What Goes Into Designing Virtual Reality Audio?

With the rising popularity and accessibility of virtual reality, the audio involved has become increasingly important. Since audio is a crucial layer to the overall immersion of virtual reality, many are working to evolve the current technologies to make audio more responsive to virtual reality technology. For example, Google recently released a new audio technology called Omnitone, which changes the quality of sounds based on your relative three-dimensional positioning. With that, we wanted to spend some time exploring the inner workings of virtual reality audio, and how it works!

What is Three-Dimensional Audio?

The most common method today for achieving three-dimensional sound comes by way of binaural audio. Binaural audio has existed for decades, but many wrote it off as an obscure novelty. However, with the advent of modern virtual reality systems, like the Oculus Rift, many have turned back to binaural audio as the best means to achieve 3D sound.

Binaural audio is not a very complex technology, but when used well, it can enhance the immersion of virtual reality in a big way. This system utilizes eight different speakers that form a full circumference of sound. For example, if you wanted a sound to come from your left side, it would play dominantly through the leftmost speaker. The same applies to the front and back, and the sounds can be blended between the eight speakers as well.

How Three-Dimensional Audio Hacks Our Brains

By utilizing eight speakers, the resulting sounds will manipulate your brain into thinking the audio is directional. It sounds a lot like surround sound in movie theaters, doesn’t it? But don’t be mistaken, acousticians often have fits when binaural audio and surround sound are used synonymously. In truth, binaural audio is a much simpler means of achieving three-dimensional sound, and that’s partly why it’s become the go-to in virtual reality audio technology. For an example of how binaural audio works, The Verge offers a demo of the technology that will work with any set of earbuds or headphones.  

To take binaural audio a step further, Google recently announced a new technology called Omnitone. This technology works much like binaural audio, except that the eight speakers actually rotate in accordance with your virtual movement. That’s to say, your whole field of sound changes relative to your positioning. This impressive technology might ultimately be the future of virtual reality!

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If you’d like to hear about our services, such as audio for virtual reality, give us a call today at 212-213-9420. You can also contact us here.

What Does Game Audio Entail?

While the goals of game audio production are the same as film audio production, there are some key differences that make game audio particularly challenging for sound designers. The best sound design in video games tends to go unnoticed, as it seamlessly adds to the overall immersion experience. That said, let’s look deeper into game audio to better understand what it entails.

Game Audio Production

Game audio producers work with the design and animation team to create rich audio that matches the quality and aesthetic of the overall production. In that sense, game audio production is all about teamwork. In fact, sound designers also collaborate with music composers, who are typically outsourced. It’s the sound design team’s responsibility to ensure the composer understands the overall vision for the game, and that the music blends well with the rest of the production.

The audio engineers behind games are also responsible for sourcing  any sound effects needed for the game. These could be real or invented sounds. For examples, some shooting games utilize the sounds of real guns that are recorded and optimized by the engineer. Once all the sounds effects are sourced, it’s the audio engineer’s role to edit, mix, and master all the sounds for the finished game.

Game audio differs from other types of audio simply because there is no fixed sound or music. Games are interactive and dynamic, so game audio needs to respond to the player’s movements and actions. As such, sound designers must create layers of audio that match the player’s movements and engagements within the game. This makes game audio particularly challenging for sound designers.

The Importance of Video Game Audio

Much like the visual design that goes into video game production, quality audio production can enhance the immersion of a game. That said, audio is quickly overlooked by those playing the game. That’s because at its best, game audio should be seamless and practically unnoticeable. But music and sound effects are an extremely powerful tool when it comes to evoking emotion from players, and well-produced game audio usually ends up being one of the more memorable aspects of a game.

Work with Creative Media Design

As you can see, game audio is a vital part of the overall production and execution of games. And it’s essential to the overall immersion and player experience.

If you’re interested in learning more about game audio, or working with Creative Media Design, feel free to contact us today. You can also call us at 212.213.9420.

Famous Video Game Voice Actors

In a sense, video game voice actors are unsung heroes. Despite their essential role in the development and immersion of a video game, they rarely get the credit for helping captivate gamers worldwide and drive the game’s narrative forward. It also might surprise you to learn that many of the most famous video game voice over artists are famous actors. Who, you might ask? We’ll set out to answer that question below!

Creative Media Design is proud to provide our services to clients anywhere. We recognize that audio is one of the most important aspects of any video game production, and as such, we work with nothing but quality in mind. Regardless of your project, our expertise in all things audio can take your production to the next level! Contact us today if you’re interested in working with Creative Media Design! Otherwise, keep reading to learn more about famous video game voice actors.  

