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I Used To Steal Software and Plugins For Voiceover

audio, Studio, Technology & Voiceover, The Studio, voiceover, Voiceover Career

I used to steal software and plugins for voiceover. I started my career with Cubase LE which came as free software with my Emu 1616 audio interface. As I realized the limitations of that software, I wanted to grow but I didn’t have the money to grow. But having friends in audio engineering, I found out that there were ways to get what was called cracked software.

My first cracked software was a Cubase SX. There was a company that was famous for cracking audio software called      and I used to find their software either online or through a friend who had it. Cubase 2.1 was how I really learned to produce commercials. But a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is only as good as the plugins. So for that, I had to find more cracked software.

Free Plugins? Or Digital Piracy?

The hot plugins of the day were waves plugins. Waves were really good and really expensive. Of everyone that I knew who did audio, maybe only one of them actually bought any of the waves plugins legally. Waves plugins could run 10k for a bundle. Being who I am I had to have the best bundles. I had the waves platinum, mercury and gold bundles at some time in history.

As my career grew, I never really considered buying the actual plugins. They were still out of my reach in price. Plus, what was the point? I was getting them for free. Free beats cheap any day. So I perfected my skills with free software and even upgraded as more cracked software replaced the older versions. I went from Cubase SX to Cubase 2.1. Then I moved on to several Nuendo versions for a few years. Meanwhile, voiceover and commercial orders piled on. I had a nice workflow.Free Plugins and Software

I never shorted on hardware though. I bought my first Neuman for $1500. UA LA 610 for $1400. I owned several computers. A Mac and a PC and a PC laptop. I had travel gear and swapped out several audio interfaces at that time.

The Day It All Went Bad!

So what happened? Well, one morning I got up to do my work. I had several commercials in the pipeline for the day. I fired up my computer and my trusty Emu and then started Nuendo and BAM. Nothing. It wouldn’t start. I tried it again and still nothing. So I restarted the computer hoping that would help. Nothing again. I tried a few times and no result. I was in a bad position.

I called a friend and fellow talent to ask if I could come to his house and record this work and he asked me what had happened. I told him. And his response was something I didn’t expect. He said to me “Why don’t you just buy the software?” I had never thought to actually buy the software. So I did. I bought my first version of Cubase, which was Cubase 5. It cost me $300 at Guitar Center. I came home that morning with my dongle and installed the software and BAM…. Nothing!!

At this point, I’m even more panicked. Installing and getting up and running was much easier with cracked software. So I called Steinberg to help me. I went over several things troubleshooting with the tech before I finally had to admit to the tech that I previously installed unauthorized software. He went silent for a second, and in a judgemental tone said “Well then you have to wipe your entire computer clean and reinstall windows to install Cubase properly.

You can imagine my horror. But I had work to do and the day was coming to a close by now. I got off the phone, backed up as many of my files as I could, and wiped my hard drive. I realized that I had to change at this moment. I did put the plugins back on the computer because I needed them at that moment but over time I began to buy them. I didn’t buy all of them but I bought some.

Pay The Money. It Will Pay You Back!

Over the years I replaced Cubase 5 with Cubase 7 Artist. I also bought Cubase 8 Elements for my mobile rig and then upgraded to Cubase LE AI Elements 9.5. I also bought Cubase Artists 9 for my desktop home studio. That version made all of my 32-bit plugins obsolete so now I had to buy all new plugins. That’s when I bought the Apollo Twin and then the Apollo Arrow with all the plugins for those machines. Now, I can’t steal plugins. I buy them. I also fell in love and buy the Izotope plugins. I have several of those bundles for mixing and mastering. I continue to buy software and plugins for voiceover. For Christmas, I bought UAD’s Manley VoxBox and Valley People Dyna-Mite.

Where To Find Free Software

Mixpad
Mixpad Interface

You don’t even have to steal software and plugins. For plugins, there are literally thousands of free ones online. All you have to do is google free audio plugins. For a DAW everyone knows about Audacity which is free but you can also download a free version of Mixpad which seems better than Audacity.

In my opinion, I get the fact that starting a business or learning a new craft is very expensive, but with free software and plugins for voiceover available now, don’t steal. Don’t steal anything actually. People work hard designing this software and they deserve to make a profit for their efforts. I left some links in the description for Mixpad and Audacity.

If you liked this video blog, please subscribe to either my youtube or this page. Leave comments.

