Watermarks--How?

Heather Ruby · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006, 02:04 (GMT) Post subject: Watermarks--How?

Newbie question here: How do I watermark an audition? I'm not producing from a home studio. I'm outsourcing to a radio production house.
Thanks.
Heather

Chip Hinshaw · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006, 04:43 (GMT) Post subject:

Create a secondary track with a subtle tone over it and merge tracks before sending to the client. Or use a click track and merge that in. Another option is to not perform the entire script, or leave out the client's name (they often leave it out of the script for auditions).

Darrell MacInnis · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006, 18:26 (GMT) Post subject: Watermarks

Hi Heather:
My solution to the watermark issue is the easy route... as Clint suggested, I don't record the entire script. By the way, I listened to your demo over on the other forum. I think all you need is encouragement to keep at it. There's no reason why you shouldn't have success at this.
If I can pass on one word of advice. Consider the talent directories as only one cog in your marketing wheel. Not that I'm speaking from great experience (my background is 25 years as a TV/Radio news reporter, anchor, public affairs programme host etc.--just started my voiceover service business this August).... but I have done extensive mailings to every production house I could find through the internet.
So far, that's where my only paid work has come from. I've competed for perhaps 50 jobs on this site so far... and nothing yet. But 90% of the time, I find I'm about the 107th talent to send in an audition! So, I think some issues we all have to resolve for ourselves in competing on this directory are: what type of jobs do I have a real shot at; when can I devote the time to my recordings that will get me among the first talents replying; are my demos what the clients want to hear; and have I resolved all technical issues with my recordings and this directory.
Those seem to be the major issues I've uncovered in the research I've been doing. I don't know how one competes here without having their own digital audio workstation at home.
Talk to you later, hope some of this has been helpful.
Regards,
Darrell MacInnis

Scott Pollak · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006, 15:20 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Heather,

I do both to protect myself: not record the entire script AND put a subtle watermark underneath my read, spaced about every 5 seconds or so. I'm attaching the little 'harmonic' that I mix into my read before I upload my response to the client. It's just enough so that it's not obnoxious, but it makes my demo unusable so they can't use it without my approval.

Jeanine Yamanaka · Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006, 01:59 (GMT) Post subject: Re: Watermarks

Julie Williams · Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006, 06:58 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Heather,

I don't ever put watermarks on my auditions. In fact, I hire talent... and only once did I receive an audition with a watermark in it. I found it an irritant. And I thought to myself, "I gave one paragraph of a 10 page script and this bozo feels I'm going to steal his paragraph?"

As a talent, what do I do? I simply change the copy a little bit or only read part of it. Often, I just send my VO demo rather than a custom audition anyway. If I have time, I'll do a custom, but most of the time I'm too busy in the studio working to do custom auditions. Some people insist on customs... but then after you record, and you go to submit--they closed the audition already! Better to send something than miss out on being heard! This is not to say I never do custom auditions... for the big jobs, I certainly do! But anything under $500, I usually don't.

By the way, I've been chosen for jobs that more than 200 people had auditioned for by the time I submitted. It's not about being first. It's about being best suited for the particular job they're casting.

There is an extensive FAQ section at my web site, if you're interested. Just go to http://www.voice-overs.com/resources/ the click on FAQ on the left hand side. Feel free to email me with any questions I haven't covered there!

Good Luck and God Bless!

Julie Williams "voice-over Chocolate"
www.voice-overs.com
julie@voice-overs.com

Nikki Saco · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006, 22:23 (GMT) Post subject: Watermarking

You know what? Like with many things, maybe we can rely on our instincts. I think after a while most of us can figure out which jobs might just run with a demo if it's provided clean.

We can try to take our cues from clients, but everyone has a different preference. We heard Julie's and I can totally understand it. But I've heard from other people who hire that they won't even listen to talent that sends generic when the job post asked for custom; and also that a changed word indicates to them a mis-read. (hmmm) One guy said he expects professionals to use watermarks and protect their products, or to deliver only a partial read, or to fade out (which is what I opt for most in addition to not providing the whole thing on long scripts).

Although a lot of watermarks can be tinny and obtrusive when you're trying to analyze the voice, I like what Scott provided. I did still cut some of the highs and volume from it so that it wouldn't hurt sensitive ears like mine and mix pasted it into a demo I just did. It wasn't bad at all. I intend to use it. Some jobs are just the 10 second script provided, which makes fading out less viable. Let me say here what I've said in other posts: I'd rather add the watermark myself than having V123 automate that. I prefer to control what the client hears and where in my clip he or she hears it.

Wow, my dinner smells incredible! I started cooking early and I really shouldn't have skipped lunch.