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The RP accent is the 'posh' accent of England. When the world thinks of a 'Posh British Chap', this is the accent they are thinking of. There is the Contemporary RP accent, a more relaxed and modern RP, and the Conservative RP accent, which the Royal family speaks and you can hear in old films and TV shows. Once you have this down, you can practice dropping some of the 'T's and 'H's, this will relax the accent (towards an Estuary Accent, though there are still some differences - check out THIS link for more on Estuary). This is great if you want a more 'normal bloke' British accent, think more along the lines of Harry Potter! Phonetic Sentences Use this link if you would like to hear the individual IPA symbols pronounced https://jbdowse.com/ipa/   Contemporary  and Conservative Dia-phoneme and Keyword Sentence ɪ - KIT Bin the hymn kit and sit a minute Sid. ɛ - DRESS Many a Ted has dressed in bed to find that he's fallen asleep instead. Conservative [e] æ - TRAP The bad man trapped the rat, who wore the ridiculously tattered hat. Contemporary [a] ɒ - LOT The hot and bothered lot, had the odd wash, to stop the smell hitting the top! Contemporary [ɔ] ʌ - STRUT Under the hut the cow loved to strut in the mud to show off her udders. Contemporary [ʌ̈] Conservative [ɐ] ʊ - FOOT Put the good cook book on the hook. Contemporary [ɵ] iː - FLEECE The sea machine, made fleece, trees and bees. Contemporary [ɪi̯~iː] Conservative [ɪi̯] eɪ - FACE At day break, the face of Dave lay in the hay. aɪ - PRICE Fly higher said the kite that tried, but he cried the price and lied.  Contemporary [ɑ̈ɪ̯~ʌ̞ɪ̯] ɔɪ - CHOICE The boy had a choice, one toy or to annoy another coy boy.   Contemporary [oɪ̯] uː - GOOSE A goose with two blue eyes, was in a group that swooped and flew.  Contemporary - through - [uː], cute - [juː] Conservative - through - [ʊu̯], cute - [jʊu̯] oʊ - GOAT No! The goat show cannot throw out the bow-tied doe. Contemporary - no - [əu], soul - [ɒʊ̯~ɔʊ̯] Conservative [əʊ̯] aʊ - MOUTH The loud mouth of the south town, now frowned, because he wore a gown.  Conservative [ɑ̟ʊ̯] ɪər - NEAR Near here we are weary and shed a tear of fear. Contemporary [ɪ̞ː(ɹ)~ɪə̯(ɹ)] Conservative [ɪə̯(ɹ)] ɛər - SQUARE At the fair there were various pairs of rare square hairs.  Contemporary [ɛː(ɹ)~ɛə̯(ɹ)] Conservative [ɛə̯(ɹ)] ɑː / æ - BATH The task of the guard dog was to answer with a bark, alarm the yard and if he can’t, to calm the last of the barn dancers. Contemporary [ɑ̈ː~ʌ̞ː] Conservative [ɑ̟ː] ɔː - THOUGHT Thor thought the north war was against the law. Contemporary [oː] Conservative [oː] ʊər - TOUR The poor jury had a tour to help with the cure.  Contemporary - tour - [ɵː(ɹ)~o̞ː(ɹ)], pure - [jɵː(ɹ)~jo̞ː(ɹ)] Conservative - tour - [ʊə̯(ɹ)], pure - [jʊə̯(ɹ)] ɜːr - NURSE The nurse learned to stir and refer to her book. Contemporary [əː(ɹ)] Conservative - can be - [əː(ɹ)~ɐː(ɹ)] ə - COMMA The common actor, the standard writer and the about author all sat in the upper gallery. i - HAPPY It was a happy, glorious time that radiated.  Conservative [ɪ] u - YOU You influenced the situation, thank you!  n - TIN Suddenly cotton was everywhere! l and t -  BELL/BETTER The little metal bottle stood in the middle.  Contemporary - t = same or very gentle [t] BBC Announcers Test One hen Two ducks Three squawking geese Four corpulent porpoises Five limerick oysters Six pairs of Don Alverzo's tweezers Seven thousand Macedonians in full battle array Eight brass monkeys from the ancient, sacred, crypts of Egypt Nine apathetic, sympathetic, diabetic, old men on roller skates, with a marked propensity towards procrastination and sloth Ten lyrical, spherical, diabolical denizens of the deep who all stall around the corner on the quo of the quay of the quivvey, all at the same time.

