Home < Voice Box News

VOICE BOX NEWS

Autumn News 2013

Every One's a Winner - Again

Once again A Radio Promo produced at The Voice Box has reached the finals in the New Zealand Radio Awards where it's up for Best Technical Production. The promo, a track promoting Fathers Day, was produced by Phil Guyan and Josh Couch of Christian Broadcasting and played on Newstalk ZB

Awards Time - Again & Again

Ok ok....this news is a bit in house but a song written by my boy Miller is a finalist in the MLT song writing awards. This is an awards competition run in conjunction with the Gore Golden Guitar Awards. He's in good company as one of the other finalists is legendary singer songwriter Barry Saunders. Past winners include Malcolm McCullum. The song was recorded by me, his dad, at of course, The Voice Box. Miller as well as singing, played all the instruments.

Summer News 2013

Time To Say Goodbye

It is with great sadness that we note the deaths of 4 Broadcasting Legends. Paul Holmes, Ross Goodwin & Barrie Crichton. They were 4 of the best people I have had the privilege to work with.

Paul Holmes was New Zealand's premier presenter reinventing Current Affairs on Radio & TV. I was his Technical Producer for 12 years at Newstalk ZB and people often asked me what he was like to work with. I always said that he was just like you see him on TV, sometimes you want to hug him, sometimes you just want to kick him in the shins. Here's a great little blooper.

Ross Goodwin was one of The 'Good Guys' when Radio Hauraki was a pirate radio station broadcasting from The Tiri. He became New Zealands pre-eminent radio programmer taking Radio Hauraki, 89FM & Mai FM all to number 1 in the ratings. He was my boss for 5 years in the mid to late 80's when he hired me to produce The Blackie Breakfast Show with Kevin Black, John Hawkesby & Phil Gifford and what a great boss he was to. He hired you and just let you get on with it. He was also a great 'Image' voice for stations all around New Zealand including Mai FM & Radio Hauraki. This is one for Radio Hauraki...

Barrie Crichton, as we say in the industry, was the original 'Voice of God' and was the Corporate voice for Newstalk ZB across the 90's. His deep resonant distinctive voice branded ZB like no other station. I was lucky to produce the 'promos' that Barrie voiced for those 10 years, 'promos' that won awards both here and overseas. This is one of them.

Kevin Black or 'Blackie' as he was commonly known was New Zealand's top music jock for over 4 decades. I first worked with him as Captain Kev on The NZBCs 1251ZM in Auckland where he did the Drive Show. It was while I was Production Manager at Radio Hauraki in the mid 80s that Ross Goodwin offered me the job of producing The Blackie Breakfast Show with Kevin Black, John Hawkesby & Phil Gifford arguably the best Radio team ever assembled in New Zealand. Blackie had a heart of gold so it's a sad irony that it was his heart that got him in the end.
Here's how we remember him...

Radio Jerusalem

Radio Jerusalem is an award winning radio programme set in Jerusalem on the very first Christmas Eve. It has just celebrated it's 30th anniversary with an airing on Newstalk ZB. It was written by John Hawkesby, Tom Bradley was the DJ, Judy Bailey the newsreader + a cast of thousands. It was produced by The Voice Box's Phil Yule who got a "Best Promo" award for this trailer.

Spring News 2012

Father's Day

Every year at the start of Spring Kiwis & Aussies celebrate Father's Day. In conjunction with CBA The Voice Box produced this great tribute to Dads everywhere.

Josh Couch wrote it, Phil Guyan's kids voiced it and as you can hear the rest just made a mess of the studio kitchen.

Winter News 2012

Stand Tall

The Voice Box along with Josh Couch from CBA has produced a series of Olympic "Stand Tall" spots. These are messages of encouragement from Kiwi School kids to our Olympic athletes. They are based around our official Olympics Song Stand Tall written & sung by Auckland Singer/Songwriter Sam RB

Autumn News 12

Every One's a Winner Babe

A Radio Promo produced at The Voice Box has reached the finals in the New Zealand Radio Awards where it's up for Best Technical Production. It has also reached the final in The New York Radio Awards where the promo was part of a Xmas programme presented by Parenting Guru Ian Grant.

The promo was produced by Phil Guyan and the team at Christian Broadcasting and played on Newstalk ZB & Radio Sport on Christmas Day and is a spoof on the TV show Undercover Boss.

Guess who came to my place?

The Voice Box has recorded a series of Christmas stories read by a variety of Kiwi Personalities.

Maggie Barry, Ido Drent from Shortland Street and now, our very own Prime Minister John Key. Yep he was great. He was Santa having a holiday in New Zealand.

