Hey, everyone! I dont often post on Backstage, but when I do...

Okay, so, I seem to have noticed that there are a lot of threads on technical advice, what to use as recording software and hardware, which prop to use to produce which sound, etc...

But thinking (and listening) back on my own audios, I realize that there is some advice I could give my past self, and it's all about "how to use my voice", which in the case of audios you could also call acting.

So I thought I'd share these tidbits of advice, for the newcomers who may find hard to record, here are some tips to make your life easier, while increasing the quality of your audios :

• pacing : just be aware that the speed at which you speak has an emotional impact. For some audios, you have to speak really slow and low, for others, take a bubbly, fast-paced speech. Think ahead of what kind of voice you wanna have. Test it out aloud if needed before recording.

• reading a script : A frequent (pretty much everyone falls into it when they debut) mistake when reading a script is not pausing enough between sentences. Why pause? Well, it gives the listener more time to absorb what you just said, it can create suspense in tense moments, and it gives you a few seconds to think of how you're going to say the next sentence.

• intonation : range is everything. The more range you have, the subtler your performance can be. Some audios do not require subtlety, but that's just the other side of the same coin. Intonation starts the same as intent : think about your character, what you want your character to sound like. It will also prevent you from "reading" a script, and you'll start really acting it out.

• making editing easy : you're going to fumble on words. You're going to forget where you were going, or you'll fart in the middle of a really intense scene, or whatever. Don't panic. Editing is really easy when you follow simple rules : pause between sentences, because it makes cuts unnoticeable; make some loud noise when you eff up so that you just have to look at the time-line to know where to edit. Then just relax and start again at the last "good" thing you remember saying.

• improvising : this may be counter-intuitive, but in my experience, when doing an improv audio, it works best when I DON'T plan too much ahead. I just basically have one or two main ideas that will support the whole, and I discover the rest as I say it. When I try to force it back unto tracks I had prepared, it derails. Don't lose your momentum! Follow the white rabbit!

• conclusion : always take some time before recording, just so you can relax, get into character. If you have a script, read it briefly again so you won't be lost. If improvising, remind yourself of your main idea.

You may worry about "sounding sexy", but you are already a sexy, sexy monkey. All this advice is only to help you get confident enough that you allow yourself to shine. It's my technique, but others might do better for you. Just do what you do and everything's gonna be alright.

Post-scriptum : I barely consider myself a decent actor, and I know this place is full of amazing actors and actresses. Please share your wisdom with me! 💋