Cockney is a dialect mainly spoken in London and surrounding areas, particularly by Londoners with working-class and lower-middle-class roots. Cockney, in the past, was strictly used to describe a person from the East End or, traditionally, born within earshot of Bow Bells (the church of St Mary-le-Bow). However, now, the accent is often used in the entertainment industry for any working-class Londoner. Estuary English is an intermediate accent between Cockney and Received Pronunciation, also widely spoken in and around London, as well as in wider South Eastern England. It can be used to show someone of lower to middle-class routes. It is often used in the industry as the 'normal everyday bloke' British Accent. In multicultural areas of London, the Cockney dialect is, to an extent, being replaced by Multicultural London English—a new form of speech with significant Cockney influence. Cockney can still be heard and has even moved into areas outside of East London, especially as older generations move out of the city. Phonetic Sentences Use this link if you would like to hear the individual IPA symbols pronounced https://jbdowse.com/ipa/   Cockney  and Estuary Consonants - Cockney/ Estuary [h] dropping - happy - /'æpiː/, /’apiː/ - Cockney/ Estuary Glottle for [t] - water - /woʊʔɐ/, /woːʔə/ - Cockney Glottle sometimes for [g] and [k] at the end - park - /pɑːʔ/ - Cockney [l] can drop or move to [w] - salt - /sɔwʔ/ , paul - /powʔ/ - Cockney Middle [p, t, k] are often aspirated - knackered - /nɛᵏɐᵊd/ - Cockney/ Estuary [θ] can become [f] in any environment - thin - /fɪn/, /fɪn/ , maths - /mɛfs/, /mafs/  - Cockney/ Estuary [ð] can become [v] in any environment except word-initially when it can be [ð, d, l, ʔ, ∅]. they - /dæɪ/, /dɛɪ̯/ , bother - /'bɔvɐ/, /'bɒvə/ - Cockney/ Estuary End [ŋ] shifted to [n] - working - /'wɜːkɪn/, /'wəːkɪn/ , running - /'ranɪn/, /'rʌ̟nɪn/ - Cockney/ Estuary Tune - /tʃʰʉːn/, /tʃʰʉːn/  or reduce - /ɹɪˈdʒʉːs/, /ɹɪˈdʒʉːs/  (compare traditional RP - /'tjuːn/, /ɹɪˈdjuːs/ Dia-phoneme and Keyword Sentence ɪ - KIT Bin the hymn kit and sit a minute Sid. ɛ - DRESS Many a Ted has dressed in bed to find that he's fallen asleep instead. Cockney [e, eɪ] æ - TRAP The bad man trapped the rat, who wore the ridiculously tattered hat. Cockney [æ~ɛ~ɛɪ] Estuary [a] ɒ - LOT The hot and bothered lot, had the odd wash, to stop the smell hitting the top! Cockney [ɔ] ʌ - STRUT Under the hut the cow loved to strut in the mud to show off her udders. Cockney [a] Estuary [ɐ~ʌ̟] ʊ - FOOT Put the good cook book on the hook. iː - FLEECE The sea machine, made fleece, trees and bees. Cockney [əi] Estuary [ɪi̯~iː] eɪ - FACE At day break, the face of Dave lay in the hay. Cockney [aɪ] Estuary [ɛɪ̯] aɪ - PRICE Fly higher said the kite that tried, but he cried the price and lied.  Cockney [ɒɪ̯] Estuary [ɑɪ̯] ɔɪ - CHOICE The boy had a choice, one toy or to annoy another coy boy.   Cockney [oɪ] Estuary [oɪ̯] uː - GOOSE A goose with two blue eyes, was in a group that swooped and flew.  Cockney [əʉ~ʉː], cute - [jəʉ~jʉː] Estuary [ʉː], cute - [jʉː] oʊ - GOAT No! The goat show cannot throw out the bow-tied doe. Cockney - no [aʊ], soul [aɤ] Estuary - no [əʊ̯], soul [ɒʊ̯] aʊ - MOUTH The loud mouth of the south town, now frowned, because he wore a gown.  Cockney [æʊ~aː] Estuary [aʊ̯] ɪər - NEAR Near here we are weary and shed a tear of fear. Cockney [ɪː(ɹ)~ɪɐ(ɹ)] Estuary [ɪː(ɹ)~ɪə̯(ɹ)] ɛər - SQUARE At the fair there were various pairs of rare square hairs.  Cockney [ɛː(ɹ)~ɛiə(ɹ)] Estuary [ɛ̝ː(ɹ)] ɑː / æ - BATH The task of the guard dog was to answer with a bark, alarm the yard and if he can’t, to calm the last of the barn dancers. Cockney [ɑː] Estuary [ɑː] ɔː - THOUGHT Thor thought the north war was against the law. Cockney [ʊə(ɹ), oː(ɹ)~oʊ(ɹ)] Estuary [o:] ʊər - TOUR The poor jury had a tour to help with the cure.  Cockney - tour [ʊə(ɹ), ɔː(ɹ)~oʊ(ɹ)], pure [jʊ̜ə̯(ɹ)~jɔ̝ː(ɹ)~joʊ(ɹ)] Estuary - tour - [ɔə̯(ɹ)~ɔː(ɹ)], pure [jʊ̜ə̯(ɹ)~jɔ̝ː(ɹ)] ɜːr - NURSE The nurse learned to stir and refer to her book. Cockney [ɜː(ɹ)~œ̈ː(ɹ)] Estuary [əː(ɹ)] ə - COMMA The common actor, the standard writer and the about author all sat in the upper gallery. Cockney [ɐ] i - HAPPY It was a happy, glorious time that radiated.  u - YOU You influenced the situation, thank you!  n - TIN Suddenly cotton was everywhere! l and t -  BELL/BETTER The little metal bottle stood in the middle.  Cockney - t [ʔ] Estuary - t [ʔ]

