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Post by zoe on Jan 23, 2018 18:05:06 GMT -8
So recently I've been working on developing my voice. I've been cherry picking lots of different things from different movies & shows that I like, but I don't quite know how to describe any of these voices or what they all have in common. So I was wondering if you guys could offer me: -How you would describe the following voice -What they all have in common -What someone should go about doing to sound like them That would be much appreciated Thanks! Voice A) Evie(Blue hair) - Descendants (esp the singing/talking parts in the song) Voice B) Eris -Sinbad C) Mal - Descendant (again) (first speaker/narrator) D) Megara - Hercules Any help is much appreciated! Thank you so much
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duffyweber
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Post by duffyweber on Feb 3, 2018 13:20:07 GMT -8
My observation from a quick glance: All of them except Megara are talking from the top their throat most of the time, instead of further down. She (Megara) has a similar quality of voice, although she's doing the same thing the others are in keeping her throat tighter, though speaking from slighty lower down. Most women don't have a very pronounced "Adams apple" but DO have one. Despite the masculine name, that's actually the laryngeal prominence, which is a the cartilage surrounding your larynx. Most of the voice seems to be produced AT or ABOVE that with these character voices.
When talking normally, you'll feel the sound coming from BELOW that when you're relaxed. Sing a medium high note without straining yourself much. And do you feel where it comes from higher up? Now relax and open up and sing easily and RELAAAX but keep the sound coming from higher up. Gently. Without strain. There's the feeling you're going to want to try to keep. But again DO NOT wear out your throat. Unfamiliar voicing WILL fatigue your vocal cords very quickly.
These voices are "cute" but can make your throat more tired than talking normally if you do them wrong. And I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH that tired throats become injured. EASILY. I've had a tube run up my nose and down my throat to check and see if I've injured something during a session before, and lemme tell you: IT. IS. NOT. FUN.
Warm up. Start slow, DO NOT go for too long, and (I'm assuming you're an adult) use your own best judgement and check with a coach or professional. A singing coach. Maybe an ENT that specializes in voice. (If you're a kid, well, don't do ANY of this until you ask a professional.)
Cheers!
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duffyweber
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Post by duffyweber on Feb 3, 2018 13:29:56 GMT -8
Here's a very quick but slightly bad example. (I'll make a better one when the Winter throat-grunge has ceased to rear its ugly head) XD hulahulamoocow.com/highthroat.mp3
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Post by zoe on Feb 6, 2018 20:44:26 GMT -8
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for the responses!! That was really in depth and detailed. And I loved the example!! That made my night! I can't stop smiling haha. Voice acting truly is an art, I'm glad I asked this forum.
I was wondering if you could elaborate on what it means to "talk higher/lower" in the throat. How can I tell wether or not I'm speaking "on the top of my throat" or not?
I'm trying to grasp what you mean, but my brain keeps associating pitch with the positioning in my throat. Is there any exercises I can do to exemplify the difference to myself?
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duffyweber
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Post by duffyweber on Feb 8, 2018 5:27:12 GMT -8
Sure! (Sorry for the delay in response, by the way. Lots of stuff going on here lately.)
The best way I can describe it is to make the sound feel like it's being generated higher up in your throat, rather than lower down.
A good way to feel this is singing scales. Start with scales (do-re-mi-fa-etc.) and keep going higher. Pay attention and notice how your throat tightens, but also how the sound FEELS like it's coming from higher up, physically, in your throat.)
Now go DOWN in pitch. Relax your throat, don't tighten, and breathe easier. Keep going down. RELAX. Notice how the sound feels like it's coming from lower down in your throat, closer to your collarbone/chest? Whereas the high notes feel like they're coming from closer to your chin?
"Higher up" refers to the latter. You want to talk from higher up, but at the same time, RELAX and not tighten up your throat, and you'll get that same quality as the samples above. When you get a feel for it, throw a little bit of the lower throat into it to richen it up, or to sound older, savvy, or sultry.
Conversely, if you want to do the cartoon "tween/teenage boy" voice, talk from lower down but keep your voice high if you're a typical male voice, and talk from lower down but use your normal/slightly lower voice if you're a typical female voice. Raise pitch to make the child sound younger.
Hope this helps!
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duffyweber
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I Am A(n): Professional Voice Actor, Semi-Professional Voice Actor, Audio Engineer
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Post by duffyweber on Feb 9, 2018 5:44:04 GMT -8
I just realized the simplest explanation is "talk normal/lower pitch but using the part of your throat you normally use to talk higher pitched."
It requires a little bit of control, and DON'T go whole-hog with it. Just do it a LITTLE bit until you get used to it or you're gonna have a sore throat/injury.
And (And I know I say this a lot) having a tube stuck up your nose and down your throat is NOT fun.
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duffyweber
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Posts: 220
I Am A(n): Professional Voice Actor, Semi-Professional Voice Actor, Audio Engineer
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Post by duffyweber on Feb 9, 2018 5:45:17 GMT -8
OH! And if you start sounding nasal, relax your throat a bit and don't talk through your nose, unless that's the character you're going for. = )
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Post by benedict on Feb 9, 2018 13:27:31 GMT -8
I just realized the simplest explanation is "talk normal/lower pitch but using the part of your throat you normally use to talk higher pitched." It requires a little bit of control, and DON'T go whole-hog with it. Just do it a LITTLE bit until you get used to it or you're gonna have a sore throat/injury. And (And I know I say this a lot) having a tube stuck up your nose and down your throat is NOT fun. I love the advice you can get here! Just tried your simplest explanation and came out with a voice I've never used before. W00t!!! I'll take it slow and work it into my repertoire in a safe way, but I gotta play with this. And please do keep saying the bit about the tube up the nose! I've only had to do it once for a throat injury, but I'm on my third now, with a fourth visit penciled in the planner. (The ENT I'm seeing is extremely smooth, but there's nothing fun about hearing a doctor say, "I'd like to stick this camera up your nose." Mmmyeah...)
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duffyweber
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Posts: 220
I Am A(n): Professional Voice Actor, Semi-Professional Voice Actor, Audio Engineer
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Post by duffyweber on Feb 9, 2018 13:47:02 GMT -8
AWESOME! New voices are great aren't they? And no matter how reassuring your ENT is, the thought of not being able to do all your beloved voices again just makes you want to cry, doesn't it? TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICES, PEOPLE!
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