AICG

McDull dubbing? It's not as mysterious as you think

Ha, McDull! Every time you hear that slow, rustling, slightly naive and insistent voice, the corners of your mouth can't help but turn up right? Want to try dubbing it yourself? Don't be intimidated by "professional dubbing", we ordinary people can do it at home with some free tools and tips. Today, we'll talk to you about how to turn your voice into "McDull Bendou".

The first step in playing McDougal dubbing is not to rush to open your mouth and learn it.Prick up your ears.. You've got to listen to it a lot. Listen to the original over and over again. What is the essence of McDull's voice? I've pondered over it for a long time, and I think it's mainly these points: thatslow-burning vigor, which never seemed to be in a hurry, trailing a little tail on each word; the voicehoarseThe voice is not a clear child's voice, but rather a nasally "not awake" or "just cried" voice; and there is also the kind ofUnique Hong Kong-Popular accentThe most important thing is that the "school principal" is called "school up" and the "fish egg" is called "fish but", which is particularly life-like. The most important thing is that theNaive and persistentThe seriousness with which he says "fish egg and noodles" is just amazing! You have to chew up these feelings, swallow them, and make them your own.

Playing without spending money: the free gods at hand in 2024

Don't think of going into a professional studio as soon as you hear a recording, let's start by playing for free, the effect is definitely enough:

1. Audacity (essential for computers)This old boy is really the leader of the free recording and editing world. Download and install (remember to go to the official website, safe), the interface may look a little old-school, but the function is full of thieves. Record your voice is the basis, the key is to record after the "magic hour". Isn't McDull's voice muffled? Go to the "Effects" menu and click "pitch change", try moving the pitch a little toward thequeerPull it down a little bit (like -1 to -3), not too much or it turns into a monster! Then look for "equalizer", puttingHigh frequencies (harsh parts) are slightly compressedThe middle and low frequencies are slightly more prominent, and that rustling, muffled feeling comes out. Try the parameters a few more times, and the ear receives the goods!

2. OBS Studio (Treasure Tool): This dude was supposed to be doing live recording, but it'sAudio Separation RecordingThe function is too flavorful! Set up the microphone as a separate track recording, the dry sound recorded out of the thief clean, much stronger than a lot of software comes with the recording. Recorded directly dragged into Audacity processing, the perfect partner.

3. Cuts / CapCut (for cell phone users): Don't underestimate cell phone software! Cutscreen and CapCut's "modification of voice"In the function, look for it."uncle (term used address a man about the age of one's father)","cartoon (loanword)"or"gloomy"This type of option. While it may be a bit bogus to apply it directly, it's a good idea to use it as abasic effectIf you record it and export it, you can save a lot of work by fine-tuning the details with Audacity (such as adding a bit of reverb to simulate a sense of space, and adjusting the pitch and equalization that I just mentioned). Directly in the app to the McDougall screen match, you can also practice lip sync.

Open your mouth and practice! Put the mike down your throat.

The tools are ready, and the next step is to practice the voice. To imitate McDull, you need to do some homework on your voice:

Find the location: Try putting the vocal positionlean back and sink. Imagine the sound not coming from the front of your throat, but arching out from deeper in your throat, or even that part of your chest. Yawn and feel your throat open and your voice low, it's kind of like that.

The trick to "slouching": McDull speaks slowly, but slow is not dragging, it'sEvery word carries a little weight.Try to speak with your jaw a little more relaxed and your lips a little less forceful. Try to speak with your jaw a little more relaxed and your lips not too hard, feeling the words as "take a hike"out", not "out". The endings of key words can be lengthened a little bit, such as "rough~face~".

How does the raspiness come about? (safe version): Never harden your voice to mute shouting! It hurts the vocal cords! Try this trick: when speaking.Light with a bit of a bubbly sound (similar to the feeling of a gurgle in your throat when you sigh) bottoming outIt makes the voice sound less "clean". Or.Slight pressure on the glottis (very slight!), making the vocal tract a little bit narrower and also coming out with that friction. Remember, it's "trimming", not for you to hold your breath and talk! Drink lots of water before and after practice!

The "Soul" of HarborPop: You don't have to aim for a perfect replica, catch a few features:"n" and "l" are sometimes indistinguishable.(For example, "brisket noodles" might have a "liu lan mian" feel to it);Later nasal sounds (ing, eng) are sometimes pronounced as front nasal sounds (in, en)(e.g. "Principal" like "School Rise");Some voices are flatter, and the endings may be slightly raised. Listen to more of the original, mumble along, and look for phrases.

Injected into the soul - Bean and Persistence: That's what's hardest to imitate! What's so cute about McDull is that heNaivety.. When matching, mentallyI really believe it.What he says, even if it's "No noodles? Then how about river noodles with fish eggs... no fish eggs? What about thick noodles?" That kind of cycle.The tone should be matter-of-fact, even a little wooden, but at key points (like repeatedly asking "Where's the pumpernickel?") You need to show that you're not going to give up until you get what you want., a bit of eye emptying might help to get into the mood (don't laugh!) .

The real deal! With the classic "Fish Eggs and Noodles".

Come on, let's practice with the most classic teahouse clip:

McDull: "Well, I'll take one.Fish, eggs, thick noodles.." (The starting tone can be slightly flat, the speed of speech slow, the words "fish eggs and thick noodles" clear, especially "thick noodles" can be slightly prolonged, with anticipation.)

Boss: "No thick noodles." (Tone of voice flat, statement of fact.)

McDull: (short pause, with a little confusion and reconfirmation) "So... I don't want thick noodles.Fish, eggs, rice noodles.I am." (The word "咁" could use a little hesitant rise, and "鱼蛋河粉" is once again slow and clear, as if a different choice would solve the problem.)

Boss: "No fish eggs." (Again, bland blitz.)

McDOUGALL: (longer pause, tiny brain working hard to digest the information, then with a last hope, cautiously and perhaps a little more slowly) "So... So... How about a bowl of noodles?" (This sentence is soulful! The two "咁" words are full of confusion and attempts to understand, and "粗面咧" should have an almost naive, re-proposed feel to it, with the final "咧" rising slightly, revealing a little bit of The final "grin" can be slightly raised, revealing a little bit of fluke in anticipation of the boss suddenly remembering that there are still pumpernickel noodles available.)

Pay attention when recording: Difference in voice between McDull and Boss. Boss is a normal adult tone of voice. McDull, between each sentence, especially after being rejected, theAllow enough "blank time" for thinking., which is characteristic of his slow half-response. Record the dry sound in Audacity, adjust the pitch (slightly down) and EQ (squash the highs and slightly boost the low mids) as described earlier, you can add a little bit of very slight reverb (to simulate a small space), and listen to see if you get that flavor.

A few thoughtful reminders to keep you off the beaten path

Protect your voice first! mimic a raspy voiceDon't do it the hard way.*. When you feel your throat is dry, itchy, or sore, stop immediately to take a break and drink water. Warm water and honey water are good. Sounds that require you to "tear" your voice to make them are going in the wrong direction and are not sustainable. We are playing, not playing for our lives.

The environment should be quiet:* :: Close windows, turn off air conditioners (if noisy) and silence cell phones while recording. Background noise is difficult to repair cleanly later, especially the free noise reduction may damage the human voice. Find a large closet and drill into it to record, the sound-absorbing effect is unexpectedly good!

