# Hearing a recording of your own voice... What do you think of it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 21, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567 "2005-12-21T02:36:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/21 "2005-12-21T14:06:56Z")
My voice sounds nasdal. And nasty. I wish there was an operation to change one’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/22 "2005-12-21T14:11:16Z")
Sounds weird. I don’t like listening to my recorded message on the answering machine. My California accent is stronger than it is in my head. ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/23 "2005-12-21T15:47:44Z")
I sound like a 12 year old hick girl. I swear, I can’t hear the accent in my own head when I’m talking, but when I play back a phone call at work I sound like I should be sloppin’ pigs and dodgin’ cousins barefoot in the barnyard. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/24 "2005-12-21T15:52:15Z")
My voice sounds a bit nasal, and much younger, and if you listen very closely, you can hear just a trace of what sounds like an E. Indian accent…it’s partly that and mostly because I tend to enunciate my words carefully so I sound formal. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/25 "2005-12-21T16:01:35Z")
I sound like a young girl, but strangely enough, my southern accent almost disappears, especially if I know I’m being recorded. I did get up the nerve to do some voice acting for some machinima recently. Hearing your voice saying the same line a dozen times is weird at first and feels a bit narcissistic, but I got fairly used to it. A willingness to not hold back and warming up your vocal chords makes your voice sound so much better, and that’s just what I learned in a few days of doing it. I think that if I couldn’t be a writer, I would enjoy being a voice actor, though I’d never be of the level of talent of Harry Shearer or Dan Castellenata. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/26 "2005-12-21T16:04:27Z")
I don’t like my speaking voice (I sound like a hick), but my singing voice is OK. Maybe because with singing you’re doing more than just talking, it’s a bigger sounding thing. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/27 "2005-12-21T16:07:16Z")
Interesting that some people’s recorded voices sound deeper, I thought it was universal that people’s voices sound deeper to them in their heads. I was wondering wtf people like James Earl Jones hear in their heads, they must practically make themselves crap their pants every time they talk. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/28 "2005-12-21T17:20:12Z")
I have always thought recordings of my voice sounded like a crazed, drunken chipmunk. After reading JKRowling, though, I have realized I probably just sound like Winky in the midst of a bender - except with a Southern accent instead of English. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/29 "2005-12-21T17:40:16Z")
When I hear my voice recorded, I get to hear why people always think I have a weird accent. I’ve been accused of faking my accent since I was a little kid. Brave souls can listen [here](http://www.aapcsite.plus.com/sound/texts/rm/sparrow.html). I’m Julie, not Chris. ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/30 "2005-12-21T22:45:51Z")
Ive always been told my voice is really soft, but I never really realized how SOFT and QUIET it was until I listened to a recording on an answering machine. Its not bad, if I may say so myself. But I always have to remind myself to yell so that other people can hear me. In my head I feel like Im screaming in a relatively deep voice; in reality people are straining to hear me and my voice isnt very deep, nor very shrill. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/31 "2005-12-21T22:56:16Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > I wish there was an operation to change one’s voice. [Behold the “voicelift.”](http://wordspy.com/words/voicelift.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/32 "2005-12-21T23:14:08Z")
My voice just doesn’t sound like me. But I’m stuck with it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/33 "2005-12-21T23:42:21Z")
I used to say that I don’t have a Chicago accent. But everytime I hear my “professional” voice recorded–there’s that damned accent. To be fair, my “casual” voice doesn’t have much of an accent–if I’m tired enough, I sound like my mom, who has a neutral/slightly Canadian accent that’s very hard to place. But, oh brother, when you hear my professional voice, you _know_ where I grew up. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/34 "2005-12-22T03:08:50Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > I actually like the sound of my voice, having spoken into a $1000 microphone, passed through a filter, compressor and limiter, with declicking. I like it better than the sound I hear coming out of my own body when I speak. I’d better… it earns us my paycheck! Preach it. I just recorded a ~5 minute feature this afternoon in a professional studio. I’ve never sounded that good in my life. Robin ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/35 "2005-12-22T04:09:14Z")
I think my voice sounds a lot more high pitched on some recordings than I like and other times it sounds just fine, especially if I know I’m being recorded and purposely make my voice deeper. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/36 "2005-12-22T04:57:43Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Preach it. I just recorded a ~5 minute feature this afternoon in a professional studio. I’ve never sounded that good in my life. > > Robin **MsRobyn** – are you and\*\* fishbicycle\*\* by any chance voice actors or musicians? ---
**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/37 "2005-12-22T05:02:35Z")
When I hear my voice played back from a recording I’m always surprised at how high-pitched I sound. When I’m listening to myself talk, I think I sound a lot deeper than I really am. I think most people hate hearing their recorded voice, or at least find it disconcerting; it seems to be a common trait. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/38 "2005-12-22T05:14:18Z")
Hate it hate it hate it, and I do have to listen to myself once in a while when I review or transcribe an interview. So I’m not surprised at how I sound, but that sort of makes it worse. I can picture what I sound like without a recording, and at times I wonder how anybody can stand listening to me. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/39 "2005-12-22T05:23:41Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **MsRobyn** – are you and **fishbicycle** by any chance voice actors or musicians? We both work in radio (at different stations). **MsRobyn** will tell you more about her job when she sees this, I suppose. I am the main announcer at three NPR affiliate stations in the FL Panhandle. I’m a musician, too, but I don’t play much anymore. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2005, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567/40 "2005-12-22T11:14:57Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **MsRobyn** – are you and\*\* fishbicycle\*\* by any chance voice actors or musicians? Nope. I just wrapped up an internship at my local NPR member station where one of the requirements was to write and voice a long piece (mine worked out to be ~5 minutes or so). Once the engineer finished, I sounded much better than I think I usually do. My “everyday” voice tends to be sorta whiny and nasally; my “radio” voice isn’t. The rest of the time, I write, voice and produce public-service announcements. When I grow up, I want to be **fishbicycle**. Robin [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearing-a-recording-of-your-own-voice-what-do-you-think-of-it/336567.md?page=3)