Should You Use Voice Over Narration in Your Film?

Within film, voice over narration can get a pretty bad rap. This often comes down to the unwritten rule: show, rather than tell. While movies should rely on the in-picture characters (among other factors) to move the story along, voice over narration can help the story progress and provide the audience with more insight as to where the story is going. Even then, many moviegoers seem to think otherwise, perceiving narration as simply an annoyance.

Here at Creative Media Design, voice over narration is far from an annoyance. We provide films and various projects alike with voice over talent for narration and much more, and we’ll even mix the final product! Having said that, we still acknowledge the constant debate over narration in film. While we’ll be a bit biased, let’s take a look at voice over narration’s potential to improve a film and move the story along.

What’s Wrong with Voice Over Narration?

For the most part, the problem many see with voice over narration in films is it defeats the purpose of storytelling through imagery, and even the characters’ own dialogue. Some will even say narration is only used to move along an otherwise stagnant story, or one that’s poorly directed. Regardless of why filmmakers and directors may choose to use narration within their films, viewers will seemingly always have issue with it—whether that’s due to redundancy or improper use.

For those who don’t advocate voice over narration in movies, you must consider the fact that many films utilize it quite successfully. Not only that, but it’s often necessary to stay true to the original story. For instance, think of the many novels that have been repurposed into screenplays. As with many novels, the story is carried along through a narrator. Emulating that through film would be virtually impossible without voice over narration, that is if the director is trying to stay true to the original version. Just consider all the movies based on popular reads: Stephen King’s Stand By Me or Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club. Clearly, voice over narration not only works in many films, it’s often necessary.

When Voice Over Narration Works

Given the movies mentioned above and others like The Big Lebowski or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which didn’t originate in book form, voice over narration can and often is a great addition to film. Not only can it help move the story along, but it can even present additional opportunity for providing the audience with insight or even adding a touch of comic relief—or the opposite! So, when it comes down to berating a film for its narration, maybe it’s the use of such that was a misfire, rather than just utilizing narration in general.

When a narration script is both well written and effectively projected, the results can be quite pleasing to both those behind the film and the viewers. But how is this achieved?

Tips for Proper Narration in Film

As you can see, voice over narration can absolutely be vital to a film and how it’s received by the audience. Despite those who frown upon the use of narration, there are plenty of ways to properly utilize voice over within your film, and we’re happy to share some tips! Take a look below for a few pointers on how to include narration in your next project:

• Think about how you’ll use narration. What kind of video or film will it be? And what kind of narration can help the story progress?

• Keep your audience in mind. How can the narrator speak to them?

• Use narration to not only move the story, but to reiterate important aspects of the movie. It can help your viewers better understand the story (insight).

• Don’t overuse it. Just because you’re utilizing voice over doesn’t mean it needs to be thrown throughout each scene of the project.

• Leave room for variation within the script. Partway through, you may realize a piece doesn’t fit so well—in which case you may need to alter it.

• Work with your voice over talent—the narrator. They need to be aware of what the story or project is about. Proper voice over calls for much more than simply reading the script.

Considering the controversy surrounding it, including narration within your project isn’t always easy. While you can follow the tips above, you still may benefit from a little guidance. This is where CMD can come in! Whether you need a voice over talent, help writing your script, or even recording the narration, we can do it all right here!

If you’d like to learn more about our services, give us a call today at 212-213-9420. You can also contact us here.

Voice Over Classes to Jumpstart Your Career

Though we’ve covered getting started in the voice over industry and how to go about your submissions extensively, voice over is what we do and there’s a lot to be said. For those seeking work as voice over talents, you’ve probably read countless articles telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. The truth is, it takes a lot to land gigs as a voice actor and there’s always something more you could be doing. However, one thing you may not have considered is taking voice over classes to improve not only your voice, but your approach and much more. Whether you’re an established worker seeking to perfect your voice or a beginner who needs to learn the fundamentals, vocal classes may be a great option.

Here at Creative Media Design, we provide brands with quality and professional voice talent so they can best represent their business. We work with a broad range of voice actors and we know just what it takes to find work. With this, let us explain the potential benefits you could reap from enrolling in voice over classes.

