My revised submission was immediately rejected
Hi
I sent an initial sample for my application. It came back with a lot of feedback as below. I then went to work on this feedback, ensured all this was addressed, assured myself that the second revised submission was audibly clear and passed the ACX check in Audacity for acceptable voice quality. Surprisingly, the revised sample was also rejected within a few minutes of submission. I've attached a link to both samples and would like to understand why the same feedback was given in both instances.
1) Room Echo - The acoustic conditions in your recording space are not ideal. Proper treatment to prevent room echo and reverberations is a must when trying to achieve professional results. Please re-record in a room/studio/booth with proper acoustic treatment where this won’t be a problem.
2) Mic Technique - Summing to the previous issue, your voice sounds removed from the microphone, which only augments the audible room echo. Remember to speak closely into your microphone, to always use an appropriate pop-filter and to check your levels while recording. For a VO artist, the microphone is an instrument.
3) Mouth Clicks/Noises & Breaths - Your deliverable is affected by these sounds, which should be always edited out carefully and seamlessly. Please, after re-recording, make sure you take care of the noises corresponding to the start and/or ligatures of words/sentences.
4) Distortion/Clipping - Your submission presents severe acoustic distortion, with an audibly and visibly clipping signal.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19hK8XnY2E4dY-Xqo0dIfse63vny3o2VC/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XdnL_kgp90dqiJXdNDVt5Jt1ublYKbD_/view?usp=sharing
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Hello Hector,
Thanks for your words of encouragement and offer to review some more recordings. I took the liberty to record a few more different scripts with different genres in the same setting. I also ensured I was not having loud peaks and used the Normalize item processing in Reaper on my raw recordings.
More energetic fast paced commercial
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hv9--sJ-OwLYiYNmzW4MGjXoo-XfawbR/view?usp=sharing
Slower paced commercial
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JKlE3Mh1_PCdlqDutoSlOUtdi_LZ2htL/view?usp=sharing
Narration
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XH20g3dOECANna9Yrc7yQxO-k3lYG3b6/view?usp=sharing
Public service announcement, serious tone
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uWsNo7op9Xt80ZlIcX3xG9hx2DVWMfJB/view?usp=sharing
Ebook/Documentary
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13qdN1QL2MbQKVrHLiKNli8TjUhoEjT1V/view?usp=sharing
Thanks and have a great weekend
Jagan
Hello Hector
I got an email from Voice Bunny today to submit my voice over for the application. I'll likely do that later tonight in India or tomorrow. Meanwhile, if you do get a chance, it'll be great to get your review on the samples I sent you last weekend. That'll give me the confidence to go ahead and submit. I'll keep you posted when I've submitted for the application.
Thanks
Jagan
Hello Hector,
Looks like you are super busy. I'll accept the project tomorrow (my Friday) and then let you know when I've submitted my recording. Hopefully, you can still review my samples when you get the chance.
Thanks
Jagan
Jagan, the man!
You, my friend, are ready for primetime and will do terrifically in your admission project, I'm sure of that! Just keep up the confidence and keep practicing. My only comment would be to always listen back to your recordings and try to pick up the little things, like in this case the slight plosives in your recordings.
While applying a low-cut filter at 80 Hz would likely "solve" the issue in post, the most important thing is to not generate those when reading. I'd recommend placing a pencil between your lips and the pop filter (leaving about an inch of distance between each) or even your own index finger. That can 'break' the burst of air that your speech has a tendency to expel when pronouncing hard consonants.
The other thing to do and my favorite tip is to just do some face gymnastics (you'll look silly but they work) and to be very conscious of how your lips are positioned when you utter words with plosives. Usually, it is the case that our lips purse and project the air forward in those hard consonants, causing the burst of air to project and hit the mic capsule. I had the problem in the past and a few weeks of trying to 'smile' instead of pursing my lips corrected the issue from the source. This may take a bit of practice as you can gather and will lead you to experiment in how to better pronounce those phonemes, but it's worth it, I can assure you!
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you, mate! Please don't be discouraged if we ask for a revision or two and prepared to be accepted at once if you rock the audition as I sure you'll do!
Cheers and good luck!
Hello Hector
I've now submitted my recording for the audition. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Regards
Jagan
Hello Hector
Very disappointed that I got this comment almost instantaneously. Don't know how to take it forward now. I'm zapped.
