Heck why not! ONE MORE VIDEO GAME THEME!!!

If you haven't already seen this...

[wags fist at you]
some audio guy someaudioguy videogames music sound youtube

ANOTHER VIDEO GAME THEME

Sorry for putting this back-to-back with the Tetris one, but I just saw this on Kotaku. I'm linking out to the actual youtube video though, since it wouldn't load from Kotaku's page.

Here's an awesome Mario 2 theme. Game fans should appreciate the 'joke' at 2:22.



I think I'm gonna go play SMB2 now...
someaudioguy some audio guy videogames sound music theme voice over

MY FAVORITE TETRIS YET

Anyone know if that's a Korg?
someaudioguy some audio guy music videogame theme video game korg synth youtube
KORG TR61 61 Key TRITON Series Synth/Workstation

Idolator Might Be On To Something ... No No Really

LEAKING FTW!

So now that we're wrapping up the March Boycott of any RIAA label music (Thanks Gizmodo!), Idolator has a series of unrelated post about the RIAA, that actually tie together really well.

First up If you can remember the Nine Inch Nails fiasco surrounding NIN tracks being left in bathroom stalls for music fans to trade. Apparently the RIAA started sending out cease and desist letters ... before they found out that the label had approved this "viral" campaign.

Even Trent Reznor Wants to Give the RIAA a Smackdown


Next up in RIAA HIGH-larity, even with the boycott, Modest Mouse went on to have the number one selling album of it's release week (by a pretty wide margin
from recent number ones).
But wait Audio Guy, wasn't this the same album that was leaked all over "teh intarwebs" weeks ago?
Why would anyone BUY the album, if they could download it?
Do you mean to tell me that Piracy (ARRRRRRGH!) might NOT directly contribute to the recent substantial drop in CD sales?
That there could be other contributing factors?
Audio Guy?

To Leak, Or Not To Leak?: Why The Labels Need To Learn To Chill Out And Float On


And lastly, just for shizznits, here's Idolators leak of the day from Thursday. It's poppy R&B from Mario. It's ultra-smooth-sappy and even has an "I'll be better baby" plea to the listener about two thirds of the way through the track. By all respects I should hate it. It's (deservedly) panned on the site's comments, but I can't stop listening to it. Maybe I just haven't been listening to enough R&B of late...

Leak Of The Day, Part II: Mario Has A Pocket Full Of Kryptonite


I'm gonna go detox with some Marvin Gaye...
someaudioguy some audio guy music idolator riaa voice over

Musical Performance Art?

The story from the SYSun will explain far better than I will, but here are two excerpts...

Although none of the Cryptogramophone groups that I have heard sound much like one another, they all share certain qualities: Each concocts an original combination of sounds by juxtaposing electronic instruments with traditional acoustic ones, and incorporates musical elements from different parts of the world while maintaining some of the familiar jazz template of varying pre-written ensemble music with solo improvisation.

ok... minus several points for seriously using the word juxtapose...

The acoustic players— Erik Friedlander on cello, Joel Hamilton on bass, and Alex Cline on drums — and the electric ones — the leader on electric violin, David Witham on keys, and Nels Cline on guitar — ganged up to produce some of the most disturbing sounds I have ever heard. After a few minutes, I wanted to storm the stage with a pair of wire-cutters.
Moving to the back of the club helped considerably, and I was able to enjoy Mr. Gauthier's thoughtful last piece.

Uh-huh... So a "good" time was had by all...

Good...
someaudioguy some audio guy music voice over concert voice acting

I Love 'Bluette', and I Love Oatmeal...

Actually I'm not a big fan of oatmeal, but I am a fan of Dave Brubeck! And Dave has a son Chris, who has composed a piece called 'Quiet Heroes' which will be narrated by Wilford Brimley.
BAM!
Bluette to Oatmeal in under six steps! No Kevin Bacon needed!
Postcrescent.com has a great interview with Brimley about his upcoming narration in 'Quiet Heroes'.

Q: How did you get involved with this project?

A: I was invited.

And there you have it!

But no really check out the rest of the article here.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over narration announcer voice acting

I'm sure it is fun, but is it worth the price?

Audio4fun.com has released their newest version of their "Voice Changing" software. Chock full of presets, and their custom "nick-voices" it's guaranteed to provide you ... with ... fun.

The catch?

It's a $90 program. NINETY dollars for some audio hijinkery. Does this hold up to say a free version of Audacity and some vocoder plugins?

Color me skeptical...



someaudioguy some audio guy voice over software recording voice acting plugin vocoder

The Beginnings of my Horrible Awful Demo

Ok, it's not that bad. These are some of the first recordings I've made for my next demo. I don't spend a lot of time on myself, and little bit by little bit I'm going to make this a production worthy demo.
I've done it for others (because I get paid to), so now it's time to take care of myself (and maybe I'll even pay myself to do it, who knows).

Let me know how much it sucks!

Some Audio Guy's Initial Recordings for His Next Demo! WOOT!




Bigg's thinks it's tasty!

*** EDIT ***

Here's a streaming version, so you don't even need to navigate away from this page to have a chuckle over my VO skills! Enjoy!

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

voice over, some audio guy, voice acting, commercial, demo, acting, LA, work, business, tv, radio, aftra, sag

Are you Savvy? VOICE OVER Savvy?

I've posted about voices123 a couple times, but if you need more help buying and selling services check this shizznit out.

The Voice Over Savvy Forums (http://voiceoversavvy.com), the largest online community forums for the voice over acting industry, launched a forum to help voice over talents and voice over producers to sell and buy audio and media recording and production products and services.

Cool stuff! I just recently started putting together my demo, see if I can pick up a little side work. Forums like these are invaluable.

New Forum For Selling and Buying Audio Recording and Production Tools

VoiceOverSavvy.com
some audio guy someaudioguy voice over marketing business commercial animation voice acting

Genesis HATES North America

Well ok, "hates" is a very strong word. It's more like regards us as the technological backwoods of the audio world.

And it's not really the band Genesis, but labels EMI and Virgin.

But STILL, we never get the good stuff. Just because SACD didn't immediately become an over night success here (forcing me to re-buy Abbey Road AGAIN), doesn't mean it needs to be abandoned. In this age of compressed audio, it's nice to see tech designed for people that do actually care what their music sounds like.

Genesis SACD Release Nixed for North America

BOOO GENESIS!!! (but really EMI and Virgin) BOOO!!!!
someaudioguy some audio guy music riaa distribution record labels voice over

FCC might be holding up Sirius / XM Merger ???

