WELCOME!

WELCOME! http://stevetardio.com/blog.cfm Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:52:44 GMT http://bandzoogle.com Happy New 'Skype' Year!!! Skype PERFECT for Phone Patch Sessions! http://stevetardio.com/blog.cfm?feature=2816567&postid=1716849 Well Hi Everybody - Happy New Year!!! I'm sure all of us are looking forward to a successful 2012 and we're all eager to find ways to drum up some VO business. I believe that 2012 is the year all of us VoiceOver actors will find all the work we want - and then some! My First New Year’s Resolution – I've always been available for VoiceOver auditions and bookings at any time and I am grateful that I have a home studio to audition and book whatever work comes in. I am always available to my clients, however I want to make myself EVEN MORE AVAILABLE to clients - especially for those LAST MINUTE VO BOOKINGS. Living in the NYC market, I usually get scheduled for an audition or booking 24 to 48 hours in advance – where I go into one of Manhattan’s many audio post-production houses and record my session work there. Now, I am hoping for more of those LAST MINUTE bookings where the client needs me to record something that is going to air in the next 30 minutes! Hey, crazier things have happened when I had to record something that was going to air in the next 5 minutes! I have invested in <a href="http://www.source-elements.com/source-connect/" target="_new">Source Connect, were I can hook up to any studio in the world along the lines of an ISDN connection. I also invested in using a <a href="http://Skype" target="_new">Skype phone number for all of my phone patch sessions. Having a Skype phone number is just like having a regular phone number. If a client calls my studio in the 11th hour and they need me to read something and email it out to them ASAP, they can call my Skype home studio phone number - just like they would call any regular phone number - and the session will be just like a regular phone patch session. They can listen in and direct me as I record the session in my home studio. Then I can email an mp3 of the session to them and DONE! If you have a home studio and want to invest in a phone patch set up, Skype is the easiest, best and least expensive way to set it all up! My special thanks to George Whittam from ElDorado Recording Services for helping me set up this new phone patch system in my home studio. For more information on George’s services for any/all things in the professional VoiceOver community, visit <a href="http://www.eldorec.com" target="_new">www.eldorec.com. Just one of my many New Year's Resolutions to make my VoiceOver business soar in 2012. Anyone else want to share their New Year's Resolutions for 2012? Talk to you all later! Steve
I'm sure all of us are looking forward to a successful 2012 and we're all eager to find ways to drum up some VO business. I believe that 2012 is the year all of us VoiceOver actors will find all the work we want - and then some!

My First New Year’s Resolution –
I've always been available for VoiceOver auditions and bookings at any time and I am grateful that I have a home studio to audition and book whatever work comes in. I am always available to my clients, however I want to make myself EVEN MORE AVAILABLE to clients - especially for those LAST MINUTE VO BOOKINGS. Living in the NYC market, I usually get scheduled for an audition or booking 24 to 48 hours in advance – where I go into one of Manhattan’s many audio post-production houses and record my session work there.
Now, I am hoping for more of those LAST MINUTE bookings where the client needs me to record something that is going to air in the next 30 minutes! Hey, crazier things have happened when I had to record something that was going to air in the next 5 minutes!

I have invested in Source Connect, were I can hook up to any studio in the world along the lines of an ISDN connection. I also invested in using a Skype phone number for all of my phone patch sessions. Having a Skype phone number is just like having a regular phone number. If a client calls my studio in the 11th hour and they need me to read something and email it out to them ASAP, they can call my Skype home studio phone number - just like they would call any regular phone number - and the session will be just like a regular phone patch session. They can listen in and direct me as I record the session in my home studio. Then I can email an mp3 of the session to them and DONE! If you have a home studio and want to invest in a phone patch set up, Skype is the easiest, best and least expensive way to set it all up!
My special thanks to George Whittam from ElDorado Recording Services for helping me set up this new phone patch system in my home studio. For more information on George’s services for any/all things in the professional VoiceOver community, visit www.eldorec.com.

Just one of my many New Year's Resolutions to make my VoiceOver business soar in 2012.

Anyone else want to share their New Year's Resolutions for 2012?

Talk to you all later!

