Demo Engineering
Hosted by
Course Overview
Every Good Demo Reel Starts With A Single Spot...
This course is designed to assist you through technical production of individual voice over spots that showcase the brand and skills of a voice over artist.
This voice-specific audio engineering course takes you behind the scenes to lay out step-by-step instructions for producing a quality, great sounding spot. Follow along a seasoned producer as he live streams his editing process, and gives industry tips and tricks. By the end of this course, you will have gained knowledge and experience by producing your own voice over spot(s) under the direction of an instructor and TA, and with valuable peer feedback.
The material will be applicable in a variety of genres such as commercial, narration, animation, or video games. Learn the art of storytelling and advertising with creative ways to entice your listener, and stand out!
Course Outcomes
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Genre-Specific Trends:
Each different genre of voiceover performance has its own unique trends; learn to observe and adapt with changes in performance and mix styles.
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Strength Through Subtlety:
Learn tricks to mix music & sound effects with voiceovers so that the actors' performance is enhanced and supported, and not drowned out or overshadowed.
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Building Blocks For Better Spots:
Learn how to mix a 'finished spot', and then learn some tricks for arranging several together and creating transitions between them; the building blocks of a cohesive, entertaining demo reel.
Hosted By
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Tony Wijs
Tony is a seasoned audio producer with over 10 years of experience. After getting his bachelors in audio production, he began to freelance on many productions including sound design, video production, and documentaries. He has extensive knowledge in the voice acting field and can be heard in video games such as Overload and Empire of Sin, has voiced Spider-Man and other characers in electronic reader books for Marvel, and has voiced many commercials on major networks including ABC.
He is the co-founder and CEO of Immersed Productions which specializes in voiceover demo production, casting, podcast editing, and sound design for video games.
If he’s not out recording new and original sounds for a project, he’s hanging out with his son gaming and playing music.
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Laneth Sffarlenn
Neth joined Tony as his regular TA and off-sider in the Audio Engineering department of Closing Credits almost immediately after taking the original Audio Engineering 101 class, and went on to assist in writing accompanying course notes as well as helping to write and develop the Demo Engineering and Advanced Audio Engineering classes.
A part-time actor with over a decade of experience across stage, screen, and voiceovers, Neth also brings a lifetime of administrative experience and near-obsessive organisational skills to the school, thriving in their ever-evolving role that supports both Closing Credits staff and the student community.
When not tumbling farther down the rabbit hole that is audio engineering and sound design, Neth can be found helping folks learn to use REAPER or lost in the far away worlds of story driven games or fantasy novels.
Course Outline
01
All about Voice Over Demos
Examination and discussion about demo reels, their history and current trends, various genres, and the overall outline of the next six weeks.
02
Animation & Video Game Demos
Examination of these two similar genres and performance styles, explaining obvious and subtle differences that commonly appear in these demo styles, and learning some tricks behind crafting believable sound beds for spots in both genres.
03
Commercial Demos
Similar structure to Week 2, only oriented towards the commercial / narrative-style of voiceover demo spots, and how one can create engaging-yet-appropriate sound beds for your spots.
04
Other Common VO Genres
This week we'll talk about some other "niche" genres that you might find some voice over talent will have a demo reel made for. This can range from audiobook and longer-form narration, to medical narration, IVR or "on hold" demos for automated phone systems, and more.
05
Mixing Your Spots + Final Project Reminder
A reminder that next week is the final week, and we'll be having a 'showcase' of any-and-all finished demo spots that students want to share with us and each other.
We'll also spend as much time answering questions and providing practical demonstrations for mixing techniques and tips that can help students work on their own mixes.
06
Final Project Showcase + Final Thoughts & Tips + Q&A
Listen to those spots that YOU all mixed! Well done! Once we've listened to and provided feedback for those that shared their work, we'll continue to demonstrate practical mix examples and answer any questions that folks may have.
Course Schedule
2-4 hours per week
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Tuesdays
7PM-8PM EST
Our live sessions happen every Tuesday evening. -
Homework
~ Varies
We don't set specific homework to be turned it weekly, but instead provide guideance for students to create at least one finished voiceover spot. For all students that want to share their work, we have a 'listen party' in the final week where we listen and provide feedback on the go.
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Pre-requirements
Soft Recommendation
Previous audio production knowledge and experience strongly recommended.
Consider taking our Audio Engineering for Voice Actors course to learn the fundamental skills prior to this course.
Course Benefits
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Interactive Weekly Classes
This class has an instructor, a TA, and dedicated discord channels for current and Alumni students for peer networking, assistance, and feedback. -
Recorded Class Videos & Extra Downloadable Content
If you need to review a class or want to learn more, the content will always be ready for you via your student dashboard.
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Ongoing Feedback & Support
Keep in touch with your classmates, as well as the instructor and TA, well beyond the end of the course; keep growing your skills and passion!