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Allow me a moment to clear up some misconceptions about demo mixing.
First off.
You can be the best darn audio engineer in the world with credits out the wazoo, & also be a terrible demo mixer.
Demo mixing for voice actors is more than just the technical/engineering side.
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First off.
You can be the best darn audio engineer in the world with credits out the wazoo, & also be a terrible demo mixer.
Demo mixing for voice actors is more than just the technical/engineering side.
(1)
When you’re creating a demo for your voice acting client, it’s all about understanding what CASTING DIRECTORS want to hear (not an audio engineer) & understanding the marketability of what it is you’re creating for your client.
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Is your client a low range? Then don’t write character types that are typically performed by high ranged characters out of their market
Do they only have their natural voice to work with? Then make emotion a HUGE priority & don’t have them voice multiple characters in 1 slot
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Do they only have their natural voice to work with? Then make emotion a HUGE priority & don’t have them voice multiple characters in 1 slot
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When mixing, it’s more than just making things sound level. It’s making your voice actors be the primary focus, & letting the scene their character is in compliment that delivery.
While quality audio is very important, you must understand it’s NOT the ONLY factor here.
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While quality audio is very important, you must understand it’s NOT the ONLY factor here.
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Mixing itself is an ART.
You're creating a visual using nothing but vocals & sounds. You have to imagine placements of characters, movements, objects, & an entire world around them. Those listening should be able to imagine the actor in the role they're playing.
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You're creating a visual using nothing but vocals & sounds. You have to imagine placements of characters, movements, objects, & an entire world around them. Those listening should be able to imagine the actor in the role they're playing.
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A demo without that key element is tough to follow & tough for the audience to see a good fit for the actor in whatever production they’re casting for.
Once again, you’re pitching to casting directors, not an audio engineer. So turn off that part in your brain for a sec.
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Once again, you’re pitching to casting directors, not an audio engineer. So turn off that part in your brain for a sec.
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Demo mixing is more than just the tech side. You have to be able to have that knowledge of what casting directors need/want to hear, and understand that each actor has a completely different acting personality & voice print that MUST be highlighted in their demo.
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Not only that, but you have to be creative & mix a new world based off 5-15 seconds of vocals.
So actors, when looking to hire a mixer, check for these things in their samples:
-Can you understand the words the actor is saying, or does the mix cover them up?
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So actors, when looking to hire a mixer, check for these things in their samples:
-Can you understand the words the actor is saying, or does the mix cover them up?
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-Can you imagine each scene?
-Are there any sort of sound effects actually incorporated, & if so do they compliment the scene & actor?
-Does this demo make sense for the genre they’re marketing to?
-Does the demo mixer understand the voice acting market?
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-Are there any sort of sound effects actually incorporated, & if so do they compliment the scene & actor?
-Does this demo make sense for the genre they’re marketing to?
-Does the demo mixer understand the voice acting market?
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Demo mixers that harp on people who don’t have a degree in audio engineering, chill.
Some who mix for animated shows or fan-made productions can have a sense of artistic placement & what can highlight a performance by the actor w/o a degree so take that stick out yo booty.
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Some who mix for animated shows or fan-made productions can have a sense of artistic placement & what can highlight a performance by the actor w/o a degree so take that stick out yo booty.
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You can’t control someone else’s equipment & setup doing mixes remotely. But you can be creative in mixes & have a clear understanding of the marketability of the demo you’re creating for your clients.
To me, that's far more important than "Nice EQs & compressors, brah"
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To me, that's far more important than "Nice EQs & compressors, brah"
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Long story short, it's more than just the engineering side. While yes, it's OBVIOUSLY important knowledge, it's also just ONE portion of what you need to know when creating a demo for your voice actor.
Ess, out~
(thread end, yo)
Ess, out~
(thread end, yo)
