So why make a video about old technology, Skype, when Soundstreak is the latest buzz?
Hi there! Welcome to my snazzy new website.
On the landing page you can see a video of me explaining briefly the ease and cheapness of using Skype to connect to remote recording sessions. Very handy if you and the client are continents apart, which is usually the case for me.
Soundstreak is the latest thing, however. Then of course there is Source Connect and ISDN as well. So why make a video about old/established technology like Skype?
Simple. Because it works. And is immediately available. For free. The bottom line is that … sound quality is dependent on your internet connection. Bandwidth. Oh, and everyone knows about it.
Or do they?
Mmmm last month I got a call from a UK voice agent, asking if I am not by chance in London that week. No, I am not, I said, but just offer to the client that he can direct me live via Skype. Easy. Ok, says the agent, he will ask… And then the client declines. No, they would rather find a South African voice artist based in their city. Really? (Marinda pulling her hair out.) Why??? The technology exists and yet we are hesitant to use it.
Skype has been around for many years, as the links to articles below will tell you,. Soundstreak is the new kid on the block, seemingly ready to replace ISDN, to give Source Connect and Skype a run for their money.
As the saying goes, however, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Until production houses, studios and clients start to work with these technologies, us voice over artist can be as excited as we like. We need the willingness of the client to experiment, to make these new (and old) technologies really work for us. The VO industry is abuzz with Soundstreak. Only time will tell if it catches on on the production side as well.
Until then, there is always Skype…
Below are three nice resources I found, which clearly explain and compare the various technologies I mentioned in this blog. Hope you find it useful:
http://www.voiceemporium.com/archives/02/sound-streak-the-next-generation-of-remote-recording/
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lovethatvoiceover/2013/09/12/love-that-voiceover Listen to a two-part podcast with the CEO of Soundstreak. Very interesting.
http://vostudiotech.com/storage/docs/George_Whittam-SkypevsSC-MAY2012.pdf Slightly dated but very clear description of the various technologies