Pace and rushed lines
What the syllables-per-second figures mean, how the voice is paced, and what to do about a line that runs too fast.
Pace is how fast the voice speaks, measured in syllables per second. Showreel Studio uses it to choose a take, to set the speed of the whole read, and to warn you about any line that is quicker than people speak.
The figures you see
- Under each line's voice-over, on the Line panel: the number of syllables and roughly how many seconds it takes to say, at the kit's target pace. It updates as you type.
- On each take, on the Voice panel: its length and its pace.
- Above the takes: which take is in the film, in which voice, at what pace, after what tempo change.
The target pace is set by the kit. The product's kits aim for between 3.8 and 4 syllables per second, the pace of ordinary speech, and 4 is used when a kit sets none. The kit's card on the Kits page shows its target.
How the voice is paced
- Of the takes that split cleanly, the one closest to the target pace is kept.
- The whole kept read is sped up or slowed down together to land on the target. The tempo change is listed as, for example, "a tempo of 1.04".
- On a longer film read in parts, each part is paced on its own, so no part sounds quicker than the rest.
A person's own recording keeps its natural tempo unless you ask for it to be paced. See Use a person's recording.
Rushed lines
After voicing, each line's pace is measured. A line faster than 5.6 syllables per second is marked rushed in the log, which names it, for example:
s4 runs quicker than people speak: voice again with more takes, or give it a few more wordsA rushed line usually means the voice squeezed it to keep up, or the line split in the wrong place.
What to do about a rushed line
- Voice again with more takes, so there is a better one to keep (see the command below).
- Give the line a few more words, or split it into two lines, then voice again.
- Listen to the takes and choose one by ear: Voice takes.
Voice again with five takes:
showreel voice compose --takes 5Loudness and gaps
Once the film is built, the Line panel also shows the film's loudness (LUFS), its true peak and its longest gap. A figure outside what the kit allows is highlighted, and the film's checks report it. See Check a film before you share it.