Develop and Record your audiocast - MP3 - with Financial Crime Broadcasting

About your voice

You need to decide what combination of voice and speech you want to present.

And no, no matter what you think, you won't "sound like myself" because no one sounds like they think they sound.

Except folk singers who sing with a finger in their ear and I'm not convinced of that, either.

 

Microphones are utterly unforgiving. They have no capability to identify nuance or tonality. Different mics pick up different types of sound, different ranges but at the end of the day they pick up what they pick up and, within their design parameters, they are utterly indiscriminate.

If you have a blocked nose, or a croaky throat, the mic will punish you with a recording that sounds like a bag of spanners.

If you've been smoking, or drinking, your vocal chords won't work properly so don't even try to make a recording the day after that kind of night out.

If you've been drinking, or are over-tired, or another other reason you might not speak crisply, don't bother: the mic will pick up every hesitant mumble or slur.

But there's another thing: the voice works because it depends on muscles and tendons. So if you've been yelling at a sports match, or making a fool of yourself at karaoke, they won't work freely the next day.

Then again, if like many people at the time of writing this, you have been locked down for weeks (mine, as of today, is more than two months) due to Covid-19 and you've not spoken more than a few words to anyone in that time, then the very things that become strained from overuse become reluctant to work at all because of disuse.

I'm not going to go into all the causes and possible ways of dealing with these issues: you can find lots of advice from responsible sources on the internet. But in relation to the isolation thing, I'll tell you what I do: hot water and singing, just to get relevant exercise. And to remember to breath deeply and regularly.

Accents.

There is one more thing that might upset some people but you need to know it.

Strong accents are distracting. So are sloppy speech mannerisms (people who say "f" when they mean "th" for example.

Diction

A lot of people let their tongue get in the way of speaking clearly. I know that sounds stupid but it's true. Others get their teeth and bottom lip out of sync. Speak slowly and make sure that each part of each word is enunciated clearly and that every consonant is sounded (except where it shouldn't be).

Soft accents are usually welcoming, so don't hide your regional accent, but don't give it full reign.

People who don't pronounce consonants when they should find that their audience's ability to listen cohesively is broken.

Always use and pronounce words correctly. Don't follow fashion. Much of your audience is likely to not have your language as a first language. Or if they do, it's a variation of it. So be clear and precise. If your region uses a word in a way that is not usual, find an alternative.

Remember that your audience has the power of the off-switch and they are very willing to use it if they have to struggle to hear or understand you.

Moreover, sound (as distinct from the words you use) affects the emotions. You know that about music so why does it surprise you when it comes to speech?

Broadcasting is seduction.

You are, for want of a better word (there is no better word: this one is ideal) engaged in a seduction.

You want the listener to pay attention to you, to think about what you are saying, to believe you, to act in ways you suggest. 

See: it's seduction.  So treat it as such.

Use highs and lows, quicks and slows.

It's a dance, not a quick "get your coat you've pulled" kind of thing.

In your ten minutes, you are setting out your stall, displaying your wares and making your sale with the primary objective that each customer comes back for more.

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