Keeping Track of Character Voices with Technology

Let’s talk about keeping track of character voices, a critical skill for anyone in the voice acting game. You know, as someone who’s narrated a fair share of books and might not remember what I had for breakfast—let alone a character’s voice from a series I started months ago—I’ve had to find smart, efficient ways to juggle the many voices clamoring for attention in my head.

In my current gig, I’m wrangling 53 distinct voices for a five-book series. Yes, fifty-three! It’s like hosting a party where every guest needs their unique cocktail! I’ll dive deeper into developing character personalities in a future article. But today, let’s focus on a practical tip that has revolutionized my recording sessions and might just save your bacon too.

Whenever I’m contracted to narrate a book, I create a special page on my website just for that project. It includes the audition tape, any quirky pronunciations, and a crucial element: short audio snippets of each character’s voice. This setup turns out to be a lifesaver. Before I start recording for the day, I open my trusty spreadsheet to track time, my Adobe Audition project file, the manuscript PDF, and, of course, my tailored book production page.

During the session, whenever a character re-enters the scene (and my brain decides to take a spontaneous coffee break), I can just click over to my website and replay their voice snippet. Voilà! Instant recall, no magical memory powers needed.

And here’s a quick note on efficiency: I aim for a 3.5 to 1 ratio of recording time to finished audio. That means for every polished minute of audiobook, I spend about 3.5 minutes behind the mic, editing, file manage, etc. Sometimes, especially in chapters dense with dialogue, that ratio might creep up to 4:1. But hey, a little extra time spent is worth it for keeping those character voices crisp and consistent—even if you, like me, have a seasoned mind that sometimes likes to wander.

So, if you’re venturing into audiobook narration or looking to streamline your voice acting workflow, consider setting up a digital voice library. It could be the difference between a flawless performance and asking yourself mid-session, “Wait, how did that character sound again?”

Remember, technology isn’t just for the young at heart but also for those of us with more… ‘experienced’ brains. Happy recording!