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Voiceover – what is it and how can you use it?

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In this blog post we will go in-depth with the world of voiceovers and cover:

• What is a voiceover?
• What is difference between voiceover, speak, and narrator?
• What types of voiceovers are there?
• What effect do voiceovers have?
• The voice also has a meaning for your voiceover
• A voiceover is no better than its script

They’re there when you’re driving your car, when you’re at the movies, when you’re watching your favorite TV show, or when you need to call your insurance company. It can be anything from radio commercials and eLearning videos to film trailers and product videos, where a nice voice is conveying a message that you’ll remember, feel and can relate to. Maybe you don’t know it, but you’ve been listening to what we call a voiceover.

Confused about what a voiceover is? Or whether it is a speak that you need to use in your project? Or if it even makes sense to use speak? Then you have come to the right place. In this post, we will cover everything you need to know about voiceovers and their effect on a target audience so that your projects can stand stronger and become more effective and successful.

What is a voiceover?

A voiceover, also known as ‘voice over’ or ‘voice-over’, is a professional narration for film, television, theater, games, videos, or presentations recorded in a professional sound studio or home setup. The person who speaks can both be in the video or off-screen, and if the person who does the voice is professional, they are called voice artists or a voice actor.

There are generally two types of voiceovers:

The narrative voiceover: The voice describes the action on the video and tells a story based on what is happening.

The non-narrative voiceover: The voice is informative, instructive, and educational about what was shown on the screen.

It is important to understand that the work a voice artist does is not far from what an actor does when they have to say a line in a movie. A voiceover must essentially be delivered as a line, but unlike in film, you cannot use your body or face to sell the line. You only have your voice, which can make it significantly more challenging for the voice artist to convince their listeners.

What is the difference between voiceover, speak, and narrator?

Voiceover, speak, narrators – we have many names for the ones we love. Or do we really?

In Sweden and Norway, ‘voiceovers’ and ‘speak’ are often used interchangeably, as they cover the same thing. Narrator or narration, on the other hand, is not so widespread in the Danish language, as it is the English translation of the word used for a genuine narrator in films and books.

Voiceover and speak are closely related, yet have a notable difference, as speak is a broader term than voiceover. A speak is a professional speech in which no sound comes over anything else.

An example could be your answering machine (voice response system), which consists of pure speech, unless there is music underneath. For example, in the case of a voiceover for a documentary film or e-learning video, it is sound over images, and therefore it is a voiceover, as the voiceover is in relation to what is shown on the screen.

In Voice To Me, we are not so fussy about whether we call one thing the other, but we primarily use voiceover, and we call our professional narrators voice artists.

What types of voiceovers are there?

On the face of it, a voiceover in itself is very fixed and consistent in its production and processes. However, the contexts in which they are used makes a difference. A voiceover can, for example, be used for:

  • eLearning videos
  • Advertising on the radio, TV, cinemas, and online
  • Films, cartoons, and documentaries
  • Videos such as product videos, image videos, how-to videos, and presentations
  • Social media such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, Vimeo, Facebook, and other social media platforms
  • Voicemail message
  • Gaming and computer games.

There are therefore many situations in which a voiceover can be used. And It is important for us to emphasize that these are just some of the many contexts where it can make sense to get a professional voiceover agency to help. There are many other projects where it would make sense, so feel free to call us if you are wondering or considering it.

What effect do voiceovers have?

Now you are probably thinking why you should invest in a voiceover and what effect it has on your projects and business. And the answer is probably more than you think. In addition to the fact that you are exposed to voiceover on a daily basis, they can both indirectly and directly have an influence on your perception of the sender, but also the message.

A well-chosen voiceover can:

  • Establish trust and authenticity around a sender, a message, or a product
  • Arouse different emotions in the target group that make them act
  • Move a story forward and create a better understanding
  • Help with the dissemination of information and knowledge
  • Make the recipient remember better than if the message is just shown on a screen

The voice also has a meaning for your voiceover

You can’t just pick any voice for your voiceovers. This is because the sound of the voice will also have an influence on the message, as the feelings behind it will be reflected in the delivery.

For example, an energetic voice may be a good choice for promoting products, while a calmer voice is better suited for an explainer video or tutorial. A deep voice with a serious tone will be an obvious choice for an action film, as it will create excitement about the film and attract the right target audience to come to see the movie, but if you take the same voice and put it over a children’s program, it will turn the content into something comical and attract a completely different target group.