The stories were produced by Phil Guyan at Christian Broadcasting and played on Newstalk ZB & Radio Sport on Christmas Day.

Summer News 2012

Guess who came to my place?

The Voice Box has recorded a series of Christmas stories read by a variety of Kiwi Personalities.

Maggie Barry, Ido Drent from Shortland Street and now, our very own Prime Minister John Key. Yep he was great. He was Santa having a holiday in New Zealand.

The stories were produced by Phil Guyan at Christian Broadcasting and played on Newstalk ZB & Radio Sport on Christmas Day.

Here comes a Train

If you travel on the Coastal Pacific, the train that runs from Picton to Christchurch and back again you will now be given a pair of headphones. This is so you can hear the audio commentary that points out places of interest along the way with their historic significance. It is read by Raylene Ramsay and was produced by The Voice Box for Tranz Rail.

Summer News 11

Boots and All

An Ex All Black dives in boots and all...

Bring Ya Boots is a great "Grass Roots " Rugby Show on Maori TV. Where Glenn "Super Oz" Osbourne travels the country visiting some of New Zealand's small town Rugby Clubs. Glenn's narration was recorded at The Voice Box with the series being produced by Notable Pictures.

 

In Bed with Anika

Kiwi Singer/Songwriter tells all...

In Bed with Anika is a documentary about Anika Moa falling in love, falling out with Record Labels and recording her 3rd album. Justin Pemberton of The Docufactory made this enlightening documentary and sound designer Beth Tredray hired The Voice Box to edit and mix it.

More on www.bethtredray.com

Spring News 10

The Insatiable Moon

The Insatiable Moon is a fantastic movie shot all around Ponsonby Auckland. (even in my house) The story is about Arthur, played by Whale Rider star Rawiri Paratene, who believes that he is the 2nd son of God. It was produced and written by Mike Riddell and directed by his partner Rosmary with the soundtrack composed by Neville Copland.

The Voice Box has compiled a soundtrack CD featuring songs from and inspired by the movie. Check out the song from the love scene by my 19-year-old son, Miller along with Debbie Harwood and Rikki Morris's daughter, Gala.

http://www.theinsatiablemoon.com

Winter News 10

Te Papa

Narrowcasters have been producing another audio tour for our National Museum, Te Papa. It was produced by Paul Exahos and was voiced in English and Maori for an exhibition on New Zealand history. Narrowcasters is known for producing audio tours for some of the world's leading Museums and Art Galleries

http://www.narrowcasters.com

Is She or Isn't He

Is She or Isn't He is a documentary made by Justin Pemberton. It was shot over 5 years and follows a young man's rather harrowing journey of self-discovery as he contemplates a sex change. Sound designer Beth Tredray hired The Voice Box to edit and mix this controversial documentary.

Watch the 'Is She or Isn't He' Trailer

http://www.bethtredray.com

Spring News 09

Bungy Boy

Bungy legend, A. J. Hackett dropped in for a chat with John Cowan the host of Newstalk ZB's Sunday night programme Real Life. Talk about real life...the stories A. J. told convinced John never to try a bungy... then again John might just be a bit of a wimp.

Bird Spotting

New Zealand Forest & Bird are trying to find New Zealand's favourite native bird. Assistant Communications Officer, Mandy Herrick recorded some informative vignettes at The Voice Box which you can check out on their website and vote for the "Bird of the Year"

www.forestandbird.org.nz

Winter News 09

"Capital's gain"

Narrowcasters is a Australian company that produces audio tours for some of the world's leading Museums and Art Galleries. They were recently at The Voice Box recording the voice tracks for an audio tour for an exhibition at our National Museum Te Papa in Wellington.

It was produced in both English and Maori and narrated by Ngatapa Black, Donna Pivac, Tui Ruwhi and Te Hamua Nikora.

"Cool Runnings"

Kelly Tarlton's, one of the world's leading aquariums has produced a new sound track for their Snowcat ride. The sound design for this exciting ride was produced at The Voice Box by James Thomas from Kelly Tarlton's. Peter Hayden from Natural History New Zealand narrated it.

www.kellytarltons.co.nz

Autumn News 09

"Fizzy Stuff"

Sero2 is a sparkling mineral drink that "converts the added essential amino acid L-Tryptophan into natural serotonin" and yes it is legal!!! To launch this revolutionary new product a series of Ads were recorded at The Voice Box. The Ads were written and produced by John Ansell and David Bridgman with sound design by The Voice Box.

