Now an industry standard, Source-Connect is an ISDN alternative that enables all of the above benefits without any of the above pitfalls, as it is a reasonably priced, monthly subscription software.
It allows its users to bridge into any ISDN line, making the need for an actual ISDN line obsolete. It also boasts audio quality on par with that of an ISDN line as well, enabling every user to achieve the connectivity required for smooth audio project management.
Available for Windows and Mac, Source-Connect makes remote recording sessions achievable from anywhere in the world with internet access. It even offers a plugin to connect directly to Pro Tools, the recording software, that allows users to directly pull audio files into Pro Tools for post-production work.
If the concept still isn’t quite clear yet, here’s a great video demonstrating how the Source-Connect software is able to bring together two parties from across the globe (as well as bring the audio into Pro Tools).
For anyone new to the voice over industry, or to this tech, ISDN in the simplest terms is a digital connection that voice actors and their clients use to come together in a recording session. It supports the transmission of voice (a conversation) and data (a recorded voice over file) at the same time. Through ISDN, a client is able to record studio quality audio live as the talent performs the voice over, rather than have the voice actor send over an audio file after the fact.
It’s as if the voice actor was recording in a client’s in-house studio.
The main benefits of ISDN are:
- The talent has little to no follow up work with a client after a recording session through this digital connection because all of the work is completed in the session.
- The client is able to provide in-the-moment artistic direction, eliminating the need for retakes and any back and forth communications. They get exactly what they need, with no further delay of deliverables.
- Because the ‘call’ has better sound quality, the client can truly hear the nuances and inflections that a voice actor incorporates into their performance. This helps the client to better direct the talent if needed and makes it even easier to appreciate greatness in the voice actor’s read.
The main detractors of ISDN are:
- The service comes with an expensive monthly bill through your phone provider.
- To enable ISDN, you must also purchase a codec to connect the line into your recording system. Without going into the nitty-gritty, the codec is a piece of hardware that requires an initial investment in the thousands of dollars.
- Connecting with a phone company that can offer you ISDN is becoming more and more difficult to find.
Though ISDN has begun to experience a ‘phasing out’ over the last five to seven years, there are still handfuls of production houses and ad agencies in the USA specifically, that are happy using this older, yet reliable, technology.
However, that doesn’t mean that voice actors need to have ISDN in order to work with these agencies and production houses. There are now more cost-effective alternatives that allow connectivity to an ISDN line.
A View of Source Connect