DIY Narrator: For Instructional Designers Who Narrate eLearning
Narrating your eLearning is about more than just delivering information, it’s about engaging your learners. To get the most out of your time narrating, you need to make sure you’re focused on the things that will improve the conversationality of your narration and connect your learner to the message and intent of your e-learning project.
Episodes
May 27, 2021 • 11 mins
Ok, I'm just going to start by saying I'm obviously biased in my opinion about where AI can (should?) live in the eLearning narration world.
Full disclosure, in the last year (2020) around 50% my income was from eLearning Narration work. There was a HUGE surge in people needing to produce virtual training, especially in the upskilling/certification world.
Not necessarily in the world of corporate learning, that was honestly...
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March 19, 2021 • 16 mins
Last week, the wonderful Devlin Peck released a video titled "Does your eLearning Project Need Narration?" - which I thought had some great ideas around necessary application of narration in eLearning.
If you haven't watched it, I absolutely suggest you go check it out. Subscribe to his channel while you're over there! Great videos released much more consistently than episodes of this podcast!
In this episode, I rif...
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March 6, 2021 • 11 mins
A piano, guitar, and the alphabet walk into a bar...
Oh wait. That's a different thing.
After a bunch of questions, I'm revisiting the concept of practicing your eLearning narration.
Many of you have asked "How much do I need to practice?" or maybe "What should I practice?"
Well, listen in and you can hear me riff a little more on what practice actually means to me.
You can also listen to the previous episo...
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January 8, 2021 • 13 mins
Ask any good musician and they'll tell you the trick is the space between the notes.
That's what we're here today to talk about. Pauses.
We're usually so focused on the words and the performance of them, that we forget to address intentional silences.
We can use them to catch a breath, add emphasis, and help pull a listener along.
They can also be used to overwhelm a listener or ruin your effectiveness because you p...
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December 18, 2020 • 13 mins
This month I've been working through a huuuuge eLearning Narration project. I mean, HUGE. Nearly 80,000 words, more than 30 modules, all for one client.
That equates to probably close to 8 hours of completed audio.
The full process involves the following main steps:
A quick read to know what's coming
Recording the first take and fixing mistakes as I go
Creating regions for file naming
Proof listening a module to find mista...
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December 10, 2020 • 19 mins
Today, we're talking about finding your intent in your eLearning Narration performance.
And I may have just simultaneously written the best and worst headline in the history of the Internet, but it will all make sense when you listen to the episode.
What is Intent?
Stop. Right. THERE!
Intent is not a "what". Intent is your "why".
Why are you narrating this eLearning? Why are you saying the thing you're sayi...
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December 3, 2020 • 18 mins
"I still sound like I'm reading!"
I've heard that sentiment from a number of people trying to get better at eLearning Narration... Then I realized something.
All of these people (possibly even you!) are missing one key ingredient when it comes to improving their eLearning Narration and sounding like a professional voice talent — not someone sitting in an office and reading a script or an even worse version of Amazo...
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February 28, 2020 • 12 mins
One major complaint, gripe, or observation I've heard a number of times is that professional voice talent can sometimes sound too professional.
When you've heard it, you may have said something like this:
"They just sound too professional!"
"They don't sound like us."
Traditionally, a voiceover talent performing eLearning has a very distinct sound. It could be described as "professional....
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February 3, 2020 • 12 mins
With apologies to Eli Manning...
Listen to this one before the Cease and Desist letter hits my mailbox.
Last night was Super-Duper Football Game night. As usual, the commercials were the true highlight. Though, when you can see them all online the week before the surprise of a really good Super Bowl commercial is shot.
As is usually the case, my ears were focused on the commercials that feature voiceover. I'm listening...
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July 26, 2019 • 39 mins
This episode is a change of format for DIY Narrator! In this episode, I'm joined by Neil Zielsdorf.
Neil is an Instructional Designer for Amazon who has recently moved into a new house. As a result, he's been incrementally setting up a room in his home to be his new workspace for recording eLearning narration and videos over a green screen.
