Help me get rid of my voice neurosis!
May 3, 2022 6:51 PM
I'm having to do podcasts and video presentations pretty regularly. Like many other people I do not like the sound of my voice, it makes me cringe when editing it. I believe I have a nasally, nerdy voice. I noticed that early Howard Stern had this to an extent and he now has a nice, deep radio voice. I'm also guessing that people who are on television or the radio get some kind of coaching. I'm sure gravitas comes naturally to some people, but what kind of things do professionals do to come across as professional?
Sitting through editing videos and hearing my voice is painful. It is turning me somewhat neurotic. I'm sure I'm not the first person to have to edit their own videos or podcasts. I've noticed some YouTubers I follow seem to have some evolution, is it just a better setup or practice?
Task and Purpose before
Task and Purpose after
I have to make engaging presentations with some lessons, with a sales bent. Unfortunately I can't share it, but if I had to give an example of what I'd be doing it would look something like this Ogilvy talk. He does not necessarily have a deep voice, but manages to make an engaging presentation and is probably a good natural storyteller.
Sorry I can't be more detailed with examples of my videos (they're corporate presentations or sales pitches), but I would like to go from nasal amateur to something that's not. If this is just something some people have and some people don't I'll accept that. If there's anyone with a professional background or know how people achieve that natural sounding presence that'd be great to hear. If there's professional coaching or something I could take I would not be opposed to that.
Thanks!
Sitting through editing videos and hearing my voice is painful. It is turning me somewhat neurotic. I'm sure I'm not the first person to have to edit their own videos or podcasts. I've noticed some YouTubers I follow seem to have some evolution, is it just a better setup or practice?
Task and Purpose before
Task and Purpose after
I have to make engaging presentations with some lessons, with a sales bent. Unfortunately I can't share it, but if I had to give an example of what I'd be doing it would look something like this Ogilvy talk. He does not necessarily have a deep voice, but manages to make an engaging presentation and is probably a good natural storyteller.
Sorry I can't be more detailed with examples of my videos (they're corporate presentations or sales pitches), but I would like to go from nasal amateur to something that's not. If this is just something some people have and some people don't I'll accept that. If there's anyone with a professional background or know how people achieve that natural sounding presence that'd be great to hear. If there's professional coaching or something I could take I would not be opposed to that.
Thanks!
I feel quite certain that there must be vocal coaches for just this kind of work! (Which probably includes relaxing into your natural tone and expressing your confidence and expertise. There are lots of folks with “nerdy” voices who sound absolutely fantastic - you might be one of them already! But maybe also practical tricks like editing at reduced or higher speed so that you’re just paying attention to content, not vocal quality.)
I know one thing for sure - don’t try too hard without talking to a professional voice coach, because trying to lower your voice or change whatever resonance sounds nasal to you might actually be straining, and strain over time can lead to bad stuff (polyps are extreme, but even losing your voice, if this is for your job, would not be good). Do you have any local theaters/opera or university theater or vocal performance departments in your area? I’m not sure if speech language pathologists do this kind of coaching, but they’d probably have recommendations informed by their academic expertise as well (ditto otolaryngologists).
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 7:52 PM on May 3, 2022
I know one thing for sure - don’t try too hard without talking to a professional voice coach, because trying to lower your voice or change whatever resonance sounds nasal to you might actually be straining, and strain over time can lead to bad stuff (polyps are extreme, but even losing your voice, if this is for your job, would not be good). Do you have any local theaters/opera or university theater or vocal performance departments in your area? I’m not sure if speech language pathologists do this kind of coaching, but they’d probably have recommendations informed by their academic expertise as well (ditto otolaryngologists).
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 7:52 PM on May 3, 2022
I'm no pro, but I worked awhile in phone customer service and changed my voice then (to sound more calm and soothing to the angry customers). At least for small changes, repeatedly talking in a different tone of voice, over and over until it becomes more natural, can work.
posted by coffeecat at 7:56 PM on May 3, 2022
posted by coffeecat at 7:56 PM on May 3, 2022
Hi! Former professional talker here. You can absolutely change your voice with practice and coaching. It will, like anything, take time and effort, but it's well worth it. Equipment helps, but it can't change a nasal delivery, only coaching and work can do that. It's been decades since I've used my voice professionally, but the skills and techniques I learned through lessons and coaching have served me for a lifetime.
