Why Do Voice Artists Use ISDN?

ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network.

In sound recording (without getting into all the technical stuff) it's a way of connecting two studios together with very little loss of quality. So I could sit in my studio in London and connect with someone in the States who also has an ISDN line. It looks just like a phone line with a fancy box on the end. In the UK, not surprisingly BT is the main supplier.

However, it isn't quite that simple. The sounds going into a microphones in both studios have to be digitized so they can be sent on the ISDN line. This means both studios need a codec

What's a CODEC?

Short for coder-decoder it turns the analogue sound into digital and vice versa. My codec is a Pronto 2 and looks pretty much like an amplifier. I speak into a microphone, which is connected to a small audio mixer to control sound levels. This is connected to the codec, which is connected to the ISDN line. At the other end, the other studio receives the signal into their codec, which is then plugged through to their recording equipment, and they monitor it through headphones or speakers.

There are various other codecs.

Prima springs to mind, and is very popular. A software application called AudioTX has also been developed which means your PC effectively becomes the codec.

So what's the point of ISDN?

Radio stations love it. Instead of having to use the same voices living locally, or those prepared to travel large distances, they can now choose anyone in the world with an ISDN line and the rest of the kit. Voice artists love it because they can stay at home (wherever that is, maybe miles from civilisation) and not even get dressed to go to work!

"Adding Audio Player in Flash" Tool - Try it Now!   Tips in Adding Background Music to Your Website   Web Audio Promotion - Generate Huge Earnings   Audio Interviews With Big Names - How to Land One   Downloadable Audio Books Rapidly Rising in Popularity   

Recording Audio For Your Website - Build a Relationship With Your Website Visitors Using Your Voice

Building a relationship with your website visitors is crucial to having a successful online business. If you want to start a relationship right away, one way to do that is to offer an audio greeting welcoming your visitors to your site.

One of my clients asked this question recently:

"What is the best way to record a short audio that can be downloaded for my website? I want people to hear my voice to connect."

You have options. They range from totally free and low-priced options to other options that will allow you and your business to grow offering several bells and whistles that you may want as your website gets more traffic and you become more successful.

1. Totally Free Option:

Get an account at FreeConferenceCall.com. They will give you a number to call and a code to record. Follow me here: You'll want to call in using another phone at the same time or else you'll be stuck listening to some seriously bad looped musak while you record. So call in on your main phone line. Then use your cell phone and mute your cell phone by pressing *6. Then record your greeting using your main phone line. Once your recording is done, you'll have to download it to your computer from the conference call line's website.

2. Low-Priced Option

You can go to the Internet and search for a free downloadable recording tool like Audacity. You will need a microphone that hooks into your computer with a USB cable. I personally use a headset with a microphone, so I can use for Skype voice chats and presenting in webinar rooms also. You have multiple options ranging on prices of microphones as low as $19.99 at local stores like Radio Shack and from online sources as well.

3. Looking to the Future Option

If you plan to work with audio often, you may want to invest in a longer-term solution. Services such as Audio Acrobat can help you record your own voice for your site, but you can also send your satisfied customers there to record testimonials for you. Willie Crawford, successful internet millionaire, suggests this tool for those who truly want to make an impact for a long time to come.

"Adding Audio Player in Flash" Tool - Try it Now!   Tips in Adding Background Music to Your Website   Web Audio Promotion - Generate Huge Earnings   Audio Interviews With Big Names - How to Land One   Downloadable Audio Books Rapidly Rising in Popularity