As I craft together music intros for podcasts, I realize more and more that you just can’t slap a voice over music and be done with it.

You have to choose the right music to fit the mood of the podcast. You have to choose the right voice. And on top of that, you have to place the voice-only track at precisely the right spot, on the right beat so that it sounds as if it’s part of the song.

Not easy.

Typically, the voice intro is done without the music. At least that’s been my experience and I prefer it this way.

The reason?

• I can find the music that I want without having to go back to the voiceover artist
• I can then present 2 or 3 options to my client and not be limited by the one song selection chosen by the voiceover artist
• Also, if the mood of the podcast changes later on, I can then change the music without re-hiring the voiceover artist

So, once I get the voice track, I head on over to the Podsafe Music Network and either I or the client choses a song.

Once we have the song, we then have to take the right portion of the song and make that the intro and outro. Now, you may think it’s as easy as cutting out the first 15-seconds of the song, then using that.

Ah, but alas, it’s not that simple. You see, here are the questions I ask myself:

• If it’s an instrumental, do I clip the beginning part or the end part? Which part of the song provides the most energy?
• If it’s a song with words, do I include a bit of the vocalist or just the music only?
• And, at what beat should the voice-only track be inserted? On the very first beat? Or, do I let a few bars go by, then mix in the voice-only track at the third or fourth bar?
• Then, what beat within that bar should the first word uttered by the voiceover artist be lined up at?

Here’s a great example of what I’m talking about. My client, a parenting coach, sent me her voice-only track. I found the perfect song.

Now, I could’ve lined up both the voice and music to start at exactly the right moment. This is how it would sound:

[audio:http://www.cubicledivas.com/podcasts/sampleintroforblog.mp3]

Not bad. However, because I’m a piano-trained musician and a self-taught organist (yes, foot pedal and all), I found just the right spot. Listen to the final version:

[audio:http://www.cubicledivas.com/podcasts/introFinal.mp3]

Did you hear it? Right when the voiceover artist took a breathe between the word “author” and the name of the host, that’s when the guitars came in. And then, I’m able to use more of the guitars to use as a background when the host comes in to introduce her topic for that episode.

You may think I’m being anal, however, your intro sets the mood and invites a listener to continue listening, especially if it’s their first time.

The intro is such a small thing, but choosing the right place to mix your voice track and music track together is like choosing the right colour for a canvas. Do it right and you’ll create a beautiful work of art.

Thanks to Remember from the Podsafe Music Network for their song called Hope for use in this intro.

Technorati: podcasting, podsafe music, podcasting tips