Now is the time! Avoiding rejection (repost)
Hello there,
I applied back in September 2021 I think it was to become a Bunny (I guess that's the right term?). I fully expected to be rejected, and indeed I was. At that point I was really just testing to see where I was in terms of set-up etc. Now I have improved my equipment, reduced background noises and most importantly made great (in my opinion) strides in improving the recording space acoustics. Therefore, I would like to submit a couple of files to you for your consideration ahead of applying again. I'd like to make it clear that there is ABSOLUTELY NO PROCESSING of any sort. I haven't even removed mouth noises or anything like that. The recordings are completely dry and unedited.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/139EaUmdZmKcYbQuKJ8Sd98S9RRB5CtmX/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s_ApiaxktwIGIVjskRW8qgIaY6iktFoZ/view?usp=sharing
They were intended for one of your colleagues who I believe no longer works as a Pro Ops Associate.
Anyway, i'd appreciate some feedback so that I don't waste my time or yours by applying for real with a sample that is not fit for purpose!
Presumably when registed on the site for real you would put up samples that have been processed/edited?
Anyhoo, I hope i'll hear back soon with positive news and can get cracking asap!!
Thanks,
Alasdair
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Hi Alasdair,
Thanks for reaching out to us here again and apologise for the late response, we have been inundated and are currently playing catch up regarding the community page posts, etc.
I played your audition recording during the QC weekly meeting and wanted to confirm their thoughts were the same as my own.
We all agree that your current setup sounds great! Fantastic job on improving your acoustic treatment and recording space.
We did pick up on some mouth clicks and white noise. But as you've mentioned you wanted to supply RAW audio, there are no worries there, since some corrective EQing should fix this.
I would like to mention since you last applied, the application process to join our platform has now changed. It no longer entails reading the audition script which gets sent. Instead, you upload at least 3 samples that you wish for QC to review.
Therefore, processing and editing are allowed as long as it doesn't sound over-processed and affects the overall quality of your audio.
So if you already have some fantastic samples/demos send them our way.
Look forward to hearing you soon!
Hope you have a great weekend.
Kind regards,
Samantha
Hi Samantha,
Not sure if this is where you meant, but here are a few bits and bobs for you to have a listen to. Hopeully these will suffice as samples for QC review. I'm away for a few days now so don't have access to any eqipment etc, but will answer any emails.
Hopefully I will hear back soon and we can progress things!
Thanks for your time,
Alasdair
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KpOL16oVDIKUJfmCBgALaf41LA_5e2co/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1inhOWxU7O7VctRAplhglOGwTLDTxRXk-/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17IG7OmbrYB-CQQwg-i_Sj6sa1w2n6dka/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YHqU4L9O-A2lqc_okS6FTB9V5s-_hJF4/view?usp=sharing+
Hi Alasdair,
Listening to your samples;
In the sample titled; 2 - Manly3, I noticed is in stereo and there is also room echo heard in this one.
Along with the 4 - (Backup mic) EiffelLubricants1, there is some reverb heard in this sample.
Do be mindful with any close by hard surfaces - covering them up with some soft materials will help preventing reverb interfering with your audio.
As for samples, 1 and 3. I'm curious to know what processing you use? I only ask as they sound good, but there is some high frequency artifacts being picked up, which brings me to assume there could be too much of a noise reduction plug in being implemented.
But it's still good in quality, just wanting to address any issues which may arise and could be picked up by some of my QC colleagues too.
As for the application process. Just like before you would click on wanting to be a voice pro on the website and on there it should take you to a page where you upload samples that get sent to QC to be reviewed.
But feel free to send samples here before applying (like you have been doing) and we can offer feedback.
All the best,
Samantha
Hello Alasdair,
Another voice actor here with a couple of observations. I listened to the four demos you posted, plus the first of the raw, unedited recordings. Ditto the congrats on improving your setup. To my ear, the raw unedited tracks sound so very natural - agree that if you were preparing a deliverable track you would remove any mouth noises - but that track sounds really good to me.
Of the more produced demos (set of 4) you sent later, again this is just my observation, but to my ear they sounded over-compressed. The sibilants were rather harsh in my headphones. Perhaps processing somewhere in the middle between raw and the later demos?
Anyway, good work on the improvements. Out of curiosity, what is your current microphone, mic-pre and interface?
Best wishes,
Joe Brown
Hi Joe, thanks for contribution, nice to get some feedback from a fellow VO artist.
Interestingly enough the raw recording was made after the demos.
When I first started I was using just the Blue Yeti microphone I had from previously doing a bit of YouTube and Twitch streaming and so forth, which that mic was ideal for really. I have since discovered the limitations of this type of microphone and USB in general. I now use an Audio Technica AT2020 along with Audient EVO4 interface.
Only consumer-level equipment I realise, but probably about the right level for where I am now.
Demos 1 and 3 are produced using the AT2020 and 2 and 4 using the Blue Yeti.
In terms of processing, I find I have to do a lot less with the AT2020 than I did with the Yeti to get it to a pleasing timbre for me.
I normally do amplify a little while limiting at the same time - which I guess is kindof similar to compression(?).Then I do a little bit of EQing where I will pull back a bit between 3-400Hz and give it a little boost between 8-16Khz - I'm guessing this is why Samantha's high-frequency artifacts and your harsh sibilants are being mentioned. I will dial this back a wee bit going forward.
I've been busy recently, hence not contributed on here for a while. But I plan to do a new recording whereby I will cover each stage of my process in my recording mentioned above which I will post here.
Thanks again for taking the time to make a considered response. I'll hopefully get around to making the recording in the next few days.
All the best,
Alasdair
Hi Alasdair,
I think highly of the Audio Technica line. And even at the lower-price end of the spectrum I would call them entry level pro mics rather than consumer - but that's just me. And probably semantics. I used an AT2030 for a decade for all my voice work, even though I owned a number of more expensive microphones. That AT 2030 just seemed to sit well with my voice.
And though I've never used the Audient interface, I have heard good things about them in general. So I think that setup should serve you well.
Best of luck!
Joe B.
Hi Samantha,
A bit later than I had hoped, but here is a sample of my working process, hopefully this can serve as a demo maybe?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e6rLZUxQEdaXaA28HqgDYG_1y2tdmjuF/view?usp=sharing
Thanks,
Alasdair
Hello Alasdair,
Well done on your demonstration on adding some limiting, NR, and EQ to the raw track! Sounds quite good in my headphones. Interested to hear what Bunny Studio QC staff thinks.
One small thing on the raw portion of the demo: I thought I detected a small amount of low end noise (very low level). Bunny QC has some pretty cool analytics tools so can shed more light.
But again, nicely done in my opinion,
Joe B.
Joe, thanks for stopping by again.
Can you be a little more specific about the low end noise you think you hear? When are you hearing it? And what kind of sound is it if you had to guess?
Cheers,
Alasdair
Hi Alasdair,
Lovely to hear from you again. :)
I had a listen, and in the raw audio section there is some very low level white noise being picked up. Which I wouldn't worry about at all. As your final edit sounded fantastic!
Yep, I think you are good to go.
You have a very friendly, yet authoritative voice in your readings.
Looking forward to hearing you!
All the very best,
Samantha
That's great news.
Thank you (and Joe!) for the valuable feedback. I'll look at selecting a couple of recent items to attach as my demos then to my applicaton and then fingers crossed I can get on your books and get cracking with some work!
Cheers,
Alasdair
Ok, I've applied and uploaded four samples (not those here). Fingers crossed now!!
I'm in!! Approval received! Well that was quick!!