According to the FCC, apparently it's now BAD for the consumer when media outlets consolidate ... which is funny? I seem to remember back during the Michael Powell days that media consolidation was some how GOOD for the consumer ... weird...

Anywho, apparently NOW, it's bad so it's causing friction for the Sirius/XM merger. The argument was that this merger wouldn't affect customers since there was a proliferation of competition from services like HD Radio, and products like iPods ... neither of which have ANYTHING to do with satellite radio ...

"A recent FCC analysis of satellite competition determined that the relevant market for satellite radio consists solely of Sirius and XM...[and that]...other audio services such as terrestrial radio (including HD Radio), iPods, and Internet radio are not competitive substitutes."


READ THE REST HERE


I totally agree with the FCC for once. Saying iPods provide adequate competition is (to me) kinda like saying DVD's are direct competition for Digital Cable.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over data communication fcc internet technology radio voice acting

GO ROVE! GO ROVE! GO ROVE!

Is it audio related?

[ahem]

There is music playing in the background...

Oh just watch it!

How to know if you'll be sued by the RIAA

Oh Brian Briggs @ bbspot.com, how you make me laugh...

http://www.bbspot.com/News/2007/03/riaa-lawsuit-matrix.html
someaudioguy some audio guy riaa chart voice over funny voice acting lawsuits

Rejected RIAA Mascots @ Gizmodo! Funny!

What can I say, the cats over at Gizmodo are funny.

Here's my favorite of the failed RIAA Mascots, but go check out the rest here, all appropriately HIGH-larious!


I think Adam Frucci and Pedro Camargo have really captured the essence that is Lars...
someaudioguy some audio guy cartoon voice over riaa

Hopefully these are "Teh Awesome"! BT Headset Edition!

So, I've been wanting some BT Headphones for a while now, but I haven't seen anything that comes even remotely close to the way I like to listen to music.Their big, or too bulky, or have funky looking controls, and so far all BT headphones have rested on the ears. None have the inner-aural design of my beloved Sennheiser CX300's. Realistically, I just want a BT receiver that I can plug my OWN headphones into, and I'll stick with the CX's ...

... but if I can't have that then these Pulsar 260's from Plantronics will just have to do.




I'm currently using the Plantronics Discovery 640 headset, and I really like their gear. At $90, I could totally go for these Pulsars.



Here's CTIA2007's MS Live page with more info!

Fargin Awesome Music Video!

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b13rc6DY74A"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src=" http://www.youtube.com/v/b13rc6DY74A" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Trying out this remote blogging stuff to see if I can just email in html, so enjoy either this awesome youtube video from MuteMath, or this garbage string of code.

Experimentation is Fun!


***UPDATE***

FAILURE!

Emailing in gives you a mess. I was really hoping that it would take over, but apparently gmail strips some of the tags out.

Whew

I'm glad we had this chat...


Anywho here's the video I was trying to link to:




It IS a little slice of awesome!
someaudioguy some audio guy music video youtube voice over

Today in Narration: Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet Edition

They're doing a narration together for IMax's Deep Sea, and their performance is getting positive reviews.

From RJ Carter at The Trades:
The narration is nicely done, with an even -- although not quite chatty -- back and forth between Depp and Winslet.

See! He LOVED IT!

This is one I actually want to see. I'm not a big ocean fan, but it is always really stunning photography, and I think I would enjoy hearing a story from these two.

Also the whole thing is scored by Danny Elfman, so how can you go wrong.

Check out RJ's write up here!
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over narration tv radio voice acting

Great Voice! Awkward Article!

Reginald Themistocle @ The Mass Media interviews Anime voice actor Vic Mignogna, and the write up kinda isn't great.

Vic is pretty cool though (Full Metal Alchemist, Street Fighter), and he does offer some decent advice...

"What advice do you have for people who want to be voice actors?" I asked. He got serious and said, "Let me tell me you something. There is no such thing as, 'I want to be a voice actor.' They wanted to be actors first." He mentioned that many voice actors were union workers. But his advice is to develop your skills as an actor first. "Community Theater, school plays, anything that has to make you act," he said.

... well, really just read the article, cuz it's kinda funny...
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over video games animation voice acting interview

Much Love and Respect for LaFontaine!

Gotta love "The Voice"!

To go along with my recent post on Voice Over artists being recognized on the Today Show...

Here's a great AP story on Don LaFontaine. He's easily become the most recognizable voice (and now face) in VO.

Read the rest of the article here!
some audio guy someaudioguy voice over announcers movie trailers don lafontaine voice acting

Is She the BEST Female Voice?

Voices.com held a contest to find the best Female voice.

Rachel Robinson won.

I actually really liked her work on the recent Coca-Cola campaign she voiced (even though we auditioned that one).

Best Female Voice Award winner Rachel Robinson, a national voice talent, has had several forward steps and 'breaks' throughout her career, including a fortuitous opportunity to work with Paul Reiser on his film "The Thing About My Folks". Rachel has also performed voice over work for the infamous television program "Celebrity Death Match" and most recently, voiced six commercial spots for The Coca-Cola Company's "Make Every Drop Count" campaign.

Read the rest of the article. It's a great write up on a woman who is very passionate about her VO!

someaudioguy some audio guy voice over voices.com talent auditioning commercials voice acting animation

Voice Actors! MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID!

I've had quite a few Voices123 posts over the last couple weeks.

Without hyperbole, this is the most important one.

Voice123 (http://voice123.com), the largest voice over marketplace where voice over talents promote their voice services and voice talent seekers find the best voices for their projects, presented a series of recommendations for voice over talents to keep in mind when dealing with clients over the Internet and ensure getting paid for voice over work.

Well? What are you waiting for? Go read the rest of the article!

Guide to Ensure Payments For Online Voice Over Work Released
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over actors voice acting career business residuals

HARRY POTTER AUDIO BOOKS!

ZoMG!!1!

Maira Oliveira has the scoop!

The Listening Library has announced that an audiobook of "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, " J.K. Rowling's final book of the series, will be available in July. The audio will contain 784 pages and last a total of 21 hours.

21 hours? TWENTY ONE HOURS! Wow! I'll just read it...

What's surprising to me is there still hasn't been any push to sell these audiobooks as mp3's or through a service like Audible. Just like the Matrix was one of the first big DVD's to really push the format, Harry Potter could really drive digital audio books... and make even more money for JK Rowling!


The audio, which will be available in CD or cassette, features the narration of Grammy-award winner Jim Dale, who will provide the voices for all the characters. In British versions of the book, Stephen Fry has been the narrator.
someaudioguy some audio guy audiobooks voice over narration voice acting announcer

The "Heavies" on Today

Al Roker is funny.