It is a super hard decision as to how much to spend on your first set-up. If you are not sure if you are going for it yet, I would recommend just getting something that fits your budget that you can start out with. If you are confident Narration or Voice Over is something you want to try seriously, I recommend buying a good beginner setup straight away so that you don’t have to buy twice. Software The first thing you need is a DAW or Digital Audio Workstation. There are lots to choose from, Audacity is a very simple choice that many beginners use but is limited in what you can do with it and so I recommend using software called Reaper from the beginning. That way you only have to learn a new skill only once. It has a free trial (which does roll over from the 60 days but please purchase the software as the price is extremely reasonable for what you get! I don't work for them in anyway I just think they rock!) https://www.reaper.fm/ It is an extremely powerful workstation, and perfect for Voice Over and Narration work. I recommend getting this as soon as you can to start playing with, as it has quite a steep learning curve, but once you've got it, you've got it! There is a ton of community support and videos with tips and tricks on using the software! I also have a Reaper config, FX chain and tutorials sheets you can use in the Reference Documents Hardware Microphones - Solid Set-Up Let's take a look at the set-up I recommend if you would like to take Narration and Voice Over seriously: Microphone Choice 1 Sennheiser MKE 600 Great for less-than-ideal recording spaces, lovely sound, and engineers and clients seem to love it! Really good for corporate VO as well as animation and audiobooks. I upgraded to this after a few years with my NT1 (see below) and it really is fantastic! My number one choice! Beyond this, we are moving to the high-end pro mics! Full MKE 600 review - HERE Microphone Choice 2 Rode NT1 (not the nt1-a) A great entry-level mic, that people use for their whole careers. This was my first pro mic and I recorded many, many projects on it! The 5th generation model has XLR and USB connection and the cheaper Signature Series has just the XLR. It is worth noting these hear everything so if you are worried about background noise I would say go for the MKE 600. NT1 5th Generation Full NT1 review - HERE Buy the NT1 Signature Series - HERE The Ultimate Voice Over Mics! If you have been in the business a little longer, are looking to upgrade or you just want to go for the big ones here are the top industry mics! Sennheiser MKH 416 - The big brother to the MKE 600. This was the shotgun mic the made shotgun mics a Voice Over artist's choice. A forward, confident, bold sound, perfect for commercials, but works for anything especially if you are worried about a less than ideal recording space. Buy the MKH 416 - HERE Neumann TLM 103 - Often reviewed as the best large diaphragm condenser mic for voice over. It has a gorgeous sound, very low self-noise and it is very standard across the industry! It will hear a pin drop so make sure your recording space is up to it! Buy the TLM 103 - HERE Neumann U87 Ai - This is often seen as the Holy Grail mic. I have heard many engineers say generally it is not needed for an at home studio, and the TLM 103 will be enough, but I have heard others say they can tell the difference and they love it! I would say, see if you can rent one and test it in your space first, as it sure is a big investment! Buy the U87 Ai - HERE Microphones - Super Budget Option It is worth saying that if you intend to take Voice Over and Narration seriously, you should invest in one of the above options. However, if you are just starting out, and are not quite sure yet if you can commit the money, The Maono PD200X is a really solid entry choice. It plugs straight into the USB of your computer so is everything you need as a super budget option. However, when you want to try and move into the industry you really need a more professional setup to secure work. Full PD200X Review - HERE Other Budget Options While the PD200X is what I recommend I have added a couple of others for you to compare. You can often find YouTube videos comparing the sounds, and everyone's space and voice are different so you have a few options to check out. If you can stretch to an interface here is a very affordable XLR mic: Audio-Technica AT2020 - HERE If you cannot afford an interface you will be looking at USB options: Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ - HERE Rode NT-USB+ - HERE Blue Yeti - HERE Blue Yeti X - HERE Audio Interface Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 - A very standard interface, I see them in studios all the time. They are cheap and reliable, sure you can spend more but this is a great starting point. I recommend the 2i2 over the