We will of course advise you on all this when you collaborate with us on your project.

A voiceover is no better than its script

No matter how perfectly suited the voice is for a project, it can’t get a message across if the script isn’t well thought out. Unfortunately, there are many who have the notion that it is best to have a loose script if you want to make dialogue or monologue flow more naturally.

But it rarely works well to make things up in real-time, as you would in a real conversation. Additionally, a voice artist will rarely sit in front of anything or anyone else other than the microphone they have to speak into.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to have it all written down word-for-word, rehearse it a few times, and then record it. The better and more thoroughly a script is worked through, the easier it will also be for the voice artist to say it and record it in a way where you can be satisfied with the result.

Do you need help finding the voice in your project?

No matter how much experience you have with the use of voiceovers, we are at your disposal during the process. At Voice To Me, we have many years of experience in voiceovers, editing, and post-production, and a large database of artists who can master a plethora of different voices in more than 150+ languages, that you can handpick from. We also have a team of experts who can help you cast the perfect voice so that your project can be successful, and your message is delivered to perfection.

Feel free to read more about our services

Starting a Voice Over project: A 5 step guide to doing it right

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A correct voice-over script, style– and pronunciation guide are paramount to an effective and successful voice-over project. You need to clearly state what you want to be recorded; when the voice artist needs to say what and most importantly – how you want it to be said. You should think of it as your full instruction to a voice artist – not just the text.

From our almost 20 years in the business, we have learned all the dos and the don’ts. We know exactly which info we need, to deliver the voice-over as you imagined it and ensure first-time delivery success.

To give you a head start on your project, we have therefore put together this 5-step guide that will take you through the basics.

Step #1 – Know what you want

We can provide you with whatever style of voice-over you want. The question is – what voice do you need? You can figure this out, by considering the intended message in relation to your audience. What kind of person do you think would be the best to communicate your message to the people you want to listen?

Now consider the type of voice this “spokesperson” has. Is it a trustworthy corporate male voice speaking in a medium tempo or a jolly childish girl speaking fast? You can find inspiration in our voice-over demos or maybe in the media.

Finally, write as many detailed requirements for the style and emotion of the voice-over, as you can. If you have heard a voice-over that you like, you can also choose to send us a reference or the audio file, and we’ll figure out the style and emotion.

When you are done, you have what we refer to as a style brief. This is a great tool to have in hand when writing the script, as it enables you to imagine what this person would say to convey the message, and thereby create coherence between what is said and who says it.

Step #2 – Write spoken words

The words and sentence constructions that work well in writing may not be optimal when spoken and vice versa. Remember to write short sentences and use line breaks and punctuation to create pauses that sound natural when spoken.

Next, check your text for any words that may be hard for the voice talent to pronounce. Company-, product- and city names as well as numbers and symbols are classic examples of words that are obvious to you but may be difficult for an outsider to pronounce correctly. Look at your text with “unfamiliar” eyes and make a list of all the words and symbols that need to be explained. Finally, you can make either a written phonetic guide or send us an audio file, of how to pronounce these words and symbols.

Step #3 – Control the time

Some projects have a limit to the length of the voice-over, and often the voice-over needs to be timed in relation to a video, presentation, e-learning program or the like. It is crucial that you make sure that every time code is correct, as one mistake can and often will result in a domino-effect where each subsequent file is off. The only way to fix this is to make a new voice-over.

Step #4 – Get feedback from 3rd party

Have an unbiased person read your voice-over text, and instruct him or her to look for spelling and grammatical errors as well as words that they would be in doubt of how to pronounce. Even the best of us makes mistakes and it is well known that people tend to get a severe case of “error-blindness” when proofreading their own material.

Step #5 – Keep a simple layout

Paragraphs and Columns

The script should be clearly divided into paragraphs and columns. A rule of thumb is:

  • One column for the voice-over text
  • One column for file names
  • One column for time codes
  • One column for directions and comments to the voice talent
Text formatting
  • Use a font that is easy to read and stick with one font throughout the voice-over script. Ex. Calibri or Times New Roman.
  • Write in a font-size that works both on screen and in print. Not too small, and not too large. Size 12 in MS Word is a good standard.
  • Stick to black text on a white background. Colors may confuse and create doubt about what is the actual voice-over text.
  • Do not use caps lock. It’s hard to read a text all in capital letters, and it might be interpreted as shouting by the voice talent.
  • Only use bold, italic, and underlined words, if you explain the purpose.
  • Make sure that internal comments and tracked changes are removed in the final voice-over script.

