DIY Narrator: For Instructional Designers Who Narrate eLearning

Whenever you have to record a longer project over the course of a few days, a flood of thoughts and concerns may come to mind:

How will I make sure tomorrow’s recording sounds like today’s?

What if I lose my voice from all of this talking?

What happens if my computer blows up?

This episode, I’m discussing exactly that. How to best prepare and manage your process during a marathon multi-day recording session.

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates  about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

The hisssssss of sibilance is a killer of a great narration. It's harsh on the ears, distracting for a listener, and just plain annoying.

Sibilance in an eLearning narration can be caused by a number of issues, but thankfully, there at least as many ways to address or fix it.

However, my philosophy stands:  Always attempt to address a problem before it begins and try to relieve it before we ever hit record.

Unfortunately, some voices and microphone combinations make it difficult to fix sibilance problems at the source. In those cases, you also have a few software options available as well, so don't give up the dream and hit delete on that 60-minutes of recorded narration just yet.

Enjoy!

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”

― Rudyard Kipling

 

This week I worked on three different eLearning projects that incorporated a story, each in a different way.

I wanted to take a minute and share the methods with you.

We've all experienced the eLearning where afterward you remember the silly acting and contrived story, but not the message it was trying to convey.

So, I had a few thoughts on ensuring the stories you're telling in your eLearning and through your eLearning don't become a distraction for your learners.

Enjoy!

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

Breathe in! Breathe Out!

Did you know that you're probably breathing incorrectly?

That leads to difficulty working your way through longer passages, awkward breaks to catch a breath, and taking large gasps after long sentences. Those loud breaths will cause you to spend more time editing.

Never fear! This episode is all about getting your breath under control and improving the flow of your narration.

Topics include:

* Tips for taking deeper breaths

* Conjunction Junction!

* Air Control exercises

* A hidden Friends reference

* DevLearn!

Enjoy!

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

Time for a change of pace!

This week - Q&A and an Announcement!

Questions cover a variety of topics.

Topics include:

* When to use an authoritative/formal vs conversational style

* My thoughts background audio and sound effects for eLearning

* Approaches to getting two very different recordings to sound a little more similar.

Enjoy!

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

Saving time Part Three!

WOOOO! DIY Narrator is back!

Sorry for the delay in this last episode of the series. I went and got myself sick somehow (I blame my kindergarten teaching wife and daughter in daycare).

Wrapping up the time-savings series, we're moving into the final step of the narration process, Editing your audio!

I recapped the "Click Trick" covered in the last episode and got into elements of your DAW that you'll want to dig into so you can save some serious time in the future.

Plus, check the References section below for a bonus video showing off the Click Trick.

References and stuff:

* Part 1 - The Script

* Part 2 - Recording

* The Click Trick Video

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

Saving time Part Two!

Continuing the series on saving time that I started last week, this week I'm on to discussing some time-saving tips to incorporate into your recording workflow.

There are a couple that will save you some actual talking time and one BIG one that will save you time when you need to sit down and edit the narration.

Plus, check the References section below for a bonus video showing off that timesaving trick.

References and stuff:

* Episode 001 - 5 Performance Tips for Engaging eLearning Narration

* The Click Trick Video

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

Save time and win the bet!

Taking on a DIY project (eLearning narration or otherwise) is a bet.

You're saying you're confident that you will be able to do the work with significant cost savings, despite the time and equipment investment, and that the end result will be reasonably comparable to what you may have hired someone else to do.

So far, we've talked quite a bit about performance in other episodes, but now it's time to talk about saving time.

It's easy to get caught up spending days narrating and editing an hour or less of eLearning work.

Your time is more valuable than that.

This is part one of a three-part series on saving time in your process. This first episode is all about writing and preparing your script with the intent of setting yourself up to save time in the recording and editing process.

In this episode, I discuss:

* Things in scriptwriting phase that are time killers later down the line

* Beginning with the end in mind

References and stuff:

* Episode 001 - 5 Performance Tips for Engaging eLearning Narration

* Thinking in Bets - Annie Duke

* I didn't talk about this book specifically. But in currently reading it, I've realized that it really applies to what we're doing here.

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates  about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

Got Mushmouth?

I didn't plan to record this episode today, but I was struggling with this very problem this morning.

Sometimes, you just can't get the words out of your mouth in a way that sounds convincing. Today, I was stumbling on simple phrases, sounded like I was reading, and just couldn't get my brain to connect with the script.

Warm-ups to the rescue!

Honestly, I don't warm up as much as I should. A narrator should warm up every day before they start into scripts.

It doesn't hurt to knock off the rust from the night and get the muscles synced up. It might also have the added benefit of helping you smooth out those word combinations that you struggle with.

Here are a few warm-ups that I use when I'm stuck in a rut and need get my mouth in gear!

In this episode, I discuss:

* How warm-ups can do more than just warm up your muscles.

* Reading like a kindergartener

* Elvis?

* Emphasis exercises

References and stuff:

* V-Oh!

* Tongue Twisters and Vocal Warm-Ups

* Tongue Twisters in this episode:

* Six slippery snails, slid slowly seaward.

* Pad kid poured curd pulled cod

* The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick

* Oh what to-do to die today at a minute or two 'til two A thing distinctly hard to say yet harder still to do For they'll beat a tattoo at twenty to two With a rattatta tattatta tattatta too And the dragon will come when he hears the drum At a minute or two 'til two today At a minute or two 'til two.

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates  about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you

Updates? Pickups? No problem!

It's inevitable.

At some point, you're going to need to go back to an eLearning project from the past and update the narration. Maybe it's a yearly change, or you mentioned something that's out of date. It could even be a major change to a policy that needs a touch-up.

You finish recording the update, listen back and... uh oh... it doesn't sound anything like the rest of the module.

You know that the major difference in the original narration and your update will be jarring and completely pull your learner out of the immersion.

Take a listen to the episode to hear 5 factors that may contribute to the change in the sound of your narration and ways you might overcome the issues.

In this episode, I discuss:

* 5 factors that might change the way your narration sounds

* Microphone Frequency Response

* Recording Environment

References and stuff:

* Mic Technique

* Recording Environment

* Frequency Response Curves

* The Lounge Podcast

Subscribe!

Be sure to subscribe. Find all the links here.

Question?

If you have any questions for me, please email them over to [email protected] or send me a message on my fancy new Questions Page.

That's all for now. Be sure to subscribe in your podcatcher so you can catch the next episode.

Get Notified!

Be sure to sign up for updates  about new episodes and resources. Especially things that are not part of the podcast!

#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .text {font-size:28px;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:bold;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 {padding:16px 24px;border-color:#000000;border-width:1px;-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;background:#004a80;box-shadow:0px 1px 1px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .gradient {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .shine {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .active {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}#btn_1_092e40a8514ed3d7365b7d53af014031 .hover {-moz-border-radius:6px;-webkit-border-radius:6px;border-radius:6px;}Get Notified

We value your privacy and would never spam you