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Steinberg developed it.  Steinberg Gmbh is a German musical software and equipment company based in Hamburg (Wikipedia).  BTW, Gmbh is pronounced Guh-Em’-buh-hah…I know…I had to research it once.  It’s an abbreviation like Ltd., or LLC…only for international firms.  Steinberg’s best-known software products in our line of work are probably CuBase, Nuendo, and WaveLab.

But back to VST’s.  If you use a DAW, you probably have VST’s under your “effects” library.  Most modern software DAW’s recognize a plethoria of VST plug-ins, or modules that emulate certain audio effects.

Again, from Wikipedia:  “VST plugins are generally run within a Digital Audio Workstation, providing the host application with additional functionality. Most VST plugins can be classified as either instruments (VSTi) or effects, although other categories exist. VST plugins generally provide a custom GUI, displaying controls similar to the physical switches and knobs on audio hardware. Some (often older) plugins rely on the host application for their UI.

VST instruments include software simulation emulations of well-known hardware synthesizer devices and samplers, emulating the look of the original equipment and its sonic characteristics. This enables VSTi users to use virtual versions of devices that may be otherwise difficult to obtain.”

There.  Clear as mud?

I’m only on to this at 3:05 on a Thursday morning, PST…because I’ve spent the last 2 hours configuring my Adobe Audition 3.0 software to accept Source-Connect as a VST plug-in. I was using Source-Element’s own free ‘desktop’ interface, but when I talked to the Source-Connect people at VOICE2010, they assured me it would work with AA3.0 as well.  They were right.  Pretty slick, actually.  Works great!

I’d been neglecting my Source-Connect account for a while, so this was a welcome re-visit of its functionality. The bulk of those two hours was spent re-configuring the ‘port-forwarding’ for my static IP address, so I would get a more reliable connection for my SC.  It all worked, and these things don’t always happen that way.

Need to know more?  Contact Frank Frederick sometime.  He could be Steinberg’s Chief Engineer for all I know.  The guy has it down.

CourVO

As such, I love the website: FREELANCE FOLDER.  The site has consistently great suggestions for handling generic freelance business issues.

So, to be clear, the above title comes from a blog article written by freelance author Laura Spencer.  I hope she won’t mind that I send you there to read it.  All the credit goes to her.  I’m just the conduit.  But please read it…this issue ALWAYS seems to garner attention among voice actors.

While I’m at it, let me lend a shameless plug for my LinkedIn VoiceOver group covering this very issue:  SETTING VOICEOVER RATES.  In no time, about 100 people have joined this group.

CourVO

Hey, if every voice actor wrote just one article this simple every once in a while, how much more work would we ALL get?

Check it out HERE.

CourVO

4 days in LA for VOICE2010, 2 days back to work at my TV job, including an intense 2.5 hours on-air live for the Primary Election’ then a blessed 5 days vacation with family near Tahoe.

But you know what returning from vacation means:  Yup!…a pile of work, emails, bills, auditions, and phone calls.

In case you’re still catching up to all the wealth of data that came out of the event, you might want to visit Connie Terwilliger’s excellent summary blogs HERE.

THIS is another fine resource of material, pics and observations of the event, courtesy of ace marketing an voiceover talent Peter O’Connell.

Also, the VoiceOverXtra site puts together a host of blog articles (including this one) for a roundhouse summary of the event.

And surprisingly, I have not yet mentioned in this blog of my endeavour to help Bob Bergen in his desire to see Legendary Voice Actor June Foray get respect.  We’re seeking a place for the still-vibrant 92-year-old in an upcoming SONY feature film on the Smurfs.  June was the original Jokey Smurf, and that’s aside from her well-known role as  Rocky the Squirrel in the Rocky and Bullwinkle show, and countless other roles in cartoons and animation.  So far, she hasn’t even been approached for so much as a token line in the movie.

Please see THIS FACEBOOK PAGE, and click “LIKE” at the top to lend your support to a grass-roots effort to get SMURF JUSTICE FOR JUNE FORAY.

Finally…don’t forget to visit the SocialMediaVO.com site, as we are updating it regularly, and filling it with loads of info that VO’s can use in their social marketing efforts.

Have a great week!

CourVO

You’ll see an ebb and flow of quality, but there should always be something new.  That’s my commitment.  At least one new blog every 24 hours, and hopefully something that contributes to your VO business.

I’ll be blogging for the next few days, but the only thing you’ll find that might augment your VO business is a little inspiration from the mountain West.

I’ll be vacationing with my family near Truckee, CA for the next few days.  That’s Lake Tahoe country…very close to where the Donner party had their tragic Winter-over in the Sierras.   It’s beautiful there, and I can veg.

So, stop back here for a few gorgeous pics if that will bring some tranquility to your day…there just won’t be much about business.  Even computer/internet/geeks need some time away from the digital universe.

CourVO

The idea was played out in a  2004 movie by the same name starring Ashton Kutcher.

In other words, our actions are only part of a dynamic system that constantly fluctuates and responds to the actions of those around us resulting in a never-ending, changing sum of consequences.  Heavy, huh?

VO people are investing more time in FaceBook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, ostensibly on the urging of Terry Daniel and myself in what was hoped to be a persuasive presentation of the benefits of social networking for your voice-over business.

I’d like to think our talk had that kind of power…but really, most of those in attendance had some inkling there was a treasure-trove to be had online, they just needed a nudge.

I’m a big proponent of the potential of social media, but VOICE2010 was the butterfly effect that VOICE2008 set in motion.  That event two years ago, set up a wave that crashed ashore last weekend.  Email, Twitter, and FaceBook make for wonderful relationships, but they don’t replace a face-to-face encounters.  They’re practice.  Prologue.  Face-time is the result.  Humans are just built that way.

Terry and I met on the phone every week for two months.  We exchanged scads of emails. yet it was the synergy of our persons sharing the same space in the physical world that  had impact.  The result you saw onstage — in person — made a bigger, longer-lasting impression than ANY webinar, or teleseminar could EVER make.

So here’s a toast to the virtual world, and the entré it gives us to deeper meaning in the real world!

So keep the tweets, invitations, and notices coming…I’m ready for VOICE2011!

CourVO

Call me crazy, call me a geek…you’d be right on both counts, but either way, read this online magazine, and be amazed — not only by the true virtual feel of flipping the pages, but by the excellent content, and yes, the ads.

Click HERE to go there.

CourVO