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Podfic Year in review 2020
Jan. 9th, 2021 10:10 amStats
I posted 16 podfics this year, including ITPE. 4 of those were collabs.
Longest: lyrics of an improvised love song 03:54:57
Shortest: You Only Live Twice (Or So) 05:40
Total time: 14:53:47
Average length: 55 minutes
Fandoms:
Stray Kids (5)
All For The Game (2)
and one each for The Untamed, Guardian, Day6, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, The Unlimited Hyoubu Kyousuke, Got7, WayV, Mamamoo and EXID.
Additionally, I took part in three multi-voice project.
What was the best podfic you made this year?
This is kind of a bitter-sweet question this year, because the work that I know objectively to be my best is also one I can't listen to anymore, due to the fact that one person involved in the pairing has turned out to be a piece of shit in real life. Maybe in a couple years and with some distance I'll be able to properly appreciate the story and my performance of it again.
But my actual pick for this question is instead going to be lyrics of an improvised love song (skz). It's a podfic I put a lot of effort into, one that I spent a lot of time working on, and I really think it paid of. The story means a lot to me personally, and I'm so glad I got to record it. It also has a lot of range, from funny to heavy scenes, and I think it makes for a very varied, interesting performance that I am really proud of.
What was the best cover you made this year?
Actually this might not be one I made for my own podfics, but the cover for My Job Here Is Done (skz), which is a podfic that was recorded by knight_tracer (though I was involved insofar as I wrote the fic). But also lyrics of an improvised love song (skz) is like, classic me. The Century Gothic font, the simple picture of an inanimate object (or, well, food in this case), it's very much my style from before I got into kpop and started using people's faces all the time.
What was the best music choice/editing?
The single most satisfying music edit I made last year was the intro to You Only Live Twice (Or So) (EXID). that perfectly timed moment where the music cuts out? I actually fistpumped when I got that. In terms of music choice, absentmindedly making me want you (skz) was also fun. I hesitate to call Beach Again a parody song, but it's defintely a very funny (but great!) song, so the vibes of the original were a bit wrong for this particular story. Instead I lucked out and found a cover version that gives the podfic the appropriate mood while also giving me the personal amusement of associating the original song by SSAK3 with this project.
Personal favourite, for whatever reason?
This has turned out to be a surprisingly difficult question, and I'm not sure I have an answer for it right now. Instead I'll point out a podfic I've found myself listening to a lot this past year: three thousand and eighty seven (aftg). It's a very comforting listen while also including a whole bunch of story elements that I like a lot, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.
Most popular?
Devoutly to Be Wished (the untamed), which really shouldn't have surprised me as much as it just did when I looked at my stats! For one thing, this is a big podfic fandom, and for another it's a collab with knight_tracer, and collabs tend to draw more attention simply because you have regular listeners of two people coming together.
Most underappreciated?
Technically it's Happy endings (the unlimited), but it doesn't feel like it - it's one of my most niche fandom interests, so I genuinely expected nothing and just made it for myself. Instead, the one that does feel the most under-appreciated is actually the basement kids of garreg mach (FE3H). It's such a funny story and I'm pretty happy with my performance, so I was a bit taken aback by the lack of reaction? But then again it is gen and also about characters that only appear if you get the DLC, so I probably should have adjusted my expectations.
Most difficult to make?
people say (we're so weird) (wayv) was a challenge because of the mandarin/cantonese character names, and also because it involved a lot of distinct character voices that I hadn't quite gotten a grasp on yet. But for that I like how it turned out! Radio Friendly (got7) is one that gave me a lot of trouble. I initially recorded it when my voice was not in a good state, and I really dragged my feet on editing it because I didn't like how it sounded. In the end I actually rerecorded the whole thing, which is not something I do lightly or often.
Most fun to make?
the basement kids of garreg mach (FE3H) was so much fun even though I also had some trouble with imitating the very distinct voice actor's styles. It was also a short one inbetween my usual longer projects, and that's always a relief.
A scene or character you voiced that surprised you?
lyrics of an improvised love song (skz) has a section towards the end where the Angst hits, and I thought I was prepared for that since, y'know, I'd read the story before, I knew what was going to happen, but somehow hearing myself perform it made it hit so much harder? I legit got teared up while editing this scene, and it makes me feel a lot of Emotions listening to it now.
Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a podficcer (could be another podficcer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc)
I get so much support from idella that I can really never thank them enough for their help and their enthusiasm. knight_tracer is a great fandom friend as well, and I'm so happy she joined me in kpop. Lastly, voiceteam and the members of team kpop gave me an unexpected burst of energy and inspiration that I really appreciate.
How do you hope to grow as a podficcer next year?
I want to work on letting go of my perfectionist tendencies. I'm never going to be someone who can adher by the Care Less mantra, but I need to learn to go a bit easier on myself and maybe be happy with something after 2 rounds of editing instead of 4. Also I want to get better at covers, as always.
Did you take any podfic risks this year?
I am...really not a risk taker. I'm very happy in my comfort zone and I don't like leaving it. I did participate in a challenge that isn't ITPE for the first time however, namely Voiceteam Mystery Box. And on that note...
Most "ah ha ha I can't believe I'm doing this"?
Voiceteam! For the last two weeks I spent an incredible amount of hours and focus just on podfic, putting out works at a speed that is kind of ridiculous. Over 14 days there were 12 new things posted to my AO3 (two of those were fics) and considering my normal output that's pretty wild. But also it was super fun!
What's next?
My goals are to record more femslash and to finish a podfic that I've been technically working on for three years now. Also next year (2022) is going to be my 10 year podficversary, so I want to start planning and preparing some things for that. And in general, I want to keep doing my part to make podfic more of a thing in kpop fandom and record stories I love. <3
I posted 16 podfics this year, including ITPE. 4 of those were collabs.
