Do you have a special personality? Then you’re good to go.

Tip #2: Tell stories

People love stories. It’s the primal way to share knowledge and ideas in a way that is engaging and memorable. Listeners are also more likely to recommend your podcast to others. So: what’s your story?

Tip #3: Make sure you have a good mic for your podcast setup

In podcasts there is a lot of talking. Therefore, the basis is a good microphone. Or several microphones if you have guests or are doing interviews on the go. 

Tell me, how many times have you stopped listening to a podcast because the sound quality was lousy? Audio is the most important thing of all. Good microphones make all the difference.

Don’t want to invest in expensive microphones right away? Then hire the Podcast Case from Voicebooking; a mobile recording set for recording on location. Plug it in and play!

Tip #4: Use your microphone properly.

Professional equipment is one. Now it’s a matter of knowing how to handle it. As for the microphone, keep at least a fist length of distance between it and your mouth and use a pop filter.

You know, one of those caps that makes sure that all the pops and other noises you make while speaking are somewhat blocked. You can also polish away unwanted sounds in the editing afterwards, but this tip will make it a little easier for yourself.

Don’t edit your podcast too much, it takes the spontaneity out of it

Tip #5: Just start!

The pitfall in setting up a podcast is that you start overthinking endlessly about topics, formats and guests to talk to. You can have all the ideas in the world, but without starting you won’t know if it’s really good.

The beauty of podcasting is that it’s very easy to start. So just do that. Crawl, walk, run. 

Tip #6: Prepare well

Just start, but do think and plan ahead. Especially if you plan to create a series of regularly appearing podcasts. Make sure you have a good workflow. Prepare several episodes at once and also record several at once.

That works nice and efficiently. You will not be stressed when the next episode is due and nothing has been prepared yet. After all, it has to remain fun, right?

Tip #7: Don’t edit your podcast too much

Cut out things that are really distracting, like someone entering the room. But feel free to leave in “eh’s” or silences. This makes your conversations human and natural.

If you leave it in you also give the listener a chance to think for a moment. Hmm what would I answer?….

Tip #8: Comfort your guest

A podcast is quite exciting for both you and your guests. Therefore, talk to your guest before the recording. Go through the process, so you both know what’s coming. But don’t rehearse it too much either, because then you will lose the spontaneity.

Tip #9: Don’t record via Zoom

If you’re interviewing guests remotely, it’s best not to do it via Zoom. The audio is too compressed and therefore of lower quality. While you obviously want the best possible sound for your podcast.

Rather use a platform like sqzadcast.fm or Whereby. Or, better yet, ask Voicebooking to help you with the technology.

Tip #10: Pivot your podcast

You may know the term pivoting from the start-up world… Or from friends… It means changing certain elements of your product or service to see if that strengthens your proposition. A new podcast is also, in effect, a kind of start-up. Not everything is going to be perfect from the get go.

So feel free to test out your format, your guests or your frequency.

Tip #11: Put it in perspective.

Especially in the beginning, you won’t have hundreds or thousands of listeners right away. After all, building reach takes time. Maybe your topic is so specific that it is only interesting for a select group.

Don’t focus too much on reach. Even if you have 50, 100 or 200 listeners per episode. You know what helps? Imagine if those 50, 100 or 200 people got together in a room every week, listening to you? By visualising it like that, you probably won’t mind at all that you don’t have a big reach (yet).

Tip #12: Famous guests are not a must

Many podcasts feature famous guests. This is fun and increases the impact. But of course it’s not a necessity. It’s easier for your listeners to relate to ordinary people or fellow professionals. That always works well. Especially in a B-to-B market, you build a better relationship with your followers if you are close to them. So, forget those celebrities, invite relevant B-to-B people.

Tip #13: Always take a microphone with you

You never know what you might encounter along the way. If you are at an event, fair or seminar where you meet interesting people, you can always ask them to talk to you in a quiet corner. That way you’ll gather interesting sound bites that you can use in your next podcast. So bring your microphone, you won’t regret it.

Don’t immediately target thousands of listeners. A niche audience can be very valuable

Tip #14: Podcast soloist?

Although most podcasts involve people being interviewed or a number of people talking to each other about certain topics, you can of course do it on your own. It then becomes more of a monologue, a keynote or a spoken column. It’s more challenging to make such a podcast worth listening to, but certainly not impossible. Maybe you can be edgy, or even be provocative. Maybe you have so much knowledge about a particular topic that it’s engaging enough for a particular audience. Maybe you’ve written a book and want to summarise it in a number of podcasts. You see, plenty of opportunities to go for: me, myself and I.

Tip #15: Don’t write it all out

Nothing is more deadly to a podcast than a presenter who has written out his or her entire text and reads it up. You’re not a newsreader. You want the most natural conversation possible with your guests and with your listener. Feel free to prepare a script with topics and headings. But dare to rely on your ability to improvise. The longer you make podcasts, the easier it will be. 