Voice Over Classes: The Basics

Like we said, voice over classes aren’t only geared toward beginners looking to learn the fundamentals of voice over and the industry. While there certainly are classes for such beginners, other classes cater to those simply looking to better their voice or improve their approach. And classes still aren’t limited to these areas. Take a look at the list of classes below to see which one may best suit you:

• Fundamentals: Just like it sounds, with voice over fundamentals, you’ll learn the basics of VO, which can be great for beginners considering a career as a voice talent. Of course, you can find classes geared more towards intermediates and those looking to fine-tune their voice and skills.

• Recording: Every aspiring voice talent needs a demo reel, and a class for such could be very beneficial. Here you’ll get help creating a proper demo and get to spend some time in the studio for quality recordings.

• Industry: Everybody needs a little self promotion at some point or another. Which is why a course focusing on industry trends and marketing strategies could really pay off.

Beneficial for Every Level of Talent

All in all, voice over classes can help voice talents of all types. There’s always room for improvement and taking classes from professional voice coaches will help you gain insight, whether that helps you get started in VO or progresses your career. For instance, a perfect voice and great technique can easily go unnoticed amongst the countless demos and submissions out there. By learning the industry and strong marketing skills, you can better promote yourself and start landing gigs. And, needless to say, any beginner can benefit from the fundamentals of VO, as this knowledge is essential to starting a career in VO.

Are Classes Right For You?

No matter your experience, voice over classes could be just what you need to get your VO career of the ground and start landing jobs. Whether that’s promo gigs or even working as a voice talent with CMD, your next job could be waiting! For more information and to sign up for vocal lessons, check out The Voice Shop. 

Wondering what it takes to become an established voice talent? Check out our voice talent page today to get an idea of the many areas of VO you can work in! If you ever have questions or comments, feel free to reach out and contact us here. You can also give us a call at 212.213.9420.

Film Sound Design: Top 7 Movies with Killer Sound

Within all movies, a great deal of skill, technique, and work go into designing optimal sound. While most movies pay close mind to their sound production, some movies simply have it perfectly dialed in. With sound playing such an important and engaging role in film, sound design truly can make or a break a movie. In short, incredible film sound design is never easy to accomplish, but when it is, the results leave a lasting impression. With this, we thought we’d assemble a list of the top movies with killer sound, comprised of instant classics and box-office hits. Take a look with Creative Media Design in New York City.

7 Movies with the Best Sound Design

There are a few defining aspects as to what constitutes great film sound design. As far as the movies listed below go, they’ve all been deemed the best movies to test your surround sound with. While this may not be the best factor in determining a film’s quality of sound design, a movie’s surround sound rating is still quite telling. In essence, the sound in these movies to follow keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and even places them right in the middle of any given climactic scene. Ultimately, you can be the judge of that. Now, let’s take a look at seven movies with killer sound across the board:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey: Moving the story along with incredible sound, 2001: A Space Odyssey nailed it on both sound design and film score. In fact, less than half the movie includes dialogue, relying on the effects and music.

• Star Trek: Featuring sound-design genius Ben Burtt of Star Wars, worked hard on the details of Star Trek’s sound. From the buttons of the Starship Enterprise to the perfect background sounds, the sound in this film is grade A.

• Jurassic Park: While some scenes stand out more than others, such as the stampede or loud roar of the T-Rex, the sound in Jurassic Park, and the film itself, will always remain a classic. Pay close attention to the yell of the Velociraptors!

• Saving Private Ryan: Achieving stunning reviews for its realistic battle scenes and taking home an Oscar for both Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing, Saving Private Ryan pulls you into each scene with stunning sound design.

• Wall-E: Coming from the masterminds of Pixar, Wall-E displays the perfect sound alongside a great soundtrack and graphics. More specifically, the movie’s use of surround sound is nothing short of amazing. Simple TV speakers just won’t do this one any justice.

• Dark Knight: Considered one of the best in film sound design, especially for those with surround sound, The Dark Knight delivers on all levels—or should we say decibels? The movie’s sound is so seamless, in fact, many viewers tend to not even pay it any mind. Now that’s perfect film sound design.

