Voice, Vocal Branding and Other Audio Resources

This page is a continuous work in progress…

Here you will find a variety of resources relating to Voice, Vocal Branding, sonic branding, audio and sound, as well as articles and guidelines about auditory (non-visual) user interface design.

If you have any corrections or recommendations for resources you would like to be included here, please Contact Us

Amazing Vocal Versatility , Just For Fun

Amazing to behear – is Someone Lying about the source of These sounds?

Interviews and Voice Resources by Tim Noonan

Voices, Relationships, Trust and Timetravel Presentation

a 15 minute video of Tim Noonan’s award-winning ‘Voices, Relationships, Trust and Timetravel’ presentation delivered to the APG “Battle of Big Thinking” event in March 2010.

The Human Voice is the most Influential Sound on the Planet!

This audio interview with Tim Noonan is a great overview of some of the fundamental principles and ideas that are the foundations of Tim’s voice and Vocal Branding work.

Hear or Download this conversation with me about the human voice

Running Time: 17 min 18 sec

Interesting South 1

Tim’s Interesting South 1 Presentation

This fun and lively 10 minute presentation by Tim on Voice and his ‘Vocology System’ of expressive speaking and insightful listening was recorded in 2007 at the highly acclaimed Interesting South 1 Conference.

This was Tim’s first-time public presentation about Voice and also Tim’s first public on-stage Vocological Voice Reading (Thanks Sarah).

Note that in 2009 Tim re-branded his ‘Vocology System’ to ‘Vocal Consciousness‘ to avoid confusion with other uses of the word ‘Vocology’.

Voice, Vocal Branding and Other Audio Resources

Your Voice and Podcasting

Voice and Podcasting Part 1 (2009) An extended interview with Tim Noonan for Episode 15 of the Podcasters’ Emporium podcast by @JamesWilliams90 and @The_Rooster on Twitter.

Voice and Podcasting Part 2 (2010) An extended interview with Tim Noonan for Episode 21 of the Podcasters’ Emporium podcast by @JamesWilliams90 and @The_Rooster on Twitter.

Podcasters should also check out Tim Noonan’s detailed notes, voice tips and resources for podcasters blog article.

A Great Interview Voice

Some voice and vocal authenticity tips for job applicants. A Great Interview Voice: Tim Noonan’s Vocal Tips for Interviewees and job applicants (2008)

Tim’s Tips to Professional Speakers

Blindly Speaking for Real: a Blog post about Tim’s Presenting tips for professional speakers (2009) an article by Sally Mabelle following a presentation by Tim Noonan to the National Speakers Association of New Zealand

Accessibility Reviews of DVDs with Audio Description for Blind or Vision Impaired Audiences

Hear or Download Tim Noonan's Review of Accessible Dr Who DVD Boxed Set

This audio review of Dr Who by Tim Noonan gives some interesting insights into creating accessible multimedia materials, developing self-voicing products as well as demonstrating some voice user interface design principles. The review was produced for Media Access Australia and was the first commercial DVD release containing speaking navigation menus and audio description for people who are blind.

Running Time: 16m 51s

Alternatively, here is a written review of the accessible DVD set.

You can also read Tim Noonan’s written review of the Audio Description features on “Thank God You’re Here: Series Two” DVD set.

In this review, Tim highlights the profound irony that though several DVDs are now being produced with accessible features like audio description, at the same time they are inaccessible to the extent that audio description can’t independently be activated. This is why the self voicing menus approach used on the Dr. Who boxed set is so important and welcomed.

Usability of Automated Telephone Services (IVRs)

Designing User Friendly Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Telephone Services for all. Tim Noonan

Enabling Independent Access To Electronic Information For People With Disabilities And The Older Population Through Automated Telephone Services – Outline Of Presentation by Tim Noonan (2001) Royal Blind Society

A Strategy and Information on Designing User-Friendly Automated Telephone Services Which Incorporate Text-To-Speech. (2000) Tim Noonan, Royal Blind Society

Other Voice and Podcasting Resources

Developing your Voice and Your Podcast Style

There is a fantastic presentation by Tony Kahn on Voice and Developing your Podcasting Style. Tony has been host of the Morning Stories podcast for several years. The new home for Morning Stories is at Tony’s personal website, http://www.tonykahn.com

Tony has been working in radio for many decades, and really knows Voice. He also understands how podcasting differs significantly from classical radio, and explains this transition brilliantly in his Voice and Developing your Podcasting Style presentation. You can download this video presentation by Tony here.

