Comments on: On Narration and eLearning http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/ A starry-eyed quest for beautiful eLearning and presentations. Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:25:19 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Can You Hear Me Now? : RKCS Learning Solutions http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-1178 Can You Hear Me Now? : RKCS Learning Solutions Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:59:36 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-1178 [...] one to write off ideas or methods so easily. Maybe there is a reason for this technique. Although Chris over at eQuixotic quoted some stats from Richard Mayer’s book, Multimedia Learning, in which he notes that [...] [...] one to write off ideas or methods so easily. Maybe there is a reason for this technique. Although Chris over at eQuixotic quoted some stats from Richard Mayer’s book, Multimedia Learning, in which he notes that [...]

]]> By: Stephanie Ciccarelli http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-643 Stephanie Ciccarelli Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:01:12 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-643 Great topic! Yes, one could wax poetic on the many reasons why TTS will never replace the human voice or custom recorded voice over recordings. That being said, there is a big difference between narration and voice over for say, commercials or animation. You really have to have that natural, "real person" read down and the stamina to record for such long periods of time. Thank you for sharing. This is a hot topic in our circle and I'm glad you touched on it. Best wishes, Stephanie Ciccarelli Co-founder of Voices.com http://www.voices.com Great topic!

Yes, one could wax poetic on the many reasons why TTS will never replace the human voice or custom recorded voice over recordings.

That being said, there is a big difference between narration and voice over for say, commercials or animation. You really have to have that natural, “real person” read down and the stamina to record for such long periods of time.

Thank you for sharing. This is a hot topic in our circle and I’m glad you touched on it.

Best wishes,

Stephanie Ciccarelli
Co-founder of Voices.com
http://www.voices.com

]]> By: Erica at Voices.com http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-642 Erica at Voices.com Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:41:51 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-642 Voices can be so varied in style. Have you ever visited http://www.voices.com ? You can browse through eLearning voice over demos. Voices can be so varied in style. Have you ever visited http://www.voices.com ? You can browse through eLearning voice over demos.

]]> By: Debra Ball http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-563 Debra Ball Thu, 05 Mar 2009 07:50:22 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-563 Ok, Chris...your post here made me giggle....a lot. It was clever and informative and I enjoyed reading the feedback and experiences of the others who wrote in. As a professional voice talent and narrator, I can understand how frustrating this whole process can be. I have some "inside scoop" on how to select a good narrator if you are interested! I've been doing this professionally for over 10 years and have my own recording studio, so I've seen and heard it all. You and Steve both hit on a really good point when you talked about the importance of a natural read. That is key! Thanks! Debra Ball TheVoiceActress.com Ok, Chris…your post here made me giggle….a lot. It was clever and informative and I enjoyed reading the feedback and experiences of the others who wrote in. As a professional voice talent and narrator, I can understand how frustrating this whole process can be. I have some “inside scoop” on how to select a good narrator if you are interested! I’ve been doing this professionally for over 10 years and have my own recording studio, so I’ve seen and heard it all.
You and Steve both hit on a really good point when you talked about the importance of a natural read. That is key!

Thanks!
Debra Ball
TheVoiceActress.com

]]> By: Chris http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-493 Chris Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:51:15 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-493 Hello Chris - nice post. As far as professional voice talent sounding unnatural or 'too polished', that's more a problem of casting than an argument against using a pro. I work with lots of voice talent, some are great at being announcers, others excel at sounding like the guy (or girl) next door. Hire the right voice and you'll get someone who can sound knowledgeable, compelling, and engage your audience better than most untrained voices. If you'd like another resource for voices, I'd invite you to check out <a href="http://www.procommss.com" rel="nofollow">ProComm Voiceovers</a>. Cheers! Hello Chris – nice post. As far as professional voice talent sounding unnatural or ‘too polished’, that’s more a problem of casting than an argument against using a pro.

I work with lots of voice talent, some are great at being announcers, others excel at sounding like the guy (or girl) next door. Hire the right voice and you’ll get someone who can sound knowledgeable, compelling, and engage your audience better than most untrained voices.

If you’d like another resource for voices, I’d invite you to check out ProComm Voiceovers.

Cheers!