Quick piece on four of the most famous voices on American airwaves.

From Friday's Today show:




My favorite part is watching Michael Okwu (who should be really good at this come to think of it) fail miserably in front of the mic.

It's not as easy as it looks, indeed...
voice over, movie trailers, today, voice acting, narration, youtube, tv, radio, film, don lafontaine

Are you still looking for MORE SFX?!?!?!

Haven't I given you enough?

No?

FiNE! Go here!

They're fun!
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over sound design sound effects foley mixing

Today in Narration: A Two-fer - Sigourney Weaver and Charlie Sheen!

Two Quick blurbs.

Discovery Channel starts 11 part 'Planet Earth', set to include some of the most beautiful scenes ever filmed. Can Sigourney Weaver's narration save it's horribly over-written script?
'Planet Earth' is a whale of show but for bragging @ OrlandoSentinel.com





She's so hot!




Says Charlie Sheen:
A year ago the 41-year-old actor told America's GCN radio network: "It seems to me like 19 amateurs with box cutters taking over four commercial airliners and hitting 75 per cent of their targets; that feels like a conspiracy theory. It raises a lot of questions."
Now we're set to hear about 90 minutes more from him on the subject, and the above seems like such a succinct point...
Charlie Sheen May Voice 9/11 Documentary


He's so hot!
someaudioguy some audio guy narration voice over film tv radio voice acting announcer documentary

Free Webinars! Free! Go Get Them!

Are you signed up with Voices123?
Then why aren't you taking advantage of their FREE career webinars?
Your grandmother would be so upset with you if she knew. It's a good thing I just don't have the heart to tell her. I mean think of what it would do to her!

AND, why don't you call her more often?
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over voice acting career business

Check out this Studio

Recording studios seem to be a reoccurring theme here.

Here's another story about another studio bucking the trend of setting up shop in a studio heavy area.

Steven Kocich said he started Monkey Tree Records in 2003 while he was playing lead guitar in the rock band Dayburn. At that time he noticed the lack of professional studios in the area that didn't specialize in rap and hip-hop.

"It's sad that people from here have to drive to Baltimore, Rochester or New York City to record a quality album," he said.

And I agree! While recording studios decentralizing makes me nervous, I'm happy to see that people still realize there is value in having a qualified engineer working with you.
someaudioguy some audio guy recording voice over studio voice acting music mixing mastering

Dark Sector's sound effects!

I'VE DONE THE CELERY TRICK!!!

Woah calm down there Guy!
Check this video out over at TeamXBox.
A little fun insight into how some sounds are made.

someaudioguy some audio guy voice over sound design voice acting recording booth sound effects

Engineers: Dont let the door hit you on the way out!

Auditorily anyway...

Quick blurb from DevMaster.net,

IndieSFX have released a new collection of door sound effects.
Doors is a comprehensive set of doors, drawers and elevator sounds. Covering both contemporary and sci-fi effects, the set of 102 sounds includes everything from rustic cottage doors to internal office doors, from motorised sliding doors and rusty submarine hatches to spacecraft irises and vast hangar doors.

Not just for games! It's these little things people take for granted in the world of "day-to-day" sound effects. I've sampled a few, and I like them a lot.


Someaudioguy some audio guy voice acting music engineer voice over recording sound design foley


I think I just made up the word "Auditorily".
I like it...

Make MP3's Sound better?

Quick blurb here.
FXSound.com has released their DFX 8.0 Audio Enhancer plugin.
It's $39.99 (currently on sale for $29.99 for 11 more days) for a universal plugin, or $29.99 (on sale for $19.99) for a single player plugin.

CNet has rated it really high, but we're talking mp3's here.
People buy iPod's, noise cancellation headphones, plugin packs, but at the end of the day you've still got a compressed audio file.

Has anyone out there used this? Is it worth $40? Is it worth it over, say, ripping your music to a higher bit rate?
someaudioguy some audio guy music voice over mp3 bit rate ripping voice acting narration audiobook audio

Back with a fun Freebie! FREE PLUGIN! FREE VST!

Was the title obnoxious enough for ya? Maybe now I'll show up in more searches...

[ahem]

I mean, I'm back from the happiest place on earth! The missus and I took a weekend down at Disneyland, and yes it was silly good fun! Maybe if some one asks I'll post a pic of me in Mouse ears...MAYBE!


So anywho, I don't write a lot of music, or any music very well, but when I do, I've got quite a collection of free plugins to work with. One that I don't see very often is Ichiro Toda's Synth1 (@KVRAudio). This thing is ugly, really ugly, one of the ugliest plugins I've ever seen, but man is this thing useful. Just about every (crappy) piece of music I've ever written has used this synth, and it comes with a pretty decent batch of presets.

Go check it out! It's free!




IN JAPENESE!
someaudioguy some audio guy software voice over plug in synth vst voice acting audio mixing recording midi

Computer based studios and providing "Value"

Bob LeVitus at www.ecommercetimes.com, has a good article up about a SXSW panel discussion on home recording and the value of "real" studios.

• Do recording studios and their proprietors still offer value to their customers?
• Can a studio and its proprietor enhance an artist's strengths?
• Is a "real" studio always the best choice?
• It also claimed that audience questions would be answered with practical advice.

A very brief write with some really good common sense advice. I especially like the part where he tells artists to leave the engineers alone while they are working!

Read the rest here.
someaudioguy some audio guy recording voice over computer music voice acting studios booth engineer mixing mastering

Favorite Voice Roles: Diz White Edition!

Cute write up on British actress Diz White's favorite VO's.
I'm very amused by this one:

"Another time, a while ago, when the wolf had taken a good bite out of my door, I pretended to be French to get a voice-over job that required me to dub with a French accent. I had to keep up the accent for five days. Everything went well until the last day when the producer came by unexpectedly and overheard me, huddled in a corner of the sound studio, doing a phone audition for my next job in broad cockney."

Truth be told I haven't done a lot of work in front of the mic (though if you're good at searching you'll probably be able to find some narration on me), but my favorite gigs were in college doing NPR style news broadcasts for the student website.
What has been your favorite gig? C'mon! Don't be shy!!

SECRETS OF VOICE-OVER SUCCESS

If you're in NY on Tuesday the 27th, Joan Baker...

and an expert panel of top voice-over actors, talent agents, casting directors and network TV executives will provide a crash course for THE LEARNING ANNEX. It’s all in support of SECRETS OF VOICE-OVER SUCCESS, BAKER’S seminal industry book that donates all author royalties to the ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION. Four-time EMMY AWARD-WINNER, DAVID HYDE PIERCE, wrote the foreword for the book.


