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An Acoustic Panel Solution

I’ve been involved in the voice over business since 1995. While I’ve learned many lessons and grown my business from a part-time hobby to a full time profession, there is thing I’m not. A sound engineer.

There are plenty of guys out there who can help you put together a professional vocal booth, help you solve problems with all of your gear and consult with you on acoustics and sound and such. I’m not one of those guys.

A Really Noisy Space

In August I moved into a new place and set up a new office / studio. A space that’s approximately 120 sq/ft. The room was very live. Sound bounced. A lot. Even after I moved in some furniture, I was still struggling to get the sound under control to the point where I was confident with the quality of audio I was delivering to my clients.

Fortunately, one of my clients (Soundbox Productions) happens to be a pro audio company. They specialize in sound and visuals for live events as well as design and installation. With one quick email, I promptly received a reply offering an affordable and effective solution.

An Acoustic Panel Solution

Soundbox recommended I look into room kits from Primacoustic. So that’s exactly what I did.

I took some measurements and a few pictures of my space and sent them to Soundbox for their opinion. To start, they recommended the London 8 Kit.

When I first opened up the kit, I wasn’t sure if it was going to work or not, but I trusted the guys from Soundbox. Within a few hours I had the panels hung (installation was very easy) and the sound in my office/ studio was transformed!

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12″ x 12″ panels. 8 in the kit.

 

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12″ x 36″ panels. 4 in the kit.

I’ve been recording in here for a couple weeks now. I’ve sent out dozens of voice overs to clients. I’ve had no negative feedback of any kind, so I’m really happy with the investment. Speaking of investment, under $300 CAD for the kit!

I’m actually seriously considering adding a second kit.

Controlling Your Sound

As I mentioned before, sound engineering is not my speciality. If you’ve got a very noisy space and you need to get it under control, I’d always recommend speaking with a professional who can steer you in the right direction.

However, if you’re looking for a simple, easy to install, affordable solution that looks great on the wall too, I’m extremely pleased with my Primacoustic London 8 Kit and I’d absolutely recommend considering them for your space.

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First Impressions: Your Phone System

You never get a second chance to make a first impression right? That’s what were told all though our lives. From first dates to job interviews to your business, the first impression is vital to success.

Retailers will spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on marketing. The best ads in print, radio, and television. They hire professionals stagers to set up their storefront and window displays. When people see your business name or walk past your location, you want them to notice, and you want them to remember… in a good way.

I know of companies that no longer refer to their receptionist as a receptionist. This individual is now titled as the Director of First Impressions. Often times, they’re the first person people see when they walk into your office. When they call your company on the phone, again, it’s their warm, friendly voice and personality that greets customers. It’s all about making a great first impression.

With this in mind I have to wonder, why do so many businesses ignore their phone system? Is it not part of your first impression? If a customer calls while lines are busy, if they get put on hold, if they call during a lunch time closure or after business hours, chances are they’re going to get your phone system. This could include anything from a simple standard voicemail greeting to a more advanced multiple option phone tree. For some companies, the time a customer spends on hold is an opportunity to deliver targeted messages about your company.

When I call a business and get a standard voicemail greeting that clearly came with the answering system, I immediately question their professionalism. The same is true for a company that asks Joe from the back corner cubicle to voice the greeting because one time, in high school, somebody told him he had an OK voice. They spend thousands on promotions, marketing, storefront, and a Director of First Impressions, but they treat their phone system as an after thought. They’re costing themselves a potentially valuable first impression.

What does your phone system sound like? If it’s time to redo it or, if you’re doing it for the first time, I’d love to talk with you about your needs. I offer quick turnaround, competitive pricing and complete satisfaction with your final audio. I won’t stop until it’s right.

***** SPECIAL OFFER *****
For those of you that have taken the time to read this post I’d like to extend a special offer. I will record any form of phone system script for $50 per page. This includes voicemail, on-hold messages and phone trees. Contact me and lets talk about the details of your project. To take advantage of this special deal just use the promotional code MarcScottPhone in your message.

Here are some of the most recent phone system projects I’ve done. To view more click here.

Parallela

Soundbox Productions

Urban Fashion

WebProof Software

Opus Fund