laura@volaura.com

973.747.6800

  • Home
  • Demos
    • Demos
    • YouTube Bumper Demo
    • Commercial
    • Covid Response And Emergency Management
    • Radio Imaging
    • TV Affiliate
    • Narration
    • Audiobooks
    • Political
    • Tours
    • Character
    • Kids Voices
    • Baby Voices
    • Promo
    • eLearning
    • Explainer
    • Telephony
    • Government
    • Medical Narration
    • French Commercial
    • French Narration
    • Podcast
    • On Camera
  • Copy Writing
  • Studio
  • Clients
  • Coaching & Demos
    • Voice Over Coaching
    • Book Online
    • Business Coaching
    • Demo Production
    • Prepaid Scheduling
  • Blog
  • Contact

ISDN

Live/Guided Sessions in Voice Over

November 11, 2019 by Laura Schreiber

https://youtu.be/Sobx5y6QVq8

Why are live sessions a Great Opportunity for Clients and Talent alike…

Out of the gate, I’ll say it: live sessions, also known as guided sessions, are awesome! If you are not familiar with the term, it is when your client live directs you. You hear them in the ear of you head phone while you record. I usually do one ear on, one ear off, and they direct you through the recording of the script. This is typically done for commercials, YouTube pre-rolls, and character work, but now I am even having some eLearning sessions live directed. When there are so many ways that a script can be interpreted, this guarantees that the client has exactly what they want at the end of the session. You can blow their minds with your amazing voiceover performance, they walk away confident that they have the exact audio that they need. The live/guided session is a win/win for all involved. So, the specifics. What is my favorite way to connect? Without being coy, I am happy to connect in whatever way is easiest for my clients and I offer a wide variety of options to accommodate everyone:

Different Methods

There are so many great ways to run a live session. Do I actually have a favorite and a least favorite? Sure, but really as long as the client is comfortable I am happy to oblige.

ipDTL/ISDN Bridge

IpDTL was the first method I ever used to connect. My very first coach, Anne Ganguzza, used ipDTL for all of her sessions. So, I was very comfortable with this when I launched my business and proud to offer this to my clients. Around the time that I opened shop, I had two agents who said they would sign me if I had an ISDN line. I learned that it was no longer possible to get regular ISDN lines in my part of New Jersey. So, I use an ipDTL bridge to ISDN. I have my own direct number. Initially I was thrilled. I always test connect before a session. I have had more than one snafu. To his credit, the creator of ipDTL is very available via facebook and tries to address all issues. There is, however, a considerable time lag as he is across the pond and he never figured our why my hiccups happened. I have been fine with my regular ipDTL service but I am less than confident in my ISDN service. I will say that when I send my clients an ipDTL link and they have never used it before, they are always very impressed with how clear the connection is.

Source Connect

I have been very pleased with my Source Connect service. The funny-not-so-funny story is that I had to sign up for it when I had a session scheduled and my ISDN line would not connect! The producer was very kind and said it happens often and that we should try this. I work with a lot of producers now who love Source Connect and it is easy. Last week, I had a commercial session for a TV spot. There were four talents on the line at the same time. The producer had the clients in the studio with him. He actually sent as a Source Connect Now line. It was great. If you have never used this before, just don’t be shocked that if the others are not muted you will hear a slight echo. Once they mute the echo goes away and it does not effect the recording. There are also not typically latency issues with Source Connect which I really like.

Skype/Zoom

I have some clients who love to use Skype and Zoom. I link them together, I suppose, because anyone could use them for anything, even outside of VO. If you are using them for voice over, be mindful to check your settings and be sure that you are coming through your pre-amp. Both of these are easy to use and for zoom if your session is under 45 minutes they are free. Skype is free as well. I find that my clients in Europe and Asia LOVE Skype and love to message on Skype! So, if you work with folks on Skype, remember to check your messages from time to time.

Phone

Funny as it sounds, I have some older Baby Boomer aged clients who just want to be on speaker phone! They do not like anything “high tech” and they want to keep it easy. If you are like me, your mobile phone may not work in your booth. That’s ok. I have a Magic Jack line for my office and that gives me a landline phone that I can bring in my booth. It is inexpensive and reliable.

Case Study: eLearning Session

So, I mentioned earlier that my live sessions used to be primarily for commercials and now I am even doing them for eLearning. This is fantastic! I’ll share a great example. I have an opportunity to work with a new eLearning company. To clarify, they are not new, jut new for me. Unlike most, they record all audio by guided session. I connected with Shelley, the director, via Skype. Her feedback was fantastic- very specific in terms of tone, pacing, which words to hit, and how to change whatever the last line was. We moved through the demo script and developed a wonderful rhythm and flow. I cherish the feedback as often when we self direct we miss things or hear them differently. The session was a true joy

Final Thoughts:

Remember, regardless of what your revision policy may be for self-directed work, when you give a live session, all audio is final delivery. This is industry standard. The session should not end until the client has what they want. If their needs change, then they need to pay you for another booking.