I often say that the one permanent change in your appearance you can make without surgery or diet is voice training.
If you've got the $90 an hour or so it would cost it will be so worth it for you. You'll learn how to breath, how to use your instrument to it's fullest potential, and, best of all, you won't want to curl up and die every time you listen to your voice. Any voice coach can help you. If you're still in KC I know a singer whose had good luck with Suzanne Blanch. (I've no connection to her, I just asked my former KC friend for a recommendation) Even one hour would provide you with techniques and skills you can practice to improve your breathing to expand your range and improve your diction. If you can't tell, it's kind of an obsession of mine. Just do it, you'll find it so helpful. If cost is an issue let me know and I'll cover half of your first lesson, just to make everyone's aural landscape more pleasant. Really. I wish EVERYONE would pay attention to how their voice sounds, changing that one thing is within the power of all of us.
posted by Floydd at 8:18 PM on May 3, 2022
I often say that the one permanent change in your appearance you can make without surgery or diet is voice training.
If you've got the $90 an hour or so it would cost it will be so worth it for you. You'll learn how to breath, how to use your instrument to it's fullest potential, and, best of all, you won't want to curl up and die every time you listen to your voice. Any voice coach can help you. If you're still in KC I know a singer whose had good luck with Suzanne Blanch. (I've no connection to her, I just asked my former KC friend for a recommendation) Even one hour would provide you with techniques and skills you can practice to improve your breathing to expand your range and improve your diction. If you can't tell, it's kind of an obsession of mine. Just do it, you'll find it so helpful. If cost is an issue let me know and I'll cover half of your first lesson, just to make everyone's aural landscape more pleasant. Really. I wish EVERYONE would pay attention to how their voice sounds, changing that one thing is within the power of all of us.
posted by Floydd at 8:18 PM on May 3, 2022
For your quirks and vocal misbehaviors, voiceover or voice acting classes can be had in all kinds of formats.
My husband has been dealing with this for years, and says if you want to throw some substantial money at the problem, get a SM-7B microphone (Shure) and a pre-amp (any should be fine) to give your voice all the robustness technology can wring out of it.
I personally have to listen to myself for training materials and I speed it up or slow it down while I'm working with the audio files so it sounds ridiculous anyway.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:21 PM on May 3, 2022
My husband has been dealing with this for years, and says if you want to throw some substantial money at the problem, get a SM-7B microphone (Shure) and a pre-amp (any should be fine) to give your voice all the robustness technology can wring out of it.
I personally have to listen to myself for training materials and I speed it up or slow it down while I'm working with the audio files so it sounds ridiculous anyway.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:21 PM on May 3, 2022
I had like, less than a dozen sessions with a voice coach for radio over a year, and they were priceless. We weren't even working on presentation voice - she was also a speech pathologist - but when my impediment turned out physiological, we worked on making me understandable despite it. Lots of breathing exercises, voice projection, vowel practice. I went home each time with a sheaf of homework. I believe there was a lot of overlap with the sort of vocal warmups theatre actors do. I went from someone who kept getting asked to repeat herself to specialising in trainings and presentations, switching voices automatically to a deeper and slower one. So worth it.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:12 PM on May 3, 2022
posted by I claim sanctuary at 10:12 PM on May 3, 2022
Yes, voice coaches exist (I used to be one). Your local acting school can recommend someone. You may also be able to find someone on YouTube who will teach you over zoom.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 1:29 AM on May 4, 2022
posted by nouvelle-personne at 1:29 AM on May 4, 2022
I presented radio news for a year and my vocal delivery definitely improved over the year without me consciously doing it - got slower, clearer, deeper. So to an extent it'll improve of its own accord. Partly that was just confidence and relaxing into it over time, having the courage and patience to take longer, deeper breaths and not rush the words out. I do think if you can bring yourself to listen to yourself regularly, that helps too, creates some kind of subconscious feedback loop. Also normalises it and helps gets rid of that neurosis, which in turns helps you relax, which improves your voice etc.
But yup, nthing voice work if you have the option. You can even find online vocal exercises for actors. These days when I'm needing to record something for work (which is much less often), I have a few breathing and vocal exercises I do and even over the space of 10 minutes, it improves my voice, just connects all the pieces from your belly through your lungs, all the parts of your throat and mouth and breath that need to work together.