When you have been through these 5 simple steps, you will have all you need to start your voice-over project right.

Eight tips on how to become a voice actor

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Here are eight different tips on how to become a voice actor (or become a better voice actor).
It might sound easy to read a script, it just reading a text out load. But to make it sound natural, find the right feeling, reading the text in multiple ways is a lot bigger challenge than it seems.

1,261 Woman Reading Newspaper Illustrations & Clip Art - iStock

1. Practice reading things out loud.
A good practice is read things out load. It could be books, magazines, or news articles. Usual things to get more practice in your everyday life. This is a good start to get more comfortable and confident in reading. As a voice actor it is important to sound natural but most client will want different emotions, tones, and styles on their recording. Try changing the sound of your voice as you read to get better.

It should never sound like you are reading but should sound like a performance. It is your job to bring these words to life.

2. Record your voice.

Take step one a bit further and record yourself while reading a book or magazine.
You can also try reciting monologues or reading from a script and recording it. Play it back to yourself to hear what you sound like and make notes for improvement. The sound of your own voice might surprise you! The way you sound in a recording isn’t necessarily the same way you sound to yourself each day.

45,135 Breathing Stock Vector Illustration and Royalty Free Breathing Clipart

3. Use your diaphragm.

When listening to your voice, consider whether you are using a nasal, mouth, chest, or diaphragm voice. A nasal voice sounds unpleasant and whiny, a mouth voice sounds very quiet, a chest voice sounds pleasant, but a diaphragm voice is the most powerful and has the best sound. To develop the diaphragm voice, practice breathing deeply and watching your stomach rise and fall. Make sounds that come from the diaphragm, such as laughing or yawning. Once you get the hang of it, it is merely a matter of maintaining the voice. A voice teacher can help you project from the diaphragm.

4. Practice vocal exercises.

As a voice actor it is important to be able to control your voice and not tear it out. Your voice is your most important tool, so you want to take care of it.
Certain exercises can help you to control and improve your voice. Many of them are based on breathing. You could try humming a scale by blowing through a straw for breath control. You could lie on the floor and deeply inhale and exhale, making a “shh” sound while exhaling. Even simply sitting up straight with your shoulders back can make a big difference in the sound of your voice. You could also practice articulating with different tongue twisters.

Ilustración de Actor De Dibujos Animados Sosteniendo Cráneo Y Realizando Monólogo y más Vectores Libres de Derechos de Cráneo - iStock
5. Improvise in character.
Doing improvisation is an important skill in voice acting because directors will expect this of you. One client might want a recording of someone presenting an amazing idea with enthusiasm, another one a serious problem being presented and a third one a character for a children’s program. This skill will allow you to truly embody a character and think like they do. After you’ve gotten into character, try coming up with a funny story on the spot as that character.
 
6. Imitate the voices of famous actors or fictional characters.
Learning to imitate a sound can help you build flexibility and help you recognize pitch and tone. You don’t have to be an impressionist/actor to be a voice artist, but it is helpful to be able to change the sound of your voice. This will allow you to be more versatile and will also help with your acting skills. Try to match not only the person’s voice, but also their personality so that you bring them to life rather than just imitating their sound.
 
 
7. Take acting classes or find an acting coach.
If you want to take thing to another level, try acting classes.
This will help you to develop your acting talent. Though voice actors never appear on the screen, they must be extremely talented actors to effectively deliver their lines.
 
Since the audience can’t see your facial expressions, hand gestures, or movements you must clearly express yourself in your voice. You don’t have props or other tools to aid in your delivery. Your full emotions and personality must be expressed solely through your voice.
If you don’t want to take expensive classes, try to find a community theatre production to participate in.
 

8. Take voice lessons. 
Having regular voice lessons will help you expand your vocal range and teach you how to better control the volume and sound of your voice. A good voice teacher will help you not only develop strong technique and control, but also will help you to find your unique voice.
A good voice teacher can also help you to warm up your voice in the correct way. There are many vocal warmups.
 

