IMPERSONATE! HOW TO SOUND LIKE A DALEK: A CREATURE SOUND DESIGN TUTORIAL
Introduction
With the recent announcement from the BBC that upcoming episodes and specials of Doctor Who will be exclusively available for streaming on Disney Plus, fans have eagerly awaited the return of the beloved Time Lord on May 10th.
While we can't hop into a TARDIS to watch it right away, let's pass the time by diving into some creature sound design and exploring the iconic villains of the series, the Daleks.
These relentless extraterrestrial adversaries have been menacing the Doctor and captivating audiences since their introduction in 1963. With their jarringly distorted and robotic delivery, Daleks have become synonymous with fear and intimidation, embodying the beloved blend of sci-fi suspense and charm the series is known for.
In this tutorial, we'll journey through the evolution of the Dalek voice, tracing its origins from actors Peter Hawkins and David Graham to the contemporary techniques of Nicholas Briggs.
We'll dissect the key components of vocal performance
Distortion and ring modulation effects
And reveal the secrets behind the Daleks' chilling vocalizations.
But our exploration doesn't stop there.
Insights gained from breaking down such a timeless creature sound design can offer up inspiration for us to craft our own unique creature voices. The possibilities are boundless, and armed with the techniques explored in this tutorial, you'll be equipped to elevate your sound design to unparalleled levels.
So, fellow Whovians, let's embrace this challenge, unleash our creativity, and allow our imaginations to soar. Together, let's exterminate mediocrity and usher in a new era of sound design excellence!
Brief Overview of Daleks and their Iconic Voice
Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of time-travelling, mutant-piloted robots from the British science fiction television series "Doctor Who." Created by writer Terry Nation, they first appeared in the series in 1963 and have been the Doctor's most iconic and formidable adversaries ever since.
The Dalek's main form of communication is through a harsh, metallic voice, which is instantly recognizable and has become one of their defining features- and that's what we're going to focus on.
Insights to Be Gained from Dalek Voice Design
With distinctive speech patterns and (near) absence of emotion, the Dalek voice underscores their uncompromising nature and stark contrast to the compassionate Doctor, solidifying their status as one of his greatest adversaries in the Doctor Who universe.
Their catchphrase, "Exterminate!", has become synonymous with their ruthless nature and remains one of the most iconic lines in science fiction.
Studying the design of the Dalek voice can offer valuable insights for sound designers working on other creature sound designs:
Understanding of Emotional Impact: Analyzing how the Dalek voice evokes fear and intimidation can help sound designers grasp the emotional impact of different vocal elements. They can then apply this understanding to evoke specific emotions in their own creature designs, tailoring vocal characteristics to suit the intended effect.
Exploration of Vocal Modulation Techniques: Examining the techniques used to create the Dalek voice provides sound designers with a toolkit for manipulating vocalizations to achieve desired effects. By experimenting with similar techniques, they can create unique and memorable vocal signatures for other creatures, enhancing their distinctiveness and impact.
Consideration of Narrative Context: Breaking down how the Dalek voice reinforces the creatures' characterization and narrative role highlights the importance of aligning sound design choices with storytelling objectives. Sound designers can use this insight to ensure that creature vocalizations not only sound compelling but also serve to enrich the narrative and deepen audience engagement.
Importance of Actor Performance: The delivery of the Dalek voice by actors adds another layer of complexity to its design. Sound designers can learn from the skillful execution of the Dalek voice by actors, understanding how nuances in vocal performance contribute to the overall characterization of the creatures. This insight emphasizes the collaborative nature of sound design, where vocal performances and technical elements work together to bring creatures to life and enhance the audience's connection to the narrative.
Understanding the Dalek Voice
The iconic Dalek voice has a rich history dating back to its inception. Initially developed by actors Peter Hawkins and David Graham, the Dalek voice entails a robotic delivery that relies on changing pitch and speed in rather unsettling and inhuman ways to emote (nearly exclusively emotions akin to hatred).
While the processing techniques have evolved over the decades, the core recipe developed at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop by sound designer Brian Hodgson largely remains the same: ring modulation with a 30 Hz sine wave and midrange-y distortion, which contribute to the distinctive Dalek sound.