A jab away from Mic:* :: Don't stick too close, it's easy to spray the microphone (poof sound). Don't be too far away, the sound is small and recorded into the noise. Keep about a fist distance, with a simple spray cover (stocking cover hanger DIY one can be) the effect is better.

Practice more, record it and listen to it!* :: It can be a little weird to listen to yourself when you've just recorded yourself, but that's the way to progress. Listen to the original over and over again, compare it to what you recorded, and look for gaps. Is the speed of speech too fast? Is your voice not deep enough? Or is the emotion not there? Targeted improvement.

Having fun is most important!* :: Don't start with a perfect replica. Capture the essence, bring some of your own interpretation and have fun. Share it with your friends to hear it, you might be surprised (or shocked, haha).

Actually ah, the most interesting thing about matching McDull is not how similar the voice is, but the fact that you can experience his kind of small persistence and happiness in a simple world. Pick up your cell phone or computer, find a quiet corner, relax and try to talk in McDull's way, and you may find that the silly, warm little piggy is not so far away from you. Why don't you give it a try? Maybe the next hidden "folk McDull" is you!

McDull Voiceover Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

That voice, I knew it was Naruto.

Seriously, when I was a kid, the first time I heard the Taiwanese dubbed Naruto on TV, I froze when Naruto opened his mouth. Not the kind of word is round broadcast accent, not deliberately play cute baby voice, is a kind of with sandy texture, a little gangster, but hot blood up and can instantly ignite your teenage voice. Especially his signature "wahahaha" laugh, and shouting "I want to be Naruto" when the force of defiance, simply and that blonde hair, blue eyes, full-face beard troublemaker perfect match. It was only later that I realized that behind this voice that people can't forget once they hear it is a superb dubbing god - Mr. Jiang Duhui.

It's not "who", it's "God" Jiang Duhui.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Ms. Chiang Tuk Hwee is a legend in Taiwan's dubbing industry. She has dubbed so many classic characters that it would shock you to tell you. In addition to Naruto, she is also the voice of Edogawa Conan, the student who dies everywhere he goes! And then there's Shinnosuke Nohara (Crayon Shinchan), who's always five years old, has an alien butt, and yells "kinetic light wave" all the time! These three very different characters are actually from the same person? Can you believe it?

My jaw almost dropped when I first found out. Think about it, Naruto is the hot-blooded fool with a little bit of cunning, Conan is the calm and wise young adult, and Shin is the nonsensical being to the end of the universe. Ms. Chiang was able to use the magic of her voice to bring these characters to life in such a way that you can't tell it's the same person voicing them. This kind of power, without a decade or so of grinding in the recording studio, coupled with God's reward for voice plasticity, simply can not be done.

Naruto's soul lives in her voice.

What's the best thing about Ms. Chiang's Naruto? I think it's the way she expresses Naruto's stubbornness and pure passion in her voice. Listen to this:

Normally speaking, with a bit of a lazy, less serious tone, like not waking up, but at critical moments, the voice instantly pulls up, and that impulse comes out, and you get goosebumps listening to it. When competing with Sasuke, the sour taste of defiance and the desire to be recognized in his voice is especially real. When shouting out the way of Shinobu, the thickness and power of the voice can shatter the screen.

The best part is the "huh?" "Eh?" "Nani?" Mr. Jiang's voice-acting is especially "Naruto", bringing out the character's middle-agedness, hilarity, and realism. Many fans have said that after the dub was changed (Mr. Chiang's work was reduced due to illness in the later part of the series, and some episodes were replaced by other teachers), although the new teacher was also great, it always felt like there was a little bit of that "flavor" missing, the soulfulness that belongs to Chiang Duk Hwi that gives Naruto his mark.

It's not just the sound, it's the memory of a generation

Mr. Chiang Tuk-wai's voice has accompanied too many people as they grew up. The days when we rushed home from school and watched Naruto on TV, the moments when we heard Naruto shouting "Multiple Shadow Diversion Technique" and got excited, and all those passionate lines about friendship, endurance, and never giving up, were all carved into our minds through her voice.

Sadly, the master dubber who brought laughter and emotion to countless people passed away in 2019 due to an illness. When the news came out, the anime circle was really in mourning. It was only then that everyone suddenly realized that the voice that was so familiar that it couldn't be familiar anymore had silently accompanied us for so long. Now when you go back to watch the early Taiwanese tie-in Naruto and hear Naruto's iconic voice, in addition to nostalgia for the plot, you will especially miss the talented teacher Jiang Duhui, who was hidden behind the voice.

When you open your mouth, it's youth.

So if you're asking, "Who is the Chinese dub for Tweeters?" The answer, of course, is Mr. Chiang Tuk Hwee. But for me, there is more meaning behind this question. Her voice is not just an interpretation of a character, it carries too many memories of the golden age of anime, and is a particularly bright color in youth. That a little raspy, energetic, sometimes funny and sometimes touching teenage voice, and whirlpool Naruto this character has been tightly tied together, has become our generation in the heart of the irreplaceable classic. The next time you hear the phrase "I want to be Naruto!" Remember, that is Mr. Jiang Duhui left us the most hot-blooded voice gift.

You may also want to know about the Naruto Taikai pairing...

Q1: Why does Naruto's voice seem a little different in some later episodes?

A: That's right! Mr. Jiang Duhui's workload was reduced in the later stages due to health reasons. The production company, in order to ensure the broadcast, found other equally very good dubbing teachers to take over, such as Mr. Feng Jiade who also dubbed part of the show. They were all very good and tried their best to get close to Mr. Chiang's voice, but longtime fans with sharp ears could always hear the subtle differences, after all, Mr. Chiang's "Naruto flavor" was too unique.

Q2: In addition to Naruto, Conan, and Xiaoshin, what other classic characters has Mr. Jiang Duhui played?

A: Wow, that's a lot! Zouma (Hidetoshi Minamino) from Yu Yu Hakusho is her, as is Mitsuhiko Roundtree from Detective Conan, and Muto Game (Table Game) from Game of Thrones is still her! And then there's Shichibuko from Inuyasha, Tangerine from Our Family ...... A lot of the voices you remember from your childhood may or may not have come from Ms. Chiang's mouth!

Q3: Why does Jiang Duhui's Naruto feel so "gangly" and hot-blooded?

A: It's all about power! Her voice is naturally husky and grainy, not a bright teenage voice, but rather a "street voice". But she is particularly good at controlling the tone of voice and explosive force, usually relaxed when the kind of lazy, a little beat up tone, and serious when the voice instantly elevated, full of power conversion, naturally formed the Naruto kind of "hanging tail reversal" unique temperament, and gangster and burning.

Q4: Why is Naruto's laugh "wahahaha" so magical?

A: Hahaha, this is really great! Ms. Jiang's laughter is not a simple "haha" sound, she laughed very freely, with a bit of broken sound and breath, the feeling is genuinely from the stomach out of the kind of laughter, especially infectious, but also in line with Naruto's kind of heartless, big personality. As soon as you hear this laughter, you don't have to look at the picture to know that Naruto himself is laughing.

Q5: Where else can you hear Naruto dubbed by Mr. Chiang Duk Hwi?

A: The earlier episodes, like the first one and those classic parts of the Nakanobu Exam, are still preserved in Mr. Chiang's original voice by many online platforms (such as Netflix and Bahamut Anime Madness in some areas) or DVD versions released back in the day. However, be careful to read the release notes, as some platforms may have updated their sources since then. If you want to revisit it, look for the old "Taiwanese with Mandarin" sources, and you'll probably hear that familiar voice.

