Producing Radio Commercials

Task: Produce a professional sounding radio commercial. You should have considered the points below in your treatment.

Sourcing of Elements
Music:
Are you using a song or famous piece of music or are you commissioning your own piece?

Dialogue:
The Script- are there any specific points that need to be made, tag lines that need to be included.

Single/Multiple Voice:
If professional Voice over artists or even celebrity voices are required, voice over agency websites are the first place you'd look:

Voice Over Gallery
Excellent Voice
Voice Finder

Sound FX:
Have a look at websites such as Sound Dogs
Don't forget about possible fees on these sounds so try and use royalty free Sound FXs.

Recording Voice Session
Rehearsal:
By providing your 'voice' with the script as far in advance as possible will allow them to become familiar with the dialogue prior to rehearsals beginning.

Directing Talent:
You are responsible for making sure that the 'talent' speak how you want them to. Make sure they know what pitch and tone to use


Time Constraints:
How much time have you allocated for pre production, recording and post production before the final product has to be handed to the client?

You need to allow yourself plenty of time for all parts, in particularly the recording of the 'voice'. Recording studios are booked by the hour with other bookings usually to follow.
What happens if your voice over artist is late, leaving you will less time to record.

Recording:
It is best to record in the radio studio using Quicktime.

Mixing & Balancing
Live during recording or in Post Production?
When would be better for your production? Would it be easier to mix and balancing the sounds as you were recording them or once you have the recorded dialogue and can edit the speech together with sound fx and music beds?

Post Production
Editing:
What software are you using?
Garage Band is recommended for this project.

Master Copy & Back up copy:
You must always save a back up copy of your recording.
For purposes of this project, save a copy to each of the following places:

Your personal folder on the computer.
Memory Stick.
Simply Click.

Task: Evaluate your commercial by answering the relevant questions from the list below....

Production : Evaluation : PartcofPD

Purpose :
What was your original aim?
Did you actually achieve your purpose? Your own opinion.
Now ….you must gather audience feedback by playing your package to a group of people from your target audience. You should then write under the following headings :

Audience
What did they say? Did they enjoy it? Did they take your preferred reading…. Or an oppositional reading? Use words like “primary target audience….. uses & gratifications theory”

Representation issues.
Did you give positive messages… or negative …. were you biased?
Did your package only include boys/girls or both?
Were different ethnic groups included in your plans? If not, why not?
How did your music track add to the mood of the piece?
Were the locations appropriate to the package? Why? Why not?
Was the language appropriate for your target audience?
Was it realistic when compared to a similar professional product?

Technical issues
What were the levels like? Voice? Music? Background?
Did you cut off anyone’s voice when you edited the piece? If you did, how could you solve this next time?
Was the microphone work o.k.? Why? Why not?
Was there enough variety to keep your audience interested?
Was your editing o.k.? Have you used single track editing or multi-track editing?
Have you used sound effects? Why? Why not?
Have you used any actuality in your piece? What was it?

Conventions/Narrative
What do you think was typical of this genre? Make a list.
What would be the same in a similar professional product?
Do they have any advantages over you?
Features of good narrative include........ enigma.... , equilibrium, disruption, resolution, hero, villain.... did you use any of them?
Would you regard your story as single strand or multi-strand?


Own performance... self evaluation
Did you learn any new skills?
How do you think you did? ..... strengths?.. weaknesses?
Were you a good team member? Why? Why not?
Did you argue or were you prepared to listen to the opinion of others?

Future targets
What would you improve on next time?
Produce a brainstorm of some ideas for
1. PROMOTING your audio product?
2. DISTRIBUTING it?
Which ‘laws/controls’ might you need to consider? Copyright? How can you get permission to use music?
Look at MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) for prices.
Look at Ofcom’s programme codes/news codes/advertising codes, depending on your chosen genre. Have you followed the guidelines? If you have and you have no worries…. Ask yourself WHAT IF I’D DONE………..? This gives you a chance to look at the codes more thoroughly.