Today’s episode is about some major changes I made in January. Change makes me uncomfortable, but I survived, and I grew because I challenged myself. Here’s the short list of what I did:
- I stopped drinking coffee (January 8, 2021)!! ☕️😱 I have acid reflux. Coffee was making my voice hoarse. Do I sound any different in this episode? Message me. Let me know! I’m trying to go without coffee at all until May 1, 2021. I replaced my morning cup of coffee with early morning workouts from a YouTube channel called Team Body Project.
- I removed 100% of my voiceover projects and podcasts from my laptop and saved them on an external hard drive
- I updated the operating system on my laptop (from Mojave to Big Sur)
- I updated my audio recording software (from Studio One Artist Version 4 to Version 5)
- I upgraded my audio repair software, which ironically is called RX (from RX7 to RX8). Ironic because “RX” is an abbreviation for “pharmacy.” RX8 helps me remove mouth noises and clicks, among other undesirable noises, from my audio.
- I changed my audio interface (from Focusrite Scarlett Solo to Presonus Studio 26). An audio interface connects an XLR microphone, like my Audio Technica 2035 condenser microphone (AT2035) to my computer.
- I asked for help because I didn’t know how to do some of this stuff on my own. Big thanks to Don Baarns for helping me make sure everything was installed properly on my MacBook Air and my iMac! Don knows Studio One Artist and RX better than anyone I know, and I trust him with my machines. Don is fun to work with, really patient, and a great teacher.
As a newbie in the VoiceOver industry, this was the first time I’ve ever updated my DAW, RX, my Operating System, and my Audio interface at the same time. It was scary! Even though all this updating and upgrading made me feel uncomfortable, I survived, and I grew because of it. I’m all set for 2021, and next time I have to update and upgrade, it won’t be as scary.
In closing, it’s ok to NOT know everything. Being a second-career professional in any industry can be scary. I’m making the switch from pharmacist to voice actor. When you are going through something new or scary, use your talents, do you research, and ask for help when you need to. In the end, you will figure it out and do amazing things! If I can do it, you can do it!
Mentioned in this episode (NONE are affiliate links.)
Contact form and voicemail button for The Pharmacist’s Voice
Team Body Project YouTube channel
Studio One Artist Version 5 (DAW/recording software)
iZotope RX (audio repair software)
sweetwater.com is a great online store for instruments, recording software, and editing software
Mike Arango is my Sweetwater Sales Rep. mike_arango@sweetwater.com
Focusrite Scarlett Solo audio interface
Presonus Studio 26 audio interface
XLR microphone example: AT2035 condenser microphone
Don Baarns website