Filed Under: Client Relationships, Studio/booth, Voiceover Tagged With: commercials, elearning, final delivery, guided session, ipDTL, ISDN, live session, phone patch, professional voiceover, revision policy, revisions, Skype, Source Connect, VO, voice over, voiceover, Zoom

Voiceover Purchasing Made Simple

February 17, 2019 by Laura Schreiber

https://youtu.be/bpGGqOU4pWg

What can I serve you today?

In one of my “Wonderful Wednesday” (as I like to call them) Women’s group meetings, my friend Shelley told us about a friend of hers who wakes up every day to several voiceover jobs in his inbox. He had created what to me, a foodie at heart, could only be described as a “menu” of voiceover services. The only word that came to mind was BRILLIANT! Clients can choose what they need, meeting industry standards of usage, add it to their shopping cart, and the work comes in! Sounds perfect, right? The only problem with this menu, is that my clients have not started asking for service this way yet! So, if you still have not discovered my “SERVICES” Page, come in on, We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! I’m happy to work with you and as a full-time professional voiceover actor, I am super enthusiastic about this purchasing option for you! It can be found right here:

Services

What were the goals of this voiceover purchasing system?

    • First and foremost, my goal is to be extremely helpful to my clients! I always want to get them what they need as quickly as they need it.
    • Transparency is very important to me. I am always consistent in what I charge folks. When asked what I base my rates on, I always send a link to the GVAA rates card.

  • I always want my website to be user-friendly. Besides trying to offer up to date samples to help showcase my work and ability, sometimes clients need inspiration and ideas and the samples and demos are their for that as well.
  • This menu was create to make voiceover shopping or purchasing as easy as one, two, three. As per the above video, you simply go to your category, select the item, add it to your cart, and voila. Within hours you will have your finished audio!
  • We never seem to have enough time in the day, right? My hope is that this purchasing option saves you time as well!

Can I accommodate RUSH jobs with this?

ABSOLUTELY, YES! The purpose of simplifying the voiceover purchasing process is for my clients go get the pristine audio that they need as soon as possible. I typically can accommodate RUSH jobs, you just need to let me know when you book that it is a RUSH job. A RUSH job is typically a job that you need back within 4 hours. Otherwise you can expect a 24 hour turn-around on your project. I understand that sometimes you have clients on the other side who need something right away, and consequently you need something from a professional voiceover actor right away. I am happy to help and the quality of your project is always the same regardless of your deadline.

Laura Schreiber, Working in her broadcast ready studio on a Sunday Morning to get an IVR client what he needs!

Laura Schreiber, Working in her broadcast ready studio on a Sunday Morning to get an IVR client what he needs!

Now, how can we make this process go smoothly? I will need you to:

  • Send me your script/copy
  • Answer questions I might have for you about production including whether or not you want your files RAW or Compressed, etc
  • include your email and/or phone number
  • Because you have already paid, there is no discussion of invoice!
  • Are there daily specials or menu changes?

Well, yes and no. Occasionally folks on my newsletter get promotions, so if you help me with referrals I can help you meet your voiceover needs under budget. If you would like to join my newsletter mailing list please email me at laura@lauraschreibervoice.com.

The other “special” you will likely notice is that for sections like Toys or New Media, it says that you need to email me for a quote directly. I typically give a lot of thought to how each job is priced. In these categories in particular, they must be custom negotiated every single time. The usage issues are just too complex.

Lastly, as the GVAA rate guide changes and conversations in WOVO, our professional voice actor’s organization, progress, I will update my Menu. The purpose of this purchasing process is to make purchasing as easy as possible for my clients while maintaining industry standards. Therefore, regular updates are essential to this process.

Time to Come in:

So that’s it. I hope that I can help meet your voiceover needs today. I try my hardest to listen to what you are looking for and make every single project perfect. I get really excited for every single booking, whether it is an IVR job or a commercial, I am overjoyed to work with you. I deliver every job with a smile and am always accessible via phone, email, and text. I also offer multiple options for guided sessions including ISDN, ipDTL, Source Connect, and Skype. I hope that you LOVE what’s on the menu and I’m even happier when folks come back for seconds. Bon Appetite!