]]> By: Chris http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-185 Chris Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:09:08 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-185 Todd, I'm not aware of any courses, but I did reference some good "how to" resources in my subsequent post here: http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/21/more-on-narration/ Todd, I’m not aware of any courses, but I did reference some good “how to” resources in my subsequent post here:

http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/21/more-on-narration/

]]> By: Todd http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Todd Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:25:42 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-178 Hey Chris, Good stuff here. My team recently started down the path of creating narrated eLearning courses and our user feedback has been quite good. For some, the skills necessary to record good narration just come naturally. For others, it's a bit of a struggle. Are you aware of any online courses or other resources that might give some instruction or tips and tricks on how to record GOOD narration. Thanks! Hey Chris,
Good stuff here. My team recently started down the path of creating narrated eLearning courses and our user feedback has been quite good. For some, the skills necessary to record good narration just come naturally. For others, it’s a bit of a struggle. Are you aware of any online courses or other resources that might give some instruction or tips and tricks on how to record GOOD narration.

Thanks!

]]> By: Chris http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Chris Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:04:46 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-127 Steve, thanks for the insight from a <strong>real</strong> voiceover professional. I agree - making the narration script more "casual" definitely helps it sound more natural. And using contractions is key. By the way, I listened to the samples on your site and found them to sound very natural and appealing - not at all like the synthetic-sounding professional voiceovers I described in my post. I've bookmarked your site for future reference if I run into a need for pro voice work - your style would certainly fit the bill for many of my projects. Thanks again. Steve, thanks for the insight from a real voiceover professional. I agree – making the narration script more “casual” definitely helps it sound more natural. And using contractions is key.

By the way, I listened to the samples on your site and found them to sound very natural and appealing – not at all like the synthetic-sounding professional voiceovers I described in my post.

I’ve bookmarked your site for future reference if I run into a need for pro voice work – your style would certainly fit the bill for many of my projects. Thanks again.

]]> By: Steve Anthony http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Steve Anthony Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:53:35 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-126 Chris, As a narrator, and occasional writer, who does quite a bit of elearning narration, this has been a valuable insight to what creators of programs look for. I'd also like to offer this tip; if the narration is sounding 'read,' (no matter who is doing it, either in-house or out-sourced) try loosening up sentence structure. By that, I mean short, informal, sentences along with the use of contractions. For example, change a sentence like, "In this lesson, we will cover the basics of remote desktop access using remote desktop programming, RDP, along with installation, setup and configuration, and user access,' to, 'This lesson is about remote desktop access. Specifically, we'll cover RDP, which is the acronym for remote desktop programming. We'll start with installing RDP. Next, we'll cover setup and configuration. And, finally, we'll look at user access.' Short and simple. Best to all, Steve Chris,

As a narrator, and occasional writer, who does quite a bit of elearning narration, this has been a valuable insight to what creators of programs look for.

I’d also like to offer this tip; if the narration is sounding ‘read,’ (no matter who is doing it, either in-house or out-sourced) try loosening up sentence structure. By that, I mean short, informal, sentences along with the use of contractions. For example, change a sentence like, “In this lesson, we will cover the basics of remote desktop access using remote desktop programming, RDP, along with installation, setup and configuration, and user access,’ to, ‘This lesson is about remote desktop access. Specifically, we’ll cover RDP, which is the acronym for remote desktop programming. We’ll start with installing RDP. Next, we’ll cover setup and configuration. And, finally, we’ll look at user access.’ Short and simple.

Best to all,
Steve

]]> By: Chris http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Chris Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:58:27 +0000 http://www.equixotic.com/2008/04/03/on-narration-and-elearning/#comment-124 Andrew - I agree that scripting is a must. I have tried narrating using "talking points" and improvising - this approach did not work for me. At all. So scripting = good, but sounding like you're reading a script = bad. And there's the challenge. Regarding the amount of on-screen content vs. the amount of narration: this is my personal opinion, but I prefer more narration (but not too much!) and less on-screen content. It works better for me as a learner, so I tend to lean that way when I develop. Andrew – I agree that scripting is a must. I have tried narrating using “talking points” and improvising – this approach did not work for me. At all.

So scripting = good, but sounding like you’re reading a script = bad. And there’s the challenge.

Regarding the amount of on-screen content vs. the amount of narration: this is my personal opinion, but I prefer more narration (but not too much!) and less on-screen content. It works better for me as a learner, so I tend to lean that way when I develop.

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