In attendance will be Don La Fontaine, Valerie Smaldone, Rudy Glaskins, Vince Manze, Frank Radice, and of course Joan Baker.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over workshop announcer narration audiobook voice acting class

Coaching your way to a softer sound?

Just a quick bit on the importance of good voice coaching. According to the Telegraph, Chancellor Gordon's voice has been coached and rendered smoother and more sincere.

Miss Goyder, who listened to radio interview clips of Mr Brown yesterday and after his 2004 Budget, likened his speech patterns to the silky, smooth Bill Clinton, thought by many to be the greatest political communicator of his generation.

What kills me is there is an AUDIO LINK! Go check it out! Tell me what you think of good ole Gordo's voice chops.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over coaching speaking voice acting politics announcer narration

Your Favorite Mic?

Voices123 is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the world of Non-Union VO. They recently held a survey of users asking what their favorite mic is. I found it telling that the top two choices (Shure and Neumann) seem to bookend the mic spectrum. Shure make great affordable mics, and Neumann make great expensive mics.

Results say that the most popular microphone brand among voice over artist was Shure with a 15% of all answers and the second place was for Neumann with 12% of all answers. The following preferred brands were MXL, AKG, and Audio-Technica, all with 9%, followed by ElectroVoice with 6% and Sennheiser with 3% also. These were the most popular brands of the survey, however 33% of respondents use a different brand of microphone no in this list.

I personally have a few from each manufacturer (couple sm57's, a km184, some AT's, an Aries, some MXL Beaters), but oddly my favorite workhorse mic at the moment is an M-Audio Solaris. Inexpensive, good sound, low noise, beautiful design, multi-pattern, it tends to be the first thing I pick up when starting to record.



How bout ya'll? What mics light you up?

MP3 Organization

I have a hard time with it. There have been a ton of posts about it on Lifehacker, but nothing really seems to help. Best case scenario, I'm still sorting audio by folder, sometimes by file.

ManiacTools have just released yet another mp3tag editor onto the scene, and I'll give it a spin, but at $24.95, it'll at least have to outperform MusicBrainz Classic Tagger (if not Picard).

Anyone out there have a good batch method for organizing MP3's? Links?
someaudioguy some audio guy mp3 voice over music technology voice acting audiobook

Gotta love the Shat! Voice Over Edition!

William SHATner that is!
From the Howard Stern show, here's a clip of a commercial or narration session with Capt. Kirk himself.

HIGH-Larious!

At first I thought this was going to be like the Orson Welles recordings (with plenty of pompASSity), but by the end of the session I was rooting for Bill (also think it would be kinda fun to work with him).

If you've ever been in a difficult recording session (or directed one), you'll love this clip!

Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA

Thanks to Artt for the better version!
voice over, narration, celebrity, out take, blow up, booth director, narration, film, tv, radio, william shatner, funny

The Origin of a Music Pirate

Again, I'm not a huge fan of The Consumerist, but from time to time they get something like this.

Those of us a bit more technically inclined have probably been bothered by DRM for a while now, and I know it can be really frustrating dealing with family who don't get what is happening, trying to explain why widget 'A' wont play with gadget 'B'.

This is a letter from a supposed music fanatic who got burned. It looks like the frustrations we Techs have had, are starting to trickle into the general population.

I've devoted a not-inconsequential chunk of my life to collecting music; to tracking down obscure records, cassettes, 8-Tracks and CD's of all genres and styles. And now apparently that is all but over. Music has somehow evolved from tangible things into amorphous collections of 1's and 0's guarded over by interested parties as if they were gold bullion. How so very sad.

I would like to think that someone at a place like Rhino would care enough to not let these kinds of things happen. But alas, my suspicion is that anyone who would have been cool enough to work at Rhino in their heyday some twenty years ago would never be so callous, foolish or shallow to allow these kind of absurdities to occur.

Since I've resigned myself not to waste any more time with the music business, I suppose I'll have to resort to purchasing used CD's & records, or having my friends occasionally make me a copy of one of their newer CD's.

Call it piracy. Call it whatever you want. But at least I tried. I gave you several chances and you failed miserably at every level.

Read the rest of his letter here, and you should. It's a good read, if a little sad.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over music piracy riaa mp3 technology voice acting audiobook

Stand Up Piracy?

Now here's a comic that's in NEED of an RIAA Lawsuit.

Sure, comedians can be inspired by other comedians.
Sure, two comedians might be able to come up with the same joke at the same time.
But this is a bit much I think...

First up, if you haven't kept up with the Joe Rogan / Carlos Mencia feud (HIGH-larity), you should check out Joe's Myspace page.

Short story Long, Joe's been calling Carlos out on being a joke thief, and while I'm not a big Rogan fan, he does offer "proof" in video, not to mention getting banned from The Comedy Store and losing his agent.

Well more people are paying attention, and Myspace user Redban has a whole collection of videos on Mencia. Trolling through them kinda sucks. I was a big fan of Mencia's, but stealing from Mr. Bill Cosby ... Nope! ... I'm done!

Check it out:
Mencia Steals Cosby @ MySpace Video
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over comedy stand up voice acting piracy stealing jokes

AuidoBooks: Good Business for Some!

Such an obvious title for this story...

The Contra Costa Times (San Francisco?) has a pretty nice story about a successful Audiobook Narrator named Simon Vance (which I think is a made up name).
They also discuss the future of the medium, along with the recent boost in Audiobook sales, what with the whole digital ... thing going on in audio right now.

It really is a good read, though I still can't, for the life of me, find out where this newspaper really circulates.

Concord maybe?

Bookworms like what they hear
Commute makes Bay Area a prime market for audiobooks
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over announcer narration voice acting audiobook audio book speaking reading business career

Calling Simpsons Fans!

Do you like the Simpsons? Sure, we all do!

Well then why are you reading this, and why aren't you reading Nancy Cartwright's column in Animation World Magazine.

She'll be writing a series of columns about the animation industry in general (and obviously her own experiences specifically).

Her first column is with Emmy award winning writer/producer Mike Scully, who I believe did some work on that show she's on.

This is a must read column for "commentary-track" folks, or if you've ever been interested in what happens behind the scenes of your favorite cartoon.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over animation cartoon voice acting The Simpsons business

But I Know DONATELLO!!!

I'm so toked for TMNT it's sick. No really! I'm jazzed and ready. We happen to rep the voice of Donatello, he's a really cool guy, and I really hope this move does well.



