SURPRISING Tip to Reduce Voice Over Narration Mistakes!

[@CalderJon]

What an incredible tip. I was thinking that this is so simple that it would never work yet I just recorded three complex scripts with just one or two stumbles as opposed to dozens! Thank you so much - invaluable advice.

[@martinkidd9951]

Bill, I have recently gotten into voice over, and all of your videos have been SO AMAZINGLY USEFUL!!!!! Thank you for helping us noobs, it is greatly appreciated :) I have been watching your videos non stop over the past few months, i even think i heard you in an ad recently. Keep it up amigo

[@richardthomas6523]

Smaller font. Great tip. So simple. Thanks!!!

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

I increased my font for the longest time thinking it was helping. It was only through a fluke that I stumbled upon the fact that the smaller font also decreased my mistakes!

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

Couldn't live without it! :-) It really does a nice job of shutting out outside noise

[@instagamrr]

Really useful! I've recently gotten into doing readings and have discovered a new passion I enjoy once I got the right equipment for it (which I purchased for my regular youtube videos). Thanks for sharing - I've subscribed and I'm going through all your content now!

[@Toar1287]

Along the lines of shrinking your text I just discovered something that works great for me. I now upload my script to my Kindle Fire. This works perfectly for keeping the text smaller and grouped together in such a way that you don't have to move your eyes much at all. For me it has made recording audiobooks more of a breeze. Another nice feature is quick and quiet page turns. The Kindle Fire works better for this than an iPad.

[@Sasha0927]

I love insider tips like this. Glad I caught it from 100 years ago.

[@marcpaxton7835]

I've been having fun discovering all your videos on KZbin! Quick testimonial: I actually discovered the shrink-the-text trick a couple of weeks ago, and IT'S TRUE! It really does make the read smoother; I don't know why, but it really does work!

[@alexandrevaliquette3883]

5:00 Dam! I just miss the live show 11 years ago. At least I've got the KZbin video today!

[@robsmith8304]

Great tip ... that and learn to read ahead using that peripheral vision. Where you see the words mentally digest them and read them aloud as they leave your field of view. It's not easy but that's' the best way to read scripts.

[@asianguy6174]

I find that not looking ahead means I won’t be prepared for what’s coming up and I will stumble or stop where I shouldn’t. But sometimes, if I‘be been reading a while, I can adapt quickly if I stay on what’s before me.

[@RedBearAK]

Why this tip works: The human eye only perceives accurate detail and color within a small circle at the center of vision. Everything else you think you see around you outside of that small circle is an illusion built up by your visual cortex to make you feel comfortable interacting with your environment. This tip is a brilliant insight that will help a lot of people.

[@poutinedavid8937]

This was an incredibly useful explanation. Why don't you have any videos detailing the "reason why" behind most tips and exercises voice coaches give? Do you have a blog or anything?

[@j.stephenson6468]

RedBearAK, your explanation sounds a bit New Agey, but it works for me! :)

[@realericanderson]

Nope. Why would it matter the level of detail you can read words at if your working memory has to store multiple words as your reading? Why this tip actually works: The smaller text is slightly more difficult to read, creating enough cognitive strain to make you focus more, but not enough to create a cognitive overload. I find this answer fits considering Bill mentions he's of the type to focus on the moment (which the mechanics of this explanation would enhance) . Check out Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahnman for slightly more relevant knowledge to apply pseudo-science to.

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

When I'm recording a commercial via ISDN or in a phone session. I use the Word "marker" to highlight and mark up the script based on the direction of the producer

[@andaxton9405]

Such great advice! Smaller font is the way to go.

[@sazji]

Yes! Funny, I always thought exactly the same thing, believing that shorter lines would help me avoid line scanning mistakes etc. Today I got a text in smaller font, that I couldn’t print out again at smaller size, and it went so much better.

[@DynamixWarePro]

That is a great tip, helped me out a lot! I recently got a TLM 102 mic and have been testing some voice recording and didn't think about font size and I kept mine about 12 and now keep it at 10 and it works way better for me.

[@sirbobdesign]

Reason that works is eye tracking Google "User experience eye tracking". Your eyes moving slower from left to right helps seeing the next 2 or 3 words. I have always struggled with the returns my entire life. I never really know what row of text is next.

[@AndrewHelbig]

Huh, I hadn't thought of that. I've been making my scripts a larger font every time, thinking it would help. But make way too many mistakes right now, so I'm going to try out a smaller font and see how that helps!

[@rickyvonicky4371]

also what might help in regard with font : Try it is black background and white letters !!!

[@Neurk]

Thanks for this Bill, so simple, and yet sooooo effective!

[@MapleCreepy]

This is a great tip, thanks Bill - appreciate it!

[@alisonmckay]

Super tip, Bill. It works!!! I shouldn't be surprised, all your tips are right on point. Thank you for sharing so much of your knowledge :-)

[@hyperslothradio]

I am totally going to try this on my next gig! I'm always trying to soak in the entire page while recording and I can see how this might help.

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

Thank you . . . my pleasure!

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

Thanks! Yes, I do just a teeny, tiny bit of gate. I have an Aphex 230 and the pre-amp does a great job of warming up the sound.

[@RealHIFIHelp]

Thank you Bill.

