vox-box.net

Q: What is vox-box.net?
A: For voice-overs it's a way for clients to listen-in to recordings as sessions are taking place live.

Q: What are you hoping to do achieve with this service?
A: Live-streaming is the norm for radio stations - why not incorporate the technique for voice-overs.

Q: What's wrong with isdn or ip codecs already on the market?
A: Not every voice-over can afford the codec boxes and isdn line rental, so it's an inexpensive way of mirroring standard isdn hook-ups.
And for clients, few have direct access to an isdn studio to listen-in.
This provides a simple system for clicking & hearing live sessions.

Q: Isn't there always a delay in live-streaming?
A: Yes & there will be a slight delay here but this system is designed to minimise latency.

Q: So how does it work for voice-overs?
A: A voiceover records sections of text - at suitable points the client is asked for suggestions - (faster, slower, more emphasis on key words etc.)

Q: How does the client talk back to the voice?
A: A phone patch - & with most smartphones on the market - a simple audio jack cable out of the phone into your mixing desk will suffice.

Q: Why not just play the whole recording down the phone or via skype?
A: It's down to quality of the line. Even Skype quality can vary due to unforseen factors. Skype & other p2p systems involve downloading software, setting up an account etc. All a client has to do here is go to the voice-over's website.

Q: What operating system is required?
A: Mac OSX - since Nicecast (the streaming server I suggest) is Mac-based.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: vox-box.net is a non-commercial blog. ie. the method I describe & the html to embed into your site is available free on request. However, the method recommends downloading two commercial programmes Nicecast (costing US$40) & Lighthouse (costing US$13). I have no connection with the companies that make these programmes. I make these recommendations based on evaluations of many systems free or otherwise.

Q: What's the catch?
Nothing. Please feel free to test and use the method. If you copy & paste the html directly into your site, please keep the small credit of this site (or one of the associated voice-over sites).

Steve Crilley 2011