Apparently, so does the Hollywood Reporter! They have a huge story posted up now about the film, its actors, directing, production, and history of the franchise. Everything you've ever wanted to know bout the Turtles from a corporate suit perspective.



Check it out!

Another Post About how USELESS Labels Are!

So, if you haven't noticed by now, me and David Byrne are awesome.

Following up on my anti - RIAA mega post from yesterday, StrangeGlue.com examines the feasibility of self releasing an album.

With the falling costs of recording studios - some going for as little as £10-£15 an hour - the advent of digital downloads, distribution companies such as www.cdbaby.com and www.interpunk.com plus with the use of the internet as a promotion tool it is not only feasible to self-release, it’s a reality.A word of caution though, this route takes endurance, patience, and talent. You won’t have the fancy P.R. to sell your stuff, just old-fashioned creativity.

What can I say, I just plain agree...

someaudioguy some audio guy riaa voice over music voice acting record labels albums online retail

How much does your game REALLY cost.

Ok, I get it that video game development budgets are getting insane. This new era of video gaming stands to be a very impressive race of "next-gen-now-current-gen" hardware (though I'm still rooting for Nintendo... call me old skool).

This article in Forbes tries to explain why games are so expensive.


Problem is, I don't buy it.


Take for instance this chunk here:
The remaining $59 per game goes into many hands. The biggest portion--nearly 45%--goes toward simply programming and designing the game itself. Then the console maker, retailer and marketers each get a cut.

OK 45% of the $60 game into the development costs, AND games are also where console manufacturers make back money through licensing, as the XBox and the PS3 are sold at a loss (GO NINTENDO! KEEP SELLING FOR A PROFIT!).

So, with games sales expected to reach almost $45 billion, are we really to believe that game development COSTS are expected to reach $21 BILLION?

This doesn't sound right.

Some one correct me if I'm reading this wrong.

Thanks.
someaudioguy some audio guy videogame voice acting video game voice over actors business career

Sick VO Artists, Help Arrives!

Just like my last post, this guy is hardcore!

Are you a voice over artists? Are you still trying to shake a cold, and sexy sick voice just not staying consistent? Are you just fighting a losing battle against a sore throat?

Well apparently all you need to do is gargle with water and cayenne pepper.

Huh, who knew?
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over actors health sore throat voice acting remedy

Piracy NOT Illegal?

Man, this guy is hardcore.

I read every bit of information I could find, including case law. I studied the DMCA. Since then I have studied the NET Act. I have studied everything I could find. Guess what? I could not find a single line in any act that said that downloading anything was illegal, or even anything that could be construed to mean it.

Ok, I get that the technical terms for delivery of content might not be included in the articles of the DMCA, but somehow I'm still pretty sure that the sharing of content (regardless of method of receipt) is still against the law.

Though I totally agree with him about how annoying the "file sharing is stealing" commercials are.

Here, I've bought this DVD. I've had my bag checked as I left the store. I've removed plastic wrap. Struggled with those damned adhesive strips, and almost broken the tabs off of the case just to open the DVD. With great satisfaction I place the DVD in my player, turn on the TV, and ... have to watch ... a GAHD DAMED COMERCIAL ABOUT HOW STEALING IS WRONG?!?! THAT I CAN'T SKIP OVER!!! WHAT?!? REALLY!?!?!

So my reward for purchasing this movie is to get treated like a criminal! GEEZUS! Next time I'll just download it...




...



I mean, I love movies!

Finish this guy's article here:
Downloading Pirated Anything Is NOT Illegal @ Untwisted Vortex

Ahhh Memories!

My post before about Foley artists really did throw me back. Just for shits I'm throwing in two of my favorite sound effects.

The first is a burp I had to record for some ADR.

The Second is a "satellite striking the hull of a space ship". Bonus points for anyone who can figure out how it was done (NOT THAT HARD).

Enjoy!
voice over, sound effects, sound design, foley mixing, recording, adr, dubbing, voice acting, film, tv, radio, some audio guy

Engineers! Your Next Gig Could be for God!

Lordy be!
Fun article from the Colorado Springs Gazette, about Churches "borrowing/adopting" elements of modern pop culture to draw more parishioners.

Churches have gone high-tech, incorporating wall-size plasma screens, kickin’ sound systems and theater-quality lighting to convey their millennia-old message. Today’s contemporary worship is where spectacle meets spirituality — prayer at 110 decibels and 720 dots per inch.

Uh-huh. So THATS where the collection plate tithing's are going... not to helping people ...

“Christians, they want to have fun,” said Bob Langlois, vice president of worship design for Colorado Springsbased Audio Analysts. “And church is fun again.”

Wah-HUH!?!? As a recovering confirmed former catholic turned devout agnostic, I disagree with THAT statement with the fiery burning passion of a thousand suns.

...

Though, I don't think I'd mind taking money FROM them if the price were right...

That control booth — often equipped with a digital soundmixing board as large as a pool table — is the brain of a modern worship auditorium. Sound, lighting and visuals are controlled here, and the quality of the equipment is often comparable to that used by touring musicians. Langlois said that a 1,000-seat auditorium typically requires $2,500 to $3,500 for a good audio system. But the biggest churches can spend $1 million or more for video and audio.


Ah well, who knows anymore.
Personally, I just find it a touch disagreeable, and a little distasteful, to tell people something is bad for them (rock music, violent action movies, rap/hip-hop, video games), and then turn around and use those same things to get more followers (Christian Rock, Holy Hip-Hop, the game 'Left Behind: Eternal Forces', the Corbin Bernson and Mr. T epic 'Judgement' from 2001 with tons of "gun-play for god"). To me, it would be a little like saying "we think homosexuality is wrong, but if it will raise attendance, then we will make it ok for dudes to bone each other... as long as they aren't gay..."


Anywho, the rest of the article is right here...
recording, sound design, engineering, church, religion, work, business

AudioBooks Galore!

Are you into audio books?

Of course you are!

And, if you have already chewed through all the work at Librivox.org (and those Cats are COOL!), then Podiobooks might be just for you!

For more info, check THIS QUICK BLURB @ Lifehacker with links and all.

And if you enjoy the work there, think about a donation. Audiobooks are hard work, REALLY hard work, and I'm sure the artists would appreciate it.

Enjoy!
someaudioguy some audio guy audiobook announcer voice over narration voice acting reading production

Welcome to the Social indeed

This post from Zunerama is about the Zune specifically, but it should work for any MP3 player with a built in FM receiver.