When was the first time I watched The Witch's House? I honestly don't remember much about it, except that it was a fuzzy bootleg VCD with the sound going up and down, but the image of Kiki flying across the sea on a broomstick instantly pinned me to the couch. I later realized that I was watching the Taiwanese dubbed version. Later, Ghibli was officially introduced to the mainland, and a new dubbed version came out. I've listened to both versions over and over again, and my ears are getting calloused, so today I'm going to break it up and talk about it, and which one sounds like it's poking you more.

I. Factory Settings of Sound: Background and First Impressions

Taiwan version (Guardian Chinese Channel period): This version is really old, and it floated into the TV sets of countless 80s and 90s homes through the Chinese channel of TVB. It gives me the feeling that it's like a box of old childhood toys, with a bit of "ancient flavor". The overall sound is sharp and bright, especially Qiqi, the young girl's tenderness is particularly sufficient, but you say it is a bit "whiny", right? Indeed, there is a little bit of Taiwan accent unique tone, but not pretentious, quite natural.

Continental release version (after 2010): Waiting and waiting, Miyazaki Hayao's work finally officially landed in mainland theaters! This version of the dubbing is a serious theater process, the production is more sophisticated, the voice texture is obviously "thick", stable. The Mandarin characters are very well written and sound particularly "standard". Although Qiqi's voice is also young, but less of the kind of exuberant and lively Taiwan with more introverted and gentle, more like the neighbor's understanding of the young lady.

II. The Soul of the Character in the Voice: A Key Character Competition

Taito (Aiya Zhang): The voice actor gives Kiki all the "punch" she needs! The beginning of the scene where she leaves the house, chattering excitedly, "I'm off!" That voice is so electrifying. When she is frustrated, she has that little nasal voice of resignation and discontentment, which makes you feel tense. Occasionally, when the mood is high, the voice will be particularly sharp, like stepping on an electric throttle, some people love this energy, and some people feel a little scratchy ears.

Continental version (Ji Guanlin): Ji Guanlin's voice is so recognizable! The way she dubbed Kiki was like adding a gentle filter to the character. When she's happy, her laughter is a clear spring; when she's confused or sad, her depression and vulnerability are especially real and poignant. The classic line "Although there are times when I am sad..." is stubborn with resignation, but Ji Guanlin's rendition carries a quiet strength, as if he is cheering softly to himself at night, with more energy.

Taito (Jay Liu): Mr. Liu Jie's voice is a textbook of teenage sensibility! That characteristic adolescent boy's clarity, straightforwardness, and a little recklessness, it all comes out. When he was fighting with Kiki and excitedly talking about flying machines, he could feel the enthusiasm through the screen. Just listening to him, I felt that this is a big sunny boy full of whimsical ideas and a little bit stinky.

Continental version (voice actor): The mainland version of Dragonfly's vocal line is obviously deeper and more stable than the Taiwan version. Less outgoing and hairy, more like a dependable, dreamy neighboring brother. The interaction with Kiki feels more...gentle? The interaction with Kiki feels more... gentle? Less of the "happy couple" sparks, more of the silent support.

Desk Matching: This character is definitely the highlight of the Taiwanese pairing! The boss' wife's grounded Southern Min accent (words like "cha so and so") and her loud voice, which is so bright that it's a little bit "fierce", are just like a big sister with a sharp tongue and a heart of gold. When she reprimands Kiki for her slow work or compliments her on her good bread baking, she has a great sense of humor!

Continental Edition: The mainland version of the boss's wife is a pretty amiable aunt. The Mandarin is standard, the attitude is gentle, and the concern for Kiki carries a bit of the kindness of an elder. It's nice to listen to, but it's just...less of that spunky and vibrant vitality of the Taiwanese version, like a cup of lukewarm water, safe but with less vigor.

Third, the atmosphere: who is more "right"?

Desktop Match Edition: This version wins in terms of "atmosphere" and "vitality". The voice actors are open, full of emotion, and even a bit exaggerated in a "stage play" style. The background vocals are also lively, and the bustling town of Koriko seems to be right in front of us. Kiki's incantation "piu piu" is especially playful, with its own sound effects. Watching this version, you can't help but laugh and rush along with the characters, and the sense of immersion is particularly strong, the kind of old animation unique, with a bit of "noise" hilarity.

Continental Edition: The best part is the "sophistication" and "immersion". The sound production is obviously more cinematic, with clean background sounds and delicate ambient sounds (rain, waves, wind are all clearer and more layered). The characters speak more naturally, more like the rhythm of everyday conversations, which is comfortable to listen to and not easy to get out of character. The overall temperament is closer to what we are used to when watching animated movies nowadays - quiet, beautiful and unfolding.

IV. Sentiment or reality, which do you choose?

So, in a roundabout way, which one sounds better? It really depends on which one you "eat".

If you're like me, you're one of those people who grew up watching the Chinese channel on satellite TV, or you just favor that energetic, dubbed style with a bit of dramatic tension.desktop versionIt's your "time machine". It may not be so "standard" or even a bit "noisy", but there is no substitute for the vividness and emotional filter that comes with it.

If you're new to The Witch's House, or if you value sound texture and production refinement more than anything else, and prefer a natural and smooth viewing experience.Mainland China Premiere EditionDefinitely a no-brainer. Ji Guanlin's Kiki is gentle and powerful, and deserves your quiet time to savor it.

To be honest, revisiting it as an adult, I instead turn on the mainland version more often. The tenderness and resilience that Ji Guanlin gives to Kiki is more comforting to me in the weary moments of life. But every time I hear the Taiwanese version of Kiki's energetic "Dragonfly!" I still can't help but feel the corners of my mouth rise, remembering that summer when I watched animation and didn't know how to feel sad.

Don't get hung up on the best way? Get both and listen to them! The ears and the heart will tell you the answer. After all, whichever sound carries us and Kiki across that blue sea together is a happy thing, right?

Frequently Asked Questions about the Chinese dub of the Witch's House

A: It's really hard to find! Old resources. You can try in some nostalgic anime forums or resource station search "magical girl mansion rush poo Taiwan with satellite Chinese station" or "magical girl mansion rush poo old version of the dubbing", sometimes there will be enthusiastic netizens to share. Before downloading, pay attention to the picture quality and sound quality, after all, the years are long, do not expect high-definition.

A: Not oh! Ji Guanlin dubbed the main character Kiki. Other roles were done by other excellent voice actors, such as the voice of Zhen Huan for "Legend of Concubine Zhen Huan", but the roles of Dragonfly and Boss Lady were done by others. The overall production of the mainland version was done by a professional dubbing team together.

A: The voice actress for the Taiwanese version of Kiki is Aiya Zhang (also known as Zhang Zhuhui). She has voiced many classic characters! For example, Maruko from Cherry Maruko (early version), Ayumi Yoshida from Detective Conan (early), and Firenze Rei/Firestar from American Girl Warrior! The voice is very recognizable.

A: This feels pretty common! The main difference is the dubbing style. The Taiwan dubbing is more inclined to the "cartoon" style of vivacious exuberance, with great emotional ups and downs; the mainland version is more inclined to the "movie" style of natural introspection, in pursuit of a living tone. Ji Guanlin's interpretation focuses more on the tenderness and resilience of Qiqi's heart as she grows up, rather than the outgoing "crazy girl" feeling. Depends on personal preference!