Solo as there are just a few more features that make it useful, plus you get another input if you ever need it! You will need an interface for any XLR mic to supply Phantom power and for plugging into your laptop. Full 2i2 review - HERE   Headphones Once you have the above, you will need a good pair of over-ear headphones, anything will do as you start out, but eventually, you want to look at getting a pair of over-ear headphones. They should be Monitor headphones or Audio Mixing headphones, which are different to headphones you might buy for listening to music. If you think of popular headphones like Beats or something with Noise Cancelling and extra bass, it is very hard to hear the real sound of your recording, the headphones affect the sound. So you need a pair that gives you the true sound so you know how to mix the finished track. The industry standards are Beyer DT770’s, there are many others, I just love the Beyers and again, see them in studios all the time! Full DT 770's review - HERE Laptop For this, I really recommend a Macbook Air M3. I used to have a PC outside of my booth and would run cables for the monitor and use Bluetooth for the mouse and keyboard because the fans were too loud. Now I have the Air it comes into the booth with me, and I can use it for auditions while I am travelling too! It handles everything I throw at it easily, including audio post-production, video editing and even some gaming believe it or not! (No Man's Sky runs great!) External Drives It is SO important to back up your recordings! If anything goes wrong, at least you will be able to recover your work. I backup the project files from Reaper and the exported WAV files at the end of each recording day. SanDisk 4TB SSD - This Solid State Drive is very fast, stable, and silent, 4TB is looooaaaads! If I were to only have one, it would be this. However, I have both this and the drive below because I am a backup nerd! WD Elements 2 TB HDD - This is a hard drive, so it can make some noise when it is writing data (so do not use this when recording), it is also not as stable, and slower to transfer data but it is cheaper! Buy the WD Elements 2 TB HDD - HERE Room Treatment The most overlooked thing to think about is treating your recording space to keep away atmospheric sounds like cars from outside, or air conditioning, and stopping any reflection of your voice so that you don’t get an echo in the recording. An excellent professional Mic can sound awful in a bad space, so this is SUPER important and will dictate what kind of mic you should be looking at. THIS MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE! This video shows you a pretty solid on-the-fly DIY recording space and teaches you the basics of treating a space. https://youtu.be/5Se381sERrY You want to choose a space that is pretty quiet to begin with, and then you have a few options. The Blanket Fort Make a frame from mic stands, clothes racks or any thing you can find! PVC tubes work really well. Cover it with blankets, the heavier the better. Many people use movers blankets  but when I first started out I just used all the duvets and things I could find in the house. When I upgraded I went for specially made Sound Blankets , and I know a few people that have bought the premade portable vocal booths  which they say are great! I must say the best quality I have found are the ones from https://vocalboothtogo.com/  I think there Producers Choice blankets are really good! The Converted Space Find a room or closet you wish to convert and then surround yourself with soft surfaces. You can use blankets, pillows anything you can find! You can look at foam panels  but remember you want to add MASS and not just soft things. Mass stops external sound so layers can be really helpful! Don't forget bass traps  to take away as much of that boxy sound as possible! The Home Booth/Studio When you are ready to invest more seriously in your narration or Voice Over career you can look at building or purchasing a proper sound-isolated booth, but a fort or closet Is totally enough to get started! Coaching Once you have your setup you are ready to start practising and applying for jobs! It is really worth getting some coaching when you start out, especially if you do not have any experience in performance or are unsure on the tech side! There are a ton of great coaches out there, and it is all about finding the one that works for you! If you would like to get some coaching with me you can check out my coaching page here: https://www.kevinkemp.co.uk/coaching For anything else throw your questions in the comments! Happy narrating!!!!!!

