FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Airwaves -
What is LPFM (Low Power FM)?
The LPFM service consists of two types of radio stations: 100-watt stations which reach an area with a radius of approximately three and one-half miles; and 10 watt stations which generally reach an area with a radius of between one and two miles. By contrast, full power FM radio stations generally operate at between 6,000 and 100,000 watts.LPFM stations are available only to noncommercial educational entities, and to non-profit public safety or transportation organizations. Licenses are not available to individuals or for commercial operations. In order to assure the greatest diversity of ownership, existing broadcasters and other media entities are prohibited from owning LPFM stations, and an entity may only own one LPFM station in the same area.
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Client Audio -
If I were a client, how would I retrieve my completed audio projects?
Clients of Dave Diamond Professional Voiceover are given exclusive access to their own personal storage space on my servers. Access is facilitated through andromeda, a product of turnstyle.com. Only one-way access (downloads) are permitted.
If you are an existing client of DDPROVO and have not received your login credentials, please contact me immediately to let me know ASAP.
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How do I know when my project is complete?
You will receive an automatic email notification the moment the audio is dropped into your storage space.
The email you receive contains the information you need to access your space. And, if you happen to misplace your credentials, you can also retrieve them through your personalized link.
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I didn't receive my completed project. What do I do?
While this has never happened before at DDPROVO; if for some reason you received notice that your project was completed but is not available in your storage space, please contact me immediately. I will investigate the issue promptly and contact you with an answer as soon as possible.
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What if my computer crashes and I lose all of my audio from you.
This is something I'm asked about 3 times a year. While I try my best to save each and every piece of completed audio work for each of my clients, it's not always possible.
The audio that is kept is archived onto DVD format and stored in two separate places. These are my personal archives. I do not provide an extended download service.
Having said that, I can retrieve the audio I have saved of yours and provide it to you for a flat fee of $75 per incident.
Whether you want one piece or all 100 of your pieces, if I have them, I will provide them to you at that rate.
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Effects -
What sound effect packages do you use?
I have licensed nearly twelve different production packages for use with my voiceover productions. You can find a list of them here.
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What effect did you use in (insert sweeper here)?
Most if not all of my produced work is farmed out to production people that I hand pick from many intense auditions. I can't possibly know every effect used in productions of my voiceover.
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Where can I find sound effects like I hear in your sweepers.
Find cool sound effects, music beds and more at:
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Project Turnaround -
How long after I place my order can I expect delivery of the completed project?
I work hard to see that every order is processed and completed in 3 to 5 days. Smaller projects take less time but there are occasions when projects do take longer, e.g. radio station start-ups. I do my best to remain in contact with my clients about any developments which might delay completing their project.
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Streaming Samples -
I can't get your online demos to playback on my mp3 player. What am I doing wrong?
This happens when two or more media players are configured to playback mp3 files. It's best to chose one media player to playback or stream mp3 files when listening to selections on my site.
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Voiceover Rates -
Why are your rates so much more than (insert voice talent here)?
My rates are as high as the quality of my work, to put it bluntly.
I seem to get this question several times a month and it's usually from people who've tried other voice talents and weren't pleased with the results.
While I do understand that most webcasters (streamies) have little or no budget but still desire a quality voiceover artist to image their station, I myself desire to be compensated for the level of commitment and quality in every dry voice and produced piece that leaves my studio.
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Web -
What is a web cast?
Webcasting generally refers to the streaming of audio on the Internet. It is sometimes called "Internet radio." Webcasters may be Internet-only services that transmit several different channels of highly-themed genres or retransmitters of over-the-air broadcasts ("AM/FM Webcasts").
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Broadcasting -
I'm an aspiring disc jockey. How do I break into the business?
I'm asked this question so often, I had to make it a FAQ. You can read how I broke into the business here.
First you need to understand that you'll work long hours and get very little pay. After you accept that, you'll need a demo of your talents.
Your demo should be your absolute best stuff, nothing less. Three to five minutes tops and you'd better have the creme de' le creme in the first thirty seconds or your tossed.
Now, get a haircut and shower. You don't want to smell like a solicitor when you go into the station, do you?
Ask to speak to the Program Director and never assume the PD is a 'he.' She could be standing right there when you ask.
If they are available to take an interview on the spot, consider yourself lucky and don't screw it up.
Be brief when answering questions and never lie about your experience. You'll be found out your first break on the air. Oh, and don't make any jokes.
Thank them for their time at least five times before leaving. Mix it up a bit, "Thank you so much for your time", "I appreciate your seeing me on such short notice", "I'm sincerely grateful for your taking your valuable time to speak with me", etc.
Walk out gracefully, greeting anyone you come in contact with in the hall. Smile.
Make your exit and calmly get on your scooter and ride away.
Follow up with the PD in one week, no sooner or you'll be thought of as a psycho. If you're lucky enough to speak to Mr./Ms. PD on the phone when you call, thank them again for their time.
At this point it doesn't hurt to ask if you may come in and observe another disc jockey while on the air. You may get a "yes."
If you do come in, ask questions and never assume anything. You won't know the answer if you don't ask the question. Oh, and unlike many other trivial things in life, there are dumb questions you should avoid while training.
They are:
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Do you ever date any of your listeners?
- What do I do if I have to use the bathroom while I'm on the air?
- When is payday?
- Wow! He/She is really hot. Who is that?