A: On the whole, the translation of the mainland release version is more rigorous and standardized, after all, it is the official introduction, and the wording is more elaborate. The translation of the old Taiwanese version is more "localized", using a lot of Minnanese vocabulary and popular colloquial expressions in Taiwan at that time (e.g., "cha so and so", "good kang"), which may be different from the original, but it has a special flavor of regional life, which is also a kind of characteristic! It may not be the same as the original, but it has a special flavor of regional life, which is also a kind of characteristic!

To be honest, the first time I clicked on the animation of "The Grandmaster of the Magic Path", Wei Wuxian's voice with a bit of cunning and careless "blue zhan ~" came out, I have goosebumps. Not exaggerate, is really think this voice like from the book out of the key, live is my imagination that dashing uninhibited Wei baby. Later, I realized that it was Mr. Zhang Jie's voice, and I realized that it was no wonder that he could put the kind of flirtation in his bones and the pain he had hidden in his voice.

Casting is not something that a director decides on a whim. I talked to my friends in the circle later, the pressure on the dubbing director is huge. The two characters, Wei Wuxian and Blue Forgetting Machine, are polar opposites in terms of voice temperament. One should be able to gag in the sky and the earth, and then sink into the abyss of gloom and despair in the next second; the other one, the words are pitifully few, but each word must carry a thousand pounds of heavy feelings, but also cold, quiet, with a sense of distance from the immortal air. Almost, the character collapsed.

It is said that many people auditioned for Wei Wuxian at that time, and they all wanted to capture that unique "evil spirit". But Mr. Zhang Jie's strength lies in the fact that he captured Wei Wuxian's "core" - not purely gangster or bad, but a kind of youthful heart and sincerity that he still retains after all the vicissitudes of life. You listen to him tease the blue forget machine when the end of the slightly upward frivolous, and in the mass grave after the return, that deliberately lowered but can not hide the exhaustion of the hoarse voice, the level is too clear. My friend said that in the studio, in order to find that kind of pain by the shadowy iron backlash, really suffocated himself enough, out of the effect is to listen to the heart of the people a pull.

The Blue Oblivion is even more "difficult". He has fewer words, but not fewer emotions. Mr. Bian Jiang's voice is cold and clear, which makes him a perfect choice for Blue. However, the difficulty lies in how to use breath, pause, and even the weight of breathing to convey the raging inner drama of Blue Forgetting Machine in very few lines. The sentence "I want to take a person back to the deep clouds do not know where ...... to take back, hidden", the surface calm and wave-free, but you listen carefully to the slight pause and breath stagnation, underneath the suppressed for how many years of longing and pain? This is kung fu. Mr. Bianjiang's handling of Blue Forgetting Machine's voice is like carving a piece of ice, and under the cold and hard shell is a flowing, hot dark river of emotion.

The best part is the chemistry between the two when they are acting together. Wei Wuxian's "hot" and Lan Xiaoji's "cold" collide in their voices. Wei Wuxian those flirtatious, tricky lines, all rely on the blue forgetting machine that seems to have no waves but actually the dark current of the reaction to support. This kind of tacit understanding, not the top experts really can not hold up. In the recording studio, it is said that the two of them play, it is said that a look to know each other what emotions to the next sentence, the voice of the exchange of words like masters, the onlookers look at the fun.

Want to experience this divine dubbing for yourself? Don't just take my word for it, go to Penguin Video and search for the animated version of The Grandmaster of the Magic Path, and the first few episodes are the litmus test. Especially the monologue at the beginning of the first episode where Wei Wuxian falls off the cliff, and the dialog between Blue Forgetting Machine and Wei Wuxian in the quiet room (yes, the famous "Boring!"), you can listen to it for free. You can listen to it for free. After listening, you'll understand why people say "voice actors are monsters" - a good voice performance can really bring a paper man to life and live in your heart.

Magic Road Master voice actors revealed: here's what you want to know

A: That's a lot! The lazy and sharp strength of Ye Xiu (animated version) in "Full-time Master", the low and magnetic voice of Bai Qi in "Love and Producer", and the coolness of Emperor Dong Hua in "Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Peach Blossoms"... all of them are him! His voice varies a lot, but that unique "Su" feeling is his signature.

A: It's really not just about suppressing the voice. Mr. Bianjiang's own voice is low and cool, so his work with Blue Forgetting Machine is more about controlling his breath and resonance position to create that kind of ethereal and restrained immortal aura. It's definitely tiring, especially to maintain that precise emotional state and voice control for a long period of time, which requires a lot of breath and concentration.

A: The animated version of Wei Wuxian is Zhang Jie, and Blue Forgetting Machine is Bian Jiang. The radio drama version (Cat's Ear FM) has a more luxurious lineup, Wei Wuxian is Lu Zhixing (the match is also super god!) The radio version (Cat's Ear FM) has a more luxurious cast, with Wei Wuxian as Lu Zhixing (also superbly matched!) and Blue Forgetting Machine as Wei Chao. Both versions are classics and have their own fans, so I suggest you listen to them to experience the different styles.

A: A responsible voice actor will! And they will read it very carefully. Both Mr. Zhang Jie and Mr. Bian Jiang have openly mentioned the importance of familiarizing themselves with the original "The Grandmaster of the Magic Path", to understand the character's growth trajectory and change of state of mind, in order to accurately express it with their voices. Sometimes the subtext and emotions behind a simple line can be very complex.

A: A fan archaeology found that it is said that the atmosphere in the studio will be a little bit subtle (laughs) when it comes to some particularly "high sweet" or "high abuse" episodes. Mr. Bian Jiang has also complained that Blue Forgetting Machine has too few lines, but the pressure is even greater. Mr. Zhang Jie said that when he was dubbing Wei Wuxian's later scenes of pain and struggle, his emotions were so consumed that he had to slow down for half a day after dubbing. These are the voice behind the unknown pay ah.

It's not as mysterious as you think, Mark dubbing.

The other day, I found a short video, the background sound is a paragraph of magnetic male voice narration, the pop-up screen flushed over the "Mark sound effects", "seeking the same voice". I was so happy when I saw it. This is the typical "Mark" flavor. To put it bluntly, Mark's voice-over is that kind of voice-over style that sounds professional, calm, and grainy, and is often used in advertisements, documentaries, and corporate videos. How did the name come about? It is said that the earliest is a sound effects library with "Mark" named this tone, called and called into the jargon. Nowadays, a lot of newbies want to imitate this kind of sound as soon as they come up, and they think the threshold is too high to reach. Don't worry, I have been tossing around for so many years, I tell you, find the right way, even a novice can feel the doorway.

The voice is natural, but it feels like it can be practiced

Don't get hung up on "what if I don't sound like me". The essence of Mark's voice is not how low and gorgeous it is, but how much of it is in theA sense of ease, trust and just the right amount of telling. You try these points:

Relax, relax again! Don't be nervous before you record. Nervousness makes your throat tight and your voice shrill. Take a few deep breaths, sink your shoulders, and imagine you're telling your friend something interesting, only in a slightly more formal tone. If you are too formal, your voice will sound fake.

The speech slows down, but it's not a drag. Marker sounds rarely burst like a machine gun. Try to spit out each word clearly, with a slight pause of so many fractions of a second before and after an important word or sentence. This pause is especially critical, as it creates a sense of reflection and weight. Record yourself a clip and listen to it. Isn't it a little slower and steadier, and the feeling comes out immediately?