Celebrity Video Game Voice Over Actors

When you’re playing video games, you might not pay much mind to the voice over acting taking place behind the scenes. But it might surprise you to learn that much of the voice over work you hear in video games is done by famous actors, many of whom you’d recognize from their work in films. As such, we decided to highlight some of the famous movie actors that have worked in video game voice over! Check out our list:

• Gary Oldman: Oldman has voiced a number of popular video games. He played Ignitus in Spyro, and has been heavily involved in voice over work within the Call of Duty franchise. He donned a Russian accent in Call of Duty: World at War, where he played the charismatic Sergeant Reznov.
• Dennis Hopper: Between classics like Waterworld and Apocalypse Now, Dennis Hopper has gotten his foot in the door of video game voice over acting. His most famous video game appearance was in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
• George Takei: While you’d probably know George Takei from his role in Star Trek, he’s not foreign to voice over work for video games. His most famous video game voice over work was Red Alert 3.
• Liam Neeson: Somewhat of a stranger to video game voice over acting, Neeson was intrigued by the story of Fallout 3. In fact, the script writers even designed the character with Neeson’s voice in mind. The final product was nothing short of impressive.
• Sean Bean: Sean Bean has been working in video game voice overs since 2006, with Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Bean had a great time with his role in the game, and expressed that he’d love to act in a sequel down the road.

Record With Creative Media Design!

Interested in video game voice over work? Creative Media Design can help jumpstart your career! Come and hang out in our studios, or connect with us from virtually anywhere—whether you’re in Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, or any other location!

11 of the Best Microphones for Voice Over Talent

Within any form of media, whether that be video or strictly audio, the quality of sound always plays a major role in audience reception and much more. Needless to say, the same goes for voice over and narration. For those seeking a career in voice over, you need to ensure you’re achieving the best sound both in your demo and the work you do. However, without a good microphone, your demo may not get you very far, regardless of your talent in front of the mic. With this, every aspiring voice over talent should own a stellar microphone. Sure, you could make use of a quality recording studio, but costs will add up when you’ve moved passed the initial demo and on to any potential work.

Why Your Microphone Matters

Like we said, quality audio is a key aspect of any production. This holds truer when it comes to voice over, as that selected voice helps carry the message (in terms of narration) and can also define a character. Regardless of the use, voice over recordings obviously need quality sound, and as an aspiring voice over talent, you need to invest in a professional microphone so you can achieve such sound. In short, a good voice over talent needs a good mic. Let’s take a look at some of the best microphones for voice over.

The 11 Best Microphones for Voice Over Talent

As you search for your microphone, you should consider the two most common types for voice over work: dynamic and condenser. Dynamic mics provide warm recording, whereas condenser mics offer a more clear sound. Either way, our list of the top microphones below will help you in your search. Without further ado, here is a list of what are considered the best microphones for voice over talent:

• Blue Yeti USB ($129): Another low-priced, yet quality mic is the Yeti by Blue microphones. With user-friendly features, like mute and mic gain, the mic can be easily controlled. Simple and quality, this is a great mic for starters.

• Audio-Technica AT2020 ($150): A great starting mic, the AT2020 offers great recordings for the low price. The condenser mic’s cardioid pattern makes it ideal for recording voice over and even offers monitoring when recording.

• Rode NT1-A ($230): This cardioid condenser mic costs about $230, making it a great beginner microphone. With great dynamic range, the mic provides quality recordings and is widely used within narration.

• Blue Bluebird ($300): Another great mic by Blue, the Bluebird cardioid condenser mic provides bright recordings with crisp sound. With a retro look and great versatility, the Bluebird provides quality sound for the fairly low cost.

• SE Electronics sE2200a II C ($300): As we’re working our way higher in price, the quality obviously gets better. The sE2200a cardioid microphone boasts both quality and clear recordings. Simply put, it’s quite the mic for its price.

• Sennheiser MD 421 II ($380): Offering excellent sound and originally designed for voice recording, the MD 421 II is a great mic for aspiring talent, at just under $400. A dynamic mic, it features feedback rejection and serves a variety of purposes.

• CAD Audio Equitek E100S ($500): Offering a vintage, yet smooth tone, the E100S is widely used within voice recording for its supercardioid condenser. Versatile and high-performing, it’s simply a great mic.