- Can I use your headphones?
- etc.. you get the point.
Don't take up every free moment the jock has with your questions. Observe as well. More can be learned with your mouth closed with eyes and ears open.
Are you taking down notes? You should be.
Ask the disc jockey about DJ lingo. Some examples:
- What is a cart?
- What does talking up the ramp mean?
- What's the outro mean?
- Does it hurt to be stepped on?
- You can drive a truck through what?
Anyone with any experience on the air can answer all these questions and more.
These are the two most important things to remember while training.-
If you already have radio experience and are moving to another station: Never, ever refer to how you did something at another radio station.
- If you don't have any experience: Don't suggest how you think something can be done better.
Now use what you've learned and toss your hat into the ring when the station announces they're hiring. Good job.
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Shopping Cart -
Can I purchase a single sweeper?
Yes. If you are a internet broadcaster solely, you can purchase any number of individual sweepers, promos or packages of both from my online store. If you are a AM or FM station and interested in retaining my services on an annual basis, please contact me today.
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Voiceover -
What is a sweeper?
In the 60's, 70's (way before I got into the business) a sweeper was defined as an element that swept between two songs. Usually this was just a quick identification of the station or the jock on the air and would only last a few seconds.
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Do sweepers make a sound?
Sweepers began with a sweeping sound or whoosh sound and ended that way as well. This allowed the sweeper to blend better with the music so as not to sound to abrupt on the air.
In later years, sweepers became more highly produced and were getting longer in length. They began to be more polished advertisements of certain elements of the station such as the morning show or afternoon drive as well as the station itself.
Sweepers became elements produced to get your attention rather than blend into the background. Explosions, Sine Waves, Hits, Zips, Zaps and more almost always made it into the final produced sweeper.
Today, sweepers are defined pretty much the same way only they're bundled with other elements that make up station imaging. These elements include, ID's, music beds, promos, liners and etc.
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What is a liner?
There's a big misconception that liners and sweepers are the same thing. They are not. Liners are type written ideas commonly found on 3x5 index cards or on a sheet of paper that relate to station events, programs, air talent, etc. These ideas are announced over the air during a LIVE break by the disc jockey. Liners are normally rotated along with similar liners in a category so as not to announce them too often which causes listener fatigue. Some examples include, "Don't miss The Morning Zoo tomorrow morning with live cattle in the studio.." or "It's the Top 5 Most Requested Jams for the drive home this afternoon at 5 with...". They can also include Public Service Announcements or PSA.
Liners, whilst a disc jockeys' friend can also make you too dependant or complacent on this structure. Spend a few years on the air at a well structured radio station complete with liners and toilet seat covers and you'll find yourself on the phone with your mother when you move up into the ranks of the big boys, "who don't need no stinkin' liners."
These days in radio, things are more structured than ever. It's not uncommon for a Program Director to type up everything he wants the air talent to convey on the air. This practice allows for a more consistent message to be delivered by the talent on the air about the station's identity, promotions, music and etc.
True, liners can be found in bigger market radio stations but they aren't read verbatim by the air talent. Air talent in those markets are personalities who have their own unique way of selling the ideas in front of them.
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How are a promo and commercial different?
Ah, this is probably the easiest to understand and yet most can't grasp it. I'll try once more in detail.
Promo or "promotional announcements" are nothing more than highly produced commercials that talk about one thing only, (drum roll here) the station. Promos come in different lengths and stations have 'carte blanche' to say whatever they'd care to in them. Since promos are produced for particular stations or programs on a station they are pretty much useless outside their respective entities.
Commercials on the other hand are written, voiced and produced to sell you a product. They are almost always a strict thirty or sixty seconds in length. And, they can be played on any station and that sets them apart from promos.
For these reasons, charges for Promos and Commercials are vastly different. A promo is played sometimes only a few times on the air on a particular station whereas a commercial can be played hundreds of times on many different stations at once.
I hope this explanation helps.
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If I send you a script in your email, will you produce it and send it back to me?
Uh..no. Never. This is not fair to all those clients who pay for my services with their hard-earned dollars.
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Will you produce a sample sweeper for me to hear so I can decide whether I like it before buying a package?
No. I'm sorry, I can't. You will find plenty of examples of my voiceover work on my site. Click here to listen to them now.
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What is a retainer?
A retainer is simply a fee paid to a talent for services rendered over a given period of time. This period of time can be whatever deemed necessary. In the voice-over industry retainer fees are commonly paid monthly over the period of a year. This allows the client to secure the talent for a years time while the talent can now count on the retainer fee monthly to figure into a budget.
Retainers are used throughout the world on a daily basis by Accountants, Lawyers, Consultants and etc.
So basically, retainer is a fancy way of saying, "You owe money monthly for my services."
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Do you also do voice announcements for answering systems, on-hold, mobile disc jockeys and etc?
I don't like to turn away any business no matter how small. If you have a need for any of these things please contact me. I will negotiate until we are both pleased with the arrangement.
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Do you ever perform any FREE voiceover work for charitable organizations?
Yes. Four times a year I solicit applications from charitable organizations to perform FREE voiceover work. You must subscribe to my newsletter to be informed of those times.
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Do you know who the voiceover talent is on (insert station here)?
Not often. This is a big business with many talented voiceover artists.
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Do you speak any other languages in your voiceover work?
No. I have a hard enough time speaking English properly.
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