Find your "chest resonance". Don't deliberately suppress your voice to mimic a subwoofer, it hurts your voice and is hard to hear. Try placing your hand gently on your chest when you speak and feel the slight vibration. Try humming "hmmm..." to get a feel for it... Doesn't your voice sound thicker and rounder? This is chest resonance. Practice it more often and let your voice sink naturally.

Accent and tone are soul. When you get a piece of copy, don't rush to read it. Scan it quickly and ask yourself: what is this paragraph trying to say? What are the core selling points? Which word strikes the most chord? Find that word or phrase, and when you read it, give it a little bit of "emphasis", a little bit heavier voice, or a little bit higher tone. Imagine that you're recommending a good product to someone sincerely, rather than reading a manual without emotion.

Environment is not good? Poorly equipped? You can still do it.

Don't be put off by professional studios when you're just starting out in voiceover. We have to be practical.

You can record on your cell phone too, but it's all about technique. Cell phone microphones are particularly sensitive to ambient noise. Find the quietest room in your house, close the windows and block the doorway. Don't talk into the bottom or top of your phone - is that a microphone hole? Look up the location of the microphone on your cell phone model (usually at the bottom or near the rear camera).Talk to it at a 45-degree angle.I'm 15-20 centimeters away. Why? To minimize the "poof" sound produced by the airflow directly impacting the microphone (microphone spraying). The sound recorded by cell phone may be thin and a bit muffled, don't be afraid, it can be saved later.

The headset comes with a mic? It works, but the results are usually worse than the phone's own microphone, with current sound and wire rubbing being regulars. Not recommended unless a particularly good gaming headset.

Looking for an upgrade? Hundred-dollar USB mics are king. Really planning to play well, a USB condenser mic for around a hundred dollars (like the entry level models from Descente and Boa) is a huge leap forward. Plug it directly into your computer and it works, with a huge improvement in sound clarity and detail. With a simple desktop stand and a spray shield (one of those spongy ones for a tenner will do), you can effectively minimize the spraying of the mic and some of the ambient noise.

Ambient noise is a mortal enemy. Record late at night, record early in the morning, and avoid neighborhood renovations and square dancing downstairs. Turn off the air conditioner, fan, refrigerator hum. Hang a thick blanket or quilt between the microphone and the wall, or simply get into the closet (the more clothes the better, a natural sound-absorbing room!). ), the effect is immediate. Don't laugh, but many of the greats were "closet people" in the early days!

A free tool to instantly "mark up" your voice!

Dry after recording? Don't panic, post-processing is the magic moment. These are the tools to play around with without spending a fortune:

2. Adobe Podcast Enhancement Tool (Web Wizard): This is a free online tool out of Adobe. Upload your audio file (even if it's recorded on your phone), and it automatically helps you deal with noise reduction, removing echoes, and optimizing voice clarity. The effect is very natural, foolproof operation, is simply a novice savior! After processing and downloading back, the sound quality is instantly upgraded a few notches.

3. CUT / MUST CUT (mobile quick release): If you mainly do video on your phone, directly use the recording function of Cinema Cut or Must Cut, which comes with some simple "dubbing" or "reverb" sound effects, choose the right one (don't overdo it), and you can quickly make the sound sound sound fuller and more spatial (similar to the feeling of (similar to the feeling of being in a recording studio).

Imitation is a shortcut, but don't lose yourself.

Listen to classic commercials and documentaries. CCTV documentaries (e.g. "Aerial China"), Apple commercials, and male voice-over narration for car commercials are all excellent examples. Pay attention to theirRhythm, pauses, stress, intonation. Try reading along and mimicking, one sentence at a time, recording it for comparison. Not to turn you into a repeater, but to learn the framework and feel of that expression.

One more important point:Inject your own understanding and emotions. Copywriting is dead, people are alive. Think about what the emotion behind the passage is. Is it inspiring pride? Convey trust? Or tell a moving story? Find that emotion and use your voice to convey it. Even if you don't have a top-notch "Mark's voice," a sincere, understanding expression is far more powerful than an empty imitation.

Voice-over work, especially in Mark's style, is all about "hiding the cleverness from the awkwardness". It sounds natural and smooth, but it's all about the details. Equipment, environment, technique, post-production, expression, all intertwined. Don't expect to get there in one step, record more, listen more, tune more, compare more. Persist in practicing, you will find your own voice more and more have that "flavor", and, is your own unique "Mark flavor".

Frequently Asked Questions About Mark's Voiceover

How to Train Your Dragon 1 Chinese dubbed free movie guide: 3 reliable platforms personally tested

I remember the first time I took my little nephew to see How to Train Your Dragon, his eyes were as wide as night fury and he didn't blink the whole time. Later, if you want to revisit it at home, you'll find that it's not much easier to find genuine, free resources with Chinese dubbing than it is for a toothless boy to learn how to fly. Searching online, either the picture quality is muddled into a mosaic, or clicked into all the "Macau casino" pop-ups, or just hanging free name to trick you to open a membership. Tossing half a day, I'm a few mainstream platforms in the country to feel through, today, we will break open the rubbing talk about, in the end, where to go to feel at ease free to watch "How to Train Your Dragon 1" Mandarin version.

Tencent video: ads endure, clarity is no match!

To be honest, Tencent is the first thing I thought of. Open the app directly search "how to train the dragon master", the first part of the click in, ooh, huge VIP label hanging in the middle, heart half cold. But look closely at the bottom of the play button, there is a small, almost invisible "Watch Free Version" option! Click on it and you can play it directly, in standard definition, with Chinese dubbing by default. The price is 90 seconds of ads at the beginning, and maybe 30 seconds when Hiccup is about to meet Toothless. Picture quality is good enough to watch on a cell phone, and a little bit of noise on a TV. Suitable for those who want to be nostalgic and have a high tolerance for ads. Oh yes, its web version can also be so operated, do not have to go down the APP.

AIC: Limited time free zone with surprises

Not quite the same path for Lovecraft. If you search for How to Train Your Dragon 1 directly, you'll probably find it's still a VIP exclusive. But don't worry, go to its "Movies" channel and scroll down to find the "Free for a limited time" or "Free Movie" section (the location changes occasionally, so you have to be patient and scroll through). I bumped into the Mandarin version of How to Train Your Dragon 1 last week, and it was clearly labeled as free to watch. It's also in standard definition, Chinese dubbing is on by default, and the ads are about the same length as Tencent's. But the free section has a rotating list of movies to watch. However, this free zone film list is rotating, today there may be tomorrow off the shelves, have to take a chance. Don't hesitate to watch it if you see it!

BeiliBeili (Station B): big membership benefits, but occasionally "fish out of water"

The situation is a little more complicated on the B site. The official licensed source requires a large membership to watch the full movie, and the Chinese dub is complete. But! Here's the kicker - some porters will take advantage of the platform's "film and TV editing" or "dubbing display" rules to upload the Mandarin dubbed version of an entire movie, cut it into N segments and play it in separate P. This is purely a matter of chance. This kind of movie is purely by chance, and the survival time is not long, and the picture quality is also uneven. More reliable is to pay attention to the B station's film and television area official number, such as "Beili Beili movie", they will sometimes do classic animation free screenings for a limited time, I squatted last year to a "How to Train Your Dragon" series of rotating, all free with pop-ups, the atmosphere pull full! So, it's safest to brush up diligently, or open a big membership (often with active prices).

