Lucca's First Demo Reel! [2010]

[Lucca]

Hey guys! Welcome to my demo reel! This is my first time mixing ANYTHING, so sorry if the quality isn't that good. I hope you enjoy it! The music is from the Legend of Mana soundtrack, and while I do own it, I don't own the RIGHTS to it :P, but I'm just using it for my little video, alright? Alright ^_^. Here is a list of the character's whose voices I am doing and what they are from:

Lucca - Chrono Trigger
Miyako - Digimon Adventure 02
Andou - Kodocha
Mariko - Kodocha
Meru - Legend of Dragoon
Patricia - Lucky Star
Ryoko Otomiya - The Gentlemen's Alliance
Ushio - The Gentlemen's Alliance
Claire - Threads of Fate
Elena - Threads of Fate
Mint - Threads of Fate
Chocola - Time Stranger Kyoko
Ashley - Time Hollow
Emily - Time Hollow
Pamela - Time Hollow
Time Hollow Song

Thanks for watching! Feel free to leave any feedback you want! Constructive criticism is GREATLY appreciated!
~Lucca

Here is a link to the audio version: http://www.box.net/shared/dqr3gjiftm

Here is the Youtube video, if you prefer that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPWwbEmaGEI
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPWwbEmaGEI)

[Lucca]

I don't want to be annoying about this or anything, but I would REALLY appreciate some feedback on this. I would even appreciate a, "This demo reel sucks. You should never voice act again" comment. ^_^;

[MiyakaMinamoto]

^^ good job, you did good for your first demo.

I don't have time for a proper critique right now, however I will say that there a lot of peaking, and it doesn't seem like there's a lot of range in your lines. Also it was a little long for a demo. They should be, idealy... around 1:00 or 1:30 minutes in length.

Other than that, good job ;3 I'll try to give a proper critique later ^^;

[Aziral]

I love you for the Legend of Mana BGM. I was going to use some music there for my new demo reel, too. XD

OKay~ Critique time. I'm pretty bad with critique so forgive me if it's not too good. 8D;
First off, this demo reel is very, very long. No matter how good your voice is, 1:30 is the proper size for a demo reel, at most.
Your voice is nice, but I think there could have been more range in this. You're really good with medium, medium-high voices, but I'd like to hear a few lower voices. Also, it's not really a must for demo reels but you should try showcase some extreme emotions. Crying, rage, etc.
The mixing is okay. Sometimes the voices seemed really loud, while some seemed a bit quiet. You should also try to get some sound effects, too. Things like that can enhance your demo reel.

Okay! Enough fail critique from me. 8D;
Good job!

[McTricky]

This demo reel sucks. You should never voice act again

No, really this was REALLY long. 5mins? What is this I don't even...

Fortunately, I listened to it all because at least the voices were decent. You display some great energy and emotion in here, which is really good. I only wish I could her some lower ranged voices.

Also, some lines were really loud, and some lines were really quiet o.O

P.S I really love your Meru voice. (Becuase I <3 Meru)

[Lucca]

Thank you SO much for the feedback so far ^_^ Sounds like I really need to make a new demo reel in the near future. Like I said, it was my first demo reel, first time mixing anything, so I'm gonna take everything you guys have said into consideration. THANKS AGAIN. (Oh gosh I'm such a noob XD

EDIT: And, I'm trying to work on my lower voices ^_^ I just can't seem to do a decent low voice yet.

[lightofhope18]

Oh, first demo reels are always an interesting since it's a learning experience.


This has already been mentioned by the others, but try to keep your demo short and condense, showing off the best of your range. Hearing one take of one voice is perfect -- too many takes of the same voice gets not only boring and tedious, but clutters the demo reel and makes it hard to remember any other voices.
I did not see a whole lot of variation in range. A lot of the characters sound the same to me, so I lost track of which character was who after a couple of seconds. Try out different pitches -- I loved the softer and quieter voice you used somewhere in the middle.
Most of the lines sounded like they were being read from a piece of paper or something. Add some feeling and characterization into them. For example: "Sounds like you have a death wish" (I think that was the line), did not sound evil at all. I felt like it was an obnoxious girl, not a villainess woman who wants to take over the world.
There were a lot of peaking, mic puffs, and clicks. I had to cringe at some of the peaks. Sapphire made a super helpful tutorial (http://voiceactingalliance.com/board/showthread.php?t=47905) about audio mixing, which I highly suggest checking out because it will help you clear away those pesky clicks and puffs.
Adding in different music and SFX always makes a demo more colorful and intriguing. Listening to the same song gets kind of boring after a while, so why not jazz it up a bit?
Try and make sure the volume levels are evened out because there were a lot of really loud lines, then really quiet ones, so I had difficulty hearing some because the previous ones were so loud.