And if you need software and plugins for voiceover or music production, my Rep at Sweetwater is Jason Koons 260-432-8176 ext 1389. Give him a call

 

Filed Under: audio, Studio, Technology & Voiceover, The Studio, voiceover, Voiceover Career Tagged With: African American male voiceover, African American Voiceover Talent, Atlanta Voice Over, Breaking Into voiceover, Computter Crash, Free software, Home voice over studio, Neuman, plugins, recording studio, Sennheiser, Top Rated African American Voice Talent, Voice Actor, Voice Over, Voice Over Career, Voice Over Channel, Voice Over Professional, Voice Talent, voiceover, voiceover career, Voiceover Coach, Work From Home

Everett Oliver – What The Hell Is A Booth Director and Why Do I Need One?

About Voice Over, Interviews & Insight, Uncategorized, voiceover, Voiceover Auditions, Voiceover Career, Voiceover Events, voices

Everett Oliver is a shy, introverted booth director who got his start 25 years ago in the animation world….. And if you know Everett you know that there is absolutely nothing shy nor introverted about him. Everett is a no holds barred, unfiltered, instinctive voiceover coach and booth director who fights hard for the success of his clients.

As a booth director, Everett directs clients auditions to help them book jobs. Voiceover actors often have auditions that they REALLY WANT to book. Some of these auditions are the BIG ONE that can make our careers. Whether it’s a network promo job or an animation project, we know this can mean the difference between success and failure. We sometimes spend hours recording the audition and then second-guessing ourselves on the read, the sound, the tone etc. Ultimately this can result in paralysis of analysis. In those moments, what we really need is a second ear.

That Second Ear

Everett is that Ear. Working with a voiceover audition coach like Everett accomplishes several things. It cuts down the time you spend on auditioning and allows talent to submit auditions faster. Sometimes agents submit the first good auditions as they come in and those are the ones that are most highly considered. Working with Everett also gives you insight into what the client is most likely thinking when he wrote the copy. Everett knows that world and he has an incredible instinct for predicting what books.

Taking His Show On The Road

Everett Oliver has been touring North America, taking his brass brand of coaching to various cities. What is a booth directorAnd talent are better off for it. In my time speaking to Everett, he explained to me about an entire world that goes beyond what most talent could even imagine. It’s a fast-paced, backroom world where the end result is what matters. Everett knows that world, having been in Hollywood for many years and being a part of it. It’s a world where talent is replaceable and feelings can be a liability.

He’s a Tough Mutha Shut Yo Mouth

Everett’s style is all in preparation for acting in front of those people who run that world. He’s hardcore, but when you speak to him one-on-one, you realize that it’s all in love. He’s like the mother hen who looks out for you until you are ready to fly before he himself pushes you out of the nest. And believe me, Everett Oliver pushes. His personality throughout his session was both tough and hilarious.

Conclusion

There have been so many voiceover jobs that I crossed my fingers and threw up 7 hail Mary’s that I didn’t get. Somethings are just perfect for you and you’d love to call up someone special and say “Listen to me on this”. And those are the voiceover auditions that I would call a booth director for. Those are the jobs that I prep for with a voiceover coach months in advance for. Those are the jobs that I now keep Everett on speed dial for. Now, my booth director is Everett Oliver.

Filed Under: About Voice Over, Interviews & Insight, Uncategorized, voiceover, Voiceover Auditions, Voiceover Career, Voiceover Events, voices Tagged With: Animation Voiceover, booth director, Breaking Into voiceover, everett oliver, recording booth, Top Rated African American Voice Talent, Voice Actor, Voice Over Agencies, Voice Over Professional, Voice Talent, Voiceover Coach, Voiceover Training, Voiceover Workshop

David Goldberg & Edge Studio’s Top 10 Voiceover Resources

About Voice Over

Edge Studio David GoldbergWhen I first  set out to do voiceover work back in the late 90’s there were very few voiceover resources. Al Gore had barely invented the internet and it certainly hadn’t reached many homes. Now, one search of the internet for the term voiceover and millions of results come up. Those results vary from some of the industry’s best blogs, to VO casting sites, Youtube videos,  Voiceover Resources, Coaches and Learning centers. But above all, one really sticks out to me. Edge Studio topped my list for Top 10 Voiceover Websites with good reason. Its simply has everything.
At the forefront of this company is David Goldberg. David is a CEO (Chief Edge Officer) who is careful not to use the word boss in the workplace. Instead everyone at Edge works as a team to make it what it is today. In visiting the facility in Manhattan, you’d hardly know who the head person is at their office, because David sits right at the front, where the receptionist would. I sat down with David in this fun but informative interview about the history of Edge and what Edge presently has to offer voiceover talents of all levels.

