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Caroline Perkins
Voice123 Team Member
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 10
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 Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007, 22:22 (GMT) Post subject: The best VO books and DVDs |
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There are hundreds of books and DVDs on the market that claim to teach you everything you need to know about the VO industry. I'd love to hear what you guys have to say about them. Which ones have you found to be the most useful and why?
Submit your reviews here! |
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Lynne Alston
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 20 Oct 2006
Posts: 743
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007, 00:20 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Hi Caroline,
In the five months since beginning this career I've read many books, only recently did I stumble upon
"How to read copy" by Adrian Cronauer. While I don't think it is in print anymore I managed to locate mine on Amazon.
I wish I'd have read it first, its like voice over for dummies.
Of course "The Art of voice Acting" James Alburger(which I read first), is a great read, but a little overwhelming for a beginner.
Lynne |
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Joe J Thomas
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
Posts: 1521
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007, 00:30 (GMT) Post subject: |
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I'm a fan of "Word of Mouth" by Susan Blu.
... and T.A.O.V.A. too.
Waiting to read "There's Money Where Your Mouth Is" - any thoughts on that one?
Also, a plug for a guy who knows the business side of show-biz - Bob Fraser and his e-book "You Must Act" - lots of solid info there as well, tho not VO specific...
Ok, I'm done - back to yelling at contractors,
Joe J Thomas
www.JoeActor.com |
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Victor Harris
Talent and/or Voice Producer - Voice Seeker
Joined: 23 Oct 2006
Posts: 612
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007, 00:46 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| "The Art of Voice Acting" by James A. Alburger considered the Bible of VO. Should be standard issue for sure. |
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Lynne Alston
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 20 Oct 2006
Posts: 743
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007, 01:29 (GMT) Post subject: books |
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Another good resource book that I have found helpful is
"voice actor's Guide to home recording" by Jeffrey Fisher and Harlan Hogan.
But don't waste your money on "secrets of voice-over success" It's how others made it, with one pearl of wisdom from each featured Artist . |
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Luke Roberts
Talent and/or Voice Producer - Voice Seeker
Joined: 13 Nov 2006
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007, 14:12 (GMT) Post subject: |
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That Art of voice over Acting gets my vote too!
Currently reading it at the moment - however I do agree with Lynne, it has a LOT of information, which is great! But at the same time its a lot to take in, which is why I am taking my time with this one!
The book I read prior to that was 'Tales and Techniques of a voice over Actor" by Harlan Hogan.
I really really enjoyed this book and does give some useful information (although you will get more info from TAOVOA i think) - but it also has his story about how he got into voice over which I found an interesting read.
Also the BLOOPERS SOAP commercial sketch mentioned is very funny 
I think the main thing is though is I'm guessing a lot of books out there give you similar information in varying amounts and in different ways - but the problem for me is actually getting off my lazy butt and doing something about it! Like the art of voice over gives you great tips and techniques on improving pronunciation, vowel and consanant sounding, etc - but I haven't actually done any of the practising yet!
I dunno why not - I'm just a lazy weirdo I guess - although starting a new job doesn't help! lol
But i have decided when I get my first pay cheque next month I'm getting a new pc and one of those snowball mics 
_________________
"Stay in Character" - James Alburger |
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Robert Jadah
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 2627
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007, 14:29 (GMT) Post subject: Best References |
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I'm kind of partial to '3820 Postings From Voicers in the Trenches' by Nikki Sacco, Phyllis Day, Scott Pollak, Todd Ellis, Vic Harris, Amy Snively, Sid Whatley and dozens of other contributors.
Personalized, varied, actual, up-to-date, responsive, hands-on.
It has it all. Even funny at times.
Best instructive reading I've done in my 15 years. |
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Nikki Saco
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 465
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| Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007, 02:14 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Nice, Robert. I enjoy reading this forum too. And the debates are fine with me. You get a difference of opinion, something you won't generally find in a book. How many authors are going to write: "John Smith didn't agree with me and here's why . . ."
Anyway, in this forum like in the books that are recommended, people are just sharing their experiences. For my part, I also found these books helpful: "The Actor Speaks" by Patsy Rodenburg, and if you're going to do character voices: "Stage Dialects" by Jerry Blunt (my copy is 20 years old, but it still works.)
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Caroline Perkins
Voice123 Team Member
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007, 20:07 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Best References |
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Great reviews guys - keep 'em coming!
| Robert Jadah wrote: | I'm kind of partial to '3820 Postings From Voicers in the Trenches' by Nikki Sacco, Phyllis Day, Scott Pollak, Todd Ellis, Vic Harris, Amy Snively, Sid Whatley and dozens of other contributors.
Personalized, varied, actual, up-to-date, responsive, hands-on.
It has it all. Even funny at times.
Best instructive reading I've done in my 15 years. |
Love it! I'm sure it'll give inspiration to the next lot of VO books to be written. Budding authors - keep your eye on these forums!  |
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Nikki Saco
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 465
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| Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007, 21:57 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Nikki Saco wrote: | For my part, I also found these books helpful: "The Actor Speaks" by Patsy Rodenburg, and if you're going to do character voices: "Stage Dialects" by Jerry Blunt (my copy is 20 years old, but it still works.)
