How many reads 'til its right?

Hey all radio/TV/video production folks...

I've always found it easy to fall into the trap of "one more read and I'll nail it" on spot production.  The reality of course, the scripts sound more rehearsed; less natural and less believable with repetitious reads.

On a perfect day, I sit and quietly learn the script - understanding the message and the delivery needed, and get it on first take.  More realistic, If I don't have it by number 3 or know I'll get it on 4, I stop and say "maybe tomorrow, or do some rewriting.

Computers sure speed up production compared to the old way of mixing "on the fly" to 2-trk and editing with a razor blade.

What works for you?

Dave P

If possible, just retake the fluffed bit to keep it fresh, leave the bulk alone as soon as it's broadly right.  Now I admit I'm coming from the perspective of recording classical music, but I suspect principles are the same with voice recording.

[OT - I once recorded Yehudi Menuhin reading some memoirs, and at one point he had to read a phrase concerning a performance at a University.  Three times he stumbled over 'University' - after the third retake, he chuckled quietly and told me "The reason why I can't pronounce 'University' is because I never attended one!"]

For voiceover work, it's very rare to get a whole take in one go - similarly with radio drama. So like ozpeter says, we tend to use the rehearse-record method and nail a chunk at a time. Thinking back, I do recall people having up to nine goes at some things, usually with a 20 minute break somewhere in there. It's also amazing how many little things can contribute to a good read - the light, the freshness of the air, how cramped the surroundings are, etc. Obviously if you are working in your own space this can be completely controlled, but do you find that you work differently in different spaces? This seems to affect some people more than others.

It all depends on where you're voicing and who's producing you. If you're working in someone else's studio, they will tell you when it's ok for them, even if you don't think it's all that good, and vice-versa of course.

But voicing at home, yes, you have the luxury to voice it as many times as you like until you feel that it can't be improved on further. What I do find, is that the same read doesn't sound right if one line is done on one day and another line on another day. For me, I find they sound different. Equally usable but slightly different. There will be something slightly different in the tone or delivery, and they just don't fit together. So, knowing this, what I do is I voice each bit or read, several times, maybe up to 10 times, and then choose the best takes from the recording. If all the takes are done in the same session, the takes can be mixed and matched, but not if they're recorded on different days, or even 10 minutes later in the next recording sesh. I don't exactly know why they would sound different, given that the conditions, equipment and room are identical. I think it is probably down to YOU approaching the read a tiny bit differently. Of all the sounds in the world, the human voice is the the sound we're most sensitive to, and we can, probably subliminally pick up the slightest nuances that give us information about mood, happiness etc. And I suppose we pick these things up all too easily.

BTW Dave, I have sent you a PM (Private Message) here on the forum, and you haven't received it. Please click Profile at the top of the forum, and click the radio button for "Pop up window on new Private Message:".