The Essentials Elements of Radio Production
An Examination of the Recording Process of a Radio Commercial
Putting together a radio commercial once the script is written requires skill, a good pair of ears, and some dedication. Understanding all the constituent parts and how they might interact with each other becomes easier with a basic understanding of each.
The People Involved in Radio Production
The size of the radio station and / or the budget often dictates the number of people involved and their job functions, but regardless of whether one person fulfills all the roles, or there is a greater degree of specialisation with different people assigned to each, the main skills and the roles needed to produce a commercial, and there are essentially only four:
- The Scriptwriter: having the writer present at the session often helps clear up any misunderstanding with the written word.
- The Sound Engineer: a good experienced technician with a good pair of ears can make everything work quickly and smoother.
- The Producer: the person in overall charge of achieving the end result.
- The Voice Over(s): Good casting is essential and knowing the capabilities of each voice helps.
All the above roles can be, and often are, completed by one person, and sometimes for larger campaigns with larger budgets, present in the studio can also be:
- The Client(s): whose money is paying for the session.
- The Media Sales Representative(s): responsible for booking the commercial airtime.
- The Advertising Agency: either in a creative capacity as the writer and producer or as an advisor to the client.
So present in the studio to record a radio commercial or a number of commercials for any advertising campaign can range from one person to several.
Before The Recording Starts
Before any recording begins there are a few steps well worth doing if not essential that will not only save time later as the recording progresses but will ultimately lead to a better end product. Some of this is preparation and some skills and technique that need practice and experience.
- Read the script, again (and this applies as much to the scriptwriter)
- If not the writer, discuss the script with the scriptwriter so that all understand it.
- Look out, or pre-record any sound effects.
- Listen to the options, choose and set up music tracks.
- Cast the voice artists carefully, and give them as much information about what’s required and as much encouragement as they need.
- Try and create a good atmosphere in the studio, relaxed and open for ideas.
- Be prepared to enjoy it!
Recording any audio is as much about the people involved in the process as it is about the technicalities, technology and equipment.
The Recording Process
The recording studio is the sound engineer’s domain and a good sound engineer will have studio skills including both sound recording and editing skills and be familiar with different types of production software and their capabilities. They will add considerably to the whole production and should:
- Contribute ideas including suggesting the sound effects and music available.
- Suggest the best way to record the audio.
- Consider other places to record the audio that might help the final production.
- Ensure all the equipment is working efficiently.
- Pick the right microphones for the number of voices involved.
- Set up the studio and provide all the facilities.
An experienced sound engineer will make a recording session run smoothly and contribute greatly to the production.
Creativity in the Studio
Most production companies and studio personnel will acknowledge that without a good script, making a good commercial is difficult if not impossible. Conversely a good script can be wasted by poor production. A good script or series of scripts and a recording session when all the above is in place can produce some effective and creative audio.
Studio Microphone
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