Is my voice good enough as a voice actor for my own game??

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15 comments, last by jkuehlin 5 years, 5 months ago
Hello guys, I recorded my voice and changed it with Audition. But I can't decide should I use my voice in my game or I need better voice actor? :$

New sample.

https://instaud.io/2IPr/delete/1912d796a03b6491ed5f70f0174e49f20f9a8f6e 

Old sample.

https://instaud.io/2IHn/delete/0449366529048c5701b32474da08f1d98b68e51e

Is there any hope?

 

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You probably didn't mean to post the 'delete' version of that link?

Your voice sounds fine, though you probably need a better microphone (even a cheap directional mic should do the trick). And maybe some better filters.

Tristam MacDonald. Ex-BigTech Software Engineer. Future farmer. [https://trist.am]

4 hours ago, swiftcoder said:

You probably didn't mean to post the 'delete' version of that link?

Your voice sounds fine, though you probably need a better microphone (even a cheap directional mic should do the trick). And maybe some better filters.

Thanks for reply. Yes, sorry that was a mistake.

Also I'm using MXL 990 it's a good microphone, I'll try to fix effects that made the sound looks low quality.

I think this is better than previous one! still I feel it's dump, Is there any cheap voice actor for indie games?

https://instaud.io/2IMx/delete/fe80c6497a93216e282d4a317a1134da193cd371

The second sample you provided is very, very short. So it's hard to get a good idea of how your voice would truly work in a video game. I'm not an actor but know plenty of actors and what I've heard is really needed is: 

- flexibility: how many different voices/accents/emotions can you do? 

- direct-ability: can you change your approach based on what your client/director tells you? 

- stability: can you stay in character across a wide range of emotions and situations - like that you'd find in a video game?

What I'd recommend you do is you redo several different scenarios that you feel showcase your talents and strengths. These could be video captures of games or scenes from films. You could react stage plays or do narration. Give your possible clients a lot more to chew on and leave them wanting more! Because, honestly, just one short line of dialog doesn't give us nearly enough info to know how good your VO truly is. I'd recommend researching other people's voice over reels and seeing how the pros are constructing theirs. Could really help give you some direction and more ideas. 

Hope that helps! 

Nate

Edit: I just listened to your first demo - the other thing you really need to work on is better recording practices. You sound like you're very close to the mic. Put a bit more distance between your mouth and the mic so more natural air moves between the two. This will also help reduce some of the mouth clicks, pops and proximity effect that certain syllable have on the mic. Do you have a pop filter on that mic? You can also sometimes talk slightly off angle so that your plosives aren't.... ya know, explosive. Also your actual audio file has a jittery aspect to it - like when you're playing the wrong sampling rate in your DAW or the audio interface is set incorrectly. The second sample is clearer but keep in mind that audio quality is just as (if not MORE) important that good acting and a solid performance. 

Nathan Madsen
Nate (AT) MadsenStudios (DOT) Com
Composer-Sound Designer
Madsen Studios
Austin, TX

I'm thinking bump up the playback speed a touch on a cleaned up sample and see how that feels. Because you're so bass-ie there's quite a bit of ceiling. This is also good being that it wouldn't take much to shift it to really dark boss like.

Thanks a lot nsmadsen, I recorded another sample I'll try the points you mentioned. But first I have two problems. First my real voice is awful so I change my voice and that reduce quality. Second I never spoke English with anybody! so I don't even know how to speak correctly.

This sample is better.

https://instaud.io/2IPr/delete/1912d796a03b6491ed5f70f0174e49f20f9a8f6e

 

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- flexibility: how many different voices/accents/emotions can you do? 

I can't even speak English correctly ? I can change my voice with software like audition but don't have Inherent talent as a voice actor.

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- direct-ability: can you change your approach based on what your client/director tells you? 

Never, I'm not going to work as a professional voice actor cause I'm too bad at this. I need this voice for my own game.

 

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- stability: can you stay in character across a wide range of emotions and situations - like that you'd find in a video game?

I will try. Thank you.

12 minutes ago, GoliathForge said:

I'm thinking bump up the playback speed a touch on a cleaned up sample and see how that feels. Because you're so bass-ie there's quite a bit of ceiling. This is also good being that it wouldn't take much to shift it to really dark boss like.

Thanks GoliathForge. Please also listen to the bottom sample too. :$ Is this any better than previous samples?

https://instaud.io/2IPr/delete/1912d796a03b6491ed5f70f0174e49f20f9a8f6e 

Yes, better with every attempt. When you're doing this, think like a musician. That last sample, in the beginning you're hitting the notes on good time and ringing clear. At the end a little lazy. Try to hold it up there all the way to the end. Its easier to smear in post than it is to repair.

I think you sound a bit like Boris Karloff...lol...nice deep voice for a spooky intro if you ask me..?

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