This bastard’s voice
March 26, 2008 § 3 Comments
I am my own master. At least when it comes to video voice-overs.
I’ve just been through a longer period of editing and adding finishing touches to a series of videos. This includes recording voice-overs (VO) using my own humble vocal chords. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the editing process very much. It’s where all the different parts are assembled and the video comes alive (with a flash of lightning). Nothing is better than watching a completed video with VO, graphics and all for the first time. But sitting in my office day after day without doing any filming takes it’s toll. Especially when I have to hear my own voice all the time (photo credit).
The process is typically like this:
- I edit a rough cut of the video and write a VO draft.
- Video and VO is reviewed by a doctor.
- Based on the doc’s suggestions I edit a new version of the video and record amended VO.
- The doc watch the video and make suggestions for any final changes.
- I edit a final cut of the video.
The problem is, number 4 on the list usually involves the doc saying something like “you’re not pronouncing ‘crista intertrochanterica’ right.” This normally leaves me trying to twist my tongue around a complicated sentence again and again. When I’m recording a sentence for the eleventh time and still don’t get it right, I desperately want to grab a camera and head for the OR.
Working my way through several videos, even though pronunciation runs smoothly, I get very tired of my own voice. So after watching a completed video for the first time I normally close the door to my office and put on some loud music. I know that soon my own voice will start bouncing along the corridor as my colleagues all sit down at their computers to watch it.
And now you know. It’s this bastard’s voice you’re hearing on my videos.
The Sterile Eye 
I too have trouble wrapping my tongue around some of the “proper” medical words. I try to avoid them when I can and use lay terms. That works except when doing what you’re talking about or giving a lecture or paper. Some drug names are also tough to say (as well as spell)
I like the anglified Latin you use in the US (and UK). Using “uterine artery” instead of “arteria uterina”. It both results in a more naturally flowing medical language, and it seems to create less of a barrier between patient and medical professionals, as it’s more a part of the English language itself, and less language of it’s own.
[…] usual the videos only have voice overs in Norwegian. But I think they’re quite pedagogically edited and should be interesting to […]