They were voiced by Tim Raby, Siobhan Burke, Cameron Rhodes and Elliot Christensen-Yule and the music was by Bruce Bremner.

www.sero-2.com

"Chill'n Out"

Ace voice over guy Mark Perry has started another radio station. Heads FM already broadcasts an eclectic mix of contempory music to the greater Mangawhai area 1 hours drive north of Auckland. Now it's time to chill out to his new station Smooth Jazz FM. The Voice Box produced the station id's, which were voiced by Gail Ludlow.

If you're passing by listen in on 88.1FM

Summer News 09

"Backyard Cricket"

The BYC Chronicles is a series of mocumentaries about a very Kiwi pastime, backyard cricket. Sponsored by Lemon & Paeroa the Chronicles sees James McOnie and his cast of wannabes bungling their way through this epic sporting contest. Imagine Flight of the Conchords meets The Office Those crazy Sport's Cafe guys at Leftfield produced them and they were mixed here at The Voice Box.

Visit the BYC Chronicles

"A Day on The Green"

It's been a fantastic summer for live concerts and we're sure one of the the noisiest would have been by ozzie rocker Jimmy Barnes. Barnsey performed at a series of concerts at some of New Zealand's best vineyards called A Day on The Green. Brent Eccles and Roundhouse Entertainment promoted the series and The Voice Box produced the radio ads which were voiced by Mark Perry.

Spring News 08

"Heads Up"

Corporate voice over guy Mark Perry of Perryscope Productions lives in Mangawhai, an idyllic coastal village 1 1/2 hours drive north of Auckland. It's from here that he runs Heads FM a boutique radio station broadcasting to the greater Mangawhai area. Heads FM has just got a new transmitter and a new frequency...106.4FM. The Voice Box produced new ids for the station, which were voiced by Mark and Andrea Downey.

headsfm.co.nz

"A Big Award"

Congratulations to Hamish Keith and Filmwork for picking up the award for The Best Factual Series at the 2008 Qantas Film & Television Awards. "The Big Picture" is a six-part documentary series on the History of New Zealand Art that played on TV1 and is now available on DVD. It was written and presented by Hamish Keith, directed by Paul Swadel and produced by Fiona Copland and Bill Toefer of Filmwork. Hamish's narration for "The Big Picture" was recorded at The Voice Box.

Winter News 08

"Sirry Engrish"

Te Wananga o Aoteroa, based in Te Awamutu in the King Country teaches English as a second language and they have produced 2 CDs of quirky stories so that students can have fun learning the eccentric aspects of English. Executive producer was David Lewis with production by John McKee and Phil Yule at The Voice Box. They were voiced by John McKee and Stephanie Leibert.

"Piano Girl"

Chanelle Davis, an Auckland based singer/songwriter was recently in The Voice Box to record the vocals for her second CD "Since Yesterday" on ODE records. "Usually I get tense and nervous laying down vocal tracks, but recording with Phil was a breeze! His Neumann mic made me sound amazing". Production was by her Internationally renowned singing coach Cheryl McLeay. The CD was recorded and mixed by Kovi Mongelli of Souled Out Records and is being mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound in New York.

www.chanelledavis.com

"Sports Mad"

Once a week the mad Graeme Hill charges through The Voice Box to record voice tracks "Sports A Winner" and "The Archive" segments of TV2's Sport's Cafe. He then flies out the door leaving us to panic, add SFX and music and get the final mix done so that the show can go live to air the same night. Sport's Cafe stars, among others, Mark Ellis, Lana Cockroft, Ric Salitso and the irrepressible Graeme, and is on TV2 at 9.30 Wednesday night.

Autumn News 08

"Legendary Folk"

Folkie and part time New Zealand resident Barry McGuire was in town and came to the Voice Box to be interviewed by John Cooney for an Easter programme on Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport. Barry was founding member of the American folk group "The New Christy Minstrels" and is famous for the song "Eve of Destruction", a song that was banned from radio play in the mid 60's. He hopes to be back in New Zealand later in the year touring his biographical solo show "Trippin through the Sixties"

"Sisters are doing it""

"Give it a Girl" is the inspirational idea of When the Cat's Away singer Debbie Harwood to redress the lack of women featured in the TV music series "Give it a Whirl". In conjunction with The Voice Box and New Zealand on Air she has produced a documentary series for radio. "Give it Girl" is New Zealand women songwriters telling their stories in their own words and is playing on Classic Hits during New Zealand Music Month in May. "Give it a Girl".....Not History...Her Story.

