Ta-da! I am a Voice for Librivox

[primsong]

As if I didn't already get myself into too many projects and distractions, now I'm talking to myself! Finally landed a nice headset mic this past week and installed Audacity to see if I could figure out the How To stuff, posted an obscure Amy Lowell poem and am now tackling a fairy tale. This is surprisingly difficult to do well and surprisingly fun. Still dislike the sound of my last name, so I'm using a personal fave alternate for a nom-de-Librivox, Amy Benton.

Librivox, for those vague about it, is a huge project that is using volunteers to record audio of any and everything that is public domain - their focus at this point is anything published pre-1923. Just wish I had one of those nice, deep resonant voices instead of the weenie one I have, ah well - I'll work with what I've got.

Comments

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Wonderful news! I'm a huge Librivox fan, and I look forward to listening to your readings.

[primsong.livejournal.com]

It's tempting to just sit and listen all day long - some lovely works there, and some lovely voices. I'll see what happens! Have you recorded any?

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Yes it is! I like to listen to them on my morning walks with Virginia. And I've gotten in the habit of linking to the LibriVox recordings when I assign readings for my classes - it's a great way to introduce a work, I think, allowing students to hear it as well as read it, and you can't argue with the price. :)

So far, all of my dramatic readings have been for StarShipSofa, and that podcast keeps me pretty busy. (I have at least half a dozen recordings still yet to "air.") I have been tempted to do something for LibriVox, though, I admit it!

[siradaono.livejournal.com]

I listen to Caitlin read there...OBTOOK...and would love to listen to you too. Post when you do please. And a link would not go amiss.

btw I posted in the RedBook today something a tad racey mayhap, check it out and would you be so kind to UN sticky the Hobbit read through in Middle-Earth.

Thanks busy lady.

(((((( O ))))))

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Does she really? I'll have to find her catalog page and see what's she's done. I'm just a noob at this point - 2 poems and a fairytale under my belt, but hoping for more when the kids are back in school so the house isn't so noisy.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Wow! I'd never even heard of Librivox, but after running to check out their site I think their project is awesome and so are you for being a reader!

[primsong.livejournal.com]

C'mon and join the fun - all you need is a microphone and the recording software is free. :-D

[curuchamion.livejournal.com]

Oh, you have a lovely voice! Very expressive and lilting. I'm not an audiobook person - can't remember things I only hear - but you have the sort of voice I like to listen to anyway. :-)

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you ^_^

Every now and then I manage to put in another piece, I really do enjoy it though it can be frustrating trying to find a quiet time in this house, always someone or something making noise. I make myself only sign up for one thing at a time and then I try to finish it within that same week so I don't leave anyone hanging with an unfinished project, that seems to work as it keeps me from overextending in my enthusiasm.

It's interesting to see how I originally thought I would mostly be doing poetry but here I've only done a couple (you remind me I should go see what's up to tuck in another). I keep being drawn into helping finish the unfinished projects instead, providing gap-fillers where some volunteers disappear after signing up, it's so satisfying to help complete a jigsaw puzzle.

You should do some!

[curuchamion.livejournal.com]

Eh, I doubt I have the voice for it - I either declaim loudly and "scream" the mike, or mumble like a bullfrog impersonating Alfred Hitchcock.

... What sorts of poetry have they got available?

Not that I've got a mike or anything...

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Anything from before 1920 is fair game as a rule of thumb - and goodness knows there's plenty to be picked from in that pond! You can re-do ones that have been done before as well, as they like having more than one interpretation recorded, all the guidelines are at the forums.

I use a Logitech mic-headset so my hands are free and it always stays the same distance from my mouth, picked it up at the local drygoods store. It just plugs into the usb port and makes a pretty good set of headphones when it isn't being used to record.