Need Professional Sound Design for Your Own Film?

Well, there you have it: a list of the top seven movies that absolutely nailed it on sound design. While there’s plenty of movies that could make such a list, those included above not only boast incredible sound, but utilize sound to move the story along seamlessly. Whether you’re talking a cute animated film like Wall-E or one loaded with impactful scenes, these movies delivered 100%.

If you’re seeking incredible sound design for a film or project of your own, Creative Media Design in NYC can be of great assistance. For more information on our audio services, contact us here or give us a call at 212.213.9420.

Voice Over Submissions: Where Should You Live?

As far as voice acting goes, there’re a few questions aspiring voice actors often ask. From what equipment to use to what to include on your demo, the questions surrounding the initial steps of voice over submissions are seemingly endless. One question that often stands out, however, is where is the best place to live for voice over submissions. While there’s no plain answer, some cities may yield better results than others. Not only that, but some jobs may even allow you to work from home, but we’ll address that later.

Located in a hot spot for voice over work and other media projects, Creative Media Design in NYC works with countless brands and voice over talents to help them achieve each of their goals: quality narration and voice work, respectively. Though we do most of our business here in the Big Apple, we actually work with a variety of talent and brands across the country. Having said that, let’s take a look at the best cities for voice over submissions in North America.

Top 5 Cities for Voice Over Submissions

While plenty of voice actors manage to find work from their own home studios, it still pays off to live in a city where the voice over industry is thriving. You see, many production companies would rather have all the voice over work recorded in one studio to ensure consistent sound throughout. In short, many voice over studios are found near production studios. With this, you may consider the move to one of the cities to follow, however, you must remember this is a competitive industry and simply living in a thriving city won’t result in VO jobs piling up. Regardless, take a look at the top cities for voice over submissions below:

• Los Angeles: When it comes to voice over for the entertainment industry, LA is the mecca. While movies, TV shows, and video games will be your best bet, the city really has jobs in every discipline. However, the competition is just as thick as the job selection.

• Vancouver: To cut production costs, many companies take their work to Vancouver. This has made the city a great place for VO gigs.

• Dallas: The Lone Star state has long been the place for animation voice over work, namely Houston and Dallas. In more recent years, most of the work has transitioned into Dallas, making it the best place around for animation voice over.

• New York City: Of course, New York City boasts plenty of opportunity for the aspiring voice actor. Due to the prominence of theatre here, many actors end up finding voice over work after spending time in theatre. Still, NYC is a great place for voice over submissions in general. Plus, CMD is here!

• San Francisco: For the most part, San Francisco’s voice over industry is focused heavily on industrials, video games, and commercials, considering the city’s proximity to Silicon Valley and Los Angeles.

What About ISDN and Source Connect?

As mentioned, not all successful voice actors need to live in a big city to land great jobs. Through the use of their own home studio and either ISDN or Source Connect, plenty of actors are able to make a decent living from the comfort of their home. While this can be ideal, the initial costs of a recording studio can be hefty. And, like we said before, many production companies will prefer to have their voice actors record in one place to ensure consistency. In essence, it all really comes down to the path you’d like to take. For films and TV shows, you’ll probably need to be in the studio. For narration and similar disciplines, a home studio may suffice.

Submit Your Voice to CMD

If you think you’ve got what it takes to become a voice actor, or you’re already there, you can try your luck with us here at CMD. While we boast a state-of-the-art recording studio in the heart of NYC, we can also work via ISDN and Source Connect.

If you’re looking for VO work, consider filling out our new talent form. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to give us a call at 212.213.9420.

Film Audio Post Production: How Does it Work?

When it comes to film, audio post production editors are unsung heroes. Their work is present everywhere, yet they hardly get credit for the work they do: to take a film from good to great. It’s actors, screenwriters and directors seem to get all the acclaim. So, naturally, we wanted to take some time to highlight what it is that these post audio production editors really do, and how their work is fundamental in the world of film.