Even the current voice of the Daleks, Nicholas Briggs, uses a Moog Moogerfooger MF-102 Ring Modulator to process his voice. However, it's important to note that the unique sound of the Daleks is not solely a result of the equipment used, but also how Briggs acts while speaking through the ring modulator effect.
This highlights the collaborative nature of sound design, where technical elements and actor performances work hand in hand to bring creatures like the Daleks to life. Capturing a robotic yet menacing performance is essential for authentically recreating the Dalek voice, and performance without heavy effects can still read as Daleks.
For example, director Graeme Harper deliberately used less distortion for their voices in the 1985 serial “Revelation of the Daleks,” showcasing how the actor’s interpretation is pivotal in capturing the essence of Daleks. Without the right performance, effects alone often fail to evoke the intended emotion or character attributes, underscoring the importance of finding the right balance between performance and technical elements in creature sound design.
Tools and Software
Let’s explore the practical aspects of bringing a Dalek voice to life. By understanding the tools and techniques at our disposal, we can effectively uncover the chilling and unmistakable essence of the Dalek voice, setting the stage for a new era of sound design excellence. Let's dive in!
Selecting the Right Microphone
When it comes to capturing the Dalek voice, the microphone choice is not too crucial due to the lo-fi nature of the effect, and you will find that most microphones will suffice. I’ll be offering a comparison between two popular options:
Shure SM57: Known for its durability and versatility, the SM57 is a cardioid dynamic microphone that can handle high sound pressure levels, making it suitable for close mic recording of intense performances. While it does not have a high pass filter, the mic naturally rolls off low (and “air”) frequencies, which we will be cutting for our design anyway.
AKG 414 XLS (cardioid, 40Hz high pass enabled): This large-diaphragm condenser microphone is a veritable swiss army knife in the studio, and offers a detailed and transparent sound, competing with mics many times its price. I’ll be using the selectable polar pattern in cardioid for better isolation, and will be engaging the selectable high pass filter at 40Hz to reduce low-frequency rumble.
Voice Modulation Software Options
To achieve the distinctive Dalek-like effects, you'll need the right tools and software.
DAW or Audio Editor: Software like Pro Tools provides a comprehensive platform for recording and editing your vocal performances. Its advanced features allow for precise control over your sound design process.
Distortion: Experimenting with distortion is key to achieving the harsh and metallic timbre of the Dalek voice. I will be comparing two options included with pro tools- SansAmp and AIR distortion- but you may try reamping your vocals through a guitar amp or passing it through a pedal for unique grit and texture.
EQ for Sculpting Tone: Enhancing the mid frequencies and limiting the bandwidth of your vocal recordings is essential for giving your voice that robotic character. The stock EQ plugins are all we’ll need here, however plugins such as ProQ 3 have additional features that can help you reach your desired tone quickly and more consistently.
Ring Modulation: One of the signature elements of the Dalek voice is ring modulation. I’ll be comparing the stock plugin Sci-Fi to iZotope’s VocalSynth 2, which both offer customizable ring modulation effects to transform your vocal performances into something truly alien. It is worth noting that plugins such as VocalSynth 2 are “All-In-One” options, and capable of handling this type of design all on their own.
Voice Modulation Techniques for Achieving Dalek-like Effects
Achieving the perfect Dalek-like effect requires a combination of recording techniques and post-processing. Here's a basic outline to get you started:
Record Your Lines: Begin by recording your vocal lines with the desired intensity and emotion, keeping in mind the malicious character of the Daleks.
Prepare Your Recording: Set clip gain to workable levels and remove unwanted sounds so that we do not amplify them when applying the effects.
Add Your Effects in Series with Rough Settings: Apply distortion, EQ, and ring modulation effects to your vocal recordings in series, starting with rough settings to establish the foundation of the Dalek sound.
Tweak Settings to Address Problems: Listen back to your recordings and tweak the settings of each effect to address any issues or inconsistencies. Experiment with different parameters until you achieve the desired Dalek-like effect, adjusting the intensity and balance of each effect as needed.