Tip #16: Be yourself

Yes, I know. A huge dead giveaway. Sounds like a tip from your life coach. Yet it’s important when creating your podcast. Don’t imitate a talk show host. Don’t try to be an actor in your own show. You are unique, your story is unique. And so is your group of listeners. When you are completely yourself, you automatically create a unique community around you. That’s the power of a good podcast.

Tip #17: A good start…

No matter how good your intentions and ideas are for your podcast series; the first minute of any podcast is the most important. That’s when listeners decide whether they want to continue listening. So never just start a story. Get them excited about what you’re going to bring to them in the next 15, 30, or 60 minutes.

Tip #18: The rescue of a lousy podcast

In the beginning of your podcasting career you will make some lousy podcasts. That’s just how it works. Everything has to be learned. However, there are always a few strong snippets that you can pull out of a bad interview or conversation. Then you combine them with other snippets, comment on the answers and create a new podcast from a number of recordings. You should give it a try. You can always throw it away if you are not happy with it.

Tip #19: Use royalty-free music

Just a practical tip. Do you want to use music in your podcast? Then choose royalty free music. This could be stock music, free or paid. Or a song that you have made especially for your podcast. Just using a well-known song can cost you a lot in royalties and fines. Just saying…

Tip #20: The end of one podcast is the start of the next

At the end of your podcast summarise the content and thank your guests. That makes sense. But don’t forget to get your listeners excited about the next episode. By telling them who your guest is, what the topic is or why they shouldn’t miss this episode. You’ll be surprised how often this simple mechanism is forgotten. But from now on, it won’t be forgotten by you anymore.

The post How to set up a podcast: 20 tips from audio engineers appeared first on Voicebooking.

That’s often how people usually think about it, but there’s a lot more to audio post production than that. Check out our 3 audio production tips to follow for more effective sound.

Why audio production is important

Picture this: you’re making an animated video. We had to do this a little while back, and as a voice over studio we decided that rather than working with just 1 voice over actor we’d like to work with a whole load of ´em.

Everyone recorded from their own home studio. Which immediately provided the first challenge as every studio produces a slightly different “sound”. Volume varies, microphones sound different and there are differences in acoustics… Meaning, one voice might stand out more than the other, which isn’t great for users to hear.

That’s why audio production is important in the initial stages of producing a piece of media, it helps it sound more complete. To understand better, we’ve put together a list of 3 steps to great audio post production.

Steps to audio production

Let’s go through the 3 main steps that make up audio post production: editing, mixing and mastering.

Step 1: Editing

You have two forms of editing. Cleaning up the audio, somewhere that you generally start. Followed by editing in music and sound effects.

Editing speech

Sometimes, I can just hear people thinking: those voice overs speak so wonderfully, and such skill, that they can record a message in just one take. If you have never been to a recording before, then you should know that the vast majority of voice overs that you hear are a combination of a number of different takes.

The best takes are chosen and combined. Sometimes, the first half of a word can be from a different take than the second half of the word. Handy, if you want the intonation to be slightly different.

That’s why I always ask for multiple takes if a voice over actor is working from their own studio. After choosing the right takes, I remove any distracting clicks, breaths or lip smacking sounds. Sometimes I lengthen a pause a little and other times I remove one completely.

Music

The music you cut to fit as closely as possible, that goes for both the video footage and the voice over recording. Rework a track in such a way as to still have a clear intro, middle and an outro.

When choosing music, should you be offered the option of paying more for a longer version of the track than a short one. I suggest that you still take the longer form because it will usually offer more variety within it, which makes it much easier to make the best edit.

With our explainer video, we went a couple of steps further than making some cuts. Though it sounds like a reasonable whole, the track was in fact cut to pieces. And afterwards stuck back together. Here and there we added extras to it, such as the drone of the trailer voice over at 0:08.

Live action

You can do a whole lot with editing, but you can’t work magic. That’s why in many live action productions the actors go to the sound studio after shooting to ´synchronise themselves´. It might be that the sound quality during shooting wasn’t good enough.

Or that there was too much background noise on set at the time of taping, like gusts of wind or heavy traffic. Is it not possible to adjust the sound of the on-set recording then? Well, if you just make the dialogue louder in the audio mix, then you immediately raise the volume of the distracting background noise too. And that’s just what we wanted to avoid.

Step 2: Mixing

Good. So everything has been cleaned up, cut to fit and we have picked the right takes. Wherever necessary the dialogue has been rerecorded and synched with the video. We are ready for step 2: mixing. This is when we set music, extra sound effects and natural speech in balance. So, get ready to line up those equalizers, dynamic compressors, effects and the special processing, like de-essers and noise reduction features.

The voices in our explainer video were all recorded in the home studios of the voice actors themselves. So, you can hear a good deal of the DNA of each sound studio coming through. Fortunately, with a good equalizer and a healthy dose of experience an audio engineer can make two different voice recordings match really well.