"Bad Boy goes Good"

Shortland St bad boy Craig Parker was in good voice when he was in recording the imaging voice tracks for a new radio station. Coast 103.2 is a radio station in Dubai in The Middle East that plays music from the 70s, 80s and now.

www.coast1032.com

Summer News 2008

"Sizzling Sounds"

The summer has been full of great live music and The Voice Box has produced ads for concerts by two legends of the music world. For the first time in New Zealand for nearly 30 years The Police. And who can remember when Santana was here last? Doesn't matter he's coming again in March. Other great acts to get their tour ads produced at the "Box" were Elton John, Crosby Stills & Nash, Bon Jovi & a reunited Crowded House. You could even get into The Police sound check.

"Name Dropping"

The Prime Minister Helen Clark, Leader of The National Party John Key, Mother of The Nation Judy Bailey, The Mad Butcher and rock band Evermore...just some of the famous folk to drop into The Voice Box to record a Kiwi Christmas story or poem. These were produced by Phil Guyan from Christian Broadcasting and played on the All Day Christmas Party on Newstalk ZB & Radio Sport.

"Sportsman"

And while we're dropping names....Colin Mochrie the Canadian Theatre Sport legend and star of the TV show "Whose Line is it Anyway" was interviewed at The Voice Box by John Cowan for the The Newstalk ZB radio programmme "Real Life"

www.reallife.net.nz

Winter Spring News 2007

"5 Go Mad In Morocco"

Take half a dozen fit young adventurers and turn them lose in Morocco. Sit back and watch as they cross the country from the Sahara to the sea by hiking, biking, climbing, four wheel driving and cameling. Adventure Morocco was shot in high definition by award winning documentary maker James Frankham from Splice Productions with audio post being completed at The Voice Box. It is being broadcast on Prime TV and The Documentary Channel. www.splice.cc

"A Story of Hope"

She is described by Time magazine as "The Mother Teresa of Africa" Her story is to be told in a documentary made for National Radio. Written by Shona Caughey, Narrated by Tom Bradley and produced at The Voice Box by Phil Guyan from Christian Broadcasting it's the story of Australian doctor Catherine Hamlin and her Kiwi doctor husband Reg, who have been working in Ethiopia since 1959 and have founded the Hamlin Charitable Fistula Hospitals specializing in health care for women. www.fistules.org

Autumn News 07

Winter warm ups

With the temperature dropping we need plenty of hot music to keep us warm. The Voice Box has produced ads for concerts by two legends of the music world. For the first time in New Zealand avant-guard pop-rock outfit Steely Dan and back again on his "Never Ending Tour" the grumpy old man himself, Bob Dylan

Art for Arts Sake

He's been all around the world filming and now New Zealand Art Historian Hamish Keith is in The Voice Box recording the final narration for his major TV documentary series on the History of New Zealand Art. "The Big Picture" is directed by Paul Swadel and produced by Fiona Copland of Filmwork. It premiers on TVNZ's TV1 later this year.

Kid's Stuff

Kiwi Entertainer Suzanne Prentice has narrated a documentary for World Vision. Produced and directed by Alastair Crombie of Trailblazer Pictures, it focuses on the plight of families and especially the children of Honduras in South America. It is being screened around New Zealand as part of the ongoing "Kids for Kids" concerts featuring Suzanne and a choir of local Primary School children.

Summer News 07

"Ahoy there matey"

Radio Hauraki, the station that changed the face of radio in New Zealand, has just turned 40.
From "The Good Guys" broadcasting from the "Pirate" ship The Tiri in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf in the summer of 1966 Hauraki has gone on to become New Zealand's premier rock station.
To celebrate, there was an exhibition at The National Maritime Museum on Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.
The Voice Box produced this "epic" to promote it.

"Summer Concerts"

It's been a brilliant summer for live music.
From New Zealand's own Th' Dudes and Hello Sailor reuniting for Radio Hauraki's 40th anniversary tour to some great international acts.
The Voice Box produced ads for: Carole King, Jimmy Barnes & Diesel, Chrissie Hinds & The Pretenders, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Cheap Trick, Steppenwolf, Dragon and Roger Waters.

 

Spring 2006

Spell it Out

The Voice Box has mixed a documentary on Dyslexia that is headed for TV1 and the international market. It was produced by Richard Driver of Visionary Film and TV, directed and voiced by Nina Nearn and edited by Emma Paterson at RPM Pictures.

Sing it Out

Mobile studio time for The Voice Box with the recording of a CD for the a cappella gospel choir "Heaven Bent" The choir was recorded live at Ponsonby Baptist Church and was produced by Max Maxwell.