Also bear in mind that you are your own worst critic so your voice probably doesn't sound as bad as you think it does. We expect our own voices to sound the way they to do us from inside our heads, and when we hear it recorded, what we're hearing is the difference between our expectation and reality, it's not the way other people hear it.
posted by penguin pie at 2:46 AM on May 4, 2022
But yup, nthing voice work if you have the option. You can even find online vocal exercises for actors. These days when I'm needing to record something for work (which is much less often), I have a few breathing and vocal exercises I do and even over the space of 10 minutes, it improves my voice, just connects all the pieces from your belly through your lungs, all the parts of your throat and mouth and breath that need to work together.
Also bear in mind that you are your own worst critic so your voice probably doesn't sound as bad as you think it does. We expect our own voices to sound the way they to do us from inside our heads, and when we hear it recorded, what we're hearing is the difference between our expectation and reality, it's not the way other people hear it.
posted by penguin pie at 2:46 AM on May 4, 2022
I was listening to a DJ calling in from his car, the audio put through to the studio. I could tell it was that DJ but no depth, it wasn't deep. Basically it sounded bad.
He walked in to the studio from his car, still on his cell, sat down in front of his microphone and it was truly amazing. I had no idea how much radio professionals depend upon the mic/studio/whatever else.
I'm not saying to blow off training with a talented professional -- we've got a lot of great input from other ppl in this thread. But -- your equipment can be a huge add to your presentation.
posted by dancestoblue at 3:01 AM on May 4, 2022
He walked in to the studio from his car, still on his cell, sat down in front of his microphone and it was truly amazing. I had no idea how much radio professionals depend upon the mic/studio/whatever else.
I'm not saying to blow off training with a talented professional -- we've got a lot of great input from other ppl in this thread. But -- your equipment can be a huge add to your presentation.
posted by dancestoblue at 3:01 AM on May 4, 2022
Like many other people I do not like the sound of my voice, it makes me cringe when editing it. I believe I have a nasally, nerdy voice.
Almost all voices sound nasal and weird to their owners when recorded. It's because we recognize the person speaking as ourselves, but their voice is missing all the bits of sound we'd normally get via bone conduction to go with what comes back around into our ears. I loathe the sound of my own voice on tape, but when I drove taxis I'd regularly have customers tell me I sounded like I should be on the radio.
I guess what I'm saying is that you need to seek some honest feedback about the quality of the voice work you're already doing, preferably from people without any reason either to discourage or to coddle you. If somebody who has no reason to wish you good or ill agrees with you that voice coaching seems called for then pursue it by all means, but don't make yourself the only judge of whether what you're already doing is fit for purpose.
posted by flabdablet at 5:08 AM on May 4, 2022
Almost all voices sound nasal and weird to their owners when recorded. It's because we recognize the person speaking as ourselves, but their voice is missing all the bits of sound we'd normally get via bone conduction to go with what comes back around into our ears. I loathe the sound of my own voice on tape, but when I drove taxis I'd regularly have customers tell me I sounded like I should be on the radio.
I guess what I'm saying is that you need to seek some honest feedback about the quality of the voice work you're already doing, preferably from people without any reason either to discourage or to coddle you. If somebody who has no reason to wish you good or ill agrees with you that voice coaching seems called for then pursue it by all means, but don't make yourself the only judge of whether what you're already doing is fit for purpose.
posted by flabdablet at 5:08 AM on May 4, 2022
As well as nthing the suggestions of voice coaching, for changing the qualities of your voice in general, there’s also the matter of how you deliver the script (even if it’s a script off the top of your head as you speak) - what words do you emphasise? where do you pause and for how long? what kind of tone are you trying to convey - excited, serious, informative? Do you raise and lower your pitch to keep things interesting and convey emotions? Do you consciously speed up. or. slow. down. for effect?
If you listen to most pro radio voices, or voiceovers on documentaries, or TV presenters, they don’t speak at all normally, but it sounds right for the medium. Listen to some and then try to imagine them speaking exactly the same way to their family over dinner - it’s ridiculous because they’re performing, not talking “naturally”.
I’m sure there are coaches that can help with this side of things too, maybe the same ones as you’d see to focus on the quality of your voice. But you could also listen for people you like the sound of and repeat exactly what they say and how they say it. It will give you a feel for what they’re doing to make their script sound interesting and entertaining, quite aside from the quality of their voice.
posted by fabius at 6:09 AM on May 4, 2022
If you listen to most pro radio voices, or voiceovers on documentaries, or TV presenters, they don’t speak at all normally, but it sounds right for the medium. Listen to some and then try to imagine them speaking exactly the same way to their family over dinner - it’s ridiculous because they’re performing, not talking “naturally”.