Steve
]]> Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:52:44 GMT 6B7BC07C4E7DB97DFD6429E1CE1C2A61 Will A Brand Name Microphone Book You The Job? http://stevetardio.com/blog.cfm?feature=2816567&postid=1592238  Well Hi Everybody!   So I had to record an MP3 audition the other day and email it to my agency. The audio engineer at my agency said he loved the sound of my mic and asked what brand I was using. He went down the list of the top mic brands (Neumann,  Sennheiser, AKG). I told him I use a Studio Projects C1 microphone. He said it was the best recording he has heard in a long time.    Not bad when you consider the cost of a Studio Projects C1 costs around $250.    Most professional microphones cost at least $1,000. I got my Sennheiser 416 microphone for $800 (used) and use it for promo/announcing work and love it just as much as my Studio Projects mic.    I still feel that once steady/regular bookings start coming in to my home studio, I will purchase a Neumann U87, but for those who are on a budget I HIGHLY recommend the Studio Projects C1 microphone for all your VoiceOver needs. Casting directors, Producers, Directors, etc love the sound of this mic.    So, do you think you need an expensive/brand name mic to book the work?   I think the standard will always be to have a few microphones in your home studio so you can have different options for different projects.   Add a Studio Projects mic to your 'mix'.  (Get it?  "Mix" as in audio mixing???  Well, I thought it was funny!)

So I had to record an MP3 audition the other day and email it to my agency. The audio engineer at my agency said he loved the sound of my mic and asked what brand I was using. He went down the list of the top mic brands (Neumann, Sennheiser, AKG). I told him I use a Studio Projects C1 microphone. He said it was the best recording he has heard in a long time.

Not bad when you consider the cost of a Studio Projects C1 costs around $250.

Most professional microphones cost at least $1,000. I got my Sennheiser 416 microphone for $800 (used) and use it for promo/announcing work and love it just as much as my Studio Projects mic.

I still feel that once steady/regular bookings start coming in to my home studio, I will purchase a Neumann U87, but for those who are on a budget I HIGHLY recommend the Studio Projects C1 microphone for all your VoiceOver needs. Casting directors, Producers, Directors, etc love the sound of this mic.

So, do you think you need an expensive/brand name mic to book the work?

I think the standard will always be to have a few microphones in your home studio so you can have different options for different projects.

Add a Studio Projects mic to your 'mix'.

(Get it? "Mix" as in audio mixing??? Well, I thought it was funny!)

]]> Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:30:08 GMT AE8358863C28E72CD20061CCF4E7D0A3 My Latest VoiceOver Project for the NBA http://stevetardio.com/blog.cfm?feature=2816567&postid=1582186 Well Hi Everybody! Everyone happy that the NBA strike will soon be over?   Well, with no games going on, NBA TV produced this new television series that I am narrating called 'NB80's' which features all the highs and lows of the 'totally awesome' decade of the 80's.   Be sure to tune in on NBA TV! Here is a clip from the premiere episode (click the NBA Logo)... <a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq9Si6DjJyY&feature=g-upl">
Everyone happy that the NBA strike will soon be over?

Well, with no games going on, NBA TV produced this new television series that I am narrating called 'NB80's' which features all the highs and lows of the 'totally awesome' decade of the 80's.

Be sure to tune in on NBA TV!

Here is a clip from the premiere episode (click the NBA Logo)...

]]> Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:05:00 GMT D225D956CA9CC0FB5FB5CBD3388B32BE I'M BACK as 'Lieutenant (j.g.) Auran Ganix' in STAR TREK - DEFIANT! http://stevetardio.com/blog.cfm?feature=2816567&postid=1488126 Well Hi Everybody! I'm proud to be part of Pendant Audio Productions and their production of STAR TREK - DEFIANT - a full-cast, ongoing sci-fi serial adventure based upon the Star Trek television series. <a target="_new" href="http://www.pendantaudio.com/defiant.php#new"> I was part of the orignal cast back when the show first took off online (<a href="http://www.pendantaudio.com" target="_new">www.pendantaudio.com).  My character, Lieutenant (j.g.) Auran Ganix is a fun character to play - someone with a quirky, smart-ass attitude (quite a STRETCH for me!) where unfortunately I was killed off in episode 36 - but thanks to an alternate universe, I am back in Pendant's latest episode - Episode 61.  I'll be in the next few epsidoes as they are posted on their website.  Many thanks to the producers, writers and directors of STAR TREK - DEFIANT for asking me to reprise my role. Please check out this latest episode, as well as past episodes to catch up with what's going on with the show and audio commentery from the producers, writers and directors at - <a href="http://www.pendantaudio.com/defiant.php#new." target="_new">http://www.pendantaudio.com/defiant.php#new. ENJOY THE SHOW & LIVE LONG AND PROSPER! Steve
I'm proud to be part of Pendant Audio Productions and their production of STAR TREK - DEFIANT - a full-cast, ongoing sci-fi serial adventure based upon the Star Trek television series.

