Quote: Win Wilders @ October 12 2010, 9:04 PM BST...OTT is a good thing. Sometimes. This seemed a bit desperate, - or maybe I mean to say hurried - sorry. If I were the writer I'd have asked you to portray the character within your vocal range and accent capabilities, re-record and lose the SFX.
I did several versions with this being my favourite. It was a harder voice to do but the original voice I used was to similar to another character I've played in three sketches from this series.
Couldn't make out the words. You really need to fix that at a mastering level. You can get a decent mic for a reasonable price - here's the one I use... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_H2_Handy_Recorder
PS. You might want to fix the 'preformed' typo on your credits.
Quote: David Bussell @ October 13 2010, 12:03 PM BSTCouldn't make out the words. You really need to fix that at a mastering level. You can get a decent mic for a reasonable price - here's the one I use... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_H2_Handy_Recorder
PS. You might want to fix the 'preformed' typo on your credits.
What preformed typo?
Like I said it's quiet but it's not that quiet. I can hear it quite well I don't know if it's because my speakers are of a good quality or not but it's not that low. I actually used Zoom H2 Handy Recorder but with a £400 Coles microphone so my recording equipment is not the problem. The rest of the sketches are louder but my concern with increasing the volume is you can hear the background hiss if you listen to the sketch with headphones.
Have a look at page 1 of this thread and you'll see the typo I'm talking about.
In regards to the quality of the recording, you can't expect people to wear headphones just to be able to listen to your work. You have to make it as accessible as possible, especially given that it has no visual component. If you're getting hiss with your setup then something is wrong and you need to fix it. Trying to mask it with music has not solved your problem. Try speaking to someone who specialises in audio and find out what's going wrong.
Quote: David Bussell @ October 13 2010, 12:17 PM BSTHave a look at page 1 of this thread and you'll see the typo I'm talking about.
In regards to the quality of the recording, you can't expect people to wear headphones just to be able to listen to your work. You have to make it as accessible as possible, especially given that it has no visual component. If you're getting hiss with your setup then something is wrong and you need to fix it. Trying to mask it with music has not solved your problem. Try speaking to someone who specialises in audio and find out what's going wrong.
Oh on the poster. Thanks for telling me. I'll change it right away 
I just listened to the whole sketch again on YouTube and apart from two words I heard everything else quite clearly without headphones. Fair enough it's quieter then it should be, I'll hold my hands up to that I said that in the beginning but it's that bad at all. I know had to record and edit audio I've been doing it for years I have been studying media for years. I made a deliberate decision to edit the sketches in a stereo format in the style of Peter Sellers comedy albums where the sketches are quieter and more natural and best listened to with headphones to get everything that's going on, unfortunately I'm not Peter Sellers and I can't release them on the radio or on CD so YouTube is my only outlet meaning that yet again my material is not suitable for the outlet I have chosen to release it on.
Yeah, it's tough getting people to listen to radio. Thing is, even if you do get people to listen they're likely to do so on their crummy laptop speakers so you have to compensate for that. People can turn the volume down if it's too loud but there's a limit to what they can do if it's too quiet. When half the replies to your piece only tell you it's inaudible you should pay attention. Master a separate version for radio and YouTube if you have to.
Quote: David Bussell @ October 13 2010, 12:37 PM BSTYeah, it's tough getting people to listen to radio. Thing is, even if you do get people to listen they're likely to do so on their crummy laptop speakers so you have to compensate for that. People can turn the volume down if it's too loud but there's a limit to what they can do if it's too quiet. When half the replies to your piece only tell you it's inaudible you should pay attention. Master a separate version for radio and YouTube if you have to.
Okay that's fair enough and I see your point. I have already re-edited it and have it much louder and I will do that for all the sketches. I'm still learning and thanks for the advice
James, David is giving you some really good practical advice-
Think about tailoring your output to the medium you use. A lot of people are in your same situation ( i.e. students) - and they use free sites to upload their material. And why not? It's a great avenue, and you can't beat the price. But at the same time you have to work within the constraints of it. When you upload to You Tube not only is the video compressed, but so is the audio. Keep it simple!
If you must use the SFX, take your volume down to almost nil on that track so that the most important audio track (the voice) is heard above the din of the marching or whatever it is.
I was really getting to like the look of 'preformed'
cheers
I think the background FX might be a tad too loud, making it a bit hard for the uninitiated to hear some of the dialogue. Also, on the voice - if doing a Hercules Grytpype-Thynne/Streeb-Greebling sound-a-like-ish - a clipped accent on the deep voice might make it easier to hear clearly.
This is to everyone who has posted. I've taken your criticism of the low volume levels onboard and have decided to release each sketch as a individual podcast via iTunes and my website. I will be making a forum thread explaining it all in a minute but there will be six sketches out today including this one re-edited.
I couldn't follow it, there was no decent pacing. The SFX were too distracting, although I appreciate what you were trying to do especially with the stereo.
Keanu Reeves can't do emotional man. James Cotter can't do learned/wise/mature/old man Although I think you'd be great as some sort of 'Tory Boy' character or Aaron Brown as we know him now.
There is a Tory type character on the Horizon isn't there?
Or what is the First past the post character, Lib Dem?
I predict he will be called 'Sebastian Pettigrew' and that it will be shot in a mockumentary style (written by James Cotter, from an original story by Jeremey Spicer).
Quote: Leevil @ October 15 2010, 1:54 AM BSTI couldn't follow it, there was no decent pacing. The SFX were too distracting, although I appreciate what you were trying to do especially with the stereo.
Keanu Reeves can't do emotional man. James Cotter can't do learned/wise/mature/old man Although I think you'd be great as some sort of 'Tory Boy' character or Aaron Brown as we know him now.
Thanks for the feedback. Are you referring to all of the sketches or just the Plinth sketch?
If you mean the second paragraph, I suppose I am. I don't think you should not try to play older parts but I'm not sure you should concentrate on them.
If you meant the first paragraph, this is the only sketch of this series I've listened to yet.