Creative Media Design is proud to provide audio post production services to clients everywhere. We recognize that audio is one of the most important aspects of any production, and as such, we’re driven by quality. Regardless of your project, our expertise in all things audio can take your production to the next level! Before calling us for our post audio production service, keep reading to learn more about how audio post production works in film.

Film Audio Post Production: The Basics

In film, unlike your typical in-home camcorder, video and audio are recorded separately. While a camera is running, there might be a boom mic above an actor recording their voice separately, or perhaps a small microphone hidden in their clothes. Then you have sound effects, background noise, and music, which are all added into film during post-production. Audio post production editors can begin working on these sounds once a “locked cut” of a film is completed, meaning that all the takes from the film are finished to standard.

Professional audio post production editors utilize advanced software with versatile control panels, which allows them to edit more precisely and thoroughly. In the digital age, these editors can handle an unlimited amount of separate tracks at a time. Not to mention, they get access to some awesome tools, like tracking the audio at hand to a built-in video feed, so they can time effects perfectly. Or software that allows them to clean up audio and add filters as needed.

What is THX?

Developed by George Lucas, THX is a standard set to ensure that film sounds the same in theaters as it does in a studio. Sound stages and theaters can become THX “certified”, which means they’re able to match studio sound. This has been hugely beneficial to post production sound editors, as they don’t have to guess whether or not their studio edits will translate well into theaters.

Audio Post Production With Creative Media Design!

Ready to take your post audio production to the next level? Look no further than Creative Media Design. Regardless of where you’re located, we’re happy to help. You can contact us here, or give our New York City studio a call at 212.213.9420 to get set up with an audio producer or voice over talent today!

ISDN or Source-Connect?

For decades ISDN has been the industry standard for the digital transmission of audio. The technology provides a reliable means to disseminate high-quality audio without having to physically mail CDs or data drives. More recently, however, people have been moving towards a software based audio codec called Source-Connect.

Creative Media Design is proud to use both ISDN and Source-Connect, allowing us to receive audio at broadcast quality. We connect with remote talent worldwide to bring in a wide range of voices, be it for voice over recording, foreign language dubbing, audio editing or our other common projects. Keep reading to learn more about the differences between ISDN and Source-Connect.

What is ISDN?

Integrated Services for Digital Network (ISDN) is a platform that has existed since the mid 1980s. It’s a system of digital telephone connections that enables remote recording studios to send superior quality audio worldwide. Once connected through ISDN, you can hear a voice over or audio recording remotely in real time. This makes ISDN voice over an effective means for recording and sharing voice talent without losing audio quality. 

There’s a reason that ISDN has been the industry standard since the 1980s: the technology is sound and the quality of audio transmission is practically unbeatable. That being said, newer styles of this technology are arising, like Source-Connect, that can give ISDN a run for its money.

What are the Advantages of Source-Connect?

One of the biggest advantages of Source-Connect is its ease of access. ISDN comes at a steep cost, upwards of $2,000 for the transceiver unit alone. So for remote, small-time voice over artists, the cost is substantial. Then there is the fact that ISDN is complicated to use. It takes some advanced training to understand how to utilize ISDN technology and all its implements.

Source-Connect is an IP-based codec that is proving to be a strong alternative to ISDN. Thus allowing more remote talent to disseminate their work without sacrificing any sound quality. It uses UDP (User Datagram Protocol) to digitally transmit audio back and forth between connected studios. There’s even companies out there nowadays that can bridge ISDN and Source-Connect, so that neither technology needs to be mutually exclusive.

Overall, Source-Connect is a viable alternative for remote audio transmission that delivers digital sound quality comparable to that of ISDN. Although, don’t expect ISDN to go away anytime soon. It’s still the go-to technology in the industry!

Record With Creative Media Design!

Creative Media Design utilizes both ISDN and Source-Connect to connect with talent and clients all over the world. Ready to record with us? Come and hang out in our studios, or connect with us from virtually anywhere—whether you’re in Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, or any other location!

How Can Your Kid Get Into Voice Overs?

Is your child charismatic and energetic? Are they interested in acting, public speaking or performing? If so, you might want to look into voice over talent jobs for your kid. There are plenty of voice over jobs out there for kids, and it can make for a fun and fruitful extra-curricular or summertime hobby. And, who knows, maybe it’s a chance for your child to start saving up for their first car.