Recording Your Voice
Creating a suitable recording environment is crucial for capturing the Dalek voice effectively. Here are some tips to ensure optimal sound quality:
Setting Up Your Recording Space for Optimal Sound Quality
Close Mic with Pop Filter: Position your microphone close to your mouth and use a pop filter to minimize plosive sounds and ensure clear, crisp recordings.
Minimize Room Noise: Eliminate background noise by speaking from approximately 1 balled fist (3 to 4 inches) away from the microphone. This close proximity helps to capture a clean signal without unwanted ambient sounds.
Angle Capsule Off Axis: Position the microphone capsule slightly off-axis to reduce the impact of breath noises and sibilance, resulting in smoother recordings. Experiment with the exact positioning and angle so as to minimize plosive sounds (such as "p" and "b") and excessive sibilance (such as "s" and "sh"). Often positioning the mic slightly above and to the corner of your mouth angled down will yield the best results.
Room Treatment: Consider implementing room treatment techniques as discussed in previous blog posts (referenced as Part 1 and Part 2) to further improve the acoustics of your recording space.
Importance of Experimenting with Vocalizations and Effects
Finding the perfect Dalek sound requires experimentation and exploration.
Don't be afraid to try different vocalizations, accents, and delivery styles to discover what works best for your interpretation of the Dalek voice- have fun with it! By experimenting with various vocal techniques and effects, you can refine your performance and achieve a truly immersive and convincing Dalek sound.
Similarly, experiment with your effects:
Adjust the pitch: it helps when there are many characters but one voice actor
Utilize different distortion: find the right balance between color and intelligibility
Manipulate the EQ settings: the vocal futzes need to fit with the dialogue tracks
All of these are key elements in shaping the character of the Dalek voice.
By applying these techniques strategically, you can create a creature sound design that captures the essence of the Daleks' menacing and emotionless tone, and tailor the effects to your unique voice.
Practice Makes Perfect
Before diving into recording your Dalek voice, take the time to practice your line delivery.
Whether you're performing the voice yourself or working with a voice actor, practicing line delivery ensures a more polished and convincing performance.
Provide direction to your voice actor and consider doing alternate reads to explore different interpretations. If recording lines to video, use a cue track known as a "3 pop" to guide ADR cue timing. This involves a 3-second countdown indicated by 1 frame of a 1 kHz sine wave at the start of the preceding 3 seconds to the cue, helping to synchronize dialogue with on-screen action. Feel free to download and use the 3 pop below in your ADR and VO projects. Remember: 3… 2… 1… (line).
Suggestions for Recording and Listening Back to Evaluate Progress
As you record and refine your Dalek voice, take breaks to listen to reference material and evaluate your progress. Listening to similar voices or performances can provide valuable insights and inspiration for tweaking your effects and delivery. Use headphones or studio monitors to listen closely to your recordings and make adjustments as needed to achieve the desired Dalek-like effect.
Editing and Post-Processing
Once you've captured your Dalek voice recordings, it's time to import them into your editing software for post-processing. Follow these steps to prepare your audio for further manipulation.
Preparing Your Raw Voice Recordings
Normalize Audio: Adjust the volume levels of your recordings to ensure consistency and optimal loudness. Aim for peak levels between -15 to -6 dB to provide enough headroom for additional processing.
Once normalized, use tools such as WLM Plus, iZotope Insight, or Nugen LM-Correct to check your Loudness Units Full Scale (LUFS). We will want to leave a little room for when we apply distortion, which increases loudness, so to be safe try to aim for a range of about -30 LUFS, or about 3-6 LUFS below your target loudness spec.
Strip Silence or Gate: Remove any unwanted silence or background noise from your recordings without cutting off beginnings/endings of words. Use strip silence and/ or gating techniques to speed up this process. Strip silence offers more control over the removal of silence but may require more manual adjustment, while gating is quicker but less precise. If you elect to use gating, place the gate before the rest of the effects in this signal chain.
