Trafcom News: The podcast voice

Third in a series
For an explanation of the series, read this post.

Questions from Claire Saunders

Is your podcast voice your “normal” speaking voice, or are you painfully aware of the sound of your own voice while you are recording?
Do you consciously “work” the whole time you are recording to animate your voice to sound as appealing as it does?
Have you ever taken voice lessons?

Answers

These are really smart questions, and not easy to answer. Why? Because a lot of what a podcaster does while recording is intuitive. I’m actually curious to hear what my fellow podcasters would say about this. Here are my answers:

My podcast voice is my normal voice, only better. In other words, I am more conscious of my voice and diction when I’m podcasting, because I want people to listen and to feel the tone of the message I’m trying to convey. (As I think about it, I realize that I make the same effort for an in-person presentation.) I believe that listeners appreciate a podcaster who doesn't slur words or rush as if the studio's on fire.

If I have a cold, or if I’m tired, or if I’m at a conference and have already recorded 12 podcasts in a day, my voice will not be in top shape and I can hear the difference. Can listeners tell? I’m not sure. If the content is important, they won’t care too much about a scratchy throat.

As for animation, yes, I am very conscious of being animated. Over the years I’ve developed a few tricks. First, stand up if you can while recording. This will impart more energy to your voice. And don’t be afraid to use hand gestures while you’re talking. Even though no one can see you, your gesticulations will convey life into your words. Try it.

I have taken voiceover lessons, which were very helpful to build my confidence before I started podcasting. A good vocal coach can help you to identify the strengths and weaknesses in your vocal presentation. Over the years a few novice corporate podcasters have asked me to help them improve their delivery. Adding animation to their voices is usually task No. 1. I often suggest that they slow down too.

Comments

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I do focus on my voice. Our show is a discussion, so the idea is to keep it light, fun and chatty while still providing some substance. A decent mic along with decent mic technique should make you sound pretty good if you can manage a conversational style.

Posted by: David Jones | February 04, 2010 at 03:43 PM