Ongoing project

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Lately we have been working on many fun project, here are a few of them:

PEAB – information movie – Swedish

Bastard Burgers – commercial – Swedish

Nyfiken på Sverige –information movie – Translation

Södra skog –information movie – English

Rusta – commercial – Swedish and German

Atlas Copco –information movie – English

Blodberedskap –information movie – Northern Sami

Cramo – commercial – Swedish

Magnetpulver – E-learning – English

Kalmar familjehem –information movie – Swedish

Eidesvik – commercial – English

TRI-D –information movie – Finnish

Elektronik – E-learning – English

Skydda – radio commercial – Swedish

Vätterhem –radio commercial – Swedish

Lbrador – radio commercial – Swedish

Hedin bil –radio commercial – Swedish

MG – television commercial – Swedish

ByggHemma – television commercial – Swedish

Bryggeriet – radio commercial – Swedish

NKT – voiceover – English

KONE elevator – voiceover – English

Tele 2 –information movie – English

Kvinnofridslinjen –information movie – Thai

Äldreförvaltningen –information movie – Swedish

ITS learning – E-learning – Swedish and Finnish

Nationalmuseet Oslo – audioguide – 9 languages

Autoliv – product movie – Romanian

One way rental – commercial – Swedish

Ultra max moppi – commercial – Finnish

Holmgrens bil – commercial – Swedish

Lantmäteriet – Information movie – Subtitles

Krisstöd – information movie – Swedish

NTA – audio book – Swedish

HOI – audio book – Swedish

IKEA – podcast – Swedish

Intersport – commercial – Swedish

Ring knutstorp – radio commercial – Swedish

Jysk – in store messages – Swedish

Are you in the need of a voice talent for your project?

Don’t hesitate to contact us

Listen to our range of voices here

How to succeed with your voice recording

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Since you stumbled upon our website, do we dare to assume you’re considering a voice-over recording? Maybe it’s finally time to start that podcast, record an advert, or fix the company presentation? There can be many reasons, but the effect is the same – a professional voice-over recording goes a long way.

At Voice To Me, our vocal chords are always warmed up and ready to go. We can provide you with a voice-over recording in all its forms and would like to share five valuable tips that will improve your production.

Five tips for a successful voice-over recording

  • The choice of voice

This may sound obvious, but your choice of voice is of great importance for the outcome of your production. Are you going to record a cool car ad? Well, in that case perhaps you shouldn’t choose “medication Janne”, best known for having read FASS (Proprietary Medicinal Products in Sweden) as an audiobook in 1996. Or should you? Maybe it can have an unexpected effect? There is no final verdict and, like all media projects, the unexpected can also be the best choice. Regardless, it can be difficult for you to choose the best possible solution on your own. Feel free to contact us, and we’ll help you find the right one from our extensive voice bank.

  • Work through your script – properly

Not even the most beautiful voice can save a poorly written script. It goes without saying that preparation is key. If you send a half-finished proposal for voice recording, well, the end result will be a failure. That’s why you need to do the job properly. Think about your target group, how you want to be perceived, and what tone you want to achieve. Should the voice exude credibility, passion, or perhaps interest? Write your script colloquially and avoid complicated words. It should sound natural, unless you’re writing a complex radio-theatre piece.

  • Manage expectations within the company – avoid misunderstandings

Are there several of you in the business who are involved in the project? Make sure that all of you in the project group are on the same page, both in terms of the project as a whole, and regarding the choice of voice. Perhaps you can find a reference online or something else to compare with? If the whole project is ready before the recording, everything flows much better. It saves time and money for all parties, and the end result is more powerful.

  • Be there during the recording – live or digitally

After all, you know your project best. If you’re involved in the voice-over recording in the studio, you may discover details you want to change once the narrator starts reading. It’s difficult to predict the end product, but if you’re present during the recording, you can make changes on the fly. If you can’t participate physically, it’s possible to do so digitally.

  • Follow up your production afterwards – how did it go?

Despite the fact that money, time, and soul are invested in projects, they are rarely followed up. How did it really go? What could you do better? How did the voice-over recording sound? Taking a few steps back to celebrate success and learn from possible setbacks is an effective way to do better. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s also very true. Ask your clients, employees, and others who have seen the end product for feedback. Dare to look back.

Ready to start – it’s voice-over recording time!

How does it feel? Are you under starter’s orders or alone in a wilderness of question marks? Take it easy, we’re the call that will guide you home. No matter where you are in the process, get in touch – we’ll help you from there. If you want, we can assist you in all the steps, from idea to script and execution.