Gabriel Uribe
INSTRUCTIONS
Hi, Thank you for your submission; we greatly appreciate your effort. Unfortunately, we have found the following issue(s) in your recording: 1. There is audible room echo (reverberation) impacting your recording. Please ensure you record in an acoustically treated space. If you already have acoustic treatment, it may not be adequate. You'll find tips on acoustic treatment on our community page: https://bit.ly/2MrNsSV. Please revise and resubmit so that we may proceed with the comprehensive screening of your audio. We trust our feedback will help you improve the quality of your work and achieve professional results.
Frankly, the inconsistency between different quality control personnel is what happened the last time around. You got me past the audio quality issues but now this immediate feedback again about echo is very disconcerting. Hoping you can give me advice. Looks like I only have 1 day left for resubmission
Hey, Jagan!
Please don't be discouraged and resubmit, it's all part of the process. I know as a pro and QC Agent that it can feel discouraging at times but don't despair.
I'll try to look into the audition, but please try to stay in good spirits, we've come a long way since this coaching started. I'm sure we can make it work.
I'll be on the lookout for any developments, so please keep us posted!
I'm rooting for you, mate!
Hello Hector,
I've submitted the revision. I am thinking if the echo was introduced because I stepped a little back from the pop filter to reduce plosives but I may have ended up with my voice outside the acoustic foam and padding area. It definitely sounds better but let us see where it goes.
Regards
Jagan
Hello Hector
I received a confirmation from Voicebunny that my test project passed and I'm now a pro. Thanks for this and full credit goes to your tireless efforts to coach me. Thanks again
Jagan
Hello Hector,
Wanted your guidance/answers to my questions below. Please feel free to redirect me to the correct channel, so that I don't keep troubling you.
I uploaded a few more samples. One of them immediately got approved while two of them are Pending Review. I couldn't determine why one got approved while the others are waiting for review. Any reason?
My younger daughter has been with my voice over journey for the last one year and she's very passionate to do voice acting as well. She's nearly 12 years. I have shared her voiceover recording for your reference. Should I create a separate account for her on Voicebunny and have her go through the application process? Or any other suggestion:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D8h_gzKqQBJFdHIgSxvCg_9TM3AvFIgC/view?usp=sharing
Regards
Jagan
Hey, Jagan!
It's always a pleasure to help and to hear from you, man. No worries!
I'll ask our manager in charge of samples to see what's going on, sometimes our algorithm rejects samples automatically and that lets us know that something might be needing attention, so don't worry too much about it. We can get it sorted, no doubt about it.
Yes, you need to create and administer her account as she'd be a child pro once she goes through the admissions process, the same as you have done. If she'll be using the same recording setup as you, I'd recommend you beef up the sound-absorbing materials as her voice (for natural reasons) is registering more reverberations due to the nasty issue of physics. She sounds really good, too! I'd recommend that she applies in the 'Teen' category and to select the Child as a second possible age bracket, as her voice sounds a bit mature for her age and what most clients conceive as a 'child's' voice.
Looking forward to hearing more from you, mate!
Hello Hector,
Thanks for your reply. Hope you are enjoying the Independence day weekend and staying safe. All my samples are now approved and shown on my profile page. I'm keenly awaiting my first real project! Keeping my fingers crossed.
About my daughter, I'll probably wait for a few projects before applying for her separately.
Regards
Jagan
Hey, Jagan!
Thank you for the kind wishes, we're still safe and sound, fortunately! I truly hope that you and your loved ones are also safe and healthy.
That's amazing! I'm sure you'll start showing up on client searches and that you'll be invited to projects sooner than you think. It does take some time, as it is to be expected, but all good things do so. One of the most common pieces of advice we dispense to new pros is to try and produce as many great quality samples as possible so that your profile gets picked up more often by our clients. A usual recommendation is to try for at least 60 samples in all categories and with as much variety as possible, so keep on working to build up your portfolio! I know you've got what it takes.
Well, you know that we can coach you and your young one any time, mate. We're always here to provide support for the both of you whenever it's needed. Just say the word =)
Cheers!
Hello Hector
I have uploaded a bunch of samples in a variety of categories. I have 11 samples in my portfolio now. Will upload more every weekend.
Regards
Jagan
That sounds like a plan, Jagan!
Remember we're always here to assist you should you need it. It's been a thrill to be part of your growth in the craft this past couple of months, congratulations mate!