[@briankirchoff-thevoiceover424]

Interesting point. I'm going to give this a shot today and report back. I've been making the font and line spacing larger. We'll try the opposite.

[@mrtheluckybucket]

Well, did it work?

[@VideoMenu]

I agree with that font thing. I had a professor use jumbo size font (I'm talking 60s to 70s size) to get people to read his instructions on Blackboard. The problem was that there was no context. Things were buried on the page deep below because the fonts were so jumbo. The OPPOSITE problem happened: He was so adamant we READ THE DAMN INSTRUCTIONS! that we lost the instructions in the Great Wall of China that was his homepage. My eyesight is not what it used to be, but I've always ALWAYS had my desktop set to the smallest icons. *Small = GREATER CONTEXT*.

[@michaelpilon9657]

I am new at this, I now cpy a script, place it on an e-mail and mail to myself, open it with my Samsun Pad and use that, nice size clear etc, and save ink :)

[@michaelleroi9077]

I’d believe that. Nice point.

[@zatoichiable]

Correct. Reading more thoughts not reading letters.

[@MindBodySoulOk]

get focus on the web page or document then hold Ctrl then spin your mouse wheel

[@CommonCommenter]

This makes a ton of sense

[@AnthonyMartinsRock]

Great tip.

[@LudwigVonSpeedking]

I love your videos..learn so much. Honestly, I learn more from your youtube videos thatn I did from coaching...seriously. However, I was always told to mark up my script. Well, it makes for a messy computer screen!! But I have been doing most of my jobs from computer screen, so I have learned to go over the script a few times and sort of "mentally" mark it up, if that makes sense..Thanks so much again for your videos..I always learn something great! :)

[@Perilous3D]

Thanks for the helpful tips, Bill!

[@LeonAllanDavis]

Good tip but it doesn't help me. For an audio book I have to read the copy at least twice and mark it up. Double spacing is hugely important here. I have my own special symbols I use that indicates timing, rhythm, and inflection. Then I do a final read through before I do the audio. Obviously, I have to use paper copy for this. I have my own special system for blocking the sound of "paper shuffling". Another important tip is use sans serif. I like Verdana.

[@ketzbook]

nice tip, but the audio of this video is quite bad in quality...

[@poutinedavid8937]

Video is from 2012. Quality has obviously improved during the past 5 years...

[@stevet2892]

+ketzbook hey ,if anyone else wants to discover get voice acting jobs online try Ailyahwan Easy Dominator (just google it ) ? Ive heard some interesting things about it and my mate got amazing results with it.

[@timmiller1668]

My iPad is very useful here. Great share BW!

[@AnGhaeilge]

I find it difficult to read from scripts. I end up sounding unnatural. I also constantly make mistakes and it can take many attempts for each paragraph of text. A lot of the times my tone is not on point and I emphasise on the wrong words. Narration is so difficult. I'll try reducing the font size next time.

[@mooseydeucy]

Hard copy (paper) only for me, Bill. Do you have any newer videos (2022)?

[@sjcraw]

If stuck with hard copy, take a picture on your phone and shrink the image size on a laptop or tablet.

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

Sounds like a great method to me Frank. It it ain't broke . . .!

[@actimations]

What is your favorite font-type to read best?

[@OrionDenali]

Thanks Bill. How do you like your Whisper Room?

[@LudwigVonSpeedking]

I think everyone does that, don't they? Terry Daniel has a good vid about marking up your script...he just posted it.

[@LudwigVonSpeedking]

Your mic sounds like butta! I have the TLM 49...it doesn't sound quite as warm as yours. Problem I have is with mouth noise..it picks up the slightest click or smack..I spend too much time editing. Do you use any kind of gate? Your sound is excellent.

[@juniebee2445]

I wear eye glasses, it's a bit difficult reading small fonts, so how ?

[@voiceandvideoscript1113]

This is amazing

[@rodneysapyta1374]

HOW MUCH BILL???

[@camcordernonsense5264]

I can't look ahead unless waiting for my question. I will get lost.

[@dvnobles]

Like #400. I'm going to try this...makes sense.

[@Anime-nl9mr]

any tips at how to reduce fan noise? xd

[@erende44]

Oihane Mariñelarena separate computer from mic. by its positioning, direction, distance, acoustic adaptation. you can even use blanket on mic stand or quilt on your head :)

[@Anime-nl9mr]

used, whenever I postproduce it goes to the hell, Will have to take my comp out of the room?! o.o

[@erende44]

Oihane Mariñelarena whenever im in the trip I use this "quilt on head" technique and its fine ;) What types of plugins do you use to postproduce? Gate and eq in the chain should do the magic. You can try x-noise from waves but its a bit expensive

[@Anime-nl9mr]

no, I use normalize, noisgate and "broadcast" preset which is magic to me at "multiband compressor" that's when the background starts to bother me.

[@erende44]

Oihane Mariñelarena is it noise between the words? if yes you need change settings of gate (noisegate). if its when the words appear, the only solution is acoustic adaptation I already mentioned

[@TheToneBender]

Lol. Hij is een weesje XD

[@accountnew6474]

dude this is bad!!

[@jeffboettcher2531]

I know the easiest tip of all!! Don't become an #obnoxiousblathermouth!