Our website has a lot of information on how to proceed. You can also listen to our talented voice-over artists or share them with your organisation or your clients. There’s no doubt that you’ll find a suitable voice for your particular voice-over recording.

Talk soon!

Do you need a voice-over artist? Hire a professional!

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Imagine the following scenario. After a lot of hard work, you’ve finally managed to finish the film for the company’s important bid, and now you’re facing a final decision: should you use a professional voice-over artist or record your own? The budget has already been exceeded because you chose to produce quite a few drone images and there were other stunts you didn’t anticipate. In less than a week, the film needs to be ready and presented.

What will you do?

Your colleagues and acquaintances all think that it looks really nice, so they think that an automatically generated voice-over via some web service is probably enough. Okay, you think.

Then Anna from HR comes and says that she’s always wanted to be a voice-over artist and that she’s very happy to help. She says that she’s bought new AirPods and practiced recording some jingles at home, and the sound quality is fantastic. Maybe you should give her a chance?

Our opinion? Don’t do it.

Don’t get us wrong – we have nothing against Anna. And of course, auto-generated solutions have got better. Still, the fact remains that an amateur voice-recording free of charge or using a cheap freelancer can ruin even the best of films. Getting professional help is worth every penny.

You get what you pay for

As with much else in life, you get what you pay for from voice-over services. Getting help from a voice-over artist is a worthy investment which ensures quality and delivery. Voice To Me offers recording and voice-overs in more than 100 languages.

The power of a professional voice-over

In spite of this, many people choose to take the easy way out, and either record something themselves or get a low-quality recording. Choosing a professional option puts you in a prime position compared to your competitors, and gives you a credible impression. The slightly higher cost for a professional voice-over artist is quite small in the grand scheme of things, as it’s in turn likely to indirectly increase your sales.

Imagine the following scenario. You’re at an important sales meeting.

You’re up against two competitors in trying to win over a client. All of you have prepared presentations and films to sell yourselves. Your team has worked really hard and you’re convinced that your particular concept will win the client’s favour.

You’re outside with your team and watch the competitor present their concept. After a pretty good presentation, the best is saved for the end. Music is played and a video starts.

Then you hear it, the voice. Perfect timing. Well presented. It’s emotional, powerful, interesting. The voice is amazingly good and you feel goosebumps over your whole body. You think about your own presentation and realise that giving Anna from HR the chance to record the text was probably not worth it.

We probably all know who won that bid. Your concept may have been better, but the finish and presentation were worse. The competitor had made the decision to use a voice-over artist.

The following motto explains the importance of a well-chosen voice quite well.

“You can never save a bad voice with a good film, but you can always save a bad film with a good voice.”

That’s just how it is.

Never underestimate a well-executed voice-over. Hire a professional.

From good to better – and from better to the best

A professional voice-over means better projects. This doesn’t apply just to advertising and marketing.

Another example of this is e-learning. It’s been proven that students absorb more information if the recording is done by a professional. Professional voice-over artists find it easier to adapt to the recipient and subject. It’s not impossible that the voice-over artist has already done a similar project and can help make your script even clearer and more specific. Also, don’t forget what’s perhaps most obvious – the sound quality in a professional studio. No AirPods (sorry, Anna) or home microphones in the world can compete with a real studio – that’s just how it is.

Our point being? Regardless of the forum or message, a professional voice-over artist can say what you want you want to say, and say it better. Isn’t that the main aim of your project, to get across what you want to say? To present your idea or product in the best way possible? Why not do it properly then?

Voice To Me

Voice To Me voice-over artists can offer all of this. You can easily listen to samples from all our artists and choose the one who’s right for you. Everyone has good experience and practice of working in the industry. 

Are you unsure of what’s best for your particular project? Don’t hesitate to contact our customer service team. We’re happy to help you find the best possible solution, tailored to you.

Do it properly – use a professional voice-over for your project. Use Voice To Me. Talk soon!

3 reasons to supplement your agency offering with an external voice bank

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Why should you always have the contact details of a professional voice bank close at hand?

If you work for a production company, an advertising agency, or as a consultant in the film and media industry, you meet clients with different needs on a daily basis. Their needs must be catered for with an advert that’s as credible as possible, so it’s essential that you never compromise when it comes to the voice. It’s often said that you can always save a production with a good voice, but you can never save a bad recording with a good film…

Don’t waste time on internal solutions. It’s better to make sure you’re as effective as you can be in your creation by getting help from a voice bank.

