Hi everyone, it’s me with another blog.
Finished an #audiobook a little while back, and have been editing a special project, and it got me thinking about all that goes into putting these things together.
The first one I worked on was an Elon Musk biography. Starting out, I had a Blue Snowball mic. For those not in the know, these things are more for fun than they are for actual work. Next, I recorded in my work office. Not an audiobook work office, but the office where Amanda and I did our day jobs. No sound treatment, other than a blanket over the desk where I had my laptop. No voiceover training, and no acting lessons. Just a pretty straight read. The only thing I had going for me was my audio production skills, but, alas, it’s hard to polish a turd. It sounds exactly like I said it did, like it was recorded in an untreated room.
Flash ahead to this past year, where I got the go-ahead from a PenguinRandomHouse engineer to record from my own studio for Seth Rogen’s Yearbook audiobook. I didn’t master that book, obviously, but I am responsible for how I sounded, and I thought I sounded pretty damn good.
The big difference between 2018 and 2021 is immense; I’ve upgraded equipment, had my own studio built (and rebuilt), got some training (from the esteemed Johnny Heller), went to a few online conventions and learned a few new tricks. Everything has built off of everything else.
But you can’t stop.
I still plan on taking more acting classes, visiting more conventions, upgrading equipment as needed (although, unless a U87 is dropped into my lap, I’m more than happy with my Sennheiser 416). And getting new software is always a blast.
Anyhow, this was just a little insight as to how I got here, and what it took. Going to keep doing what it takes to make sure I can give Johnny Heller and Scott Brick a little competition. Gotta dream big.