Love your writing and ardently read your column. I did a Youtube channel and recorded a lot as a union actor and communications consultant. I also live by a busy street, ha ha. If you would like some feedback/tips on voice recording, let me know. Keep it up! Bravo!
Good morning Ms. Burleigh and happy eclipse to you.
Thanks for accepting my offer of feedback. Let's start with what worked: You have a pleasant voice, easy to listen to. You articulate well and we understand every word. The last thing you want to be is the Marlon Brando of audio narrative. I'm pretty sure he would never have made it as a radio actor. Your recording equipment seems adequate for the simple task at hand. Of course, your content is great, and that's what it's all about.
However, when it comes to crafting the written word for the ear, we need to differentiate between what the audience adds as grammar and emphasis when they read and what you want to project to them when you speak. That difference is performative in nature.
When I was making videos during the terrible Trump Years, I wrote two pieces: one was for Substack and one was my video script which I performed against an appropriate green screen backdrop. I made sure that the video script was engaging, conversational and performative. I utilized my voice (and face) to communicate nuanced emotions; mostly rage and disbelief.
In my spoken scripts I used conjunctions to sound natural and unforced. This was not (or wasn't in that case,) necessary in the written piece. These are small but important changes.
When we use our voice, we have many more tools to communicate emotion than with the written word. We can use volume to underscore emphasis. We can use pitch to underscore urgency or irritation. And we can use tempo to guide the listener to an important thought- then pause there to give them a brief moment to reflect on that thought. It may seem unnatural, but once you practice these delivery techniques, it becomes much easier.
As to the physical set-up for recording, as much as it would be nice to just dash one off in the office where we write, that is not always ideal. As I said, I live on a busy, urban street and cars, firetrucks and ambulances and motorbikes drive by frequently. Here in the city, we need to control the audio distractions so we don't give the audience an excuse to tune out. I have a friend who set up his hall closet as a recording booth. For my audio only efforts, I created a kind of triptych of cardboard covered with mailing foam from Amazon packaging that I set in front of me to absorb any ambient noise. It worked ok and cost nothing but time.
If you're not already doing so, I'd also recommend buying a good USB microphone. I use a Blue Yeti, which costs about $70 bucks. Finally, don't get frustrated because you need to do another "take" or another ten takes. Each time you read the piece aloud, it gets more natural and thus more accessible. I remember doing vids where everything was going swimmingly and then a big tuck rumbled by. Had to do a re-take. That's how it's done.
I hope these tips help you get better at your endeavor. Your work is really good and I'm a fan and a like minded person outraged that we even have to discuss the descent of America into a time of darkness and neo-proto-fascism.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or want further tips, methods or feedback.
MTG is such a perfect example of the rot at the heart of the GOP…it boggles the mind that she could have been elected and continue to show her boundless ignorance…repent indeed.
We desperately need a more politically educated electorate and more serious vetting of candidates.
I think this is how a country goes to rack and ruin ... with Reps like Gosar, Greene, Gaetz and too many more to count. People like this either make educated people want to give up or throw up.
all that and Jewish space lasers too. A real warning of the dangers of gerrymandering, that such a nasty moron can get elected and re-elected.
Those who voted for her should repent.
No, not a miracle. It's an abomination. She's just a jacked-up, vile woman with the maturity level of a middle-schooler.
MTG is peerless in vacuous idiocy! The problem being, half of the denizens of this country have the IQ’s of fence posts! Excellent piece Nina!!
I wish we could short MTG !
Love your writing and ardently read your column. I did a Youtube channel and recorded a lot as a union actor and communications consultant. I also live by a busy street, ha ha. If you would like some feedback/tips on voice recording, let me know. Keep it up! Bravo!
Thank you! And yes, the experiment went a bit awry when the motorcycles roared by! A work in progress. I welcome your tips.
Good morning Ms. Burleigh and happy eclipse to you.
Thanks for accepting my offer of feedback. Let's start with what worked: You have a pleasant voice, easy to listen to. You articulate well and we understand every word. The last thing you want to be is the Marlon Brando of audio narrative. I'm pretty sure he would never have made it as a radio actor. Your recording equipment seems adequate for the simple task at hand. Of course, your content is great, and that's what it's all about.
However, when it comes to crafting the written word for the ear, we need to differentiate between what the audience adds as grammar and emphasis when they read and what you want to project to them when you speak. That difference is performative in nature.
When I was making videos during the terrible Trump Years, I wrote two pieces: one was for Substack and one was my video script which I performed against an appropriate green screen backdrop. I made sure that the video script was engaging, conversational and performative. I utilized my voice (and face) to communicate nuanced emotions; mostly rage and disbelief.
In my spoken scripts I used conjunctions to sound natural and unforced. This was not (or wasn't in that case,) necessary in the written piece. These are small but important changes.
When we use our voice, we have many more tools to communicate emotion than with the written word. We can use volume to underscore emphasis. We can use pitch to underscore urgency or irritation. And we can use tempo to guide the listener to an important thought- then pause there to give them a brief moment to reflect on that thought. It may seem unnatural, but once you practice these delivery techniques, it becomes much easier.
As to the physical set-up for recording, as much as it would be nice to just dash one off in the office where we write, that is not always ideal. As I said, I live on a busy, urban street and cars, firetrucks and ambulances and motorbikes drive by frequently. Here in the city, we need to control the audio distractions so we don't give the audience an excuse to tune out. I have a friend who set up his hall closet as a recording booth. For my audio only efforts, I created a kind of triptych of cardboard covered with mailing foam from Amazon packaging that I set in front of me to absorb any ambient noise. It worked ok and cost nothing but time.
If you're not already doing so, I'd also recommend buying a good USB microphone. I use a Blue Yeti, which costs about $70 bucks. Finally, don't get frustrated because you need to do another "take" or another ten takes. Each time you read the piece aloud, it gets more natural and thus more accessible. I remember doing vids where everything was going swimmingly and then a big tuck rumbled by. Had to do a re-take. That's how it's done.
I hope these tips help you get better at your endeavor. Your work is really good and I'm a fan and a like minded person outraged that we even have to discuss the descent of America into a time of darkness and neo-proto-fascism.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or want further tips, methods or feedback.
Yours,
Martin Ganapoler
https://martinganapoler.substack.com/
Thank you!
Yeah, she forgot to mention the biblical locust (cicada) plague from Revelation. Signs.
Thanks Nina!
MTG certainly is a charter member of the MAGA Freakshow!
MTG is such a perfect example of the rot at the heart of the GOP…it boggles the mind that she could have been elected and continue to show her boundless ignorance…repent indeed.
We desperately need a more politically educated electorate and more serious vetting of candidates.
I think this is how a country goes to rack and ruin ... with Reps like Gosar, Greene, Gaetz and too many more to count. People like this either make educated people want to give up or throw up.
It’s not a miracle, it’s the default position of being amoral.