Online Voice Coaching and Podcasting Blog

Improving your voice makes your podcasts more credible and effective. Simple, small changes can give you a voice that attracts more listeners.

Ann Utterback’s excellent Online Voice Coaching Blog has a variety of quality posts about breathing, vocal warm-up and other podcast-relevant pointers.

Podcast Voice Training

Some very informative Voice and Public Speaking podcasts by public speaking coaches, Jan Janzen and Scott Paton

“Improve your Podcasts with tips and tricks from expert public speaking coaches, Jan Janzen and Scott Paton”.

Unfortunately, these Podcast Voice Training files can be difficult to download at times due to Podomatic’s bandwidth limits.

Some Points for Conducting Podcast Interviews.

This article on interviewing contains some good pointers for keeping to topic and following up on unexpected or interesting answers.

Some great podcast interviewing advice can also be found in Ann Utterback’s Polish Your Interviewing Voice blog article.

Sound and Voice Recording Tips

Article By David Battino with practical Pointers on voice and recording. It also links to other interesting podcast-related posts.

Voice, Sound and Sonic Branding Resources

The Radio Marketing Bureau (Canada)

The Radio Marketing Bureau site contains a wide range of tutorials an a great online archive of historical advertisements.

The Radio Marketing Bureau is your national help desk for radio advertising in Canada, offering news, research, creative inspiration and education. Our mission is to inspire and educate the advertising community on the power of radio.

‘The Power of Sound’ Tutorial

This Power of Sound tutorial includes concise notes and audio samples of sounds and how different sounds have been designed or engineered to have different associations for us as listeners.

The Audio Branding Academy (ABA)

Audio Branding Academy Website

The Audio Branding Academy was founded by Cornelius Ringe, Kai Bronner and Rainer Hirt in Hamburg in February 2009. It is the first independent institution for acoustic brand communication, aiming at promoting an intentional and responsible use of acoustic stimuli within brand communication. The Audio Branding Academy is a unique competence center for intersection points of brands, sound and environment and combines a forum, think tank, expert network and education. It hosts the annual Audio Branding Congress and regularly organizes workshops on various audio branding related topics.

One great resource: the ABC’s Audio Branding Glossary

Julian Treasure

Twitter was buzzing after Julian Treasure’s all-too-brief TED talk on “The Four ways Sound Affects Us” came online. Julian demonstrated a remarkable ability to convey extensive rich and meaningful information – about something we all take for granted – in a very short time span. Like so many TED gems, this talk is outstanding!

If you are interested in voice, then you are probably also interested in sound, and @JulianTreasure is definitely someone worth following on Twitter.

You might also like to check out his Blog “Sound Business”

Karlheinz Illner’s Sound Branding Blog

This blog, and Karlheinz Illner’s associated Twitter stream @sound_branding offers a wealth of great information and insight-rich ideas for anyone interested in sound or branding.

Sound Branding Blog

The Intentional Audio Blog

Another interesting blog exploring sound, sonic branding and linking to all sorts of interesting resources is the Intentional | Audio Identity Blog from Sonic ID

Sound and Music Therapy

This short ABC Australia feature on music therapy just lightly scratches at the surface of this ancient healing modality.

The Sound of Invention

This is a film I personally can’t wait to experience. Celebrating an extraordinary man, and his remarkable artistic expression and relationship with sound.

“Open your ears and your mind will follow!” Quote from Trimpin: the sound of invention on Vimeo

Sounds True Voice Resources

Amongst the substantial Sounds True audio catalogue, several extraordinarily insightful audio programs on voice from absolute masters in their field can be found. All these works have supported, clarified or informed aspects of my Vocal Consciousness and Vocal Branding work.

Healing Yourself With Your Own Voice
by Don Campbell

Your Naked Voice
by Chloe Goodchild

Hear or Download a brief snippet from 'Your Naked Voice'

Voice of a Leader and
Vocal Awareness
by Arthur Samuel Joseph

Be Heard Now
by Lee Glickstein

Voice, Vocal Branding and Other Audio Resources