What are the benefits of using a voice bank?

More often than not, slightly larger companies have voice-and-tone guides that are easy to follow for those of you who work in film and advertising. With a tonality guide, it’s easier to write the script and cast to find the exact voice, dialect, and tone that you know fits the client’s communication. It’s a prerequisite for the advert, documentary, jingle, or answering machine message to be as genuine and credible as possible.

1. The client doesn’t always know what a voice-and-tone guide is, or which voice their company is using to communicate with and why it’s important. When you receive an order for an advert and the creative phase begins, it’s easy to focus on what is to be said. You spend time writing scripts and then forget what your voice-over should sound like. Which dialect should it be, do you pick a woman or a man, a young or an old person? The right nuances in the tone of voice can be difficult to find, if you don’t know where to look. When you have access to a voice bank where you can go in and have a listen yourself, you can let the voice lead you to a finished script.

2. It can be difficult for the client to identify with different voices. Having access to a voice bank allows you to easily listen to, compare, and select a couple of voices that you think fit, and then let the client listen to a few different suggestions and pick the voice that feels good and credible, and that conveys the message with the empathy and voice that they’ve imagined.

3. Another reason why you should invest in having an external voice bank is that you get an anonymous voice-over artist. Your client won’t have to look for an employee who will make a mark on the brand with their voice. Although recognition is nice, it’s not ideal if the employee at some point resigns, and you or your client need to redo the job.

If you work at an agency, a production company, or as a film photographer, you should see offering voices through a voice bank as a service to your clients. By using our voice bank, you get a wide range of voices to choose from. This is time-efficient for you and cost-effective for your client, who doesn’t have to pay for the extra hours that can crop up when you let an employee or other individual do voice-overs.

 Want to know more about how to get your own voice bank for your brand free of charge? Contact us or read more here

Get help from a professional voice-over agency

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Avoid odd word choices and direct translations: get help from a professional voice-over agency

There are many times when you can benefit from a voice-over, for example, when you need an audio recording in different languages and you want to be sure that the quality meets your high demands. But a voice-over can help with more than just a voice. Translations, for example…

You have sales material to be translated: perhaps a quote or an advert which you want to use internationally. The problem when you have to translate your material from business- or industry-specific Swedish into other languages may be that you don’t really know what the language and industry talk sounds like in everyday life. Do you know which industry terms are used within the field or in the country where you’re going to launch your sales material?

The importance of using an authentic voice-over agency

 When you translate from Swedish to, say, English – unless you’re bilingual – you’ll often end up somewhere between textbook English and TV English, which may work in some cases. But if you’re going to launch your brand to an American audience, the everyday slang and industry jargon differs quite a lot from textbook English. There are also significant differences in the language, depending on where in the country you’re going to market your brand. If you’re not familiar with your target group’s language use, you risk not reaching them with your message and weakening your company’s credibility.

Make a credible impression with a professional voice-over agency

 Instead of investing resources into making new material for each country you’re marketing your business in, you can have a voice-over agency translate your business texts or adverts. Business documents are often translated into languages your employees don’t use on a daily basis, which can be a difficult nut to crack internally. This work takes time to do and day-to-day tasks are pushed to the back of the queue.

With a professional translator, you save both time and money, while you get an authentic result. Instead of imposing the responsibility for translation on a multilingual employee, you can make it easier for everyone involved by letting a voice-over agency do the work. We can translate your material into more than 100 languages through our network of certified translators. As a voice-over agency, we offer high-quality voices for many different types of assignments. It can be anything from the translation of documentaries to radio adverts and corporate films. Do you want to know more about how you can use our voice-over services?

Recording – how best to record your voice

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In the course of recording, there are a lot of things that voice-over artists need to think about. In addition to good equipment that we at Voice To Me have, the voice-over artist needs to be well prepared and rested. Here are just a few things to keep in mind to succeed when recording. In this article, we give you the tools you need to succeed in the best way possible.

A well-executed recording is hard to beat and can make all the difference in the success of your project. A well-recorded voice testifies to professionalism and perhaps conveys more than anything else what your business, company, or organisation stands for. With regard to recording itself, perhaps the most important thing is preparation. Make sure to work through your script carefully before recording. A good guideline is to “write it as you say it”. The idea is not to use overly complicated words or formulations, which you may use in writing. Speech and writing are very different in that sense. Of course, you should adapt the recording to the target group and purpose, but don’t be afraid to keep it simple. As long as you’re not giving a lecture to Mensa’s board of directors, you can probably use a simpler language in your recording.