A heartfelt summary

If you want instant results and are not afraid of advertisements, just go straight to theTencent videoThe free version is the most hassle-free; those who like to pan for gold in the "free zone" will be able to do so.Aichi Entertainment (PRC computer game company)It's worth browsing around; if you're looking for atmosphere or you're a deep user of B-station, keep an eye on thebeepingThe official activities or open a big member experience better. Don't believe in those messy "free resources station", the light is full of viral ads, the heavy is to download to hulua, waste of feelings. If you support the original version, you can watch it with peace of mind, and the friendship between Hiccup and Toothless deserves this respect!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You may not believe it, when the "Yanxi Raiders" was on the air, I chased the drama to catch up with the dark, and did not hear the voice of Wei Luo is not Wu Zhanyan himself. Until one day to brush the behind-the-scenes footage, to see an unfamiliar figure in the recording studio to the screen full commitment, only to realize - that the celluloid of Wei Luo's resourcefulness, that strand of unconvincing ruthlessness, and even dislike of the sky and the earth when the slightly upward end of the voice are interpreted in the voice, from the voice actor Qiu Qiu.

Who is Qiu Qiu? Maybe you are a bit unfamiliar with this name, but her voice is definitely not unfamiliar to you. The intelligent and patient Gong Yu in "Luangya List", the loyal Xiaodao beside Minglan in "Knowing Whether or Not Should Be Green, Fat, Red and Thin", and even the agile and elegant Gongsun Li in the game "King of Glory" are all her voice kingdoms. When the industry talks about her, they all recognize that she is a good voice with an "extremely wide range". But what really makes her enter the public's field of vision and be firmly remembered by the audience is still the Wei Luo who is in the Forbidden City step by step.

Swords in sound.

Qiu Qiu worked hard to dub Wei Luo's voice. The first thing she did when she got the script was to label all the lines of Wei Luo, according to the mood, according to the scene, and even according to the different roles of the opponents in the drama, and did a dense labeling. Wu Zhanyan's performance gave her a solid base, but the secondary creation of the voice needs to be injected into the soul.

I remember a particularly classic scene where Wei Luo knocks three steps at a time in the snow to atone for the Empress Mother's sins. Wu Zhanyan's performance in the scene was impactful enough, but when Qiu Qiu's voice came out, that kind of stoicism through clenched teeth, gasping for breath squeezed from the depths of her throat, and that almost mournful stubbornness instantly forced tears out of my eyes off-screen. It wasn't simply a sobbing voice; you could clearly hear the heaviness of the snowy trek, the dull thud of knees hitting the ground, and the sting of cold air sucked into her lungs, all in the control of her breath and the subtle pauses.

What's even better is Wei Luo's state when she dislikes people. Qiu Qiu handled it particularly well, not just raising the pitch to make it look sharp and mean, but making an effort on the speed, rhythm and accent. For example, in the sentence "I, Wei Luo, am born with a violent temper and not to be messed with", Qiu Qiu drags the word "born with" a little bit, and bites the word "violent" short and strong, and the three words "not to be messed with" are provocative with a little bit of upward movement, which makes the image of a vivid and not to be bullied Wei sister, no need to use the picture, just listen to the sound and it will be established.

The Invisible Man in the Shed.

Many people think that voice actors just read from a script and have it easy. But that's not true. Qiu Qiu later talked about in an interview, dubbing "Yanxi Raiders" that time, it is simply \ "dark day\". The drama was in a hurry, and the dubbing had to follow suit. In the hot recording studio in summer, the air conditioning does not dare to turn on too much for fear of noise, she often recorded for seven or eight hours, do not dare to drink too much water, for fear of frequent toilet interruptions.

The most difficult part is not the physical strength, but to accurately "stick" to the actor's mouth and performance rhythm. Wei Luo's lines were many and fast, and her mood changes were especially frequent. Qiu Qiu had to stare at the screen, she had to inhale synchronously, and she had to react immediately to the slightest movement of the actor's mouth. Sometimes, in order to match up with a particularly subtle expression or breath, it was common to record a sentence more than ten times over and over again. She laughed and said that after a day of recording, she felt that her face muscles were all stiff and more tired than the actors themselves.

One detail that impressed me deeply is that Qiu Qiu said that in order to find Wei Luo's voice state in a specific situation, she even secretly imitated the force that Wu Zhanyan might have used at that time in the studio. For example, in the kneeling scene, she would really bend her knees slightly in front of the microphone to feel that kind of force; in the scene where she was beaten, she would subconsciously tense her body to bring out that real pain and muffled grunts in her voice. These small actions, invisible to outsiders, are her secret weapon to make her voice "come alive".

The Power of Sound

After the broadcast of The Raiders of Yanxi, the voice of \"Wei Luo Luo\" completely caught fire. However, Qiu Qiu's life has not changed much, she is still active in the recording studio, but more roles are coming to her. Occasionally, she is happy when someone recognizes her voice, but more often than not, she enjoys the sense of accomplishment that comes from being a "voice shaper".

A good voice actress is like this, like the most brilliant make-up artist, carefully touching up, but letting you be unaware of it. Qiu Qiu used her voice to inject a fuller vitality and a more complex sense of hierarchy into the celluloid necklace. We remember the sharpness of Wei Luo, remember her tears, remember her fastidiousness and hatred, and Qiu Qiu is the one who hides behind these memories and tells stories with her voice.

The next time you revisit "Yanxi Raiders", you may want to close your eyes and purely use your ears to feel Wei Luo's voice. What's hidden in there is definitely not just a character's lines, but also a sound artist, in a square inch recording studio, with breath, pause, weight and urgency, weaving another dimension of the Forbidden City's wind and clouds for us. The charm of sound is sometimes more direct to the heart than the picture.

You may also want to know about the Wei Luo dub:

Q1: Besides Wei Luo, what other familiar characters has Qiu Qiu been paired with?
There are too many! Gong Yu from "Luangya List", Xiao Tao from "Knowing Whether or Not Should Be Green, Fat, Red and Thin", Cheng Yu Yuanjun from "The Book of Three Lives on a Pillow", and Lu Wenxie from "Crane Falling in the Chinese Pavilion". She is also Gongsun Li in the game "Honor of Kings" and Beidou in "Original God". Her voice is so malleable that she often can't recognize the same person when she hears it.

Q2: Why don't you use the original voices of the actors in "Yan Xi Raiders"? Can't Wu Zhanyan dub her own voice?
A few reasons: First, the shooting site environment is noisy, it is difficult to guarantee the clarity of the same period of the radio effect required by the TV series; Second, the actor himself may have a little accent or tone is not quite in line with the director's imagination of the role of the ultimate; Third, the shooting cycle is long and intense, and then the actor to specialize in a lot of time to go into the studio to dubbing, the coordination of the schedule is a problem. Using professional voice actors is more efficient and the effect is more guaranteed.

Q3: Is there a high bar for voice actors? Is it just a matter of having a good voice?
A good voice is the foundation, but it's not enough! This line of work requires strong line skills (spitting and homing, breath control), acting ability (understanding the role, conveying emotions), reaction speed (accurate to the rhythm of the mouth), but also to be able to bear hardships and stand hard work (long hours locked in the studio). Qiu Qiu is also from the class, studied acting in the Chinese Theater, and after years of practice before grinding out. Just a good voice? Probably not even the first pass.

