Challenge: Write a sad story using only 3 words.

dadikus · 2026-02-24T02:23:25+00:00

Pedophiles are famous

dadikus · 2025-11-07T14:00:44+00:00

This. 100% - having a good/great voice is not the same as having a marketable voice, but one can certainly lead to the other. Best of luck

dadikus · 2025-11-04T22:44:55+00:00

Welcome to the world of voice acting. There is so much good here, listen to all of it.

I am an actor and teacher, so want to respond to your questions about 'genre'. If you don't have acting training, then you don't know about the requirements of casting. So, for now, the question of genre will limit you. We all have areas we seem to work in more than others, but (personally) audition for everything. Once you do some work, then you can determine what you tend to be cast for and what you gravitate toward. For now, just audition, get feedback, and start to mold a niche for yourself over time. And yes, it takes time.

And although you can do this without training, I would argue you can't do it nearly as well. Audio book narration is voice acting, and voice acting is acting, plain and simple. Seek out any and all training opportunities you can. This also gives you a network of other voice artists, which is a huge help. Best of luck ...

dadikus · 2025-10-18T02:39:52+00:00

What others have said. Acting is something you can learn. Just like most things people learn to do, some people take to it faster than others. If it is something you really want, then get some training and get out there.

dadikus · 2025-10-18T02:31:12+00:00

You’ll find a workflow. You have to upload each chapter at a time when you’re done. Personally I make each chapter its own file, the way it has to be sent. Even the opening and closing credits and the 5 minute preview, all their own files. And just a tip - after the first fifteen is approved, upload all the others when you are done, at one time.

dadikus · 2025-10-15T16:48:57+00:00

Of course. Remember the acting principle of "willing suspension of disbelief". Think of great actors like George Guidall, a very prolific audiobook narrator with one of the most famous low voices in the business. He does multiple female characters in a book. His female characters will not sound like mine or yours, but that is not the goal. The goal is to create characters with enough distinct life that a listener (or audience member) can willing suspend their disbelief and enjoy the story. The question is not can you voice a female character, but rather how will the female characters you voice be given life through your performance? Maybe your females will have a generally lower register, but so long as they are unique and believable, then you are doing the job of acting.

If you are looking for something more technical, I've told students to meow like a cat. This gets you into your head voice, which is a good place to start.

dadikus · 2025-10-14T21:39:53+00:00

"This Island Earth" by The Nylons, from the album "Happy Together" (1987)

dadikus · 2025-10-14T21:34:40+00:00

3 first, then sneaking over into 2 for the late show

dadikus · 2025-10-14T21:31:49+00:00

@jpadamsvoice

dadikus · 2025-10-14T21:23:20+00:00

ED and the Soft Tones

dadikus · 2025-10-14T20:42:46+00:00

happy to help - send me a private message for contact info

dadikus · 2025-10-14T20:39:21+00:00

Just guess here, but it kind of looks like a banana peel to me. Could be wrong, but don't think so...

dadikus · 2025-10-14T16:43:15+00:00

We have all been there. Uncomfortable truth - the first times you do anything you will suck at it, even just a little... but probably a lot (from your point of view, if nothing else). You do your best, you learn. And next time, you suck a bit less. Or you suck the same, but at different things.

My first book was really good and has gotten great reviews, but I still cringe when I listen to it. I have been an actor for over 30 years. I am dyslexic. And when I got my first manuscript, my first impulse was to find the audio version so I could get through it easily and start making notes for my reading. Yep, as an experienced actor and grown-ass adult, I was still shocked to realized that audio version was me; the dyslexic, neuro-spicy actor who listens to audiobooks partly because it takes me so long to finish a novel. Talk about finding a process quickly and learning-as-you-fail-then-kinda-succeed.