Step-by-Step Guide to Post-Processing Techniques for Refining the Dalek Voice
Once your recordings are prepared, follow these steps to refine the Dalek voice using post-processing techniques:
First Apply Distortion: Enhance the harsh and metallic timbre of the Dalek voice by applying distortion effects. Try the following rough settings as a starting point and tweak to achieve the desired intensity and texture:
SansAmp:
PRE: 0
BUZZ: 100
PUNCH: 100
CRUNCH: 100
DRIVE: 100
LOW: 66
HIGH: 100
LEVEL: 30
AIR distortion:
DRIVE: 15dB
PRE SHAPE: 0%
HIGH CUT: 20kHz
MODE: WARP
OUTPUT: 100%
DC BIAS: 0%
THRESHOLD: -10dB FS
MIX: 100%
Next Apply EQ: Shape the tonal characteristics of your voice recordings by applying EQ adjustments. Focus on band limiting the recording to reduce mud and sizzle introduced by the distortion, as well as boosting the mid-range frequencies to emphasize the robotic quality of the Dalek voice, making subtle adjustments to other frequency bands as needed. Try these settings as a starting point:
EQ:
HPF: 12dB/oct @80Hz
LPF: 12dB/oct @10kHz
Lastly Apply Ring Modulation: Add the signature 30 Hz ring modulation effect to your voice recordings to further enhance their otherworldly quality. Try the following rough settings as a starting point and experiment with adjusting settings to achieve the desired level of modulation intensity:
Sci-Fi:
EFFECT: RINGMOD
FREQUENCY: 30 Hz
DEPTH: 100%
MODULATION: LFO
RATE: 0.1Hz
DEPTH: 0.0%
VocalSynth:
VOCODER: VINTAGE
SCALE: 50 SHIFT: 0 LEVEL: 33
OSC 1: SYNC SAW GAIN: 100 PITCH: 0 MOD: 0 SHAPE: 0 MOD: 0
OSC 2: SQUARE GAIN: 50 PITCH: +1 MOD: 100 SHAPE: 100 MOD: 100NOISE GAIN: 100 LFO: SELECTED CRUSH: 0 MOD: 0 LFO: SAMPLE RATE: 5.0
POLYVOX
FORMANT: 0 HUMANIZE: 50 CHARACTER: 10 LEVEL: 100
RING MOD
FREQ: 30 LFO: 0.1 DEPTH: 0 MIX: 100
Results
If everything has gone well, we should end up with something close to the real deal.
The processed recordings should capture the chilling and unmistakable essence of the Dalek voice, featuring a menacing and emotionless tone with a harsh metallic timbre that instills fear and intimidation.
Distortion effects add character through grit and texture
EQ adjustments sculpt the tonal characteristics to emphasize the robotic quality and ensure the vocal futzes fit with the dialogue tracks
And the ring modulation effect adds an otherworldly dimension.
As you can hear below, the plugins you use can lead to very different flavors of the same general sound- give it a try and let the extermination begin!
Worldize Your Dialogue To Enhance The Overall Sound
To further enhance the Dalek voice and integrate it seamlessly into your audio production, you will need to worldize your dialogue. Use a send to apply reverb to your Dalek voice, ensuring that it matches the reverb used for the other elements in your scene, such as foley.
This helps to create a cohesive sonic environment and adds depth to your overall sound design.
Importance of Persistence and Patience in Achieving Desired Results
Creating the perfect creature sound design takes time, experimentation, and patience. Don't be discouraged by setbacks or initial challenges.
Try different combinations or orders of plugins, and try backing off on settings intensity to avoid overdoing it, an especially easy pitfall of using distortion effects. Persistence is key, so keep refining your approach and remain patient as you work towards achieving your desired results.
Applying Newly Acquired Dalek Voice Design Skills to Your Own Creature Voice Designs
Armed with the knowledge and techniques gained from this tutorial, you're now ready to embark on your journey of creating immersive creature voice designs. The skills you've acquired in crafting the Dalek voice can be applied to a wide range of projects, allowing you to unleash your creativity and elevate your sound design to new heights.
Embrace the challenge, experiment with different vocalizations, and apply your newfound Dalek voice design skills to your own projects. Exterminate mediocrity and take your sound design to new heights!
Ready to elevate your project with expert sound design? Let's bring your vision to life! Explore my services or contact me today to discuss your project requirements. Thank you for visiting sameliaaudio.com. Stay tuned for more insights and analysis on cinematic storytelling through sound.