If one MP3 player has an FM Transmitter and a group of MP3 players have FM receivers, then why couldn't share any music they'd want to?

Things that make you go Hmmmm...
someaudioguy some audio guy music voice over mp3 players technology diy hack mod voice acting

Muting your system sounds...

If you're not reading Lifehacker you really should be. They have a handy little post about making a laptop "quick mute" plug. Take an old pair of headphones, clip off just the jack (I would recommend taping of the ends), and whenever you want to mute your laptop (say at a coffee shop or library) plug it in to the laptop's headphone port.

Now I for one HATE system sounds. Blinks, blonks, bloops, bleeps, blee-blaws, etc, every computer I work on is muted from the control panel, but if you're one of those folks that HAS to hear a Dalek tell you "Exterminate!" every time you make a mistake, then this might be just the hack for you.
MacGyver Tip: Silence your laptop with snipped headphones @ LifeHacker

WHOA! RIAA OVERLOAD!

Holy CRAP! What's going on?
NYTimes, Digg, Gizmodo, Consumerist, Blogs, University News sites, They're all going crazy with stories on the RIAA, on a variety of sources, and all (oddly) seem universally against the RIAA.

So weird...

For those of you to lazy to source your own news on the future of how you listen, control, use, and own your media, here's today's rundown.

I don't like Consumerist. I don't at all. I think they get too antagonistic when it comes to apathetic employees working McJobs, instead of fighting where the problems actually come from, but one thing they are really good at is tracking down corporate contact info. Ever want to know who actually heads up the RIAA, and how to contact said individuals. Click on the link below.
Faces of the RIAA @ Consumerist


David Byrne (of the talking heads) was at SXSW, and "making sense" according to the NYTimes. Uhh neat ... I guess ... But seriously, I totally disagree with some of his assessments on artists needing labels (I think they'll be totally broken and vestigial in my lifetime at least), but on the whole it's a pretty good read.
Rocker David Byrne Making Sense at SXSW Fest

This one I don't even have a write up for. Here the RIAA just tries to explain why attacking college students with extortion tactics is good for business, and why they are upset that colleges aren't selling their (customers) students out. A fascinating look at ... well ... the main enemy to media property rights and fair use.
From insidehighered.com:
Explaining the Crackdown on Student Downloading

Ok, not directly about the RIAA, but a great blog posting on an actual Pirate (sure capital 'P'). According to the RIAA if you download music from teh intarwebs then you are a "pirate". However, I prefer a more traditional definition of pirate, where one tries to profit from their plundering, and wouldn't you know it, p2p/file sharing is really starting to hurt the people who sell bootlegs. Score a victory point for p2p!
From Torrentfreak:
P2P File-Sharing Ruins Physical Piracy Business


Man that was a lot! And really that's just the tip of the iceberg. There just seems to be a lot discontent with the media market right now. I wonder when people will start doing something about it...
someaudioguy some audio guy music voice over albums copyright riaa piracy p2p record labels

Calling Engineers: What Causes This?

I've started noticing this weird artifacting problem from some of the auditions we get sent in remotely.

It looks like a panning problem at first, but the audio doesn't sound unbalanced.

What is this? Anyone?
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over recording engineering help mixing mastering scrubbing voice acting audition

Why isn't Stephen Hawking using this?

Now this is cool! I've been playing with this for the last hour.
AT&T has posted an online demo of their Text-to-Speech engine, and you can download what you type into it.

Here's a series of phone alerts I tried out for that "voice of the sci-fi computer" feel.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR!

So Much FUN!
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over voices text to speech software voice acting computer speaking narration announcer

Foley Artists do it FOR you ... (cuz your SFX suck)....

Stumbled on this live journal of 'ActionJack' talking about being a foley artist, and I was kinda thrown back to banging pots and pans in a closet. I had a lot of fun doing that.

I decided I would get this sound by swinging a microphone downward (with a heavy-duty windscreen) multiple times and then combining them all.

Heh-heh, My favorite trick was to throw an old crappy mic into a glass jar, tape it shut, and chuck it out the window or hit it with a hammer...
someaudioguy some audio guy youtube voice over foley sound design sound effects mixing recording funny voice acting mockumentary

Just for good measure I'm making you watch this YouTube mockumentary if only for the coconuts around the 50 second mark.

Watch it!


voice over, foley, mixing, recording, sound design, mockumentary, youtube, funny

Simpsons in Spanish, Trouble Ahead?

Little AP Nugget:

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexican voice-over actors who have dubbed "The Simpsons" TV series into Spanish for 15 years are threatening to boycott the cartoon's upcoming movie if they are not hired to dub it.

Read full Story: Simpsons' Spanish Voices Angry With Film
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over animation voice acting cartoons The Simpsons dubbing ADR voice actor negotiations

Actors Obsolete Soon?

She's not real----->>>

Well she is, but that picture of her is a CG render.

This story is an oldie on Digg, but totally worth a read. With advances like this soon coming to video (not just stills), it'll be interesting to see how the voice element is treated.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over cg actors voice acting technology computer animation

Stuck on you?

I've got a 4GB nano. It' mostly full, yet I can't seem to clean it out. I just can't get rid of Alien Ant Farm, yet I skip over them every time they come up.

What is that?

someaudioguy some audio guy mp3 players ipod itunes record labels albums voice over

Wow, REALLY bad Voice Acting!

And I think we can also safely say bad writing too...

Following up on my last post, check out THIS ARTICLE at Newsweek, for a look at the game Army of Two.

There are some movies on the page.

Watch them.

They are HIGH-larious.

Good voice acting is more valuable than ever...
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over video games voice acting adr dubbing funny videogames

Finally Some Video Game VO Respect?

Kotaku has a pretty good article up about the voices in God of War II. This is actually neat, as I rarely hear anything about voice acting in games (except whether or not it was good), let alone WHO was actually IN the game (unless it's an A-Lister).

The frustrations can run pretty high for those of us trying to raise a little visibility. After a client of ours booked the voice of Captain America for Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, I played the game all the way through only to find the actors credited dead last (after "Special Thanks" and the "List of Babies Born During Production").

Kotaku:
God of War II: The Voices Behind The Masterpiece
Me:
Kinda Crappy: No Love for Game VO!

someaudioguy some audio guy voice over video games voice acting adr dubbing funny videogames

You KNOW you're a Geek When... SmartPhone Edition!

I promise this will be loosely related to audio in some small way...

So you know you're a geek when you look at the back of your phone and think "I could do better".