Best wishes of health and safety for you and your loved ones!
- Héctor.
Hello Hector,
Hope you and your family are all staying safe during these difficult times with the pandemic.
I have uploaded several more samples in another language as well, but it's been disappointing not to get even a single project in nearly 1.5 months. Is this kind of expected? Should I do anything more other than uploading samples in order to get projects?
Regards
Jagan
Hey, Jagan!
So good to hear from you and to know that you've been so diligent in the sample upload thing, kudos!
I'd recommend you to keep at it, as more samples increase the chances for clients to notice you, but I would not worry about the dry spell, it happens from time to time (especially with under the current uncertainty). Still, I will reach out to the team and will get back to you with a more detailed answer on the subject, so don't despair =)
Best of the best for you and your loved ones!
Hello Hector,
Sorry to trouble you again. I have not heard back from VoiceBunny in nearly two months. All of a sudden, I get a flurry of emails today with most of the emails having the same comment pasted below. There was only one email that said there were plosives in my sample - I don't get why all my other samples are asked to be taken down. This is very disappointing and I don't know what to do next.
---
Hi, Jagan,
Thank you for your constant hard work; we greatly appreciate your effort. Unfortunately, after further reviewal, we won't be able to show the sample Fast Ad for a sports channel (sample 177210) in our search due to the following issue(s):
We trust our feedback will help you improve the quality of your samples for future ones you decide to upload.
---
Hey, Jagan!
As always, I'm glad to assist you, mate! I hope that everyone is doing great and healthy in the homefront.
I'm sorry to say that this particular sample you're referring to is indeed quite impacted by echo (and a little mouth noise right at the start).
I, unfortunately, have no say or vetting powers in the sample review process but will make sure that the Bunny Managers in charge take a look at the issue.
My only recommendation is to re-record and try to solve whatever issues the reviews are listing as reasons for rejection, then re-upload. We do have both an automated and a manual process, so it may have been either of those.
I'll come back to you as soon as I have more info from the Bunnies in charge of this.
Cheers!
Hello Hector,
It's been a while since I wrote to you. But now is a good time to check in with you. After waiting for nearly 3 months, I finally got an audition request today. Not sure if you can see my submission but the reference is below. Well, I was almost expecting to see an immediate rejection from your quality control team and so they did. They rejected all 3 sample submissions including mine.
The rejection comments were:
QAED BY:
Hiroshi
COMMENTS
Hi,
Thank you for your submission; we greatly appreciate your effort. Unfortunately, we won\'t be able to approve this recording due to the following issue(s):
1.) Client\'s sample- Your recording doesn\'t sound like the sample chosen by the client.
2.) Room echo- There is audible room echo (reverberation) impacting your recording. Please ensure you record in an acoustically treated space. If you already have acoustic treatment, it may not be adequate.
You\'ll find tips on acoustic treatment on our community page: https://bit.ly/2MrNsSV.
------------------
While I'm not sure how I can address requirement #1 (I cannot sound like someone else), I'm concerned about the room echo comment. I have left the exact same setup including the clothing hanging in my closet - the exact same setup used in my voice recording that was approved for becoming a Voicebunny Pro. Again, while some of my samples have been approved, some have been rejected for the same echo reason. Everything in the setup remains the same, yet some are accepted while others are rejected. This is very frustrating, since it's difficult to assess what's 'acceptable'. The quality control team seems to be inconsistent in their evaluation of voice samples.
I'm looking forward to some suggestions from you.
VOICE OVER CONTEST PROJECT ID: 187F80AA4D823B2A0468
Hi, Jagan!
I'm very glad to hear from you even if it's about this unfortunate situation. I hope all is well with you and your loved ones.
I have to say, I agree with the boxiness assessment, the recording is a bit boxy, but I think that adding more clothes, fabric, and such materials to your setup can beef up it's acoustic performance so that we can kick those reverberations to the curb once and for all!
As for the other reason included in your review, I know it's hard but it's a valid one when I or other members of the QC team are performing tasks. What I can recommend is precisely that: try to sound as much as possible to the sample selected by the client and maybe even include a couple of versions of the audition so that we and them can have more of your range to choose from. It's hard of course, but it's all in the 'acting' portion of a voice actor's day.
Thank you very much for the patience and trust, as always!
Cheers, brother!