Q4: When dubbing, do you look at the screen with no sound and dub it, or is there a reference to the actors' original voices?
The professional process is called \"dubbing to picture\". The voice actor is in the studio, facing the edited,Wiped out the original voices of the live actorsof the TV show footage (only the screen and subtitles). They need to reinterpret their own lines according to the actors' mouths, acting movements, and emotional ups and downs, and then combine them with the script. When Qiu Qiu was casting Wei Luo, she had to "paste" her lines word by word from Wu Zhuyan's performance.

Q5: Is Qiu Qiu still dubbing now? What are your new works?
Of course it is! She has been active all along. In recent years, works such as Xiao Yuan Yi, Cheng Shao Shang's mother in Starry Night - Moonrise of the Canghai Sea (yes, the stern A-Mother!) ), Princess Zojia in Scorching Wind and Flow, Ming Misty Ji in Cloud's Feather, and also contributed her voice in the animated movie Deep Sea. If you follow her, you'll always find that familiar and versatile voice in hit dramas.

The other day, when I swiped the clip of Han Xue's voiceover for Snow Spike in White Nights, the hairs on my back stood up. That kind of cold and hidden dark voice, really can not just pinch the voice can be imitated. Then I wondered if I could use a free tool to give ordinary people's voices a touch of Han Xue's unique texture. After months of trying and stepping on countless potholes, I'm going to show you something really useful today.

The underlying logic of the voice: Han Xue is not "pretending" to be something she is not

A lot of people look for voice changers right off the bat, in the wrong direction. What are the qualities of Han Xue's voice? It's that clear base, like the crunch of crystal clinking glasses, but underneath it's calm and powerful. She speaks at a slow pace, leaving just the right amount of white space between words, especially at the end of the sentence, often gently closed, leaving a breath, but it seems to mean a lot. You try to read "so ah ..." - do not drag the end of the long, said "ah" word when the breath suddenly light down, like a feather to the ground, the flavor will come out! The flavor will come out.

Grinding out textured vocals without spending a dime

The equipment does not need to burn money, I still use 99 dollars of ordinary headphones with their own microphone. The key is in the environment: late at night, close the windows, pull a thick quilt hung on the back of the chair as a sound-absorbing board, cell phone recordings are cleaner than the cafe's thousand-dollar mike.

Free Tools Hands-On: Shear Mapping Hides Tuning Switches You Didn't Know You Needed

Don't underestimate the "Audio Adjustment" of the projection cut. After importing the dry sound, first pull down the noise to about 60%, if you are too hard, the sound will be weak. Here's the kicker:Tap "Equalizer.". Hanxue's mid-high frequencies are especially beautiful, try to push up the 1kHz-4kHz range by 2-3 dB, don't be afraid of the teeth, the back can be saved. Then adjust the "variable speed" function.Speed down to 0.95 timesAt the same time, check the "sound modulation", the tone will naturally sink, the sense of stability will come out. Finally, use the "vocal enhancement" to make up a little thickness, do not exceed 20%, or become electric sound.

The "Soundstage" function of "Must Cut" is great. Select the "studio" mode, reverb value control in 8%-12%, instantly get rid of the bathhouse sound effect.Audacity (open source magic) for advanced players:Narrowing the dynamic range with a "compressor".With the threshold set to -15dB and the ratio 2:1, the sound immediately becomes flat and dense, like a professional radio drama.

Han Xue-style breath processing secret: breathing is also a line

Her breath changes are almost inaudible, but her emotions are all in the rhythm of her breathing. To practice this, you have to "abuse yourself": find a monologue by Han Xue, and while listening to it, draw slashes with a pencil to mark the points where she changes her breath. When I recorded it myself.Deliberately inhale quickly through the nose at the slash positionDon't lift your shoulders. With practice you will realize that the original gasp can also convey hesitation, tension or restraint.

Emotional projection: you're not reading, you're "becoming."

When Han Xue was paired with Yukiho, she was said to have read the original book repeatedly until 3am. We ordinary people practicing clips.At least figure out if it's a test, a self-deprecating remark, or a hidden concern.For example, the word "you've worked hard". For example, in the words "You've worked hard", the accent on the word "you" is sympathetic, while the word "hard" may be sarcastic. Don't rush to listen to it after recording it on your cell phone. Cover the subtitles and play it for yourself to see if you can hear the subtext in the lines.

Cashing in on the wild side: voices can be exchanged for milk tea money too

I've gotten orders from the audiobook ordering support group. Newcomers shouldn't overpay.I'll give out a few samples for free to save up my portfolio.The first thing you need to do is to get your hands dirty. Corporate promotional video narration offer can be bold (Party A budget enough), such as the local tea house promo, I picked up at 300 yuan per minute, with the Han Xue-style cold narrative style. Himalaya do paid albums too volume, not as good as knowledge bloggers do course narration, demand is high, the sound quality requirements instead of loose.

Real recording accidents: first aid for mike spraying and sputtering sounds

Don't rerecord when the spray mike breaks! Use Audacity to select the popping part of the song.In "Effects", select "Repair - Chipping Repair".The sound can be saved up to 70% of the time. Mouth sound is more common, select the "hiss" sound section, use the "graphic equalizer" to pull down the high frequency above 8kHz, immediately refreshing. These details determine whether the party will call you "unprofessional".

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To be honest, when I first started in the industry, I was really confused when looking for dubbing jobs in Hong Kong. After searching on the internet, a lot of information was either outdated or on foreign platforms which were of limited help to the local market. It's hard to make a living, especially when you're new and have no experience or connections, so it's important to have a free and reliable channel to start. After a few years, I have stepped on a lot of pits, and found a few free ways to get orders which are really friendly to newbies, I would like to share them with you, and hope you will take a less detour.

1. Local communities: Facebook Groups are a treasure!

Don't underestimate Facebook! There are several active groups in Hong Kong related to dubbing, film and TV production, and advertisement production, such as "Hong Kong Dubbing Valley", "Hong Kong Freelance Jobs (Film and TV/Advertising/Media)", "HK Sound & Music Production Community". I have dived in and exchanged ideas with them, and found that there are really hidden tigers and hidden dragons. Many small studios, independent producers, and even company employees looking for help in a hurry would post directly to the group, "Urgent! Looking for a Cantonese male voice for a 30-second commercial, limited budget..." These are your opportunities! The key is to be active, fill in your specialties (e.g. good at cartoon dubbing, voice-over, commercials), and better yet, record a demo and put it on your homepage. When you see a suitable post, take the initiative to send a private message, remember to attach the link of the demo, and introduce yourself in a polite and professional manner. My first paid commercial came from a small group.

2. Digging deeper into the local forum area: HKGolden Not Blowing Off Water

HKGolden's "Creative Media and Production" section is full of surprises. Although there are a lot of postings, if you pay attention carefully, there are some production companies or individual project managers looking for voice-overs. These posts are usually more casual, and may say something like, "I'm shooting a movie, but I need a good voice-over, so if you're interested, PM me". As a newcomer, these small scale and less demanding projects are great opportunities to practice. Show your voice quality and sincerity by PMing them. Remember to be quick! Good opportunities are fleeting. However, you should be careful when it comes to advance payment and so on.

