Impostare, or how to use the voice at its best

The Italians and Spaniards have a word for it: impostare, impostar...
This means the act of concentrating the strength of the voice on the vocal cords, so that the sound that comes from it is full and round, but mostly non hesitant and firm.

In other words it is a non natural exercise that needs training, that is why it's a job, because you need concentration, vocal skills and experience. If you have the chance to see how radio voices or professionnal announcers behave in front of the mike, you will see what I mean. Their voice suddenly changes to a sound that is completely different from the natural tone of voice of the person. It is a real transformation that you can not only hear, but also see. All of a sudden the voice talent changes is face and posture, he starts articulating also in a kind of artificial fashion, so opening the mouth, as if to pronounce better the syllables. And, yes, the actor can move hands and body, provided that he does it silently, to give that special concentration and emotion to the voice. At PrimeVoices we are very aware of that process, so we have witnessed at our studios many kinds of body languages, most funny of all was an Arabic voice that before the recording session started just lied down on the floor to breath and relax, then he started to made funny sounds as if to release the voice. The ritual ended with a massage of the cheeks to made them more flexible. The voice had a rather high pitch voice for a talent, but in front of the mike his voice turned out to be deep and solemn, we were really impressed...

Voice-Over in Christmas time? Don't do it

Drinking too much, eating too much ? Well it's Christmas time so you have licence to get those extras that your body doesn't need, besides you are not working so no need to be sober. Having said that you know that the voice can sound differently if you are hungry or if you have eaten too much. Yes the voice can also be a gauge of appetite or perhaps an energy indicator.

So let's say that the energy indicator is on the red side, because energy is low and appetite big, this kind of situations could happen for instance when we have to read a script late in the evening after a long tiring day, it is really tough to make it sound fresh and interesting. You could certainly cheat and make it sound authentic and committed, but, man, what an effort !. If you have to read a long script, the voice is really put to the test. In case we are dealing with a voice-over matching a video, or even more difficult a lip-synch dubbing, then the level of concentration is so high, that it would even be irresponsible to record in the studio at that moment, as the result might not be what it should be.

Now let's suppose the opposite: the gauge is green because we have eaten a good breakfast and we are also full of energy because we have slept and therefore rested. Concentration is high, well after a good coffee, and therefore we can read properly and making good sense with the lines.

So let's be aware, that to use the voice to put life, feelings and more to any text, you need to choose the right moment of the day, but if you eat or drink too much, well then just use your voice to make a joke to your friends, sing in a karaoke, or, if needed, snor and rest.

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel !!!
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FRENCH
Voix Off à Noël? Pas la peine
Trop manger ou trop boire ? Eh bien, c'est le temps de Noël, donc vous avez bien la permission pour obtenir ces extras que votre corps n'a pas besoin, en plus vous ne travaillez pas, donc pas besoin d'être sobre. Vous savez bien que la voix peut sonner de façon différente en fonction de si vous avez faim ou si vous avez trop mangé. Oui, la voix peut être également une jauge d'appétit, autrement dit un indicateur de l'énergie.
Alors disons que l'indicateur d'énergie est sur le côté rouge, parce que l'énergie est faible et don l'appétit et conséquent; ce genre de situations peuvent se produire par exemple lorsque nous avons à lire un script tard dans la soirée après une journée fatigante, en ce-moment-là est vraiment difficile d'avoir un son frais et intéressant. Vous pourriez certainement tricher et rendre un son authentique et engagé, mais, quel effort !. Si vous devez lire un long script, la voix sera vraiment mis à l'épreuve. Au cas où nous avons affaire à une voix off pour vidéo, ou encore plus difficile une synchronisation labiale, donc le doublage ADR, alors le niveau de concentration sera si élevé qu'il serait même irresponsable d'enregistrer dans le studio à ce moment, parce que le résultat ne pourrait pas être ce qu'elle devrait être. 
Maintenant supposons le contraire: la jauge est verte parce que nous avons mangé un bon petit déjeuner et nous sommes également pleins d'énergie parce que nous avons bien dormi et donc nous sommes reposés. La concentration est forcement élevée, après un bon café, et nous pouvons donc lire correctement et faire le bon sens avec les phrases du script.
Alors, soyons conscients que, pour utiliser la voix pour faire vivre un texte, pour le donner de la passion, de l' authenticité, vous devez choisir le bon moment de la journée, mais si vous mangez ou buvez trop, eh bien il suffit d'utiliser votre voix pour raconter une blague à vos amis, chanter dans un karaoké, ou, si nécessaire, bien aller se coucher.
Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel !
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