I’m sure there are coaches that can help with this side of things too, maybe the same ones as you’d see to focus on the quality of your voice. But you could also listen for people you like the sound of and repeat exactly what they say and how they say it. It will give you a feel for what they’re doing to make their script sound interesting and entertaining, quite aside from the quality of their voice.
posted by fabius at 6:09 AM on May 4, 2022
As another subjective data point, I also used to hate the recorded sound of my voice, and I also thought that it sounded nasal. I was also self-conscious about my atypical accent (I'm a second-language English speaker). I don't have a job that involves a lot of public speaking, but I have given presentations at tech conferences as a hobby, and over time watching myself afterwards to see how the presentation went has been bothering me less and less. I think that my pronunciation has improved, and I think that I have successfully forced myself to speak more slowly and use fewer filler words, but I haven't taken any more specific steps to change the way my voice sounds, so mostly I think I have just become acclimatised to listening to myself.
FWIW I also don't think that the "before" Task and Purpose video you selected is "bad". If you hadn't pointed it out, I don't think I would even have noticed the difference in his voice. He does seem to be reading from a script in a more stilted way in the old video, and has a more natural and relaxed manner in his more recent videos.
posted by confluency at 6:19 AM on May 4, 2022
FWIW I also don't think that the "before" Task and Purpose video you selected is "bad". If you hadn't pointed it out, I don't think I would even have noticed the difference in his voice. He does seem to be reading from a script in a more stilted way in the old video, and has a more natural and relaxed manner in his more recent videos.
posted by confluency at 6:19 AM on May 4, 2022
FYI the after link doesn't work - it just links to this page. But I went to Task and Purpose's Youtube page and watched a recent video, and I don't think his voice changed. A lot of the difference I hear is production. The more recent video is using a better mic, probably closer to his mouth, and in a less reverberant room. There might also be some compression on it. That's all hardware and software, not anything to do with his actual voice. The other notable difference is his script reading. In the newer videos, he's reading slower and more relaxed. In the old one, he sounds like he's reading a script off-camera while explicitly trying to sound like he's not reading a script. Again, his voice isn't changing. I would imagine he's figured out a better scripting process (maybe bullet points instead of full sentences?), and he's rehearsed his script more before filming.
If it were me (and I'm pretty neurotic about my voice as well, so one day it might be), I'd try to address this from the neurosis end rather than the voice end. I think it's helpful (to me, at least) to remember that a lot of the things you dislike about yourself, things you perceive as imperfections, other people can find charming. I work with someone who has a really squeaky, twelve-year-old sounding voice, and I think it's great. I really enjoy listening to her talk. The other thing is that, especially on podcasts and presentations, the information you're presenting is more important than the voice presenting it. I listen to NPR, and I find Mary Louise Kelly's voice to be really grating. (She's one of the hosts of All Things Considered, their flagship news show.) But she's a good reporter and interviewer, and so I don't care. I'd rather listen to an unlikeable voice providing interesting and thought-provoking information than a perfect voice that's just talking about weather. To that end, I thought the Task and Purpose "before" video about the AK-47 more watchable than the more recent ones, because I was more interested in the subject.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:19 AM on May 4, 2022
If it were me (and I'm pretty neurotic about my voice as well, so one day it might be), I'd try to address this from the neurosis end rather than the voice end. I think it's helpful (to me, at least) to remember that a lot of the things you dislike about yourself, things you perceive as imperfections, other people can find charming. I work with someone who has a really squeaky, twelve-year-old sounding voice, and I think it's great. I really enjoy listening to her talk. The other thing is that, especially on podcasts and presentations, the information you're presenting is more important than the voice presenting it. I listen to NPR, and I find Mary Louise Kelly's voice to be really grating. (She's one of the hosts of All Things Considered, their flagship news show.) But she's a good reporter and interviewer, and so I don't care. I'd rather listen to an unlikeable voice providing interesting and thought-provoking information than a perfect voice that's just talking about weather. To that end, I thought the Task and Purpose "before" video about the AK-47 more watchable than the more recent ones, because I was more interested in the subject.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:19 AM on May 4, 2022
Are you adjusting the EQ when you edit? Unfortunately, I think it’s best done near the end of the process, but it makes a big difference in giving me “podcast voice.”