3. Clinging to the "big boys": trade associations don't get names

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts or Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) don't give out direct jobs, but their resources are invaluable to newcomers. Keep an eye on their websites and social media, they post free voice over workshops, seminars and training courses all the time. I attended a weekend voice workshop at the Academy of Performing Arts and not only did I learn something, but I also got to know the instructor and the students. The mentor is an industry insider, and will sometimes introduce small projects to good performers, while the mentees may be freelancers (e.g. directors, scriptwriters) in other positions, and will think of you when they have a project in hand. This kind of networking is much more efficient than going blindly. Remember, when you go to these occasions, you are not there to listen to lectures, you are there to "show up" and "meet people"! Bring more cards with you.

4. Don't waste government resources: LCSD has the facts

Didn't think so? The venues of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), such as public libraries and community halls, sometimes organize small-scale arts festivals, community theatre or documentary film screenings. The production teams of these events are usually on a tight budget, but because of this, they are more than willing to give opportunities to new talents with potential. Reach out to the staff in charge of event planning, or directly to the local independent directors and producers exhibiting at the event, and express your willingness to participate in their projects on a volunteer basis, or at a very low cost (even in exchange for experience). This experience will not only enrich your portfolio, but you will also get to know the creators who are doing the work, and there is a good chance that they will come back to you when they have a budget commercial project next time. That's how I got my first documentary narration. Although I didn't get much money for it, it was shown in a few local film festivals and became a solid part of my demo reel.

5. Don't be lazy in offline activities: Coffee Chat may become Job Chat

Don't hide in your house all the time! Hong Kong's film, TV, advertising and media circles are actually quite small. Go to offline events such as independent film screenings (especially post-screening talks), small-scale advertising/creative sharing sessions, and even author talks at book fairs (many authors have to do voice-overs for promotional videos). On these occasions, don't just hang around for refreshments, be bold and talk to people. Instead of trying to sell yourself right away, you can genuinely appreciate the other person's work and naturally bring out your own interests and specialties: "Your movie has a great voiceover! I do voice-overs, mostly as a narrator..." Exchange cards or add a WeChat. Many opportunities arise from such informal networking. I once saw a short film at an art center, talked to the director, and a month later he asked me to do the voice-over for the trailer of his new project. Remember, it is important to give people an impression that you are nice, professional and enthusiastic.

When starting out, it is important not to be afraid of losing money. The purpose of free channels is not to do free labor, but to accumulate practical experience, polish your work, and - most importantly - build up your first contacts and reputation in the community. Every time you take an order, no matter how small, treat it as your masterpiece. Your reputation is your trademark. Good performance will bring repeat customers and word-of-mouth recommendations. As time goes by, opportunities will come to you!

FAQ You may ask:

Free Chinese Dubbing for "Flying Ducks"? I've stepped on these tools myself.

A while ago, I was helping a friend to make a fan video for "Flying Ducks Forward", and I was stuck with the Chinese dubbing for a long time. The budget is limited and do not want to use those mechanical to death AI voice, rummage through the domestic and foreign tools, really let me dig into a few can whoring baby, the effect is also unexpectedly good. If you are doing animation commentary, game live, or simply want to give a favorite clip with a Chinese version, this dry goods directly take away to use.

Don't spend a fortune! These free voice-over tools can really help!

Cutting and screening (cell phone/computer are fine): Don't underestimate it, the text-reading function that comes with Cinema Cut is actually very powerful. Open the text and paste the lines, select the "sunny boy" or "sensible female voice" in the "featured pronouncer", the effect is more natural than expected, especially with the "Flying Duck" and other light-hearted content. The result is more natural than expected, especially with content like "Flying Duck", which is on the lighter side, and the tone is a little bit naughty. The disadvantage is that there are fewer types of voices to choose from, and long speeches may be monotonous, but it's a foolproof operation, and you can use it by dragging and dropping it into the timeline directly after exporting.

Microsoft Azure Voice (free amount for web version): This is a little tricky, you need to register a Microsoft account. Enter Azure Voice Studio, select "Chinese (Simplified)", focus on finding "Xiao Xiao" and "Yun Yang" two voices, emotional expression is the most rich in free tools. The free quota is enough to generate tens of thousands of characters per month, which is completely enough for ordinary videos. I have tried to use it with "flying duck" in the duck quarrel clip, adjust the speed of speech and pause, really a bit of rhythmic flavor. Export format is MP3, remember to use Format Factory to WAV, sound quality loss is small.

AliCloud Intelligent Voice Interaction (New User Benefit): Sign up for a free hourly subscription, and the voice library is so large that you'll be dazzled. We recommend using "ZhiYu" or "SiYue", the pronunciation is clear, no weird accent. The interface of the web version is like typing code, so newbies may be confused, but you can buy a temporary account with tutorials for a few dollars at a certain treasure, so if someone teaches you, it will save you a lot of trouble. Remember to check the "Enable Emotion Synthesis" box when generating, otherwise it will sound like a news broadcast. The disadvantage is that the free time runs out, you have to charge money, suitable for short-term projects.

Baidu Intelligent Cloud Speech Synthesis (oldie but a goodie): Baidu engaged in AI voice early, the basic tone is very stable. Select "fine tone" in the "degree small Meng" or "degree free", especially suitable for matching the "flying duck" in the stupid cute It's especially suitable for the cute supporting characters in "Flying Duck". The free quota is enough, the web operation is more friendly than Aliyun, and you can adjust the dialect! I've tried to use Northeastern dialect to match the duck wrestling episode, and it's a great laugh. Generate files sometimes with a slight current sound, with Audacity to reduce the noise on the line, not a big problem.

OpenVoice (open source godsend, exclusive to tech parties): It's available on GitHub, it's totally free but requires some hands-on skills. The best part is that it can "clone" your own voice! Record a 5-minute dry-voice training model, and you can have the AI dub your voice. I've used it to mimic the bitchy voice of the main character of Flying Duck, and it's about 70% similar. However, the deployment process is tortuous, the graphics card is not good to generate slow, only recommended for geeks who love to play.

Hands-on! Hands-on dubbing of the "Flying Ducks" clip!

Take the famous scene of "Ducks stealing bread in a group" for example:

Treading the pits for the blood and tears of experience

The biggest pitfall of free tools is"Customer service accent."--Sounds like a 10086 operator. The solution is not to write lines that are too written, "Let's duck" is more human than "We're moving forward now". Break up short sentences and manually add comma pauses in the tool, or the AI will choke on them.

Encountering multiple characters? Don't use a hard voice to die. I tried to use Baidu with the hero + Aliyun with the villain, the difference in timbre is obvious, but the audience felt "luxury lineup". Background music volume pressure to the human voice of 30%, especially "flying duck" this action scene, BGM too loud will swallow words.

Most importantly:Copyright! Copyright! Copyright! Audio generated with these tools is basically safe for personal second creation, but want to hang a window and sell it for money? No way. Commercial must buy genuine licenses, do not lose because of small.

How long can you woolgather for free?

Microsoft, Ali, Baidu and such big manufacturers of free quota, personal use is very difficult to grip bald. But the policy changes, it is recommended to download the source file backup immediately after the generation of important projects. Shear such APP function is relatively stable, short-term should not be charged. Open source tools purely with love to generate electricity, but the most free, is the threshold is high.

To be honest, the effect of free tools now is almost the same as the paid version three years ago. Last time I used a domestic paid software to dub a documentary, the customer did not hear the difference between the free version and Azure, and I was so angry that my liver hurt. Next time for the "flying duck" to engage in voice-over, really do not need to rush out of the wallet, the above tricks enough for you to play out of the flowers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Chinese Dubbing