After the interview, David showed me around the studio and took me on a tour of all of the great resources that Edgestudio.com has to offer. Here are links to Edge Studio’s Top Ten Voiceover Resources as compiled by Leanne Linsky, Edge’s Director of Marketing

Edge’s Top Ten FREE Resources for Voice Actors

1) Stop Undercharging Yourself!
Voice Over Rate Card
Edge Studio put together this rate card as pure suggestions for less experienced, non-union talent. Rates reflect average and realistic rates being fairly charged within the industry.
2) Convert The Length Of Your Script To The Time It Will Take To Read It! 
Script Timer – Words to Time Calculator
How long for a professional to read your script? Performances vary, but this handy converter will get you in the ballpark. You can even adjust it for reading speed. So stop guessing! Give accurate estimates and invoices to your customers!
3) Voice Over Copy & Demo Script Ideas
Script Library
5,000+ scripts and growing every day!! Welcome to the “World’s Largest Voice Over Script Library!” Pick a script, try new genres, and get ideas for demo copy. Hey, now you have no excuse for not practicing!
4) Free Script Contest
Weekly Script Recording Contest!
Each week, Edge Studio hosts a script contest. Every entrant wins and prizes are awarded to the top finalists! But the most beneficial part is what comes after: You can read why the winners won and why others didn’t.
5) A Free Time To Speak Openly About Voice Over 
TalkTime!
TalkTime! is a free time to speak openly with like-minded people, interested in the same topic. No agenda, no outline.  Just sign up for our newsletter to get the link for TalkTime! emailed to you each week. Join the discussion, ask questions, mingle, network, and build relationships with your peers!
6) Freshly Brewed Voice Over News
Weekly Edge-ucation Newsletter
Be sure to subscribe to our Free Weekly Newsletter and kick-start your Mondays off with freshly brewed voice over news. Each week you will receive unique and valuable tips and articles to help you start, build, and grow your voice over business. You will also be among the first to hear about our new curriculum, new website, new instructors, and new locations. And you definitely don’t want to miss the latest episodes of Whittam’s World, script contest updates, and exciting voice over events.
7) The Blog For New And Working Voice Actors  
Voice Over Education Blog
Welcome to the blog designed for anyone investigating, starting, and building their voice over career. Here you’ll find practical articles written to help you skip the “trial and error” often associated with pursuing and building a career, and instead gain a candid look into the voice over industry, where the work is, why some people get it, why some don’t, and tips and techniques to help you reach your goals.
8) Get Free Feedback On Your Recordings  
The Voice Actor  – Feedback Forum 
The largest voice-over performance forum in the world! Peer-to-peer powered! Get feedback on your recordings from peers and professional coaches! Give feedback to your peers by dropping your 2-cents! Interact and build a reputation in your community!
9) Free Home-Studio Answers  
Whittam’s World
Join George Whittam, a top authority in voice over recording technology, on his popular YouTube series Whittam’s World, where he answers a new home studio question each week. He has invested thousands of hours researching studio design, recording equipment, and creating training materials for voice actors. He is also an industry innovator by developing specialized services that cater exclusively to voice over professionals.
10) Practical, Straightforward Answers.
We answer your questions!
Have questions about voice-over? That’s understandable, we know there are many questions to answer. Sometimes it helps to talk with someone experienced at working with people getting started in voice-over. We’re always glad to share our knowledge with you!  Click the link at the top of this paragraph or CALL US if you’d prefer to speak with us: 888-321-EDGE (3343) 9am – 6pm ET.

What Is Edge Up To?

1) Casting & Production Department!
More Info Here
Kristen Thorne, Director of Production says: “We’ve been producing projects more exciting than ever, from cartoon soundtracks, to commercials, to museum tours, and it’s rewarding to see many of Edge Alumni cast in so many jobs!”
2) Technology Department
More Info Here
George Whittam, Director of Technology says: “I find that I’m continuously having to bust the myth that studios have to be expensive and elaborate to sound professional. It’s extremely satisfying to solve a client’s problem with simple and sometimes completely free solutions, making a dramatic difference in their recording quality.”
3) Education Department
More Info Here
Andrew Warner, Director of Education says: “In effort to better serve our students in their voice over careers, we have recently added five new coaches and two new advisors to our ever-expanding team. We look forward to further expansion as we continue to evolve our curriculum.”

David Goldberg Edge Studio and Dane Reid
David Goldberg Has One Of The Best Ears In The Voiceover Industry

Reaching Edge is easy. Their website list 5 locations around the country to contact. Log onto http://www.edgestudio.com/locations/new-york-voice-over, call them at 888-321-3343 or email them at training@edgestudio.com.
Staying in touch with me and all of my future interviews and blogs is pretty easy too. Subscribe With The Above Tab.
About Dane Reid: Profesional Voice Talent, Radio Commercial Producer, Voice Over Youtube Channel Producer at http://Youtube.com/DaneReidMedia , Children’s Book Author, Entrepenuer & Globe Trotter

Filed Under: About Voice Over Tagged With: David Goldberg, edge studio, voiceover career, Voiceover Coach, Voiceover Resources, Voiceover Training, voiceover websites

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