• Rode NTK ($530): Offering ultra-low noise and wide dynamic range, the Rode NTK tube condenser mic boasts incredible recordings and is ideal for vocal recordings. Many deem it worth far more than the money, as it provides great tone for the price.

• AKG C414 ($899): Considering the price, the AKG has been widely used within studios for years. With the option of cardioid, this mic provides excellent recordings and clear sound, making it a great microphone for voice over talent.

• Sennheiser MKH416-P48U3 ($1000): As its price may suggest, this mic means business. A shotgun tube microphone, it boasts excellent directivity and feedback rejection, clearly making it a perfect mic for recording voice over. Its compact design is just an added bonus to its quality.

• Neumann U 87 Ai ($3200): We couldn’t make this list without at least one high-priced, professional mic. While all of the above are great mics, you’re stepping into a new world with this one. Offering three directional patterns, including omnidirectional and cardioid, the microphone is one of the most widely used within recording studios everywhere. Incredible sound and impeccable quality, this mic boasts it all.  

Don’t Forget the CMD Studio!

As you can see, you have plenty of options when it comes to choosing a microphone for voice over. Though it’ll heavily depend on what you want to spend and your experience, any of these mics are great for the aspiring voice over talent. And, if you’re really serious, you can opt for one of the higher-end models at the end of the list.

Of course, if you ever need more help in your endeavors as a voice over talent, be sure to explore the CMD website, not to mention our studio! Whether you’d like some studio time, or need help mixing and recording, we can help. Give us a call at 212.213.9420 today or contact us here.

Utilizing ISDN: Voice Over Anywhere

Here at Creative Media Design, we work with countless voice over talents to provide clients with the perfect voice for any type of project they’re working on. Of course, in order to work with our large range of voice talent, we require the necessary means to work with said talent remotely. Located in the heart of New York City, our state-of-the-art recording studio features professional tools for the utmost quality of sound, though it wouldn’t get quite the use it does if we didn’t utilize ISDN for voice over work. Otherwise, we’d be limited to talent located in NYC and nearby areas. Fortunately, that’s not the case. In fact, we use Source Connect, ipDTL, and ISDN for voice over, allowing us to work with talent from virtually anywhere—giving clients exactly what they need.

For those seeking careers in voice over, ISDN is often necessary. Though Source Connect has begun to phase out ISDN, it’s still widely used for its quality remote recordings. Plus, Source Connect and other new technologies don’t necessarily offer enough improvements to completely move away from ISDN. Regardless, ISDN allows voice over talent throughout the world to work in the comfort of their home studios. In turn, our clients are clearly benefitted, as they can select a voice talent from anywhere! To get a better understanding of ISDN within voice over and whether or not you need it as a voice talent, take a closer with the experts at CMD.

ISDN Defined

As defined, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a set of communication standards, allowing digital transmission of voice (and more) through telephone lines—and it’s been used since the mid-1980s. Transmitted through what are called packets, the system utilizes two telephone lines to send and receive audio. In short, you can be standing in your own home studio, while the experts at CMD’s studio record your voice—maintaining high-quality audio recordings! Though it may sound simple in our words, you’ll actually need a few things (and some money) to start working with agencies and production companies across the world from your own studio.

ISDN Voice Over: What’s Needed?

One reason new technology has somewhat begun to take the place of ISDN is the expenses. For the most part, you should really only invest in ISDN if you’re a busy voice talent. If you’re just starting out, or maybe just working part-time, a nearby studio may be a better option. However, if you work quite regularly, ISDN could be a great investment, especially if you already have the home studio. Regardless, if you’re interested in setting up your home studio for ISDN, you’ll first need to speak with your telephone provider, in addition to purchasing hardware.

For initial costs, plan on somewhere around $500 for installation, as well as a monthly subscription (approx. $60+). Finally, you’ll also need the transceiver unit or ISDN CODEC. On average, the transceiver can run you up to $5000. Given these initial costs are far from inexpensive, it’s important you consider the investment’s worth. Do you work enough to justify the expenses? If so, ISDN can surely pay off.

ISDN for Voice Over: Outdated or Widely Used?

As we’ve mentioned previously, other technologies are making their way toward negating the need for ISDN. Having said that, however, these new technologies aren’t necessarily universal, so ISDN is still widely used. Though you should still keep this in mind when considering the investment.

Need Voice Over? Call Us Today!

While it may be a bit outdated, ISDN still offers high-quality audio to be transmitted from virtually anywhere. Of course, it allows us at CMD to work with talent from all over and supply our clients with the right voice here in our NYC studio. If you’re seeking voice over talent for any type of project, be sure to contact us. You can also reach us at 212-213-9420.