I think you have a good start and you can only get better. At least you actually put in music in your first demo. I don't even think I did that in mine. D:

[Jordan]

If it makes you feel any better, Lucca, I didn't get very good critiques for my first demo reel, either. But hey, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? You'll be back with a vengence, because I know you have potential. ;)

[Lucca]

I'm actually typing on my iPhone right now, long story, so I won't say much, except thanks for the critique, and I wanted to address something you said about a certain character I did.

For example: "Sounds like you have a death wish" (I think that was the line), did not sound evil at all. I felt like it was an obnoxious girl, not a villainess woman who wants to take over the world.

Actually, Mint IS an obnoxious girl, not a villianess woman. I'm sorry if the lines I said made it seem otherwise. Also, Mint is actually one of two protagonists you can choose to play at the beginning of the game Threads of Fate.

Thanks for the critique! I REALLY appreciate it!


And thanks, Hatter ^_^

[ValkyrieCeles]

I'll try and touch things that other people haven't said.

First off, you don't really need to have more then one line per character. just pick one line for each character, because then you can pick the best one and it also cuts down on the length of the demo.

I would've liked to hear more emotional lines in here too, since they all sounded kind of static, and lacked dynamics. If you throw in a crying line, then an angry one, then happy etc. not only does it show off your voice range, but also your emotional range.

I know others have said this, but a better voice range would have been nice to hear as well. All of your voices sounded medium to medium-high. Hearing slightly varied types, like adding a airy soft medium voice, or an accented medium voice would have made a difference, since they do sound different. And one or two lower voices (since I can't do too many lower voices either) would be nice to throw into the mix too.

Other than that, other people have said what I would have said; needs to be cut down, and there needs to be different music in it. But nice for your first mixing attempt! My first attempt was waaaaay bad XD

[Koichi_Saito]

Ah, this takes me back to when I mixed my first demo reel. (I felt so bad about the first one I remixed it and made another bad demo in its place. XD) But enough about that, let's get to your demo.

I can't say much other than what a lot of other people have said, but here are the main things I think you should do.

-- Broaden your range of voices. Type-casting is not something a voice actor, or any actor for that matter, usually wants. It will also open you up to a broader range of roles you can portray, and thus will give you a higher success rate of being cast. Most, if not all, of your characters were focusing on your higher range. Experiment with your voice a bit and make another demo in a few months.

-- As far as characterization goes, you really do sound like you're mainly reading your lines. The best way to get out of this would be to imagine yourself as the character, and think of the emotion behind the lines. A better thing for you to do would be to come up with a bunch of lines yourself so you're not stuck playing characters from different anime/games. Make those lines your own. Not only will originality in a demo make it more interesting, but it will also open your mind up to creating new and exciting characters/voices. Everybody does a character or two they like in a demo at one point, but professionals always try to come up with their own lines, so you should try it too.

-- While mixing a demo, try to keep your lines in mind. Match the SFX and music to the emotion you want out of the lines. One awesome song is just "ehh" and a bit boring. But if you think carefully of the emotion and feeling you want the audience to get while listening to a certain line, it will show the listener that you're not only acting, but doing what an actor is supposed to do: keeping their character/lines in mind.

I apologize if my reply is somewhat scattered and whatnot, but I'm just trying to help you touch up on some points so that in a few months, when you become more experienced and confident as a voice actor, that your next demo will be spectacular! You'll be amazed with the progress you'll make in a few months, and perhaps even weeks! Keep at it Lucca, and good luck!

[Lucca]

I'm sorry, but does everyone think that I just used one song? There are a total of three songs in there. I can point out when they change, if you like.

[lightofhope18]

Actually, Mint IS an obnoxious girl, not a villianess woman. I'm sorry if the lines I said made it seem otherwise. Also, Mint is actually one of two protagonists you can choose to play at the beginning of the game Threads of Fate.

Thanks for the critique! I REALLY appreciate it!

I've never played the game before, so I'm just going by instinct.

[Lucca]

I figured, that's why I explained it ^_^

[Koichi_Saito]

I'm sorry, but does everyone think that I just used one song? There are a total of three songs in there. I can point out when they change, if you like.

The changes weren't apparant then. Still, keep the reel to about 1:00-1:30, and change the music at least every other line. It'll make your demo a lot more interesting.

[Lucca]

I just wanted to clarify that, I know I need to switch the music up MUCH more than I did in this reel. Thanks for the advice, Koichi ^_^