Google Android to take on Apple iPhone’s Siri – Telegraph

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Currently dubbed ‘Majel’ after the voice computer from science-fiction TV series Star Trek, Google Android’s vocal-input software is apparently in the final stages of development, with a view for a December release.

According to technology website Android and Me the project has been developed by the notoriously secret Google centre in San Francisco, known as Google X, over the past year. Earlier this month Google acquired Clever Sense, developers of the Alfred assistant smartphone application, in a move that strongly indicated the company’s intentions to cash in on Siri’s success.

While most Android phones currently carry Google’s interactive app, Voice Actions, the software still requires a rigid user input, without the freedom to stray beyond pre-set commands. If reports are substantiated, Majel will detect users’ vocal behaviour in a similar way to Apple’s Siri, offering a more conversational experience.

Speaking to Slashgear in October, Android operating system director Matias Duarte said the voice assistant being developed would be like “the Starship Enterprise,” which explains the software’s sci-fi referencing name. He also added: “You can talk to it and you can touch it, you can interact with it at the same time as you talk with it,” providing further evidence that Google aims to provide users with an exceptionally lifelike virtual character.

With December now half way through, the alleged end-of-year release date seems ambitious, with a spillover to early 2012 appearing much more likely. However Android And Me, which broke the news, claims only internet search queries will be available in the initial release, with more to be added throughout next year.

via Google Android to take on Apple iPhone’s Siri – Telegraph.

‘Dark Knight Rises’ Prologue Raises Concerns Over Bane’s Voice

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Reactions to Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight Rises” prologue, which introduces the back-breaking Bane through a pulse-pounding action sequence, have been overwhelmingly positive, except for one not-so-little detail: Bane’s voice.

A large portion of folks who’ve already seen the prologue agree that Bane’s dialogue can be difficult to understand, almost impossible at points, due to the combination of actor Tom Hardy’s accent and the character’s mask. Nolan himself admitted to Heat Vision that there will be points where viewers might not understand Bane’s words due to the accent-mask combo, though he insisted that additional dialogue recording will assist the finished product.

MTV News staff writer Kara Warner, who has seen the “Dark Knight Rises” prologue, described Hardy’s Bane voice as “heavily accented, cold and calculated, with an unhinged, raspy finish.” I asked her to weigh in on the Bane voice drama, and here’s what she had to say:

“Yes, it is difficult to hear some of what Hardy-as-Bane says in that German accent through his ghastly mask, even moreso because the few sentences we hear him speak are further hindered by the noisy setting: a plane, mid-flight, that’s had several drafty holes torn into it. I liken it to the experience of watching a Shakespearean play: at first it’s hard keeping track of every twist and turn in the dialogue, but after awhile your brain adjusts to the slightly foreign language and you hear everything perfectly.”

“Unfortunately with the prologue, we only had six minutes to absorb everything. Six minutes! I just don’t feel it’s enough to make the blanket judgment that we’re never going to understand anything Bane says, particularly when everything else in that footage was so spectacular. Nolan won’t let people be distracted by something a little ADR work can’t fix! He said as much during his conversations with attendees after the prologue. It was the first time they had shown anything to audiences, so naturally they were looking for feedback, which they’ve got. I say get off Nolan’s back and be happy we got to see any early footage at all.”

I’ll admit that I’ve been concerned by reports surrounding Bane’s voice, but Kara’s endorsement has me feeling more optimistic. Besides, it really is early days yet — plenty of time for ADR to fix up any extreme problems. But what do you think: are you nervous about understanding Bane’s dialogue, or do you have faith in Nolan?

via ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Prologue Raises Concerns Over Bane’s Voice.

I guess it’s very easy

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I recently saw a tape recorder that used reels. It was a professional type, used for broadcasting a few years ago before the advent of everything digital. A sound engineer told me that it used to take hours sometimes to finish a short audio clip. It literally was the matter of clipping tape and then editing it physically. To say that it was laborious is to say nothing. In those days to have a professional voice over studio at home for a talent was almost unheard of. It was almost like buying a new house. But it wasn’t just the editing involved. It took time to send the physical master tape to the client. As there was no Internet. It is just unbelievable that almost anyone can nowadays make a voice studio at home. Anywhere in the world. And your client can be on another continent but still receive a finished product on the next day. Whether it is Russian, English or any other language. We voice over artists must be thankful for computers and Internet. Well, together with our clients.Reel recorder

Bridges over the globe

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Voice over talents can sometimes be viewed as ambassadors. Especially when they give their voice to videos in foreign languages. It is just as important as the roles of translators and interpreters. We give local flavour. The audience will connect with what we say and how we say it. Recently I did a voice over for 3 short films that were made by a city council in Germany about the use of green policies. It was the case of not just being happy to do the job, but also a feeling of satisfaction that I can be an important part of communicating the message of saving the planet to the Russian audience. I dare to say that we, voice over artists, are international bridge builders.

Links are for sharing

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I’ve added a page with external links. If your site is connected with VO industry in some way, drop me an email and I will be happy to exchange links with you.