Filed Under: Client Relationships, Voiceover Tagged With: accommodating, client centered, friendly, GVAA Rates, helpful, ipDTL, ISDN, professional, RUSH Jobs, services, Skype, Source Connect, time, transparency, voiceover, voiceover purchasing

A Voiceover Pro Talks About Connections for Live Sessions

December 30, 2018 by Laura Schreiber

from ipDTL to Source Connect and Everything in Between, Laura Schreiber Talks about her preferences

So You Want to Direct Me…

The answer always is, and should always be, great! I always want to make my clients very happy, and this is just another opportunity to do so! As a full-time, professional voiceover actor, I have been set up to provide my clients with live/guided/directed sessions since I opened shop. One of my coaches used ipDTL for every session, so I felt very comfortable on that platform from the very start. I remember my first directed session like it was yesterday! It was a video game session with a German director. He wanted to use skype and their were 3 others on the other end giving me feedback. I loved working with them because I was able to give them specifically what they needed and wanted from the character that I was playing, a teenage badass called Jes, in the moment they needed it! There was no need for revisions because when the live session ended they had every line just as the wanted it. I put so much energy into each take and gave them multiple options. Having feedback as I recorded was so valuable. I was not nervous, I loved every minute. Another advantage of live sessions is that it is much easier to get to know your clients and build relationships with them when you actually work directly with their team. I learned that early on too. While you can certainly get to know clients from back and forth emails, there is nothing like actually speaking to them and working with them to make them happy. Guided sessions are fantastic and that is why I offer so many options to accommodate my clients!

ipDTL and the ISDN Bridge

I love using ipDTL. As I mentioned earlier, I started using it during my coaching many years ago and loved the clear connection and the ease of use. As I try to be a client centered service provider who makes everything as easy as possible for the folks I work with, I like that this as a service that I provide my clients free of charge for them. I simply send them a link and we are ready to go. I have never had issues with my ipDTL connection and my clients always comment on what a clear connection it is. Here is a brief video where I show how user friendly it is:

https://youtu.be/eSn2y2utYJk

I also have a direct ISDN line with my own Los Angeles phone number through an ipDTL bridge. Several of my agents said they would not sign me without an ISDN line, so this was the easiest way to solve that challenge as Verizon stopped installing new ISDN lines in the winter of 2015. I have been pleased with this as well although I have had some hiccups with the ISDN service. The owner/founder of ipDTL looked into it and found no problems with my line, so I was left befuddled.

I do also like the ipDTL facebook group. It has helped answer a lot of questions over the years! It is free and a great asset for those of us who use ipDTL often.

Source Connect

To be totally transparent, I actually signed up for Source Connect in a state of total hysteria when my ISDN would not work and I needed to connect with a studio in LA for a big commercial at that moment! Thank goodness it was up and running quickly and Source Connect saved the day. I did not initially find it as user friendly as ipDTL and needed a lot of directions and help from others. Since installing Source Connect, quite a few producers have wanted to use it which is great. The connection is extremely clear and it is also easy to use, once you know what to look for!

Skype

It seems that a lot of my overseas clients still want to use Skype. Skype is fine. It is not great, it is fine. There can be a frustrating latency issue, or lag. I also find that there can be a lot of hiccups when there are software updates. It makes me nervous to use Skype in lieu of ipDTL of Source Connect, but when a client strongly prefers this I will always accommodate. Perhaps when they are comfortable with the format this drives their preference.

Speaker Phone

I have had a handful of clients demand to use the speaker phone in my booth! My mobile phone does not work in my studio as it is so sound proof it blocks the signal. I do have a land line there instead and I can use this upon request. This is the worst option as it does not go through my pre-amp and microphone, so clients cannot hear the actual audio quality and sound. There are nuances to the recording that they will totally miss. Again, if the client is most comfortable like this I will oblige.

Sum Up

Over the years I have had a chance to do countless guided sessions. Across genres, for all sorts of projects, I have had clients direct me for everything. While most commonly they are used for commercial sessions, I had one helluva narration session where the client was paying for an hour and she intended to use every minute of it! Boy did she have me jump through hoops, it was somewhat shocking! Whether it is for commercials, narration, IVR, video games, or promos, there is one thing in common: every session should end with a very happy client!

Filed Under: Voiceover Tagged With: commercials, directed session, guided session, ipDTL, ISDN, live session, narration, professional voiceover actor, recording studio, Skype, Source Connect, video games, voiceover

Primary Sidebar

Loading

Laura Schreiber Voiceovers Recent Post

Recent Posts

  • Lessons Learned From Recent Live Session
  • How to Publish a Public Domain Audio Book
  • Having VO Industry Friends Matters
  • Lessons From My First Audiobook
  • Why Positivity Matters in a VO Coach
Laura Schreiber Voiceovers Categories

Categories

  • Laura answers every correspondence with a smile and a prompt reply. In addition to RUSH jobs and quick turnarounds, guided sessions are available and Laura works hard to make every project perfect. Do not hesitate to call or email anytime :) The one exception to this is erotica. Should you need someone for adult content, all the best to you, Laura is not your gal, do not reach out.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Laura Schreiber Female Voice Over Talent Contact Image

973.747.6800

laura@volaura.com

SKYPE: lauraschreiber324

ipDTL: Laura Schreiber Voice

Laura Schreiber Female Voice Over Talent Sourceconnect

LAURA IS REPRESENTED REGIONALLY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD.

©2023 Laura Schreiber Voice. All rights reserved. PRIVACY POLICY.

Voice Over Site by Voice Actor Websites  // Site design by notobelladesigns.com.