The Online Communicator: Voice Lab Performance Samples

Voice Performance: Samples

Purpose: This page is for the study and appreciation of voice-over performance. These pieces were carefully selected from larger works, to demonstrate specific vocal techniques, styles, or abilities. The few samples here demonstrate how important the voice is, as a distinct component of "visual" works like film or television. I hope to add more samples from a broader range of works, possibly in other file formats, as time allows.

How to Play Sound Files: A typical Windows computer has a built-in "Media Player" or similar program that automatically launches itself to play "WAV" files, and nowadays many new computers (Windows or otherwise) come with everything set up to save or play back sound files received over the Internet. So, most users shouldn't have to do anything except click on the appropriate link(s) below. Your browser may prompt you to choose between "saving" or "opening" the file, but that's usually about it. (Note -- I assume most visitors will know this, but just in case: if you don't have a sound card, you won't be able to play these files on your computer.)

Formats: Each file is provided in three "flavors." AU is technically a Unix format, AIF is from Apple, and WAV is common in Windows. However, many browsers, plug-ins, and other sound programs can play all three formats regardless of computer. NOTE: Qualitatively, they sound virtually identical, regardless of format. So, please do not download all three versions, as it will waste both your time and my bandwidth! Thanks.

One thing to note: the files on this page are not -- yet -- set up for "streaming," i.e. real-time playback as popularized by RealAudio (tm), Liquid Audio (tm) and other technologies. So, there is a slight time lag while the file downloads, before your sound program opens and plays the file. With today's faster modems, that time lag is not very long at all. Check back to this page in the future, as new technologies are always being examined and explored.* Meanwhile, enjoy!

DRAMA

Morgan Freeman: The Shawshank Redemption
Morgan Freeman's voice is always full of depth and character, making it hard to pick one sample to represent his skill. (Coincidentally, Freeman is also one of many fine voice actors who worked on The Civil War , featured below.) His work in The Shawshank Redemption is especially noteworthy because Freeman's character tells much of the story in voiceover, making the performance crucial to the film's success. This sample is from the very last scene in the movie (190K).

Note: the script text for this scene appears elsewhere on this website on the Famous Last Words page.

DOCUMENTARY

John Roebling: The Civil War
Episode 1 (1861) of this epic series ends with the reading of a letter from a union officer named Sullivan Ballou to his wife. Ballou's letter anticipates his death on the battlefield, examines his sense of duty, and wishes his wife a loving farewell. There are numerous excellent voice performances throughout this program, but the late John Roebling's reading of Ballou's letter stands out. It brings the man, and the historic moment, back to life with understatement and sensitivity. I wish circumstances permitted posting the entire reading, but this excerpt will provide some idea of its poignancy. (178K)

Rich Wilson: Journey Toward the Light
This program profiles an organization called Friends Connection, which helps rehabilitate people who have emotional problems coupled with drug and/or alcohol dependencies. This excerpt is from the opening segment, which establishes the need for tolerance and acceptance by viewers, to help recovering clients as they are integrated back into society. For my narration on this program I received the Philadelphia ITVA's Outstanding Achievement Award for Voice-over Performance. (155K)

Rich Wilson: Voices of a Small Town 100 Years Ago
This public broadcasting documentary is based on the memoirs of Henry Seidel Canby, a major literary and critical figure of the early 20th century. Among other things, the performance required "aging" my voice to be suitable for these reminiscences, written in Canby's later years. For this role I received the Philadelphia ITVA's Outstanding Achievement Award for Voice-over Performance. (211K)

ANIMATION

(There are entire websites devoted to Mel Blanc, and deservedly so. His body of work is so enormous that it is difficult to choose pieces for a list like this. But I am working on it! Suggestions are welcome.)

Charles Fleischer: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
The job of creating a distinctive voice for a new, high-profile cartoon character is a huge challenge. When this film was being developed, the buzz was all about its integration of animation with live action. But I think Fleischer's invention and performance of Roger Rabbit's voice -- and vocal personality -- deserve special recognition. This excerpt shows Fleischer's ability to perform extremes of emotion (not to mention vocal pitch!) while remaining in character. (126K)

Kathleen Turner: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Key to the comic success of this film is the contrast between Roger and his pulchritudinous wife. As attractive as Kathleen Turner is in person, she could not compete with Jessica Rabbit visually. But her sultry and breathy voice matches Jessica's outrageous curves perfectly, which is why this excerpt is provocative even without any pictures. (120K)

* To make transmission as fast as possible, each of the preceding files was edited as tightly as possible, then digitized at 11KHz, 8 bit monaural. The resulting files are as small as they could reasonably be, given the constraints of the file formats used on this page and the desire for reasonable sound quality.

To explore an exciting new sound compression technology that makes even tighter files, check out this website's page of MP3 Demos and Information.