When combining multiple voices the most important goal is that they sound good together. You therefore have to find the ´middle´. That can mean that the best sounding voice over recording has to be somewhat downgraded.

Nice, then… no worries, just dial back the mid-frequencies a little in the music track and make space for the voice over. As a consequence you can turn the volume of the music up a bit. And in that way the mood of the music should come through more strongly. In a good mix you will hear everything, whether you are listening via the speaker on your iPhone, on headphones or in the cinema.

The importance of a good mix

And still more important: in a good mix you can decide the focus of the listener. If the voice over says something, and you hear the music and also hear 5 sound effects all at the same time, then you may as well guess what´s going on. Chaos. But if you edit the voice over so that there’s breathing room, then you create a space where you can make the sound effects a little louder. And perhaps in contrast the music a little more in the background.

In this sense, the brain has all the space it needs to process the different sound effects. If they then emphasise exactly what´s on screen, you know for sure that the viewer can take in the whole moment. So you can see how the audio mix can be used as a marketing tool, with which you let the viewer hear and see what you want them to. Sounds good, right?

Of course, in our explainer we also used the ´steering the focus´ trick, around 0:54 seconds. Here the music dips a little. The music in fact stops entirely, which allows the voice over to really jump out. After that you hear the ´boxing bell´. Ding ding ding! And then the music comes back strong. This makes the effect of the three little microphones surprise bigger, and creates contrast. Contrast in the audio makes a video generally more interesting to watch.

Step 3: Mastering

Finished? Almost. The last step in the process is the mastering. In the mastering you make sure that the whole, what is also known as the stereo mix, sounds even better. We give the sound an extra upgrade. Naturally, we do that sound wise, but it also needs to work technically.

Why you shouldn’t skip the mastering step

With online video most of the time it will be played on a smartphone or a laptop. What you really want to avoid is that the viewer needs to go looking for the volume button in the first few seconds, because the video hasn’t been levelled and is therefore too quiet.

It’s important then that you mix everything at around 3 db and, even if you’re working with professional speakers, that you also listen to it on a smartphone, or better yet the crappy little speaker on the worst PC that you have to hand.

If you want it all super-pro, then have a think about this: you have just nodded off and are happily dozing on the sofa in front of your favourite TV show, when you nearly get a heart attack from the ad block… That’s why the ‘EBU R128’ norm was established. It means that all commercials and TV programmes sound equally as loud. For audio post production that does mean that your audio needs to meet strict guidelines.

Yeah, that’s all nice, Gijs. But what do you think is the most important thing about audio post production?

That you can really strengthen the quality of a production. By steering the focus of the viewer. Or by editing the music to create ‘chapters’ within the video.

If an explainer video first sketches out a problem, and then follows it with the solution, then you could edit the music in such a way that the first part is softer, and in the second part you create an audible change of atmosphere, as the solution comes into view.

With audio you can give clear impulses to the video. I think that’s really cool. We hope you enjoyed our audio post production tips. Remember: with the right audio, you give a video that last boost which really brings it to life.

Questions? Let us know in the comments!

The post Tips on Audio post production appeared first on Voicebooking.

Even so the importance of the audio production is often overlooked. Sometimes because of tight deadlines, other times due to limited budget. And that shouldn’t have to be the case, because nowadays audio production can be fast and doesn’t have to break the budget.

In my new video, I let you see how we approach it at Voicebooking:

Audio mixing. What exactly does an audio engineer do to help you bring your production to life? You have music, you have a voice, here and there some sound effects, and together that all needs to create an explosive mix. And the other extreme is that you don’t do a thing. Like now. But then the unity of your mix seems to be gone. You really have to do your best to hear what the voice is saying. Or you just set the music a bit lower. But then the magic of the mix is totally gone. What do audio engineers do to make a truly awesome mix?

Editing and using an Equalizer

First they remove any loud breathing from the audio, so that it doesn’t get in the way. And the volume can be increased to make the voice more easily understood. Then, an equalizer goes over the whole thing. Not just to make the voice sound smoother, but also to boost the frequencies that will make the voice easier to understand. How much you use it depends on the voice in question and the studio in which it was recorded.

Music tracks

Next, they use some tools to make the voice sound fuller. In case there’s some distortion on a word, like ‘here!’ Then they will fix that. ‘Here!’ Then the music. First they choose the best parts of the music so that the music track matches with the script.

Frequencies

Afterwards, it’s important that the frequencies that make the voice clearly understood don’t get in the way. Then they use the fader on the voice a little too. As far as finding the right sound effects goes, sometimes they find them on the internet. But many technicians make the sound effects themselves.

At the end of the music track in this case, we are using a nice whoosh and a heavy reverb. Nice. And there you have it. In this way the audio engineer uses a variety of tools to ensure you that your mix is optimised for all devices.

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