silence between words

We always record "room tone", simply a minute or so of the mic picking up nothing but air in the booth or room where the VO is recorded. It is very handy for later use when "silence" needs to be inserted.

I have a friend who recorded Longfellow's "Evangeline", along with some "room tone" rather well in his home studio. It was given to someone else to edit, with instructions on how to deal with "silence". I guess that part of the sticky note must have gone missing as the master came back with "deathly digital silence" all through the product. It is quite painful to listen to....