The Sound Design Academy Podcast: Audio Production | Voiceover | Podcasting | Lifestyle

The Sound Design Academy Podcast: Audio Production | Voiceover | Podcasting | Lifestyle

By Michael Heuer: Sound Designer, Voiceover Artist, and BloggerBusinessEducationArtsPerforming ArtsCareers
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The Sound Design Academy Podcast: Audio Production | Voiceover | Podcasting | Lifestyle episodes

  • SDA005: Jeremie Voillot – Dragon Age, Mass Effect, and More!
    Today I had the chance to sit down and talk with one of my industry idols: Jeremy Voillot. Jeremie is a graduate of the Vancouver Film School where he studied Sound Design. Since graduating Jeremie has had an amazing career working as a sound designer on Mass Effect, senior sound designer on Dragon Age Origins, then continuing onto such titles as Dragon Age 2 & 3 plus Mass Effect 2 & 3. Jeremie is presently  Audio Director 2 at Bioware.

    Show Notes

    DJ’d for a number of years before attending school
    Attended the Vancouver Film School where he got his degree in Sound Design
    Got his first gig on Mass Effect 1 after deciding not to pursue getting into the Vancouver film scene
    Dragon Age = Cling Clang and Mass Effect = Pew Pew — I think I’m going to start nicknaming all my projects as well.
    The Last of Us is one of Jeremie’s favorite game audio experiences as a consumer
    It’s likely we will see more use of Dolby Atmos in game mixing
    Bioware is using Frostbite as a game engine
    We get an amazing description and run down of the Dolby Atmos System and how it essentially works.
    Loved the impact of audio on people — the ability to move a person with sound.
    When you’re doing audio right it’s subconsciously recognized, but when you do it wrong… you really know it’s wrong.
    Bioware trains their QA (quality assurance) team to recognize and be able to discuss the audio
    Making a game is a lot like attending a university. You work on it for up to 4 years, and you come out of it a little older, wiser, and better equipped for the next challenge.
    The better we can empathize with other people’s situation, the better job we can do in our area.
    If you’re not scared by what you are doing then you’re probably not doing the right thing. You should be challenging yourself and your perceptions all the time.
    The true test of experience is being able to know that on the other side it’ll work out. You’ll come up with something. If not you, someone else will to help you out.
    No game is perfect, and that’s ok. It shows that something amazing and great is trying to be achieved.
    I’d much rather go to a show where you see a dj attempting something difficult 
    Most voiceover recording is outsourced.
    Music composition is also outsourced
    Their field recording is done with a 702 Sound Device
    If you get a chance in Dragon Age Inquisition, stop by a hollow log, tree, and other materials and just listen. You’ll notice they dynamically change based on the wind veloci...
    1 hr 4 min
  • SDA004: Building a Better Voiceover Career w/ Scott Stackhouse
    This week I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Scott Stackhouse. Scott is assistant professor of theatre in acting and voice at the University of Missouri Kansas City where he teaches acting, directing, and voice. He earned his MFA at the lovely University of California – Los Angeles and has worked regionally and nationally as an actor, director, vocal coach, and fight choreographer. On top of it all Scott also works as a professional voice actor booking gigs and continuing to develop his career. Plus, he’s a really outstanding human being.
     
    Notes
     

    Scott took 5 years off between high school and college
    Finished his BA at the University of Missouri – Kansas City
    Attended URTAs where he got into UCLA for his Masters
    Left LA to start teaching at Johnson County Community College (Some stellar programs there btw)
    Got signed by Exposure Inc. in Kansas City along with longtime friend David Washington
    Actor’s tend to have a leg up in Voiceover
    No matter how successful you get, keep it all in perspective.
    There is no specific path for getting into the field. You have to discover it for yourself.
    You can analyze yourself by listening to recordings of your craft.
    The closer you can deliver to the final product, the better.
    You gotta separate the work from the art. When you sell, sell. When you play Romeo, play Romeo.
    Selling out has more to do with your attitude and perspective than what gig you take.
    Bob Bergen has been a great resource for voice acting.
    Voiceover Universe – The Facebook of Voiceover
    It’s easier to pull back than ask someone to be bigger.
    Voice work is much like mask work.
    The listener can hear if you’re being authentic.
    You gotta find your money voice — who you’ll be cast as.

     
    Recommend Gear and Resources
    Scott’s Mic
    Rode NT1
    Suggested book
    Conversation Pieces Out of the Studio: The Voiceover Workshop for Professional Actors
    48 min
  • SDA 003: It’s the Journey Not the Destination with Greg Mackender
    This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with Greg Mackender. Greg is the associate professor of sound at the University of Missouri – Kansas City where he teaches Hard Disk Recording and Sound Scoring. Professor Mackender has a long history of music, audio exploration, and being at the breaking edge of audio innovation where he was one of the early implementors of digital audio. 
     
    Notes

    * Greg works primarily in theatre as a Sound Designer
    * Started out with a love for science that turned into a love for audio
    * Early implementor of digital audio
    * You don’t always need college or a training program to learn audio.
    * It’s often better to buy the right gear initially to create better work.
    * Maintain a creative dojo where you hone your craft.
    * Sometimes you need to step away from your craft in order to rejuvenate your creativity
    * You’re only as good as the weakest link in your signal chain.
    * The readiness is all. Be ready.

