Problems with keeping age consistency with recordings?

RaccoonButler

Founder of The Church of Mawarine Shuu
Defender of Defoko
I have a tendency to sound like a younger boy (though I'm a girl). I typically don't voice act my banks and when I record naturally I usually sound like an around-12-year-old boy.

ex:



However recently I've started to sound like a slightly older boy when I record? I did record a bank to sound older on purpose before (sample:https://clyp.it/521lz5wq )

but now when I record I accidentally make banks that sound somewhat older. The banks I did record recently were in English though, so maybe it has to do with how I pronounce english words? (I also tend to sound like a boy when speaking as well as recording)

ex:



(I believe the second part was recorded on the same pitch as the high range on my first bank was recorded, G4 but it sounds weirdly older to me?)

I kind of want to try and keep the age consistent with my banks but since I'm not intentionally making the change I'm not sure how to record in the voice I used to? These banks were recorded about 6 months apart so I don't know if my voice is actually changing. Any advice?

Thank you
 
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na4a4a

Outwardly Opinionated and Harshly Critical
Supporter
Defender of Defoko
This happens for both boys and girls as they get older, and it'll happen more than once.

Your best bet would probably be to reference your old recordings and try to match the tone in a way that's comfortable. Recording at a higher pitch sometimes works but often it's just the overall tone.

Once you somewhat match the tone (it won't be perfect), then you will need tp re-reference it every 10 or so recordings to keep yourself steady.

Even if it's not exact you may be able to at least get in the ballpark.
 

수연 <Suyeon>

Your friendly neighborhood koreaboo trash
Supporter
Defender of Defoko
To parrot @_caustic_ and @heta-tan , this is something you'll come to expect the older you get and there's no stopping it. As we go through puberty and reach adult age, our voice deepens gradually (in the case of males, dramatically - one year they sound like little boys, the next... they start sounding like grown men or their voice cracks as they go between the two). It more or less stays the same (assuming drugs, smoking, constant screaming, and alcohol isn't a factor) throughout your adult lifespan until old age sets in and changes it again (gets more raspy/hoarse/shaky, can get thin).

You say that you sound boyish or androgynous... that's usually the sign of being a contralto. Expect your voice to sound more "masculine" through synth as you grow up (You can ask other deep voiced females around here about that; I wish I could be helpful with this, but I'm 1. a mezzo, and 2. started UTAU past the teen years). As for getting the sound you used to have with old recordings... Tone can be a factor, pitch can be a factor - even artificial pitching or voice acting can be a factor.

The good thing is: you're a female, so if you simply can't replicate the voice you used to have, you don't have to canonically age your voicebank dramatically.

NOTE: Microphones can also make a difference. There are mics that lean more towards a bassy sound (20 to 400Hz), mid tones (400Hz to 1200Hz), or treble (1200-2000Hz). Not many (cheap) mics are leveled across the board to be as neutral as possible. You may have to invest in a few mics for a specific purpose for the sound you want or learn how to fake it through EQ.
 
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RaccoonButler

Founder of The Church of Mawarine Shuu
Defender of Defoko
Thread starter
That's what happens when you get older, my voice did the same thing when I was ~14
You could try recording a little higher in pitch or accepting your mortality.
Ah, I guess my voice really is just changing then ;v; oh well I don't want my bank to sound too unnatural so I guess I'll just try matching my old tone. Thank you !

This happens for both boys and girls as they get older, and it'll happen more than once.

Your best bet would probably be to reference your old recordings and try to match the tone in a way that's comfortable. Recording at a higher pitch sometimes works but often it's just the overall tone.

Once you somewhat match the tone (it won't be perfect), then you will need tp re-reference it every 10 or so recordings to keep yourself steady.

Even if it's not exact you may be able to at least get in the ballpark.

:,0 Oh well, that's ok, I guess it might be better if I do just try to be somewhere in the ballpark, because after all the voice might sound forced if I try too hard to act it. Thank you !

To parrot @_caustic_ and @heta-tan , this is something you'll come to expect the older you get and there's no stopping it. As we go through puberty and reach adult age, our voice deepens gradually (in the case of males, dramatically - one year they sound like little boys, the next... they start sounding like grown men or their voice cracks as they go between the two). It more or less stays the same (assuming drugs, smoking, constant screaming, and alcohol isn't a factor) throughout your adult lifespan until old age sets in and changes it again (gets more raspy/hoarse/shaky, can get thin).

You say that you sound boyish or androgynous... that's usually the sign of being a contralto. Expect your voice to sound more "masculine" through synth as you grow up (You can ask other deep voiced females around here about that; I wish I could be helpful with this, but I'm 1. a mezzo, and 2. started UTAU past the teen years). As for getting the sound you used to have with old recordings... Tone can be a factor, pitch can be a factor - even artificial pitching or voice acting can be a factor.

The good thing is: you're a female, so if you simply can't replicate the voice you used to have, you don't have to canonically age your voicebank dramatically.

NOTE: Microphones can also make a difference. There are mics that lean more towards a bassy sound (20 to 400Hz), mid tones (400Hz to 1200Hz), or treble (1200-2000Hz). Not many (cheap) mics are leveled across the board to be as neutral as possible. You may have to invest in a few mics for a specific purpose for the sound you want or learn how to fake it through EQ.

Oh wow, I used to be a mezzo soprano but that was two years ago- I guess my voice changed a lot and I just haven't noticed ;v;. I used the same mic to record both banks, but it's ok I think, I guess I'll technically sound more accurate to my utau's age. Thank you !
 
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