I also just got used to it. It helps that I record interviews with people I know are smart and have normal speaking voices, so I have evidence that everyone just sounds bad when you listen so closely / repeatedly.
posted by momus_window at 7:21 AM on May 4, 2022
I also just got used to it. It helps that I record interviews with people I know are smart and have normal speaking voices, so I have evidence that everyone just sounds bad when you listen so closely / repeatedly.
posted by momus_window at 7:21 AM on May 4, 2022
I didn’t notice anyone mention it, but a vocal coach is the kind of thing your employer should pay for as a professional development thing. Considering all the bullsquat “seminars” and “classes” that my management used to take, they should jump at the chance to fund something that will actually improve the quality of their products. As they say, “no crime to ask.”
I worked long ago in a job that involved radio where lots of random people would come up to me and tell me how much they liked my voice. I too, hate listening to myself but forty-some years of telling myself “it can’t be that bad” has left me in a medium-happy place. You really can’t judge your own voice. In any event, good luck in your quest to become Ted Baxter (note to everyone not an old: just assume this is a hilarious cultural reference).
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 8:32 AM on May 4, 2022
I worked long ago in a job that involved radio where lots of random people would come up to me and tell me how much they liked my voice. I too, hate listening to myself but forty-some years of telling myself “it can’t be that bad” has left me in a medium-happy place. You really can’t judge your own voice. In any event, good luck in your quest to become Ted Baxter (note to everyone not an old: just assume this is a hilarious cultural reference).
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 8:32 AM on May 4, 2022
I'm a podcast producer. Good equipment, a decent room, and the right production go a very long way. Besides EQ, compression is standard and essential, as well as a noise gate. Also the Shure SM7B is a good mic and regarded as somewhat of a standard for radio / podcasting, so I second that recommendation. However, the mic needs a lot of gain, so not just any preamp will do. You can find lots of write ups about how to make it work, though.
posted by ludwig_van at 6:40 PM on May 4, 2022
posted by ludwig_van at 6:40 PM on May 4, 2022
Thanks all! And to Floydd for reaching out and finding someone in the area. I will definitely be in contact with that coach!
I'm not against throwing some money at this as I look at it as getting professional trainer and as others pointed out, I can expense it. I'm guessing/assuming that getting an external mic (SM7B) along with the correct preamp and a good setup is key. Unfortunately, the best place in my house for recording video and recording sound are different. I didn't choose my house expecting to needing to setup a semi-professional studio. I think this would be a great step forward. Glad to hear voice coaching is a thing that's not just for professionals!
FWIW, I have a friend who is a television actor and noticed recently his voice changed dramatically. To me it sounds really forced but I've known his natural voice for so long I'm not the best judge. Similarly, a voice coach will be a good objective measure.
posted by geoff. at 10:39 PM on May 4, 2022
I'm not against throwing some money at this as I look at it as getting professional trainer and as others pointed out, I can expense it. I'm guessing/assuming that getting an external mic (SM7B) along with the correct preamp and a good setup is key. Unfortunately, the best place in my house for recording video and recording sound are different. I didn't choose my house expecting to needing to setup a semi-professional studio. I think this would be a great step forward. Glad to hear voice coaching is a thing that's not just for professionals!
FWIW, I have a friend who is a television actor and noticed recently his voice changed dramatically. To me it sounds really forced but I've known his natural voice for so long I'm not the best judge. Similarly, a voice coach will be a good objective measure.
posted by geoff. at 10:39 PM on May 4, 2022
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But I suspect this is also largely an audio production issue. You can't totally change your voice, obviously, but I bet you would be shocked how different it sounds with a different mic, properly placed, and with a bit of EQing. See if you can talk to an audio engineer about it, even just someone who works at a venue or edits podcasts themselves. Wearing headphones so you can hear your voice as you speak helps too.
I've gotten tons of compliments on a Razer gaming headset I wear during calls, people asking me if it's a professional setup. I would suggest that you try a few different mics and do a bit of processing on your voice track to get it closer to where you want it to be. I guarantee you'll still be annoyed with your voice (I still am when I hear myself) but you're just hearing the parts you don't like — others will get the improved bass and full sound that result from good production.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 7:09 PM on May 3, 2022