Software Q & A: Part 2

Q: We make IVR systems, and are constantly updating and making more voice recordings. We’re having trouble receiving consistent volume and sound quality. Since we play these prompts concatenated, the differences can be heard. How can we resolve this for future?

A: Excellent point. There are a couple of things that will help to assure consistent audio quality. If you have the budget, you may consider contracting a telephony digitizing studio that undertakes complete responsibility to assure consistent audio quality, level and equalization. Or, if you are using a variety of recording locations, then every time you send an order for a new recording for a foreign voiceovers or voice prompts, send also 2 previous examples wav files plus specifications on microphone compression (e.g. “None”), bit rate, and sampling rate. One of the other items that makes a difference is the brand of Microphone being used. It is a good idea when starting a long term IVR project voiceovers and voice prompts that will have many updates, to actually make note of the exact brand and model of microphone being used with that recording so that you can re-request the same microphone model for all recordings. Many studios have lots of varieties of microphones, and multiple studio rooms, and your request will actually assist them to maintain consistency. If your system is enterprise scale – like AT&T or similar – you may even want to request the same recording booth specifications for each recording because acoustics also affect the recording.

Q: I still don’t understand why voice talents are important. Whether the product works or not is what is important.

A: The old saying, “you get what you pay for”, truly applies to voice recording of voiceovers for technology. Because the voice creates an emotional reaction, it is particularly difficult for an engineer to imagine why on earth a voice could have any effect on sales, especially after you have worked for years to make its functionality so brilliant. But a voice can, indeed, affect the success of your product. It does not replace functionality – never! – and a voice played over a bad product will go nowhere, but a fine voice can add significantly to your product’s attractiveness and salability to customers.

Friday, November 14th, 2008 Technology