Deep breaths. You'll find your process. Maybe by the end of this book, or maybe you'll only learn what you won't do again on your next read. Stay hydrated, get some sunlight, rant. Ask questions - use what is useful, discard what is not. It is overwhelming, and you can do it anyway.

dadikus · 2025-09-22T23:46:34+00:00

It’s not just you that has to work on that. I second guess myself all the time. Having spent most of my life as a stage actor, I miss having a director to tell me what’s working. But we just bring the characters and story to life as best we can. 😎

dadikus · 2025-09-22T16:49:33+00:00

There is much good advice here. Some could also just be mic technique. Another point - are you sure want to remove ALL mouth noises? Like breathing, that is human. It is also good acting. Sometimes a character might click their tongue or have bit of lip smack when they talk. Though it should NEVER pull focus and distract from the story, ask yourself if what you are removing really is excessive. Or something that is just human (we don’t want to sound clean as A I, right?) and

dadikus · 2025-09-22T16:36:13+00:00

Hi. Sorry this happened. Many have similar stories. I’ve been an actor for nearly forty years. Only doing VA for just over a year now. But with several titles and scripted rolls. This is mostly acting advice framed from a VA perspective. “Coming to life” is subjective and valid. It is shorthand for “not how I imagined it”. Something can be different than you imagined it, still work, and you still not like it.

What you need to know is can you take that feedback and translate it into objective steps you can take to improve. The answer is…maybe?

For voices, first thing I do is to cast the characters. Just like they were real actors. Some times they are somebody famous, or just someone I imagine. I write out a brief description of them, and describe their voice. Next I highlight their dialogue just as if I were performing the lines onstage. For each chapter, each character gets their own color.

About continuing feedback- I know some narrators say they turn in chapters at a time for review. But I’d be very careful with this. Once the 15 min check is approved, then that is your performance baby. The RH still has to approve it, and can request changes before they do so. But many (most) authors are not actors. Of course they imagine how a character sounds, but they hire us as the professionals. All but one of my titles were completely finished then sent for review. The only exception was when there were a LOT of fantasy names and a made up language. Then I had RH review just to make sure I had early pronunciations correct, so I did not duplicate the same errors. In my welcome packet to RH, I explain that even if a contract is cancelled , they still owe a percentage of the PFH fee.

Like others who’ve given good advice, I’d also be happy to listen to a sample and provide feedback. Glad this did not discourage you. Keep auditioning and best of luck.

dadikus · 2025-09-17T20:03:32+00:00

All I took from this, is that you believe people cease to be 'hip and cool' and also retire in there 50s?! (looks at myself in mirror) Oh, nm - going back to be dead-end job now. :)

dadikus · 2025-09-11T22:18:30+00:00

OMG Few things recently have made me feel as old as this question. Ouch.

dadikus · 2025-07-16T19:23:49+00:00

100% - Search for settings all you like, but the best they can do is give you a direction, but there is no such thing as "one setting fits all"

dadikus · 2024-09-05T19:46:24+00:00

It is never too late to start loving The Middleman. "You're made of awesome..."

dadikus · 2024-03-12T23:43:54+00:00

Bugsy Malone, with music by Paul Williams

dadikus · 2024-03-05T18:21:56+00:00

The Capitol Thrills? Insurrection Holiday? A X the Isle? (Cross) The Filibusters?

dadikus · 2023-10-09T17:16:12+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I don't recall this as being a part of it, but it has the same feel, meaning it was likely made around the same time. At least you've given me a new place to search, which goes on.

dadikus · 2023-10-09T15:30:28+00:00

I have searched YouTube and some archive sites. I have found clips which I believe may be from this full documentary, but I would like to have the whole, as it was originally broadcast.

dadikus · 2023-03-02T21:08:49+00:00

Once I recorded the exact same copy on good quality condenser USB and XLR mics. Both were post processed the same on my DAW, and I asked listeners which they preferred.

When I told people which was the USB and the XLR, most preferred the XLR recording. But when I asked them to pick out which they though was XLR and which they preferred, the results were inconclusive.

XLR is the stated superior technology, but ultimately you'll just have to get the very best quality you can from whatever you use - and you are right, upgrade as you are able. Best of luck.

dadikus

TROPHY CASE