This entry was posted by Sarah Bailey on March 25, 2012 at 8:17 pm, and is filed under Air. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.
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One comment
Karen Schaefer(12 years)
Sarah, what a powerful topic! I really like the way you quote your mom in the beginning. Sometimes it’s more effective to hear a person’s words than simply to describe them.
A couple of points about your recording. I’m sure you can hear you were making popping noises every time you uttered an explosive sound. Try moving the mic to different positions to get rid of those pops. I think you could also afford to move away from the mic a little – and turn down the volume. It’s better to record at a lower volume, then increase it afterwards.
Also, my comments to other students about room noise apply to you. You’re obviously recording in a room where there was some kind of electrical hum or air-handling noise. Try blocking that out by choosing a smaller space draped with blankets.
Also, be sure to stay in the moment with your read – think about what you’re saying and tell us the story, don’t read it. There were a few places where your voice got a little sing-songy, probably because you were paying so much attention to how you were speaking. Forget the mic and concentrate on those operative words and the sing-song will disappear.
One final thing – not something you’ll be able to change overnight, but maybe worth thinking about. I notice your voice tends to lose energy at the end of a sentence, to close up and get a little creaky-sounding. I suspect your larynx tenses as you speak. Try breathing more from your belly, hold your head parallel to the floor so your larynx is relaxed, and maybe open your mouth a little wider. It will give your voice a fuller, richer sound.
Sarah, what a powerful topic! I really like the way you quote your mom in the beginning. Sometimes it’s more effective to hear a person’s words than simply to describe them.
A couple of points about your recording. I’m sure you can hear you were making popping noises every time you uttered an explosive sound. Try moving the mic to different positions to get rid of those pops. I think you could also afford to move away from the mic a little – and turn down the volume. It’s better to record at a lower volume, then increase it afterwards.
Also, my comments to other students about room noise apply to you. You’re obviously recording in a room where there was some kind of electrical hum or air-handling noise. Try blocking that out by choosing a smaller space draped with blankets.
Also, be sure to stay in the moment with your read – think about what you’re saying and tell us the story, don’t read it. There were a few places where your voice got a little sing-songy, probably because you were paying so much attention to how you were speaking. Forget the mic and concentrate on those operative words and the sing-song will disappear.
One final thing – not something you’ll be able to change overnight, but maybe worth thinking about. I notice your voice tends to lose energy at the end of a sentence, to close up and get a little creaky-sounding. I suspect your larynx tenses as you speak. Try breathing more from your belly, hold your head parallel to the floor so your larynx is relaxed, and maybe open your mouth a little wider. It will give your voice a fuller, richer sound.