I was part of the orignal cast back when the show first took off online (www.pendantaudio.com). My character, Lieutenant (j.g.) Auran Ganix is a fun character to play - someone with a quirky, smart-ass attitude (quite a STRETCH for me!) where unfortunately I was killed off in episode 36 - but thanks to an alternate universe, I am back in Pendant's latest episode - Episode 61. I'll be in the next few epsidoes as they are posted on their website.

Many thanks to the producers, writers and directors of STAR TREK - DEFIANT for asking me to reprise my role.

Please check out this latest episode, as well as past episodes to catch up with what's going on with the show and audio commentery from the producers, writers and directors at -

http://www.pendantaudio.com/defiant.php#new.

ENJOY THE SHOW & LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!

Steve

]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:05:00 GMT 14AACB4170B720EA9BC472651FDCAD4C Lovin' Last Minute Auditions! http://stevetardio.com/blog.cfm?feature=2816567&postid=1419261 Well Hi Everybody! Ever been in those 'last minute' audition situations where a client needs you to record an MP3 audition and email it to them by the end of the day - or within an hour - or in five minutes?   The advantages of a home studio has its benefits.  Even when traveling, with technology - a laptop with good recording software, a good mic and an Internet connection - you'll be able to record those 'last minute' auditions.  You can even use technology for an ISDN or Source Connect session from anywhere when you're on the road (providing you have a good Internet connection).   Today was a good day. I was checking my emails and received two emails from my agent for two clients that needed my mp3 audition ASAP.  Fortunately I was able to record them in my studio and get them out right away. Has anyone been in a situation where you need to get an MP3 audition out ASAP and you don't have access to a studio?  How did you handle it? Here's to EVERYONE having to deal with any and all types of 'last minute auditions' and booking the job! Steve
Ever been in those 'last minute' audition situations where a client needs you to record an MP3 audition and email it to them by the end of the day - or within an hour - or in five minutes?

The advantages of a home studio has its benefits. Even when traveling, with technology - a laptop with good recording software, a good mic and an Internet connection - you'll be able to record those 'last minute' auditions. You can even use technology for an ISDN or Source Connect session from anywhere when you're on the road (providing you have a good Internet connection).

Today was a good day. I was checking my emails and received two emails from my agent for two clients that needed my mp3 audition ASAP. Fortunately I was able to record them in my studio and get them out right away.

Has anyone been in a situation where you need to get an MP3 audition out ASAP and you don't have access to a studio? How did you handle it?

Here's to EVERYONE having to deal with any and all types of 'last minute auditions' and booking the job!

Steve
]]> Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:17:52 GMT 209BCA64A0C3ABB42522BF214044491C When You're Voice Doesn't Sound Like YOU! http://stevetardio.com/blog.cfm?feature=2816567&postid=1394154 Well Hi Everybody. Ever experience hearing the character voice you did for a national TV commercial, but it doesn't sound like you at all??? They ran all these tweaks, affects, auto-tunes, compression, etc through your voice to the point where you think, "They replaced my voice!" Dannon yogurt used my voice for their character Dan-O-Nino (see the attachment), it doesn't sound like me at all - but I know my inflections when I hear them. And it has opened up my entry into the world of animation VO work, which is VERY hard to get into to, so I'm glad I'm getting my foot in the door.   Click on Dan-O-Nino to watch my video located on YouTube - <a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mif1givZ2mg"> I attached the audio here, too.  So I'm aiming towards more animation VO work.  So question for all of you - Does it matter if your voice sounds like you or not on the final product?
Ever experience hearing the character voice you did for a national TV commercial, but it doesn't sound like you at all??? They ran all these tweaks, affects, auto-tunes, compression, etc through your voice to the point where you think, "They replaced my voice!" Dannon yogurt used my voice for their character Dan-O-Nino (see the attachment), it doesn't sound like me at all - but I know my inflections when I hear them. And it has opened up my entry into the world of animation VO work, which is VERY hard to get into to, so I'm glad I'm getting my foot in the door.

Click on Dan-O-Nino to watch my video located on YouTube -

I attached the audio here, too.

So I'm aiming towards more animation VO work.

