Jason K Myatt

This has actually been a long time coming… some months ago, I decided to write a series of very short blog posts reviewing microphones that could possibly be suitable for VOICEOVERS.  Thanks to some very generous suppliers, I have been testing some pretty darn impressive microphones.

This week, we take a look at the PELUSO Vacuum Tube Ribbon Microphone.

Here’s a little blurb from the website:

“This is the Vacuum Tube version of the R 14 Ribbon Microphone. It offers enhanced output level and a stunning response due to the perfect impedence match with the amplifier. The design of this microphone is inspired by classic ribbon microphones with the addition of a tube stage to provide added gain. It has a natural rich and silky sound with additional harmonic complexity provided by the tube stage. It is the perfect complement to your microphone collection, offering a distinct color difference from condenser microphones.
The microphone comes as a complete system, with Microphone in Wood Box, and Shock Mount, Power Supply, 7-Pin Cable packed in an attractive Flight Case.
Made in the USA.”

As stated, this unit comes with it’s own power supply/preamp. My testing method was to record a similar script for each mic, in the same booth and with no processing.

I actually don’t want to say much about the unit – I’d prefer you to hear and decide for yourself. (Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section) For the money, this mic didn’t cut it for me personally, but in saying that everyones voice is different and the same mic does NOT suit everyone.

Next week, another mic to listen to – that you’ll be able to compare with this one.

Those who know me well enough, know I love new gadgets – I’ve owned all kinds of PDA’s and Smartphones, every incarnation of iPhone (including the 2G not released in Australia), and now the iPad & iPhone 4 too.  I simply dig this type of technology and particularly Apple products – (some would call me an Apple Fanboy – a title I hate, but begrudgingly fit into).  But as you may or may not know, most portable devices (like the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad) do not support FLASH. This can be problematic for those of us who want to run things like audio and video on our webpages. Times really have changed, once upon a time there were so few website that included audio let alone video – but now, it’s rare not to have this sort of material on a site.  For #VoiceActors it’s even more important to have this stuff on your site to promote yourself – and with the onset of mobile applications like “Talent Please” (mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago) where prospective employers can find a #VoiceActor via their iPhone, having “working” audio and video players is imperative!

With all this in mind, and in an effort to make my webpage viewable on ANY device – I’ve been researching how to get around the problem. Steve Jobs would say the way around this is “HTML5″ – yep that is true – I’m not going to argue with Steve! …but how do I implement HTML5 within this WORDPRESS environment? After some very defined searching, I’ve found there are already a number of Plugins emerging that meet this issue headon. As I just mentioned, I use a WORDPRESS environment for most of my web presences, so which plugins am I using? Let me say this, my primary goal is to have my audio and video play happily on iPhone and iPad, and ALL desktop browsers too – so I’ve tested a bunch of plugins with differing success, but for mp3′s I’m using Degradable HTML5 audio and video & for video I’m using Stream Video Player. For video I’m uploading FLV and MP4, depending on what type of browser you’re visiting from Stream Video Player will either use a flash player or Quicktime player.

I’m not going to say these are perfect, but so far they have done the trick for me and my site.  Gone are the days where I had endless hours available to be writing everything in code and re-uploading a page. That’s why I’m using WordPress, and now with wonderful folks freely developing tools like the afore mentioned plugins – my site is looking neat, tidy and easily viewable on ANY device.

Please feel free to leave comments and thoughts – if you’re having issues viewing anything on my site – please comment with details – I need the feedback

Standby, next week I’ll start the Microphone review series !

I may have been away from blogging over the last few months… but NOT away from the studio, or the MIC – it’s been fun, as always! A while back I posted “nice tvc…but worst – sean – ever..“? It was quite a popular post, feel free to read that post and it’s comments before reading on…it may just be worth it!

Anyway, as I mentioned in that post, I felt Kris produced a great TVC – well, it’s way past time to congratulate Kris Woldt and Keleigh Newman for winning “BEST COMMERICAL UNDER $3000″ award at the Queensland MultiMedia Awards.

Congratulations on the award guys !  …but I still think it’s the worst – Sean – ever.
Kris & Keleigh won this award while employed by SEVEN Toowoomba – but since, have taken the leap to work for themselves.  Their business, Thru a Lens Media, produces television commercials, promotional and web ready videos, training material and more.  Recently they were signed to work on a project with Australia’s Celebrity Magician – Christopher Wayne.  I’ll share more details on this little doozy when I’m allowed to talk more about it
Also recently, Thru a Lens Media produced a TVC for the Doritos competition – check it out.  The commercial “Doritos Bandits” was shot locally at the Jondaryan Woolshed.  The voiceover on the tag is Jake Stormoen, who I also mentioned in a blog post about 12months ago (Meet JAKE!).  I love this ad – I think it’s beautifully written and shot – Nice Work guys !

