Day 4: Acting
Podfic is more than just saying words aloud-it's performing them, expressing one reader's experience of the story and sharing it with the world. To find out more information on acting in podfic, check out Pod Aware on DW, LJ or Tumblr.
(I skipped Day 3 which was recs. Sorry, been a bit busy.)
Day 4 is all about the acting. ;)
There is a big difference between podficcing and text-to-speech (TTS) programs, and that's in the inflection and tone and emotions that the reader conveys with their voice. TTS programs have gotten better at overall pronunciation and parsing of sentences. It pauses at commas and periods and makes the last word go up on a question, but it still misses on some words (like "resume" and "ricochet" and on uncommon names like Severus being pronounced "See-vrus") and there is no emotional content at all. If someone is shouting or whispering, there is no change in the volume with TTS. If someone is crying or trembling, there is no wobble in the TTS. But with podficcing, there can (and should) be.
I'm not saying that everyone has to do character voices, not at all. Much can be stated in your own voice, just change how you pause or where you put stresses in words or the speed at which you talk to show the different people speaking. If there are not many dialog tags, you can ask the author for permission to add some (or just do it where necessary -- most people probably wouldn't even notice they were added). And this goes beyond dialog as well. If the scene is active, quicken your speaking pace. If the scene is calm, talk softer and gentler. If it's a happy thing, smile! That will come through in the reading.
I don't just straight line read something; I put myself into it. Feel the text. Embrace the emotions there and let those shine through.
Happy Recording!
(I skipped Day 3 which was recs. Sorry, been a bit busy.)
Day 4 is all about the acting. ;)
There is a big difference between podficcing and text-to-speech (TTS) programs, and that's in the inflection and tone and emotions that the reader conveys with their voice. TTS programs have gotten better at overall pronunciation and parsing of sentences. It pauses at commas and periods and makes the last word go up on a question, but it still misses on some words (like "resume" and "ricochet" and on uncommon names like Severus being pronounced "See-vrus") and there is no emotional content at all. If someone is shouting or whispering, there is no change in the volume with TTS. If someone is crying or trembling, there is no wobble in the TTS. But with podficcing, there can (and should) be.
I'm not saying that everyone has to do character voices, not at all. Much can be stated in your own voice, just change how you pause or where you put stresses in words or the speed at which you talk to show the different people speaking. If there are not many dialog tags, you can ask the author for permission to add some (or just do it where necessary -- most people probably wouldn't even notice they were added). And this goes beyond dialog as well. If the scene is active, quicken your speaking pace. If the scene is calm, talk softer and gentler. If it's a happy thing, smile! That will come through in the reading.
I don't just straight line read something; I put myself into it. Feel the text. Embrace the emotions there and let those shine through.
Happy Recording!