So question for all of you - Does it matter if your voice sounds like you or not on the final product?
]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2011 07:10:00 GMT 3C4BE6E900AE7D7A503AA8E2338C3516 The Home Studio - I Love Source Connect! http://stevetardio.com/blog.cfm?feature=2816567&postid=1383048 Well Hi Everybody!  It's Steve! How awesome it is to post my first blog posting on my new site! BANDZOOGLE ROCKS!!! I wanted to talk about one MAJOR thing I LOVE about VoiceOvers - having a Home Studio with SOURCE CONNECT!!!   <a target="_new" href="http://source-elements.com/view/profile/?stevethevo"> I live in the suburbs of New Jersey - a stone's throw away from NYC...or so you would think. It's about 27 miles from my home to midtown Manhattan. So why does it take over and 1 to 2 hours (on a good day) to get there from here? UGH - COMMUTING!!! One of the many reasons why people say it's a 'small world' - because they're too many people driving and trying to get on over-crowded trains.  if one bad apple gets into the commute causing traffic jams or if the weather causes train cancelations, that's a problem when you are booked for a session at a specific time - espeically in NYC. So - one of the GREAT things about being a working VoiceOver actor is - THE HOME STUDIO!!! Recently, I set up the Source Connect system (from Source Elements) in my home office, turned the walk-in closet to a VoiceOver booth and now I can connect to any studio in the world right from my home.  Source Connect is really the state of the art program for doing VoiceOver sessions from remote locations and home studios. Source Connect works through your Internet connection. I've used it a few times now, both in my home studio and when I'm traveling with my MacBook, and it works perfectly. How it works - It's an IP to IP connection. I log in to Source Connect - then connect with the client/studio's Source Connect account and you're set to go. If the studio or client you are working with only has an ISDN line, you can still use Source Connect by using an IP to IP connection 'bridge' company who will take your IP connection and run it through and ISDN service (for a small fee). Then the bridge provides my agent and me with an ISDN phone number. Now the client can dial that ISDN line and that hooks right back into my IP connection via Source Connect. I have to emphasize that you need a hard line Internet connection with at least a 300 up speed. You may have a 3 - 5 second talkback delay - which you get used to quickly, but it's still an extremely easy process! Another great thing about Source Connect is you can either run it through ProTools or as a Stand-Alone, so you don't need anything but the Source Connect program to hook into any studio in the world. Oh - is there a 30 to 45 minute delay on the GW Bridge? NJ Transit trains canceled due to blizzard like conditions? Did a bear just come down from the woods and is taking a nap in the tree in my front yard? No Worries! We can hook up anytime and anywhere via Source Connect! Well Hi Everybody! It's Steve! How awesome it is to post my first blog posting on my new site! BANDZOOGLE ROCKS!!!

I wanted to talk about one MAJOR thing I LOVE about VoiceOvers - having a Home Studio with SOURCE CONNECT!!!

I live in the suburbs of New Jersey - a stone's throw away from NYC...or so you would think. It's about 27 miles from my home to midtown Manhattan. So why does it take over and 1 to 2 hours (on a good day) to get there from here?

UGH - COMMUTING!!! One of the many reasons why people say it's a 'small world' - because they're too many people driving and trying to get on over-crowded trains. if one bad apple gets into the commute causing traffic jams or if the weather causes train cancelations, that's a problem when you are booked for a session at a specific time - espeically in NYC.

So - one of the GREAT things about being a working VoiceOver actor is - THE HOME STUDIO!!!

Recently, I set up the Source Connect system (from Source Elements) in my home office, turned the walk-in closet to a VoiceOver booth and now I can connect to any studio in the world right from my home. Source Connect is really the state of the art program for doing VoiceOver sessions from remote locations and home studios. Source Connect works through your Internet connection. I've used it a few times now, both in my home studio and when I'm traveling with my MacBook, and it works perfectly.

How it works - It's an IP to IP connection. I log in to Source Connect - then connect with the client/studio's Source Connect account and you're set to go.

If the studio or client you are working with only has an ISDN line, you can still use Source Connect by using an IP to IP connection 'bridge' company who will take your IP connection and run it through and ISDN service (for a small fee). Then the bridge provides my agent and me with an ISDN phone number. Now the client can dial that ISDN line and that hooks right back into my IP connection via Source Connect.

I have to emphasize that you need a hard line Internet connection with at least a 300 up speed. You may have a 3 - 5 second talkback delay - which you get used to quickly, but it's still an extremely easy process!

Another great thing about Source Connect is you can either run it through ProTools or as a Stand-Alone, so you don't need anything but the Source Connect program to hook into any studio in the world.

Oh - is there a 30 to 45 minute delay on the GW Bridge? NJ Transit trains canceled due to blizzard like conditions? Did a bear just come down from the woods and is taking a nap in the tree in my front yard? No Worries! We can hook up anytime and anywhere via Source Connect!

]]> Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:40:00 GMT 45D33586CADC9B500E668575DFE35E75