    Resources

    *
    Greg’s recommended book: Genesis Of A Music: An Account Of A Creative Work, Its Roots, And Its Fulfillments by Harry Partch

    *
    Shure SM63, Shure PG56, Shure SM57, Shure SM58

    *
    AKG C414

    *
    Universal Audio Apollo

    *
    Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

    *
    Lewitt LCT 940


     
    Thanks again to everyone for checking out the podcast. Every listen gets us closer to the next interview. If you’d like to support the SDA Podcast even more, write us a review at iTunes. Reviews drive everything for us on that space, and we read every single one. Thanks again guys.
    Keep on learning!
    Michael Heuer
    Sound Design Academy
    55 min
  • SDA 002: Location Sound with Joe Elfanbaum
    Sound Design Academy sits down with Production Mixer and location sound man Joe Elfanbaum to discuss his recent success and growth as an audio expert within SCAD. Within 2 years of attending the Savannah College of Art and Design, Joe has managed to jump start his location audio career, and is currently working on a number of professional gigs. Listen in to learn how you too can break into the location sound industry, get tips on how to succeed and so much more!
    Show Notes: 

    Joe is a Production Mixer out of Georgia
    Started at UMKC then shifted to SCAD
    Location Sound is Joe’s primary focus
    Get the right tools for the job because you can build a career off it.
    You can sell SFX online at Pond 5 even with an H4n
    Always keep a level head. Never lose your cool. Getting worked up doesn’t solve the problem.
    You never know when the moment’s gonna happen.
    Easy to spots to hide a mic pack: ankle, thigh, small of back, chest, and under a wig.
    Always go with the location scout to help decide if a location is conducive to good audio.
    Solid communication skills go a long way.
    Organization is very important.

    Resources:

    Joe uses a Sound Devices 633 Recorder
    Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Mic
    Zoom H4n, H5, or H6n are all great entry level recorders
    Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Audio Interface (Fun Fact: After the interview, I found out Joe was also using this interface.)
    Aaton Cantar X3
    Michael’s Mic: Electro Voice RE20
    DPA mini mic
    CAD Microphones: E300S & KBM412
    ATR2100
    Shure SM58 or SM57
    Schoeps CMIT5UAG Shotgun Mic (Joe’s favorite mic)
    The Location Sound Bible by Ric Viers
    The Sound Effects Bible by Ric Viers
    Rode Rage
    Soundworks
    Contact Joe at joeelfanbaum.com | Email Joe here

    42 min
  • SDA 001: Booking Books and Building Relationships on ACX.com with Michael Pauley
    Sound Design Academy sits down with actor Michael Pauley to discuss his recent success and growth on acx.com. Within less than a year Michael has managed to rack up over 70 titles on ACX, and made the leap to full time voiceover artist through September of 2015. Listen in to learn how you can do it too, and much more! 
    Summary

    Originally from Chicago, Ill
    Worked at the Southwest Shakespeare Conservatory
    University of Arizona – Undergrad
    Moved to New York City directly after undergrad
    Received his master’s from the University of Missouri – Kansas City
    Mentor: Ted Swetz
    Voiceover Workshop Coach: Jeff Dreisbach – McCorkle Casting
     Started doing audiobooks from home
    Artistic Director for Hyperion Theatre Company
    Michael actually has a small part in the upcoming PeeWee’s Holiday Netflix episode — keep an eye out for him.

    Key Takeaways:

    No matter the medium – relationships is the name of the game. Building great relationships with people who share your ideas and your way of working.
    There’s no longer an excuse — as an actor — to not have a demo reel. It doesn’t need to be from full productions, it just needs to be made.
    Nowadays we are able to produce professional audio from home whereas that was much more difficult a few years ago.
    Put your ego aside.
    You have to do what’s right for that project, and that client.
    All you have to work with is yourself. Your experiences. Your perspectives. 
    I don’t try to be what I think they want me to be anymore… I present who I am and if I’m a right fit then great, and if not then they’re gonna find the right fit.
    Be humble with yourself.
    “Doctors practice medicine. Lawyers practice law. We have to practice our art.”
    It’s not a survival job, it’s a thrive-al job.

    Referenced Projects, Places, and Resources

    * Hyperion Theatre Company
    * The Rising Dead by Devan Sagliani
    * Landlocked by JA Sanchez
    * Audiobook Creation Exchange: acx.com
    * Gotham Comedy Club
    * Inside Acting Podcast
    * Upwork.com
    * NT1 Rode Microphone
    * Electro Voice RE20 Microphone
    * Daring Greatly by Dr. Brené Brown
    * The Power of Vulnerability Ted Talk by Dr. Brené Brown
    * Michael Pauley’s Website


    45 min

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Michael Heuer from Sound Design Academy shares all of his best sound design, and audio editing techniques, gear tips, and awesome audio hacks so you can stomp the audio industry and be at the…