During my hiatus I’ve been periodically writing blog posts, but saving them in my drafts section, I thought it was about time I started posting them! So here we go with some hot news !

I’ve been a massive fan of mobile devices ever since I got my first Smartphone (iMate Jasjam) quite a few years ago.  Since then, in my opinion, the Windoze Mobile device has been totally overshadowed by Apple devices like the iPhone & iPad. (Yes I am opening myself up here to anti-Apple comments.. but so be it) There are simply hundreds of thousands of cheap and free applications available for the iPhone, making it an extremely powerful mobile device.  In a recent post I read that Apple have sold over 100 million mobile devices (iPod Touch and iPhone). These days it’s hard to be anywhere and NOT see someone wielding an iPhone. So I thought it was time to see if I can get the iPhone working for me from a marketing perspective !

I’ve just signed up to be part of a brand new iPhone app developed by Melbourne studio GASinc.  In their words: TALENT PLEASE Talent at a Touch: The world’s first independent iPhone app connecting Australia’s best voiceover talent & sound studios with ad producers & casting directors worldwide.

If you’ve got an iPhone, check it out while the app is FREE (it will upgrade in the coming months and be a paid app) – if you’d like to be listed or know more - email.  Throughout July, the folks from Talent Please travelled Australia speaking with Freelance Artists and Agents, and it appears that they have signed onboard a whole swag of not only Australia’s best, but Artists from the UK and US as well.

I’ll keep you informed of how this goes for me.  It’s just the start of my new marketing strategy for my Voiceover work, this blog and social networking(@mvo1) being the other parts to my plan at this point.

Also a big thanks to Andrew Frame at bafSoundWorks for assisting with my demo which can be found within the app – so download and check it out !

Before I head off for a short hiatus, I wanted to share a funny little comic strip I’ve been subscribed to for a little while. Called “Voice-Overload” by voice artist Jeffrey Kafer, this weekly web comic has really tickled my funny bone on more than one occasion. I’d really love it if you’d check out the comic that was in my inbox this morning: voice-overload.com

As I mentioned in the opening sentence, I’m off for some much needed R&R …but as always the MIC WILL BE ON! I’ll be posting again in 2010 with some new reads, demos and inspirations, plus I’ll be posting with some MIC reviews – I’ve been testing and I’ve got some interesting results to share.

Thanks for stopping by !

Cheers
Jason

A few years ago when I was a fulltime writer/producer, I used to read quite a few ‘character’ reads.  Now days as a fulltime producer, that has really slowed down since I don’t write for ME anymore. I guess that was one of the luxuries, as a radio writer, producer & voice guy, I got to write for my strengths, these days I need to really try to sell the fact that I can pull off these different character styles.

I really love the opportunity to act, which we’ve heard over the last few weeks with some of the great copy I’ve been able to read, but getting to act as a character is just that little more challenging. Check some of my older characterisations on the Voices page.

Last week one of my old team, Peter Laurie, now Creative Director at Sunshine Coast Radio Centre, sent me a script to be a ‘snooty Professor type’.  This characterisation came easy for some reason, and it was fun!  I’ve included the ‘snooty Professor’ plus another script from Peter, a straight read, below. The direction on the straight read was to read quite ‘deadpan’ …but not too much. Please take a listen to both and leave your thoughts.

• Audio MP3

Over the years I’ve read some very bad copy … and some truely awesome copy!  I’ve written here several times about the benefits of great creative and how rewarding it is when voice actors are privileged enough to get a script well written. Today was one of those days for me. When I got the call from Reg, he said that when he read the scripts, he just wanted to read them himself – it was good copy and he really wanted to be the one to read it, but … he was already on too much in the marketplace. That’s when I got the call…

The three scripts were really well written and were so much fun to read, and the HARDY crew did an awesome production job.  As usual I’d love you to leave your thoughts and comments.
…next week a fun character read.

Audio MP3

a few months ago, I wrote about an epiphany I had while working with some student actors.
Read the rest of this entry »

Another quick post this week, today I re-read a commercial I did twelve months ago. The client liked the read… so asked me to re-read with a slight copy change. This one was produced by Russell @ Australia’s Voiceover House – Nice work! Read the rest of this entry »

This week I’d like to share a series of 3 commercials written and produced by BAF Soundworks for their client “it’s your party” in the Cayman Islands.  BAF Soundworks is Brandi & Andrew Frame – both from a radio background – both with a passion for great creative. Read the rest of this entry »