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Well, let me put some meat on my recommendations to really make this a review:
Patsy Rodenburg's book, The Actor Speaks, won't tell you anything about the business of VO work and there are other parts you can skip or skim because they simply don't apply: like delivering dialog behind a mask or during a stage fighting scene.
But the book is an excellent resource, IMHO, for voice talent who want to learn simple and advanced voice techniques from a remarkable voice coach: freeing your throat, jaw and face muscles; the ability to gain enough breath support for sustained dialog, singing into speech and vice versa; the ever cliche and ever necessary voice warm ups; daily prevention of vocal problems; owning the words; sensing and manipulating the energy of the line, and such. She talks about the art of listening and the importance of developing listening skills as part of voice training. Super!
Jerry Blunt's Stage Dialect was the required text for one of the most fun classes I ever took in college. Yes, that was 20 years ago and yes the book is still available in print, which will give you some idea of what it has to offer. He doesn't cover every dialect and that's been the source of some criticism, but he does cover a lot. He also teaches basic phonetics, the alphabet of sounds, which is helpful if you're doing a dialect and need to markup your script so you'll read the sound you want to make rather than the word you recognize by a different pronunciation. Does that make sense?
Anyway, I wanted to offer something besides The Art of Voice Acting which I'm enjoying now. So far, I do like how much of the business side of the industry James includes in the book. And the CD is excellent since it helps develop that other essential voice over skill -- listening!
What I find missing in any training I get from VO books (less so with James') is that there's nothing to see or listen to. A DVD series of workshops would probably be more beneficial than the written word.
Any chance that Voice 2007 will be video recorded and made available on DVD to people who can't travel to Las Vegas?
http://voiceoversavvy.com/viewtopic.php?t=592 |
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Caroline Perkins
Voice123 Team Member
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007, 19:04 (GMT) Post subject: |
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The word from the organizers is that they'll be recording most of the conference, and it will be available on CD-ROM in MP3 format. For registered attendees, the CD-Rom will be $97 + $6.50 shipping. For non-attendees, the cost is $597 + shipping. If you're not able to attend the conference you can pre-order your CD here: http://www.voice-international.com/register.html (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
Hope this helps Nikki. |
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Joe J Thomas
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 16 Nov 2004
Posts: 1521
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007, 19:16 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Caroline Perkins wrote: | The word from the organizers is that they'll be recording most of the conference, and it will be available on CD-ROM in MP3 format. For registered attendees, the CD-Rom will be $97 + $6.50 shipping. For non-attendees, the cost is $597 + shipping. If you're not able to attend the conference you can pre-order your CD here: http://www.voice-international.com/register.html (scroll down to the bottom of the page)
Hope this helps Nikki. |
Whoa! That's a bit steep, IMO...
I mean, it's not the same as attending the conference.
I don't expect them to give it away, but c'mon guys - that's basically full price!
(steps off soap box)
I feel better now - thanks!,
Joe |
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Nikki Saco
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 465
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007, 19:44 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Yes. You're helpful as always, Caroline. |
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Nikki Saco
Talent and/or Voice Producer
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 465
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007, 20:13 (GMT) Post subject: |
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Well, since Joe vacated the soapbox, I'll step up. I agree with him. The CD is basically full price and won't even cover the entire conference. And, unless, they have a way of supercompressing 4 days of video into a 760mb mp3, the CD-Rom may be just the audio portion of a portion of the conference. Hmmmmm.
Maybe James set the price high so people won't be deterred from attending. Except that I'm not hugely compelled to pay $600 for only a portion of the conference recorded on one CD-Rom which may or may not include video.
Yeah, this price is a little disappointing. I'm done and off the soapbox.
Next? |
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Frank Frederick
Voice Seeker
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 142
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| Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007, 21:02 (GMT) Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Nikki Saco writes: "...Maybe James set the price high so people won't be deterred from attending. Except that I'm not hugely compelled to pay $600 for only a portion of the conference recorded on one CD-Rom which may or may not include video.
Yeah, this price is a little disappointing. I'm done and off the soapbox." |
Yes, I agree, it is a little steep, and I must apologize for the fee. And yes, it is the audio protion only - (in .mp3 format) with a few little extras. There will be no video. Yes, it (the price for the audio CD) is designed to compell you to attend, rather than just buying CD. Being there is so much nicer...
Due to certain licensing requirements by some of the Presenters, we cannot add the audio (or video) of their segment... I guess they want us to buy the book or attend VOICE.
We, the VOICE Production Team, are looking into the situation. We hope to verify a better response soon.
We are hoping to answer your wishes and desires, but sometimes things just cannot work out the way we want.
Being there means you will recieve the "Goodie Bag", a nice Tote with some unique gifts.
Come if you are able, buying the CD will not put you with fellow VO folks like attending VOICE 2007 in Las Vegas, March 27 - 31. will.
Frank Frederick
"The Voice" tm
and the VOICE 2007 Production Team |
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