Fox Italy Uses APT Codec for Berlin Talent
October 11, 2008
Fox Italy launched an entertainment channel in Germany; it used the WorldCast Meridian IP audio codec to record the voice talent’s promo in Berlin while monitoring and coordinating from Rome.
Alessandro Travaglini is senior sound designer with Fox Italy. He told APT that the IP approach meant the company didn’t need a traditional ISDN solution that would have required a dedicated dual phone line.
The link includes two ProTools stations running the same audio/video session, delivered in advance via FTP; the audio workstation in Rome operates in Master mode and, using the Digidesign SYNC I/O Time Code Generator, controls the other in Berlin.
WorldCast Meridian is a multi-algorithm, fully duplex, stereo audio codec offering both IP and Leased Line connectivity. It provides a reliable and proven platform for studio to transmitter links and inter-studio networking applications worldwide.
Source: RWOnline.com
Day In the Life of Radio Broadcaster in India
October 11, 2008
Radio Personality Seetal Iyer
‘This is exactly what I wanted to do since I was a kid.’ Whenever I hear people say this, I feel either the person is a genius or simply a liar. As I recall, my parents never gave me much to choose from, so I always wanted to be a doctor. As opposed to my nine-year-old who has listed out a number of possibilities ranging from a travel show host to a graphic novelist to playing the guitar — followed with a rider query: ‘Will I make lots of money with this?’
But coming back to that fundamental question that we all have to confront as children — ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ — I think we’ve all had our share of fantasy, some going on to making theirs come true while others discovering new fantasies along the way.
So when I was asked to choose a profession for a day, I listed out some choicest selection to the editor. It was finally narrowed down to being a radio jockey. Now whose job would I like to swap for a day but for Seetal Iyer’s.
She is the group programme director at the Bangalore-headquartered WorldSpace satellite radio. But what I coveted was her role as the anchor for the old Hindi music channel, Radio Farishta. Apart from a dozen or so promo voice overs and hosting shows, Seetal brings a three-hour special called ‘Farishta Legends’ every Sunday from 6 pm to 9 pm.
That’s the glamour part of the job. Anchoring a show that plays all your favourite numbers. You can be excused for believing that some do have their cake and eat it too. But as I take her place for a day I realise — you’ve guessed it — the job demands much more that just putting on the earphones and tuning your favourite songs for listeners.
Day with a twist
It’s pretty much a 9 to 5 job, if you like to see the world a shade darker. But not for me and certainly not for Seetal. For us the standard corporate login time comes with a twist — to be managing a radio station. The day, as I discover, begins with ensuring that I have sent the log (which is the day’s playlist) six days in advance to Singapore (the relying station). That would take about two to three hours of my time. Selecting the songs from a huge databank keeping the theme of the show in mind. For instance, selecting for a Mohammed Rafi special or a Naushad special. Then there’s the not so ‘creative’ part of budget planning and maintenance activity. Also strategising for the year and so on.
In between, my colleagues drop in from the neighbouring cabins to catch up with some pending work but mostly for exchanging this and that (you can call it gossip!) Having thus re-established my bond with my colleagues I carry on till lunch, when we gather in a common room again sharing more than just the food. But these informal exchanges sometimes throw up some great ideas which we later brainstorm to develop it into a show concept.
On Fridays, post lunch, I get ready to record for one of my shows that is played early on Saturday mornings where I have a guest to co-anchor the show with me. We usually have a theme and steer our conversation around it.
Ruling the airwaves
The recording room is exactly what you have imagined it to be like. Except here at WorldSpace, since they do not go live on air unlike the FM stations, you can take your time and soak in the experience of ruling the air waves with your voice. My first time — when I put on the earphones — was a complete thrill. I was making my fantasy come true. And as Seetal switched on the recording key we slipped back into our respective personas — me the journalist and she the anchor — talking about the role of women in films and media (topic for the day). But the best part was pausing to play the song on the ‘sound card’ (a menu that gives the name of the film with the composer, singer and lyricist), and then discussing what we like about it or the film that it was taken from.
As Seetal says, “The company is perfect and so is the music. And I am grateful for both. That really is all there is to what I do to earn a living these days.” And I can vouch for that. I was there.