Should You Use Voice Over Narration in Your Film?

Within film, voice over narration can get a pretty bad rap. This often comes down to the unwritten rule: show, rather than tell. While movies should rely on the in-picture characters (among other factors) to move the story along, voice over narration can help the story progress and provide the audience with more insight as to where the story is going. Even then, many moviegoers seem to think otherwise, perceiving narration as simply an annoyance.

Here at Creative Media Design, voice over narration is far from an annoyance. We provide films and various projects alike with voice over talent for narration and much more, and we’ll even mix the final product! Having said that, we still acknowledge the constant debate over narration in film. While we’ll be a bit biased, let’s take a look at voice over narration’s potential to improve a film and move the story along.

What’s Wrong with Voice Over Narration?

For the most part, the problem many see with voice over narration in films is it defeats the purpose of storytelling through imagery, and even the characters’ own dialogue. Some will even say narration is only used to move along an otherwise stagnant story, or one that’s poorly directed. Regardless of why filmmakers and directors may choose to use narration within their films, viewers will seemingly always have issue with it—whether that’s due to redundancy or improper use.

For those who don’t advocate voice over narration in movies, you must consider the fact that many films utilize it quite successfully. Not only that, but it’s often necessary to stay true to the original story. For instance, think of the many novels that have been repurposed into screenplays. As with many novels, the story is carried along through a narrator. Emulating that through film would be virtually impossible without voice over narration, that is if the director is trying to stay true to the original version. Just consider all the movies based on popular reads: Stephen King’s Stand By Me or Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club. Clearly, voice over narration not only works in many films, it’s often necessary.

When Voice Over Narration Works

Given the movies mentioned above and others like The Big Lebowski or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which didn’t originate in book form, voice over narration can and often is a great addition to film. Not only can it help move the story along, but it can even present additional opportunity for providing the audience with insight or even adding a touch of comic relief—or the opposite! So, when it comes down to berating a film for its narration, maybe it’s the use of such that was a misfire, rather than just utilizing narration in general.

When a narration script is both well written and effectively projected, the results can be quite pleasing to both those behind the film and the viewers. But how is this achieved?

Tips for Proper Narration in Film

As you can see, voice over narration can absolutely be vital to a film and how it’s received by the audience. Despite those who frown upon the use of narration, there are plenty of ways to properly utilize voice over within your film, and we’re happy to share some tips! Take a look below for a few pointers on how to include narration in your next project:

• Think about how you’ll use narration. What kind of video or film will it be? And what kind of narration can help the story progress?

• Keep your audience in mind. How can the narrator speak to them?

• Use narration to not only move the story, but to reiterate important aspects of the movie. It can help your viewers better understand the story (insight).

• Don’t overuse it. Just because you’re utilizing voice over doesn’t mean it needs to be thrown throughout each scene of the project.

• Leave room for variation within the script. Partway through, you may realize a piece doesn’t fit so well—in which case you may need to alter it.

• Work with your voice over talent—the narrator. They need to be aware of what the story or project is about. Proper voice over calls for much more than simply reading the script.

Considering the controversy surrounding it, including narration within your project isn’t always easy. While you can follow the tips above, you still may benefit from a little guidance. This is where CMD can come in! Whether you need a voice over talent, help writing your script, or even recording the narration, we can do it all right here!

If you’d like to learn more about our services, give us a call today at 212-213-9420. You can also contact us here.

Voice Over Classes to Jumpstart Your Career

Though we’ve covered getting started in the voice over industry and how to go about your submissions extensively, voice over is what we do and there’s a lot to be said. For those seeking work as voice over talents, you’ve probably read countless articles telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. The truth is, it takes a lot to land gigs as a voice actor and there’s always something more you could be doing. However, one thing you may not have considered is taking voice over classes to improve not only your voice, but your approach and much more. Whether you’re an established worker seeking to perfect your voice or a beginner who needs to learn the fundamentals, vocal classes may be a great option.

Here at Creative Media Design, we provide brands with quality and professional voice talent so they can best represent their business. We work with a broad range of voice actors and we know just what it takes to find work. With this, let us explain the potential benefits you could reap from enrolling in voice over classes.

