Hi and thanks for the free books!

Post by **chocoholic** » January 16th, 2007, 9:31 am

I just found y'all a couple of days ago and have downloaded a few things for an upcoming car trip. Love the site! I'm planning to start repaying the "debt" as soon as I can figure out the techie details of recording.

fae · Post by **fae** » January 16th, 2007, 10:04 am

Welcome chocoholic!

Have a look at our Guides for Listeners & Volunteers in our wiki (link at the top of the page.) If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask

Enjoy!

anna · Post by **anna** » January 16th, 2007, 10:06 am

WELCOME Chocoholic,

Have fun here

Cori · Post by **Cori** » January 16th, 2007, 12:25 pm

Good to have you joining us, Best Username of the Decade!

We'd love to have you recording, so please just ask if there's anything we can help with -- we are chockfull of advice and opinion.

Some of it quite helpful.

Also, though, have you seen the Sneak Preview forum..? Don't be distracted by it being called something else, it's All About our fabulous new up-and-coming offerings! As a bonus, if you're able to sign up to listen to things from there, and are able to note if you hear any repetitions, long gaps, unduly loud cat sneezes, etc ... that *is* helping the site directly. (Prooflistening while driving isn't going to work. If you're not the one driving though ... perfect!) Every file we put out now has a pair of ears much like yours checking it over, and more ears are needed.

Whatever you do, though, ENJOY!

ceastman · Post by **ceastman** » January 16th, 2007, 12:31 pm

Hi there, and welcome! glad you're enjoying the site.

-Catharine

Post by **chocoholic** » January 16th, 2007, 1:28 pm

Cori wrote:Good to have you joining us, Best Username of the Decade!

We'd love to have you recording, so please just ask if there's anything we can help with -- we are chockfull of advice and opinion. Some of it quite helpful.!

Why, thank you.

Quick question -- I did a test recording (a Wordsworth poem) and even before I upload it I can tell that my Southern accent is going to sound... accentuated. As a public service, shall I restrict myself to Southern writers? Or just have at it?

Do most listeners find it distracting to hear, say, Sherlock Holmes read by a very Southern female voice?

Chrisczech · Post by **Chrisczech** » January 16th, 2007, 1:40 pm

It's horses for courses, chocoholic.

As an Englishman, probably not for me, but for many listeners it would be great!
That's why we all have a go at everything. Don't worry about it. In my current project there is a story about "Wyoming Ed" - I don't do a very good American accent - so I don't try!

Just enjoy what you do, and have fun - everyone is welcome!

Cori · Post by **Cori** » January 16th, 2007, 2:34 pm

I'd say "Have at it!"

I lean towards authors or stories which suit my accent and gender ... but frankly, when something tempts, I'm not going to get too precious about it. There's just too much wonderful stuff out there I'd never get to read.

I would say, if you're doing names or locations, it can be handy to get a 'local' opinion (apologies now to the people in Mobile, AL, which I did NOT get right. And Utrecht, come to think of it.) I don't mind an accent at all, right through a recording, but if a Proper Name comes out wrong, that does jolt my ear. But that's just my opinion, too.

earthcalling · Post by **earthcalling** » January 16th, 2007, 3:33 pm

Hey Chocoholic, welcome!

For the record, if you ever listen to anything of mine, you'll 'owe' me chocolate!

David

kayray · Post by **kayray** » January 16th, 2007, 3:51 pm

We love love love regional accents and dialects! Please don't restrict yourself to Southern writers -- read anything that looks like fun :) Sherlock Holmes read by a Southern woman would be just dandy!

Cloud Mountain · Post by **Cloud Mountain** » January 16th, 2007, 5:31 pm

I'm waiting to hear something from you!

Post by **chocoholic** » January 16th, 2007, 7:21 pm

earthcalling wrote:For the record, if you ever listen to anything of mine, you'll 'owe' me chocolate!

Hmm, seems like that should be the other way around...

Cloud Mountain wrote:I'm waiting to hear something from you!

Working on it! (Technical difficulties including a 3-year-old, TV news in the background, a pitiful little microphone, and the fact that I sound like a dork.)

kri · Post by **kri** » January 16th, 2007, 7:22 pm

chocoholic wrote:and the fact that I sound like a dork.)

Now that is subjective. Not many like the sound of their recorded voice, so that's no excuse!

soundchest · Post by **soundchest** » January 16th, 2007, 7:40 pm

chocoholic wrote:Technical difficulties including a 3-year-old, TV news in the background, a pitiful little microphone, and the fact that I sound like a dork.)

Hey, me too! All of the above.

I don't let my 3-year-old watch TV too much. She gets hyper and loses her creativity. She's a real dramatic little one when provided with a bit of silence and feedback. Song, dance, play, books; luv it. Hubby likes the TV though, when she lets him hear it, lol.

My mic cost me $19. Not the best, I know. But this is sooo fun. I don't even mind sounding like a dork. I just have to get started! Crazy huh?

soundchest

Cori · Post by **Cori** » January 16th, 2007, 8:00 pm

<chortles> Almost everyone goes through a Dorktastic Phase. If you have a few minutes, you might like to have a look at the useful thread on this subject: What if I suck? Note the old, old dates ... and the names with hundreds and thousands of posts next to them dithering about their Dorkola-Quotient.

It's eminently possible to come out the other side (I loooove the sound of my own voice, which is a problem in itself

) and if not ... hey, you're doing this for free and for fun and who cares anyway when you're Reading Literature To Posterity.