Timing is everything. (That should be etched on my tombstone — way in the future.) No sooner do I start to ponder about getting equipped for real-time remote recording sessions than I find terrific forum threads and this very good blog by Harlan Hogan:

Do I invest in ISDN or an Internet Audio Program?

I was sent this link in response to a forum topic I started on Voice Over Savvy: ISDN vs. Audio Over IP.

I think ultimately Thomas Gass is right: the different technologies may be better suited for the different types of voice services provided. And that’s OK. I’m primarily discussing all this because I have a genuine interest in the technology. It’s the geek in me. But I do get plenty of work now, none of which requires remote sessions — so really I could never justify the cost unless I wanted to expand my services and pursue the kind of work that requires ISDN.

That day may come. In fact, this month I’ve been contacted by two separate studios interested in my bilingual voice services, but needing talent with ISDN capabilities. One is eager to work with me regardless. The other one I just responded to last night. We’ll see what happens. It’s all good.

I’ve been researching methods for providing real-time voice over streams to clients who want to record at their end. Not only are there a bunch of choices with respect to ISDN equipment, but there may be a benefit to bypassing what may be outdated technology and going straight to audio-over-IP options like Telos System’s new Zephyr Z/IP or AudioTX. Going over IP is more future-friendly and would allow me to avoid the monthly expense of maintaining an ISDN line with a third ISP (I already have cable internet with Comcast and a DSL backup through AT&T).

Well, more on my new research project will follow in upcoming blogs if I pursue this, but in the process I found this nice video blog of Joe Cipriano’s ISDN session for West Wing promos. It’s great to see a pro at work — and how nice of Joe to show us his equipment.

I had the Food Network on in the living room TV while I read emails this afternoon. Ace of Cakes was on. They featured a Noah’s Ark cake they prepared for a little girl named Rachel who was celebrating her Bat Mitzvah. I was increasingly drawn from what I was reading as the bakers shared this elaborate backstory they created for the ark cake, which guided their concept as they built this terrific piece. They had all the animals rejoicing on the cake, kissing and celebrating because they’d made it onto the ark (who doesn’t want to be part of the in-crowd?). All the animals were happy except the unicorn and the dragon who were left on an island consoling each other. One of the bakers explained that the unicorn and dragon were a metaphor symbolizing Rachel’s rite of passage to adulthood and the fantasy world she would leave behind.

A writer can’t provide an account of every word or action of a particular character. That’s not a script; that’s a diary. Creating the backstory, if one is used, is therefore the job of the performer. Many actors in fact create elaborate backstories, giving a character a made-up history to add depth and color to their performances. Often the shorter the role, the more detailed the backstory. If you think about it, that makes sense. With walk-ons or short supporting roles, there is less opportunity to see the character’s history unfold, less time to convey anything about the character. Believing the character has conflicted relationships, tragic experiences, or quirky obsessions can infuse the moment with more than the words or actions supplied by the writer.

Voice actors can be even more challenged in their efforts to develop a character, often having less than 60 seconds to convey any depth or dimension — and all without the benefit of body language or facial expressions. A backstory can therefore be a great character development tool, not only providing an effective way to flesh out a character in a short amount of time, but also enhancing the overall creative process, and making it more enjoyable — as Ace of Cakes reminded me today.