If you haven't figured it out by now I'm a gadget fanatic, and my current weapon of choice is the PPC-6700 smartphone from Sprint. I've been a Windows Mobile fan since the iPaq 3650 (or I could just say "for a while now" I guess), and when it comes to versatility there's nothing better out there right now (in the USA of course, but that's another post).

Full QWERTY keyboard, slider touch screen, highspeed data, this phone gets a lot of things right for a data device. The one thing this phone fails at is ... well ... being a phone. One of the main problems with it is the main speaker on the back isn't very loud. I've tried boosting the volume of the ringtones and alerts, but if the phone is in my back pocket I still might miss a call or email. This also means that the speakerphone setting on this phone is near useless, and the only way I could talk on the phone was with an ear piece.

The problem though isn't that the speaker is under powered, it's that the speaker is covered ... by plastic ... and a vanity mirror ... to take pictures of yourself ... and I'm kinda funky looking ... so I tend not to do that ... very much ... [ahem]


But no longer!



An electric drill, some super fine sandpaper, the mesh from some busted headphones, and about 2 hours of labor (hey I went slow, I love this phone), and voilà, Better phone! Extreme Makeover style! ... OK not quite but still, I am an AUDIO engineer...


Here's the before:


And here's the after:



I know it IS sexy!
cellphones, sound, audio, some audio guy, speakers, mod, ppc-6700, ringtones, volums

Recording: Cheap(!) and Easy(?)

Idolator.com has a great article on LCD Soundsystem's new album 'Sound of Sliver', and how it was recorded in an unusual locale. With audio gear coming down in price, a lot of pro studios are having a harder time justifying their prices, and a lot of bands are moving to unconventional recording areas.

We've been facing the same thing in VO-land. Because it's easy to punch a USB mic into the front of your iMac, and paste some music behind your voice, doesn't mean that you can cut a demo that shows off your vocal skill. Even some of our more recognizable talent have fallen for the "my friend's an Audio Engineer" ruse, and have paid good money for demos that have been put together poorly, are way to long, or just sound awful.

Sending auditions in remotely can be trying as well. We rep people all over the country, but currently only a handful have really taken the time to understand the technology, and what will make their voice sound the best. Oddly enough those that have worked it out also seem to work more often than those that just dump an mp3 from the mic built into their laptop....Hmmmm... Odd...

I agree with a lot of the comments on the Idolator post, that owning mics and Pro-Tools doesn't mean you know how to use them, but with how often I see people jamming their white ear buds (which are REALLY bad for you btw, but thats another post) to tunes that are probably at best 192Kbps mp3, I think most of the current audience doesn't really care what their music sounds like.

It's exciting that recording is decentralizing, but it makes me nervous as I do care what my audio sounds like... and it's what I do for a living...

LCD Soundsystem is playing to A Mouse, A Mouse (idolator.com)
www.LCDSoundsystem.com
some audio guy someaudioguy voice over recording engineering voice acting mixing

Geeky Fun: VOCODING!

So I think we can all agree that the new centurions on BSG are much more menacing than the ones from the original Battlestar. Though, I really do wish they had voices.

[sigh]

Well lookee here, a whole webpage of free vocoder plugins to make your own robot voice dreams into reality! Now you can "BY YOUR COMMAND!" to your heart's content.

In all seriousness, I am a huge fan of 4ormulator, and still use it pretty regularly along with Vokator (not free) and the Computer Music Vocoder (have to buy a $15 magazine, but comes with samples and software, so not a bad deal).

Also I'm thinking of holding a series of audio editing/sound effects contests soon, and "robot voice" sounds like a fun one. I'll just have to dig up some prizes first...
voice over someaudioguy voice acting some audio guy recording plugin software editing sound effects

Quick follow up to Youtube vs Viacom

Well Techdirt is saying that since Viacom can sue Google for what people put up on Youtube, that content providers should be able to sue Viacom for illegally removing content that doesn't infringe on Viacom copyright.

This is kinda interesting again...

Viacom vs Youtube, and why I don't care that much...

Tim Goodman at the San Francisco Chronicle has written a great article, which I largely agree with, about why this lawsuit kinda doesn't matter.

He makes some excellent points regarding the fact that for us "little people" who provide content for these sites, we'll not see any compensation for our work. Google will find a way to make money off of YouTube, and Viacom will find a way to force Google to pay them for the privilege of showing clips of their shows.
That last point burns me up, as fans of these shows are pretty much using YouTube to freely ADVERTISE this media. Without the online fan community, I really don't believe that shows like 30 Rock and My Name is Earl (great though they may be) would have nearly the same viewership they do now.
It reminds me of the early days of Napster, where people were swapping songs like crazy, and album sales were rising. When Lars started suing people is around the same time as people stopped buying their music...

Why not ME! I WANT THAT!

Snapper.
I want Snapper.
I want it badly.

I really want to see if I can find a windows equivalent. With as many assorted pieces and snippets of sound as I have accumulated over the years, it would be nice to sort them as easily as I sort my pictures in Picasa.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Watching the demo, it seems so simple, but thats what makes it such a great idea...

[sigh]

And NPR will come to save us?

No no really, of all the places that a resistance will brew against the RIAA, who'dathunkit, NPR.

I for one, am very much looking forward to this little alphabet battle. Amidst cries of NPR going "corporate", a move like this would make me very happy.

Read all about it (@ the Chicago Tribune):
NPR may lead fight against Internet radio royalty rate hike
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over radio recording voice acting announcer narration royalty audiobook news riaa copyright

Variety likes Video Games?

Well ok, maybe just Ben Fritz.
With interactive content becoming one of the chief competitors for film dollars in the "awesome" demographic, it's nice to see an article from time to time that DOESN'T slam gaming (or blame all of our problems with kids on it).
Check out Ben's write up in defense of gaming HERE. It's a really well written article tying in the new-ness of 300's look (visually very game-like), and how many critics are panning the film by comparing it to a game... though it went on to make $70 million it's opening weekend.


***As an aside, if you can, this is a really fun film to see at an IMax. My eye's were bleeding by the end, but it was a little slice of awesome!
someaudioguy some audio guy videogame voice over video game voice acting hollywood business

NIN: Calling All Music Mixers!

I know Reznor's been doing this since Perfect Drug (and probably less visibly even earlier), but Nine Inch Nails have released the entire multi-track session for their single 'Survivalism'. You're free to do whatever you want to it (except for selling it I'm sure).
If you're into remixes, deconstructions, or if you just want to fart around with some professionally recorded audio GO HERE NOW.

The samples should be in "garage band" format, and I'm downloading now, though I'm an Acid man, so I'll see if they'll do anything for me.