Be well prepared for the recording

Making a recording takes effort. As with other occasions when you make need to perform well, such as runs, football matches, or whatever it may be, your state of mind needs to be right. Use your influence where you can. Make sure you arrive on time for your recording session. Come rested and refreshed. Eat well and do everything else you know is important. Do your best to be as ready as possible. Once you’re behind the microphone, it’s time to deliver, and everything you do is measurable and a result. Being prepared can’t be faked, especially when recording.

Technology is equally important. There are numerous types of microphones, and even more possible settings for them. It doesn’t matter how prepared you are or how amazing your script is if the technology lets you down. Make sure you review carefully how your microphone is set up, which tone of voice you want to use, and how loudly you should speak. It’s very complicated to save a bad recording, and that’s if it’s even possible at all. If you’re unsure about how to handle it all technically, we recommend using the option of professional recording in a studio.

Below are seven concrete tips on what you as a voice-over artist should think about in order to do as well as possible with your recording.

 Recording – 7 tips for success

  1. Preparation
    Read the text carefully, preferably several times, and get to know any special characters and context. Being prepared is extremely important for a successful recording.

  2. Underline
    Are you unsure of a word or how to pronounce something? Mark those words and check what they mean or how to pronounce them.

  3. Read out loud
    Although many people read the text several times, they make the mistake of reading it silently to themselves. You should read the text aloud before recording instead. Partly because it’s easier to hear what the result will be, but also to practice those underlined words that you had difficulty pronouncing.

  4. Replenish your energy
    Eat properly and have a lot of energy before the recording. Also, make sure that you’re rested and have slept well. It keeps you and your brain alert and fresh.

  5. Use good posture and don’t move too much
    Sitting correctly and comfortably, with both feet firmly on the ground is important for the voice to sound as good as possible. It’s also important to sit still, as the microphones are very sensitive, and the slightest movement can be heard when recording.

  6. Don’t stress
    Take it easy when you read. It’s easy to get stressed if you have a lot of text and information to read out. But don’t take it too easy – read the text aloud in the right rhythm.

  7. Try to read naturally
    Imagine that you’re going to tell or read something to a person sitting across from you. Mean what you say and think that everyone who’s listening is doing so because it’s you and your story they want to listen to.

 
These are just a few of the things you need to keep in mind when recording. Are you unsure of what you need for the best possible end product?

Get help with recording

A successful recording requires some preparation. It may seem simple to start with, but it involves a lot of preparation, good timing, and steady performance. Do you want help with your recording? At Voice To Me, we’re happy to help you and have a wide range of voices in our bank. When you choose one of our voices, we’ll help and support you throughout the production, so that the end result is as good as it can be. You can feel completely at ease with us. Read more and pick a voice here!

A RADIO VOICE THAT CONVEYS CREDIBILITY

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The next time you listen to a radio programme with a famous on-air personality, think about what sort of thoughts or memories they evoke in you. A recurring and familiar voice means more to us than we think. Now you probably understand how important it is to choose the right voice for your advert or radio programme.
Using the same voice in a programme or in different adverts creates a sense of security and, as a listener, you know little about what you’re getting. But it also creates a kind of recognition for the advert or radio programme. It also makes the listener create their own image and perception of what the radio presenter looks like and what they’re like as a person, unless you know who they are. Of course, in addition to this, the voice reflects the message or advert in question.

When talking about a radio voice and what it should convey (depending on what kind of an advert it is), we think it should combine knowledge and credibility, create the right feeling, and get the listener to react. For example, do you have something you want to sell and want the listener to make a purchase after listening to the advert? If so, place emphasis on the credibility of the voice, the right voice that reflects what you sell, and information on how one goes about buying your product or service.

Of course, although the content of your advert or programme is important, on the whole, the voice is even more significant. To make this a little more concrete, we’ve done a little exercise for you below.


Exercise

  • Listen to five different recorded voices HERE. Select “voice age” in the drop-down menu on the far right of the screen, and listen to the top voice in each category. (Middle-aged, teenager, child, old, and young)
  • Imagine that you need to get the listener to donate money to a charity for children.
  • Which genre and what voice would you choose?

Click here to listen to our voices or contact us directly at info@voicetome.com