This is SOOOO many questions, lol. How about I answer a few of them and if anyone wants to know any of the others let me know?
Get to know your podficcer! @SkyAsimaru
4 - What's your recording setup?
I have a Blue Yeti microphone set up in a cardboard box that I've lined with a pillow stuffed into my closet. With a blanket draped overhead, coupled with the clothes in my closet, external sound is muffled enough to mask a real recording studio most of the time. You don't need the fanciest equipment, you just need to work with what you've got ;-)
7 - Do you do any prep before you start recording?
I re-read the fic the night before, doing any last look-ups on pronunciation and noting delivery on certain lines, then I sleep on it. I try to go to bed early enough I still get enough sleep because I'll wake early (around 4am) and jump right in. If I start any later than that I risk not finishing in time before my downstairs neighbors wake up (and start their very loud morning routines), or the traffic picks up.
8 - Has another podfic ever inspired you to try something new?
Djap is a wizard with sound effects. Working with him has improved my work (especially notable in Villainous, when I really tried to amplify cool scenes with even cooler sound effects); I don't always need to use them, but it's because of his use of them in his podfics that I even considered the option, and looked into it to see what they could do.
9 - Do you like constructive criticism?
I do! And I really appreciate it. For example: one commenter asked if I could put multi-chapter podfics on the same 'channel' on the Internet Archive, so they were all in one page without having to look for them. I had no idea how to do that, and reached out to Djap for advice, and now I've learned a new skill! So if there is something I could be doing better, please let me know! I am always happy to learn new skills!
17 - How do you approach recording smut scenes?
They're just words. And if you're going to do it, do your listeners right: be confident! because no one wants to listen to smut narrated by a nervous podficcer (unless a character is nervously reading it as part of the story, then yeah).
19 - Have you ever hit a podfic roadblock or dry spell? How did you deal with it?
Sometimes I can't stand to hear my own voice anymore, or feel like I breathe Way too much. Some stories require a dramatic reading so I don't take out as many breaths as usual, which then just sounds too breathy - so, yeah. I usually take a step back for a few days, work in some other craft while my ears have a good mental reset, then come back to it feeling better.
24 - Have you been part of multivoice podfics?
Yes, Djap introduced me to that world. I actually love participating in them, and have just started coordinating them myself for the Azshearaphale fics!
26 - Do you have any advice for other podficcers?
Emotion beats voice every time. What I mean is: You don't have to do a ton of character voices. However, you should read with emotion and understanding of what you're reading about. I can forgive someone for 'not sounding exactly like xyz from the movie' if they deliver their lines with the gravity (or levity or seriousness or whatever emotion) the lines deserve. So, just get into it. The distinct voices don't 'really' matter as much as the delivery.
32 - How much time do you spend on editing? Have you/would you ever post something unedited?
I make at least 3 passes through every podfic I post (first listen through while editing, second listen through while editing, final listen through with minute edits though usually they're not needed by that point) - I would never post something unedited, lol! There are long pauses where I carefully consider a word, sometimes I just mess up and spin out from my character voices (though those make for fun blooper reels, they can be annoying to listen to mid-narration), and sometimes I just sigh or breathe for a while, out of air. Trust me, you don't want to hear an unedited version of my podfics, lol.
33 - How do you pick a story to podfic?
I prefer comedy, or at least a happy ending. I also prefer fics to be finished before I start recording them. I want to see how it ends first, and also that it is GOING to end. I had some trouble with this in the past, and i don't want to make the same mistake twice.
36 - Did you ever think of turning your podficcing skills into a job?
I am actually working (occasionally) as a voice actress! and I also volunteer with a local radio theatre company. I really love this line of work, so if you hear of any openings in the professional world (ie, audiobook recording, dj'ing, radio work, etc), please let me know!
39 - Do you take podfic commissions?
I do! details can be found on my ko-fi page, or you're welcome to DM me here.
40 - Have your podfics ever been remixed or further transformed?
A few months ago a listener on Youtube reached out asking for permission to turn some scenes from my podfics into an animatic, which I granted. I really look forward to seeing what they create!
49 - How long is your longest podfic?
Villainous, by IneffablePenguin. Oh, Gods it's like⦠36 hours long? Plus there are a few bonus chapters now so that bumps the count up to nearly 40. Took me almost 3 years to complete that one!
51 - Which podfic was the fastest/easiest to make, and why?
The Eric Factory, by JoseyxNeko - it was SUCH a hilarious romp, I breezed through that fic with a big smile on my face in one take and only needed one round of edits to finish it, then I did the art. All in all I had it uploaded within 6-8 hours - an insanely fast turnaround for me!
56 - Which has been your favourite character to voice?
Crowley from Good Omens ;) if that weren't obvious. But I also like playing Thorin from the Hobbit, he's so mellow but also intense? also Muriel from Good Omens, because they are adorable. Anathema too because she is so sassy!
63 - Are there any of your previous podfics you wish you could remake?
I would do Villainous over again with a better microphone - I was using a tinny/cheap samsung at the time - but I hope the performance makes the recording method forgiveable. Still, if IneffablePenguin ever wants to publish it mainstream, I have my hands up waving frantically from the crowd begging to make the audiobook version for free, because it was just that great a story and I would love the chance to do it again.
69 - Do you have projects you've had to abandon? Why? Would you like to take them up again?
Ugh. Unfortunately yes. I got too excited recording a multi-chapter fic once before I asked the author for permission, and when I finally asked they said no! I was really surprised, but it turns out they just didn't like derivatives of any of their work so it was nothing personal. Still, I had already finished recording all of it and had to scrap the whole thing, so I was really disappointed. Should they ever change their mind I would pull up the files again in a heartbeat. It was a really great fic, and it's actually the one where I started doing sign-offs in character voices rather than my own. Alasβ¦
70 - Do you remember a podfic comment that made you particularly happy?
Someone once wrote "I hope you find work as a voice actor. You are really good at it." and I printed out that comment and have it taped on my computer to look at periodically when I'm down. It inspires me to keep moving forward, to keep trying, because I really love to do this work and it makes me happy to do it, and also to know that other people like the work I do too. Thank you for leaving such lovely comments, they really keep us going!
And that's all, I guess. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Very Respectfully,
SkyAsimaru