Creative Media Design is proud to cast a diverse talent pool of both union and non-union voice actors. How diverse, you ask? We have a great deal of experience casting voices in over 80 languages and accents. That said, we are always seeking new and innovative voice over talent. Before contacting us or applying with our new talent form, learn more about how your kid can get into voice over acting.  

Voice Over Jobs for Kids

There is a lot of voice over jobs for kids out there. However, finding talent in kids is not easy, especially since its in such demand is high. It can be very challenging to find a kid who’s perfectly suited for voice over acting, and also has access to a remote professional studio. From commercials to cartoons, kids are in high demand when it comes to voice over talent.

You may have heard of adults doing voice over work for children in cartoons, like the famous case of Nancy Cartwright playing Bart Simpson in The Simpsons. But that takes serious talent. In many cases, the role of a child in cartoon voice acting is best played by a child. And, in many cases, kids can get paid more than adults for the same work.

How to Get Voice Over Jobs for Your Kid

If you and your kid are ready to jump into voice over acting, a good first step is to get enrolled in acting classes. Acting classes can help your child get into character when reading scripts for different gigs. Improv lessons can be especially useful for kids, as they’re more likely to be themselves in front of the mic.

The next step is to get a professional voice over demo of your kid’s voice over acting. Demos are essential to procuring gigs, as it’s usually the first thing talent agents will listen to when going through a talent form. So having a professionally produced demo is a must.

From there, you can network online with voice over talent websites. Or you can seek the help of a professional talent agent who can find voice over jobs for your child. Once your kid has secured a gig or two, it will get easier to find more voice over work. It can be very exciting and lucrative for your child to get into voice over acting!

Ready to Submit a Talent Form for Your Kid?

We are always seeking quality voice over talent of all ages. If you think your kid has what it takes to be a voice over actor, check here to see the kind of people we cast and the work that we do. If you’re interested in more information, you can contact us here.

Video Game Sound Design: What it Entails

You can’t deny the importance of quality sound design within any media production and, in video games, this is all the more true. Though it’s in many ways similar to that of TV and film, video game sound design possesses a few key differences. Recently, we discussed sound design in general: what it is, what’s good sound, and its importance. Let’s take a more behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to achieve the perfect sound in video games—there’s much more to consider than you might think.

Key Differences of Video Game Sound Design

Sound design, in general, requires skill, diligence, and creativity—there’s no doubt about it. But when it comes to video game sound design, as mentioned, additional factors need to be considered. Video games are an interactive medium. Those playing them become part of what they are seeing, and sound designers need to take this into account in the studio.

For instance, video games often require vast libraries of custom sound effects as a means to create a sense of reality within the game. You may think the same sound of a gun firing could be used across the board, but to get that sense of reality, the sounds need to vary. Think about it this way: in any game, the player will repeat certain actions throughout play, and if those sounds don’t vary, that repetition won’t seem real.

An In-Depth Look at Video Game Sound Design

Of course, creating different versions of every sound in a game would require far too much work and time. With this, video game sound design calls for a few tricks. Sound designers often use the same components and create different combinations to attain varying sounds. To get an idea of what else goes into video game sound design, take a look at the list of common practices below:

• Sound designers will work with the animation team early on in production to better collaborate and bounce ideas and inspiration off each other.

• While sound libraries provide a plethora of effects, unique sounds require creating and recording them on their own.

• Sound designers must create multiple layers of sound to sync with the player’s game choices and movement. A few steps to the right in a game needs to sound different than walking another direction.

• Video game sound design even needs to work in unison with background music, ensuring it fits within the game.

Video Game Sound Design: Reaching for Reality

In short, video game sound design is often aimed toward creating a sense of reality for the players. Sounds need to vary, sync with game movements, and provide a realistic feel. Next time you sit down to play your favorite game, take note of the various sounds and changes in such throughout game play.

To learn more about sound design, and even find sound design for your own production, check out Creative Media Design! We offer a variety of audio post production services for a range of disciplines. If you’d like to reach out to us, you can contact us here.