***OK, so everything is in .aif, which is fine, though the project files wont work. Thas cool though, as I can still use the audio.

Sweet!

Get Him RIAA! GET HIM!

For those of you keeping track of the HILARITY and illegal-ness of recent RIAA lawsuits, this is old news. For those of you who haven't been watching as our civil liberties are being pissed away, read on!

Apparently the RIAA is tired of trying to extort money out of able-bodied young college students (that's SO Napster). Now they're going after partially paralyzed stroke victims... specifically one accused of file sharing in Michigan... though he was living in Florida at the time of his alleged "crimes".

[ahem]

Yup.
It's a great read.
Check it out here @ Recording Industry Vs The People:

RIAA Sues Stroke Victim in Michigan

But is it REALLY Better?

Idolator.com has had a lot of fun posting about the will-they-or-wont-they EVER really release an album hijinks of Guns and Roses. I've been following passively for a while, with an above belly button lint level of interest. I figured after this much time GnR must really have something good ready to go soon. Either that, or it will be awesomely bad on a historic level. Unable to quench my curiosity any longer, I finally dug up a youtube clip of a leak of their song 'Better', and listened all the way through.

Now, I'm going to go way out on a limb here, with a revelation that might shock you:

It's just ok.

That's it. It's decently written, decently mixed (maybe a tad over-produced, but it is Axl we're talking about here), a little self indulgent, and ultimately pretty forgettable. That's it. That's what we've (sort of but not really) been waiting for.

I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, and it's sublime genius on a level far beyond me...but I doubt it.

Tell me if I'm wrong (ignore the shite video, it was the best sounding audio I could find):


guns n roses, axl rose, music, rock, metal, chinese democracy, better, music video, youtube

Sonic Warfare Against Videogames!

Ok, so maybe it isn't as dramatic as my title would lead one to believe, but a Korean company says they've developed an audio cue that, according to them, will prevent obsessive gaming habits by subconsciously forcing gamers to stop playing.

"A Korean venture start-up has developed an inaudible sound sequence, which it claims can prevent obsessive use of online games, thus giving hope to game addicts."

My only problem with this? If something is "inaudible" then it can, by definition, NOT BE HEARD!
Sadly they haven't posted any samples of their un-hear-able sounds, so check out their claims here:
ACOUSTIC WAVE PREVENTS GAME ADDICTION

In the meantime, I'll use a mosquito ringtone to force myself to stop doing things, since the mosquito is actually a "hear-able" sound...
someaudioguy some audio guy videogame voice over video game voice acting audio sound design sound effects science

Finally!

Don't have to work this post too much...

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The pics are pretty good too.

Nuff said.

Apple Bullies Musicians?

Karen Haslam @ Macworld.co.uk reports on a singer that's accusing Apple of bullying musicians

"In order to gain visibility on the front page of iTunes, labels must negotiate with Apple. Apple offers good iTunes placement to artists who offer exclusive access to new songs, special discount pricing or additional material such as interviews, according to the report."

With Apple quickly becoming a multimedia company (there's really nothing that unique about their computer hardware anymore), it would be very disappointing to me if they ended up treating artists the same as the RIAA/MPAA...


Read the full story here:

Lily Allen slates Apple's iTunes tactics

Voice Actors: GET IN SHAPE!

We've just started auditioning actors on audio books, and I had forgotten how much work is actually involved with an audio book.

If you have any interest in working in narration, or you just need something fun to keep yourself in shape, check out the folks at Librivox.org.

It's an all volunteer (read: NO PAY) site that narrates books in the public domain, and then releases the recordings back into the public domain.

I've done a little work with them, and while they might not always be the tops on technical, they're a fun and passionate group of people.
someaudioguy some audio guy voice over narration voice acting audiobook librivox public domain recording business work out

Economies of Sound: Ringtones

Not an original topic, I know. Ringtones have been discussed, and debated, and analyzed to death.

One problem though, I still don't get them.

Ok, so I understand their popularity. It's an identity. Just as people put skins and cases on their gadgets, having a speaker blare out a particular tune is as close as most of us will come to having a soundtrack (lest we walk around with a ghetto blaster 24/7, and risk getting lynched). I get that part. I take part in that part. My 6700 is currently pimped out with a delicious little sample of Baba O'Riley by the Who (just the opening intro right before the drums and guitars kick in, very simple, very subtle, and as rings go, I either get the "I know that" nod, or the I-think-that's-cool "what is that").

What I don't understand is people's willingness to accept the current business model surrounding the ringtone. It's currently a boon to the music industry, and another source of revenue to keep a failing business model afloat (and yet another way NOT to pay artists, but that's another post).

Love them or hate them, Apple has set the price of a single at 99 cents. This seems appropriate (though I question their crappy bitrate, and DRM, but that's also another post). After years of CD inflation pricing at places like Tower Records (RIP), the 99 cent store attitude of the iPod companion was a breath of fresh air.

So, why are ringtones still 2-3 times more expensive? In essence they are the same thing, both a data file with the audio information needed to create sound to drive a speaker, but the ringtone is a vastly inferior version of that information. Usually consisting of just an intro or chorus, and at a ridiculously low quality (as it only will be played out the back of a crappy phone speaker), One would assume that it would be the single NOT the ringtone that would be worth more...

Of course Apple has recently announced their Awesome Phone (awesome like a hotdog), and sadly I think a lot of people will be disappointed by it once they use it for a while.
One reason they might not realize right away:

It will probably still use ringtones.

This is of course WILD market speculation, but the music industry has already ceded too much power over music to Apple as it is. I find it highly doubtful that they will just yield one of their last remaining cash cows over to Jobs and Co. Also, if you watch this insanely fine toothed comb over of the iPhone announcement, you'll see a new iTunes tab for ringtones.



So, how disappointing will that be? Here you've payed $600 for the privilege of being locked into a 2 year agreement with Cingular, and you legally buy your music at 99 cents a song, and this is going to be the Music/Feature phone to kill all SideKicks and Chocolates, but you'll still have to buy separate ringtones. This thing'll hold 8GB of movie and song data files, but you'll still have to purchase separate audio data files to change your ringer? It WONT be able to use the songs already on it as ringers?
Of course, we don't know this is what will happen, but looking at how cut throat the economies of audio have become, I just don't see this working out in favor of Mr and Mrs Consumer.



Most phones these days use MP3 files for ringtones. For my next post, I'll talk about another topic that's been beaten to death: How to "roll your own" ringtone.
ringtones, cellphones, audio sound design, some audio guy, business, annoyed, rant, iphone