Voice Over Classes: The Basics

Like we said, voice over classes aren’t only geared toward beginners looking to learn the fundamentals of voice over and the industry. While there certainly are classes for such beginners, other classes cater to those simply looking to better their voice or improve their approach. And classes still aren’t limited to these areas. Take a look at the list of classes below to see which one may best suit you:

• Fundamentals: Just like it sounds, with voice over fundamentals, you’ll learn the basics of VO, which can be great for beginners considering a career as a voice talent. Of course, you can find classes geared more towards intermediates and those looking to fine-tune their voice and skills.

• Recording: Every aspiring voice talent needs a demo reel, and a class for such could be very beneficial. Here you’ll get help creating a proper demo and get to spend some time in the studio for quality recordings.

• Industry: Everybody needs a little self promotion at some point or another. Which is why a course focusing on industry trends and marketing strategies could really pay off.

Beneficial for Every Level of Talent

All in all, voice over classes can help voice talents of all types. There’s always room for improvement and taking classes from professional voice coaches will help you gain insight, whether that helps you get started in VO or progresses your career. For instance, a perfect voice and great technique can easily go unnoticed amongst the countless demos and submissions out there. By learning the industry and strong marketing skills, you can better promote yourself and start landing gigs. And, needless to say, any beginner can benefit from the fundamentals of VO, as this knowledge is essential to starting a career in VO.

Are Classes Right For You?

No matter your experience, voice over classes could be just what you need to get your VO career of the ground and start landing jobs. Whether that’s promo gigs or even working as a voice talent with CMD, your next job could be waiting! For more information and to sign up for vocal lessons, check out The Voice Shop. 

Wondering what it takes to become an established voice talent? Check out our voice talent page today to get an idea of the many areas of VO you can work in! If you ever have questions or comments, feel free to reach out and contact us here. You can also give us a call at 212.213.9420.

Film Sound Design: Top 7 Movies with Killer Sound

Within all movies, a great deal of skill, technique, and work go into designing optimal sound. While most movies pay close mind to their sound production, some movies simply have it perfectly dialed in. With sound playing such an important and engaging role in film, sound design truly can make or a break a movie. In short, incredible film sound design is never easy to accomplish, but when it is, the results leave a lasting impression. With this, we thought we’d assemble a list of the top movies with killer sound, comprised of instant classics and box-office hits. Take a look with Creative Media Design in New York City.

7 Movies with the Best Sound Design

There are a few defining aspects as to what constitutes great film sound design. As far as the movies listed below go, they’ve all been deemed the best movies to test your surround sound with. While this may not be the best factor in determining a film’s quality of sound design, a movie’s surround sound rating is still quite telling. In essence, the sound in these movies to follow keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and even places them right in the middle of any given climactic scene. Ultimately, you can be the judge of that. Now, let’s take a look at seven movies with killer sound across the board:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey: Moving the story along with incredible sound, 2001: A Space Odyssey nailed it on both sound design and film score. In fact, less than half the movie includes dialogue, relying on the effects and music.

• Star Trek: Featuring sound-design genius Ben Burtt of Star Wars, worked hard on the details of Star Trek’s sound. From the buttons of the Starship Enterprise to the perfect background sounds, the sound in this film is grade A.

• Jurassic Park: While some scenes stand out more than others, such as the stampede or loud roar of the T-Rex, the sound in Jurassic Park, and the film itself, will always remain a classic. Pay close attention to the yell of the Velociraptors!

• Saving Private Ryan: Achieving stunning reviews for its realistic battle scenes and taking home an Oscar for both Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing, Saving Private Ryan pulls you into each scene with stunning sound design.

• Wall-E: Coming from the masterminds of Pixar, Wall-E displays the perfect sound alongside a great soundtrack and graphics. More specifically, the movie’s use of surround sound is nothing short of amazing. Simple TV speakers just won’t do this one any justice.

• Dark Knight: Considered one of the best in film sound design, especially for those with surround sound, The Dark Knight delivers on all levels—or should we say decibels? The movie’s sound is so seamless, in fact, many viewers tend to not even pay it any mind. Now that’s perfect film sound design.

Need Professional Sound Design for Your Own Film?

Well, there you have it: a list of the top seven movies that absolutely nailed it on sound design. While there’s plenty of movies that could make such a list, those included above not only boast incredible sound, but utilize sound to move the story along seamlessly. Whether you’re talking a cute animated film like Wall-E or one loaded with impactful scenes, these movies delivered 100%.

If you’re seeking incredible sound design for a film or project of your own, Creative Media Design in NYC can be of great assistance. For more information on our audio services, contact us here or give us a call at 212.213.9420.