Longest: lyrics of an improvised love song 03:54:57
Shortest: You Only Live Twice (Or So) 05:40
Total time: 14:53:47
Average length: 55 minutes
Fandoms:
Stray Kids (5)
All For The Game (2)
and one each for The Untamed, Guardian, Day6, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, The Unlimited Hyoubu Kyousuke, Got7, WayV, Mamamoo and EXID.
Additionally, I took part in three multi-voice project.
What was the best podfic you made this year?
This is kind of a bitter-sweet question this year, because the work that I know objectively to be my best is also one I can't listen to anymore, due to the fact that one person involved in the pairing has turned out to be a piece of shit in real life. Maybe in a couple years and with some distance I'll be able to properly appreciate the story and my performance of it again.
But my actual pick for this question is instead going to be lyrics of an improvised love song (skz). It's a podfic I put a lot of effort into, one that I spent a lot of time working on, and I really think it paid of. The story means a lot to me personally, and I'm so glad I got to record it. It also has a lot of range, from funny to heavy scenes, and I think it makes for a very varied, interesting performance that I am really proud of.
What was the best cover you made this year?
Actually this might not be one I made for my own podfics, but the cover for My Job Here Is Done (skz), which is a podfic that was recorded by knight_tracer (though I was involved insofar as I wrote the fic). But also lyrics of an improvised love song (skz) is like, classic me. The Century Gothic font, the simple picture of an inanimate object (or, well, food in this case), it's very much my style from before I got into kpop and started using people's faces all the time.
What was the best music choice/editing?
The single most satisfying music edit I made last year was the intro to You Only Live Twice (Or So) (EXID). that perfectly timed moment where the music cuts out? I actually fistpumped when I got that. In terms of music choice, absentmindedly making me want you (skz) was also fun. I hesitate to call Beach Again a parody song, but it's defintely a very funny (but great!) song, so the vibes of the original were a bit wrong for this particular story. Instead I lucked out and found a cover version that gives the podfic the appropriate mood while also giving me the personal amusement of associating the original song by SSAK3 with this project.
Personal favourite, for whatever reason?
This has turned out to be a surprisingly difficult question, and I'm not sure I have an answer for it right now. Instead I'll point out a podfic I've found myself listening to a lot this past year: three thousand and eighty seven (aftg). It's a very comforting listen while also including a whole bunch of story elements that I like a lot, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.
Most popular?
Devoutly to Be Wished (the untamed), which really shouldn't have surprised me as much as it just did when I looked at my stats! For one thing, this is a big podfic fandom, and for another it's a collab with knight_tracer, and collabs tend to draw more attention simply because you have regular listeners of two people coming together.
Most underappreciated?
Technically it's Happy endings (the unlimited), but it doesn't feel like it - it's one of my most niche fandom interests, so I genuinely expected nothing and just made it for myself. Instead, the one that does feel the most under-appreciated is actually the basement kids of garreg mach (FE3H). It's such a funny story and I'm pretty happy with my performance, so I was a bit taken aback by the lack of reaction? But then again it is gen and also about characters that only appear if you get the DLC, so I probably should have adjusted my expectations.
Most difficult to make?
people say (we're so weird) (wayv) was a challenge because of the mandarin/cantonese character names, and also because it involved a lot of distinct character voices that I hadn't quite gotten a grasp on yet. But for that I like how it turned out! Radio Friendly (got7) is one that gave me a lot of trouble. I initially recorded it when my voice was not in a good state, and I really dragged my feet on editing it because I didn't like how it sounded. In the end I actually rerecorded the whole thing, which is not something I do lightly or often.
Most fun to make?
the basement kids of garreg mach (FE3H) was so much fun even though I also had some trouble with imitating the very distinct voice actor's styles. It was also a short one inbetween my usual longer projects, and that's always a relief.
A scene or character you voiced that surprised you?
lyrics of an improvised love song (skz) has a section towards the end where the Angst hits, and I thought I was prepared for that since, y'know, I'd read the story before, I knew what was going to happen, but somehow hearing myself perform it made it hit so much harder? I legit got teared up while editing this scene, and it makes me feel a lot of Emotions listening to it now.
Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a podficcer (could be another podficcer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc)
I get so much support from idella that I can really never thank them enough for their help and their enthusiasm. knight_tracer is a great fandom friend as well, and I'm so happy she joined me in kpop. Lastly, voiceteam and the members of team kpop gave me an unexpected burst of energy and inspiration that I really appreciate.
How do you hope to grow as a podficcer next year?
I want to work on letting go of my perfectionist tendencies. I'm never going to be someone who can adher by the Care Less mantra, but I need to learn to go a bit easier on myself and maybe be happy with something after 2 rounds of editing instead of 4. Also I want to get better at covers, as always.
Did you take any podfic risks this year?
I am...really not a risk taker. I'm very happy in my comfort zone and I don't like leaving it. I did participate in a challenge that isn't ITPE for the first time however, namely Voiceteam Mystery Box. And on that note...
Most "ah ha ha I can't believe I'm doing this"?
Voiceteam! For the last two weeks I spent an incredible amount of hours and focus just on podfic, putting out works at a speed that is kind of ridiculous. Over 14 days there were 12 new things posted to my AO3 (two of those were fics) and considering my normal output that's pretty wild. But also it was super fun!
What's next?
My goals are to record more femslash and to finish a podfic that I've been technically working on for three years now. Also next year (2022) is going to be my 10 year podficversary, so I want to start planning and preparing some things for that. And in general, I want to keep doing my part to make podfic more of a thing in kpop fandom and record stories I love. <3