We had a great discussion about sound reflections (echo), acoustic treatment, ...
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July 12, 2019 • 10 mins
Hmm... Title ideas...
The secret that Voice Over Talents don't want you to know!These 5 things help you sound more conversational. You won't believe number 4!Don't even think about recording your eLearning narration without doing this first!
Oh wait, I'm producing valuable content here, not clickbait.
But seriously, this really is one weird trick that most voice talents use on a regular basis and it will pr...
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June 7, 2019 • 11 mins
024: AKA Method Acting for the Instructional Designer
This episode picks up where last episode ended: My presentation at the Learning Solutions conference.
Last episode, I talked about the Bad and Incomplete Advice you've been given and some pitfalls that can cause your narration to be not so conversational sounding.
This week, we're going cerebral! Time to get in your head and figure out what you're thinking a...
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May 2, 2019 • 12 mins
023: Learning Solutions 2019 Presentation - Part 1
Note: I accidentally pointed the last post to the wrong file! This is a duplicate/new post to make sure everyone gets the right file downloaded. You might not have noticed, but in case you think you already grabbed this episode, that's what's up.
First, a story:
Once upon a time, there was a guy who had a podcast and was speaking at a conference. He thought, "H...
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March 7, 2019 • 10 mins
We should rethink the word "Authority" when it comes to eLearning Narration.
Episode 22 of the DIY Narrator Podcast is here! Time to talk about sounding like an "authority" in your eLearning Narration.
I'll be honest, I don't like the word "authority" as part of the direction for narrating an eLearning script. To me, "authority" too strong or negative.
In my head, I see the grumpy ...
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February 22, 2019 • 13 mins
Yer gonna wanna listen to this one!
This week we continue with the question “Who’s it for?” and dig into how you can adjust your narration style to sound more conversational with the intent of appealing to and connecting with your audience.
If you haven’t heard Part 1, check it out!
And if you have heard the episode on how I failed by not answering the question of “Who’s it for?”, be sure to check it out here.
I guess you coul...
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February 7, 2019 • 9 mins
"Who's it for?"
You already ask yourself this question when you begin working on a training module. It should impact every element of your eLearning: the outline, the visuals, the length, the language, and the method of delivery.
It should also impact your narration in a number of ways. This week, we're talking about scriptwriting and pace.
I did touch on pace a bit in Episode 19, so be sure to check it out as wel...
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January 17, 2019 • 14 mins
It's been too long since the last episode, but it was all for good reason!
Apart from being crazy busy over the holidays, I spent a lot of time thinking about where I wanted to take DIY Narrator in 2019. I think you're going to like it.
Also, near the end of 2018, I took on my first project with a brand shiny new client and quickly proceeded to make one serious mistake that caused a bit of extra work on my end and some un...
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December 7, 2018 • 20 mins
Video is BIG in L&D.
But I don't have to tell YOU that.
All you have to do is think about the last time you visited YouTube and you'll realize how engaging and effective video content can be when done well.
Or how ineffective it can be when done poorly.
Specifically, I'm talking about poor audio quality.
Knowing how effective video can be for training, I wanted to discuss how you can get started taking steps to...
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November 15, 2018 • 22 mins
When I was at DevLearn back in October and introduced myself as "voice talent" often their response included some variation of the following question:
"My friend/My spouse/I've always wanted to explore voiceover. Do you have any advice?"
Lucky for me, I love to talk shop.
For a long time, I've avoided this question on the podcast, but I wanted to cover it and get it out of the way! For the most part, those ...
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October 25, 2018 • 9 mins
The introvert in me needed a break from the amazing networking and learning event that is DevLearn... and what an amazing event it is. The Keynote from Julie Snyder (Executive Producer of the Serial Podcast) was killer (no pun made in poor taste intended), the sessions have been awesome and informative, the Expo is amazing, and everyone is the nicest person I've ever met.
Plus, in Episode 15, I promised you a podcast!
This we...
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