By: Dipti Nair
Source: Deccan Herald – In Their Shoes
Matt Lucas Joins “Astro Boy” Star Voice Cast
October 8, 2008
Imagi Studios has announced yet another addition to the cast of the upcoming CGI animated feature film, “Astro Boy” — namely “Little Britain” star Matt Lucas. The British actor joins a powerhouse list of voice talent that also includes the likes of Nicolas Cage, Kristen Bell, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane and Eugene Levy. Freddie Highmore will supply the voice for the title role.
Adding to an already award-winning cast, Lucas brings his own host of accolades to the production, having won multiple BAFTA Awards for his work on “Little Britain,” and boasts a resume that includes work on both stage and screen (most notably 2004’s “Shaun of the Dead”).
“Astro Boy” will retell the classic superhero origin story about a young robot boy with incredible powers who searches for the love of his father/creator, Dr. Tenma. Along the way, however, he faces seemingly unstoppable monsters and robots, which he must defeat in order to save the people of Metro City.
Regarded as the standard by which all other manga are judged, “Astro Boy” was created by the “God of Manga,” Osamu Tezuka. The film will be directed by David Bowers (”Flushed Away”), and is set to hit theaters on October 23, 2009.
Source: MTV
Canadians Need More Estrogen in Political Office, Voice Overs a Good Start
October 8, 2008
The Canadian Women Voters Congress was in Vancouver Sunday. One of the many functions of this group is getting more women involved in the political process.
As Jennifer Sweeney, head of the congress, pointed out to Shannon Proudfoot of Canwest News Service, “being 52% of the population, (women) can be a very powerful group.”
And so, to attract this group, political parties have used everything from female voice-overs in political advertising, to sweaters and family-friendly messaging.
But the problem with these approaches is that they assume the majority of women will vote the same way if presented with a specific platform.
That’s hard to accept in 2008.
Women, like men, differ on almost every issue, from child-care benefits to crime and punishment.
Rather than attempt to merely woo the female vote at campaign time, we suggest all parties strive to increase the number of women at the nomination level, then after the election, increase the number of women in the cabinet or the shadow cabinet.
Women actually governing would be the truest representation of their 52% majority.
Source: The Daily News (Nanaimo) via Canada.com
Bob Jordan Voices John McCain in Political YouTube video
October 7, 2008
Voice Actor Bob Jordan was recently hired by Media Matters to impersonate the voice of John McCain in a very successful political spot that’s currently running on YouTube.
The ad entitled ‘They Love Him’ has been viewed over 14,000 times on YouTube.
Bob Jordan has been a voice actor for over 20 years and says “This has been one of those fun projects that makes you proud of your profession. It has also opened the door to a lot more work!”
You can view the spot at
MediaMattersActionNetwork.org or on Bob’s website TheVoiceBobJordan.com
Source: Bob Jordan
Bobbin Beam narrates “Breaking Justice” for RFD-TV Network
October 7, 2008
Wild colt “Justice” becomes a nice trail horse; introducing trainer Steve Boyles. Narrated by Bobbin Beam, voice actress, “Breaking Justice”, is a feature program of Equestrian Nation, and scheduled to air Friday, October 10th on the RFD-TV Network.
RFD-TV is distributed on DIRECTV (Channel 379), DISH Network (Channel 231), Mediacom and NCTC cable systems in all 50 states, serving over 28 million U.S. homes.
The show will air on October 10th, 2008, first airing at 12 p.m. EST (11 a.m. Central, 10 a.m. Mountain, 9 a.m. Pacific) and a second airing takes place on the same day at 10 p.m. Eastern (9 p.m. Central, 8 p.m. Mountain, 7 p.m. Pacific).
Bobbin Beam, Voice Actress is a female voice talent who records and delivers her clients’ messages from her Escondido, California-based recording studio. Services include recordings for commercials, animation, corporate narrations, documentaries, broadcast voice imaging, audio books, podcasts and messaging on-hold (MOH) for advertising agencies, media and broadcast production companies as well as both large and small businesses around the world.
Source: Bobbin Beam
Don Madison Studies Voice-Over By Phone From Iraq With Voice Coaches
October 7, 2008
What’s a retired military man, now working for a private contractor in a war-torn country, to do with his down time? If he’s Pensacola resident Don Madison, currently residing in Baghdad, Iraq, he trains to become a professional Voice Actor.
Would it be easier to wait until he’s done with his work overseas to take on a new challenge like this?
After all many people put their dreams on the back burner for reasons far less substantial than being half a world away.
Madison says, “I’m a big believer in not putting things off until later. I tell my kids ‘there’s no time like the present.’ What kind of father would I be if I didn’t set the example?”