The CD is called "The Spirit of The Gospel" and available from Heaven Bent

A Hoy me Hearties

Narrowcasters is a Australian company that produces audio tours for some of the world's leading tourist attractions. They were recently at The Voice Box recording the voice tracks for an audio tour of the National Maritime Museum located in Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.
Voiced by Charles Pierard and produced by Paul Exaros this audio tour will be available for the Christmas Holidays.
www.nzmaritime.org
www.narrowcasters.com

Buggin Ya

Keeping with the international theme Bugman Ruud Kkleinpaste has been in recording voice tracks for "Buggin with Ruud"
Produced by Michael Cooper for "Bug week" on Discovery Channel's Animal Planet.

Winter 2006

Mid Winter Heat Wave

The Voice Box has been warming up winter by producing a hot new image package for Hotwave 91.5FM a contemporary hit radio station in Bangkok Thailand.

It was commissioned by radio consultants Bamboo Media. Steve Pulley was executive producer, and Dave Nicholas of Radio Works New Zealand was the voice. Hot Wave is now "Bangkok's Hottest Station"
Listen to the sample below or catch them on the web www.hotwave.fm

Autumn 2006

Rumble in the Jungle

The Voice Box has been busy recording the translation dialogue for 'Meet The Bunlaps', a documentary series about an indigenous family living in the jungle in Vanuatu. Talk about international Television. Filmed in Vanuatu, produced by The New Zealand Natural History Unit in Dunedin, post-production by 456 Records in Sydney and will be played on the Discovery Channel in America.

Art for Arts Sake

New Zealand Art Historian Hamish Keith has been in The Voice Box narrating for a major TV documentary series. 'The History of New Zealand Art' Produced by Fiona Copland of Filmwork, directed by Paul Swaddell, it premiers on TV1 later this year.

Let Them Eat Cake

It's been full on post-production at The Voice Box with the editing and mixing of the sound for a quirky short film called 'Cake Tin' Cake Tin is from Screen Dunedin and was produced by Mike Riddell at Bucket Press and directed by his wife Rose Riddell.

Summer 2006

The Stones are coming

As part of their 'Bigger Bang World Tour' The Rolling Stones are rolling into NZ for 2 concerts at Easter. The Voice Box has produced the radio spots.

New Year... New coats of paint

The Voice Box has also been busy producing a new image package for Viva, the country's newest lifestyle network.

Spring 2004

Major revamp for Classic Hits
The Voice Box has had a very busy spring producing a complete new image package for New Zealand's premier music network, Classic Hits.

The Voice Box helps get new band to number 1
The Voice Box has mastered the debut CD 'Lie If You Have To' by Auckland rock band Bored Gordon.
It's gone to number 1 on bFM, Auckland's student station and has been the 'Album of the Week' on Kiwi FM. We must have done something right.

Winter 2005

The Voice Box has had a major equipment upgrade. We have invested in the industry standard digital audio workstation, a Pro Tools HD system with all the essential "plug ins" and video sync option. This means we are now on line to mix the sound for your TV commercial, documentary, programme or corporate video.

To celebrate, The Voice Box is offering a special discount rate for any Audio Post session from now till the end of October this year. Please get in touch to check our great rates.

Autumn 2005

The concert season continues and The Voice Box has produced radio spots for an interesting variety of top acts. The Moody Blues, Peter Frampton, George Thorogood, Katie Melua, plus The Finn Brothers, Dave Dobbyn, Golden Horse and The Pink Floyd Experience.

The Stardome Observatory has been in transferring tracks for their new show, Mars, which premieres in conjunction with the movie War of the Worlds.

Summer 2004

The Summer concerts are announced and The Voice Box is proud to be involved producing radio spots for some of the big ones. Cher - North Harbour Stadium Auckland, Westpac Arena Christchurch Mark Knopfler - Bowl of Brooklands New Plymouth, Westpac Arena Christchurch REM - Bowl of Brooklands New Plymouth and Westpac Arena Christchurch Brian Wilson - "Smile" Aotea Centre Auckland The Eagles "Farewell" in Sydney

 

Spring 2004

Cardboard Rocket

The Voice Box has recorded the New Zealand dialogue and mixed the final sound track for the multi media presentation "The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket" for Auckland's Star Dome Observatory.

A "nutty professor" Cameron Rhodes and 2 inventive kids Marlon Morris and Fran Hopkins from Piranha Talent go on a mad but informative trip around the planets. Mixed in surround sound this visually stunning presentation is well worth a look.

The sessions were produced by Jim Robinson from The star Dome.

 

Winter 2004

Explore New Zealand with Maui

The Voice Box has produced a German Tourist CD for Maui Camper vans. These Cds are supplied with camper vans hired by German speaking tourists and are a fantastic audio guide to the major regions of New Zealand.

"Explore New Zealand" was narrated by German phd student Stephan Resch and was commissioned by Dave Mcara of Mcara Advertising.