Finbarr
scriptwriter and audio technician at a multimedia and e-learning company
In general terms, what does your job entail?
- Planning, structuring and writing ECDL type course content.
- Developing content into well written, educationally sound, VO Scripts
- Liasing very closely with Graphics and Development Departments to create interactive multimedia 'screens' that user will learn from.
- Planning and booking recording sessions for Voice Over artist.
- Recording Voice Over.
- Applying post-production to recorded audio.
- Maintaining a smooth audio process between Scriptwriting, Audio and Development Depts.
- Maintain all aspects of in-house Recording Studio.
Describe the main events in a typical day
Typical day is one of constant juggling. I'm currently working on a product providing usability test reports on two other new products, planning a future product, editing sound files for a 5th product - all while trying to schedule recording sessions for 2 VO artists for post-production 'pickups'. And when they're recorded there'll be a lot of post-production on the audio files themselves. This is not atypical - this is what I do every day.
Do you feel that you are using your talents in your job?
Most of them, definitely.
After leaving school what were the major milestones in your career development?
- Diploma of the Cork School of Music in music teaching (then a two-year, full-time course, now a BMus)
- BA in Music Technology from Kingston University in London
- City & Guilds Cert in Digital Media
- I've worked as an orchestral musician with the National Symphony Orchestra and the RTE Concert Orchestra, a music teacher, a theatrical Sound Designer in England (London and Colchester), a Graphic Designer for Internet Design company in Galway before eventually heading into a scriptwriting role with an e-learning company in Cork and laterally Electricpaper.
What do you like about your work?
Variety. Good team as well, good banter good craic. But the variety is key.
Is there any aspect of your work that you not like?
The hours. And the deadlines that are imposed.
Do you have any specific advice for someone wanting to enter IT?
Don't stay focused in one area - it limits your potential. Get grounded in the graphics side, learn Flash, understand the terminology, get to grips with basic coding if serious Code isn't your thing - BE ROUNDED. Those that don't understand a little of everything will flounder. And anyway, you might decide that programming is boring and that you have a gift for design.
My role in 4 words
Write words, record sound.
In secondary school I enjoyed ...
Irish, History, Physics and PE.
I was influenced towards to IT by...
Medical reasons. After discovering that I'd been walking around with a fractured spine for many years, two operations and three years of rehab, I figured I'd better get out of a job that involved heavy lifting.
I did a FAS course in Tralee in Digital Media and haven't looked back once.
