Another online discussion about audio production techniques brought up the following ideas for the BIG sound.

“While there are plug-ins for this, I find it easier to do it by hand. For certain key phrases like “Prices will never be this low again!”, I’ll make a copy of that phrase and run it in a second channel side by side with the original. I’ll run it a few milliseconds before or after the original and it seems to really boost the perceived volume and adds a bit of a tight reverb sound.”

Want to make it BIGGER and BETTER? Try panning the left channel with the original far left and the right channel with the copy far right. You want a huge sound, there you go. Most of the imaging guys I know use this trick.

Justin Kaiser
Creative Identity Group

In a recent discussion with some associates, one mentioned that they had 2 favorite non-real-time filters in Adobe Audition 2.0.

1. Compander (in Dynamics Processing) and
2. Broadcast (in Multiband Compressor).

Here are the settings for the Compander… Try them out and let me know what you think…

Several of my associates have been passing tips around regarding some of their favorite production techniques. How many times have you tried to put a VO on music only to have the VO drowned out or the music too low to hear? Try a simple EQ technique to the music and/or FX (non-destructively of course). Ad0be Audition 1.5/2.0 has a preset called “vocal cut” in the graphic equalizer. That works. Or if you want to make your own, create a -6 to -9 db dip centered around 2k.

Sometimes we just need to be silly. Sometimes Silly Sells! Anyway, I was overjoyed to find the following video on YouTube. It’s a parody about a fellow VO actor Kyle Hebert.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=k1BeH1UKu3Q[/youtube]

There is a difference between having a strategy of grabbing a larger percentage of the current listening audience, and having a strategy of GROWING the listening audience.  Are you growing, or simply capturing/trading listeners from competitors?

Creative Identity Group knows where consumers are and how to reach them in this new communications landscape, and we want to help design radio’s next generation.

We need to look outside the radio field for possible solutions to radio’s challenges. Aren’t these somewhat non-radio problems? The problem isn’t music rotation equations or time spent listening models, or programming - the problem is - How does radio – in an ever fragmenting media environment – go about resonating with consumers and penetrating the market in such a way that again grows the listening base, rather than simply placating the core?

If you’re curious, give us a call or an e-mail.

Justin Kaiser
Creative Identity Group