Welcome to The Audiobook Guy's Production Services At The Audiobook Guy, we're all about turning your audiobook dreams into reality. Whether you're an author with a story to share or a narrator looking to perfect your craft, we're here to make the production process a breeze, and even a bit of fun. Audiobook production can sometimes feel confusing and overwhelming, but we're here to take away the stress and technical worries. Our team of experts is committed to delivering high-quality results, and we're dedicated to making the journey an enjoyable one for you. So, let's get started! Welcome to our world of creativity, precision, and above all, a warm and reassuring approach to production services. Have a look below for more information on the services we offer, and if there is something else you need that is not listed reach out to us! We will always chat with you to see if we can find the answer! Let's make some magic! Full Audiobook Production For authors and rights holders, we offer a comprehensive service that includes everything from casting the perfect voice, right through to post-production. We'll handle the technical aspects, so you can focus on what you do best – telling stories! $350 pfh Post Production Services Narrators, we've got you covered too. Our post-production services include: - Proofing - Editing - and Mastering. We'll make sure your narration shines, and that your audiobook is a masterpiece. $85 pfh Production Support Do you need something a little different? - An FX Chain to keep and use yourself to master your files to ACX Requirements - A sound-check of your recording set-up to ensure it hits industry standards - Help navigating ACX, preparing and uploading files - Advice in the process of researching and preparing a book for narration We are here for you! We can create a bespoke service to match your needs and budget so that your work is as bright and wonderful as you are! Demo Reel Production Are you a narrator or voice-over artist looking to promote your talent? Let us help you put together a captivating reel that showcases your unique skills and abilities. Bespoke Fee (let us know a little more about you in the form below and we can work together to find the right budget for your reel!) Get a Quote Let us know about your project and the kinds of services you need. Let's create together to make your work FLY! First Name Last Name Email Project Info Send Thanks for submitting!

To test this feature, visit your live site. Categories All Posts My Posts Forum Welcome! Have a look around and join the discussions. Create New Post General Discussion Share stories, ideas, pictures and projects! subcategory-list-item.views subcategory-list-item.posts 8 Follow Questions & Answers Get answers and share knowledge. subcategory-list-item.views subcategory-list-item.posts 5 Follow Audiobook Reviews Post reviews of Audiobooks you love to help people find their next great listen!!! subcategory-list-item.views subcategory-list-item.posts 2 Follow Castings Post jobs looking for talent. Please follow forum rules. subcategory-list-item.views subcategory-list-item.posts 0 Follow New Posts Jacob Ezell Aug 16, 2024 Feedback for a new narrator General Discussion Hello! I just wanted to get some feedback as a new narrator. I have a professional grade setup, but I'm curious as to what I can improve with either my ACX editing or my reads, and in particular, my character voices. I've attached a sci-fi audition that I did, as well as a general fantasy one. Like 0 comments 0 julia ford Aug 15, 2024 audiobook production services Questions & Answers 1. As my book gains popularity, I'm considering producing an audiobook version. However, I'm unsure which audiobook production services to use. Can anyone recommend a reputable company that can help me bring my story to life in audio form? What were your experiences with different production services, and what factors should I consider when choosing one? Like 0 comments 0 Marie Sinadjan Silver Member Dash · Aug 15, 2024 My Audiobook Reviews Audiobook Reviews Just compiling my reviews into one post, in case these are useful to anyone! 😊 Arranged from oldest to latest read, and no link yet means I still have to write the review. • The Child of Fire and Earth by Barry Ryerson • Heir of Memory and Shadow by Rachanee Lumayno • Tree Singer by Jacci Turner • Talia: Heir to the Fairy Realm by Joel C. Flanagan-Grannemann • The Herald by Shawn McGee Like 0 comments 0 Forum - Frameless