Using real voices in commercials and other media productions is of great importance to create an authentic and engaging experience for the viewer. Real human voices can convey emotion and personality in a way that AI voices cannot yet match. Here are some reasons why real voices are preferred:
Emotional Connection:
A real voice can carry a deeper emotional resonance that can affect the viewer’s emotions and thus create a stronger connection to the brand or product.
Personality and Nuance:
Human voices have unique qualities and nuances that make them recognizable and memorable. This can be crucial in creating a lasting impact on the viewer.
Flexibility and adaptability:
Real voice actors can adjust their style, tone and tempo, making for a more dynamic and compelling presentation.
Regional dialects and accents:
The use of real voices allows for a greater variety of dialects and accents, which can be important for reaching specific audiences and reinforcing the marketing message.
The human ear is amazing:
For thousands of years, we humans have depended on our hearing, which has made us experts at being able to pick up even the smallest differences and nuances in a voice. For example, we have the ability to distinguish one voice among millions of others and to recognize a person by the voice even if we have not met the person in question for many, many years. This is why it is so difficult to fully imitate a human voice on an artificial level. Technology is moving at breakneck speed and people have come a long way in a short time in terms of AI voices and voice cloning. But in order to reach the last 5-6 percent, the researchers believe that many years of continued development will be required (it is unclear if you will ever reach 100%)
Although AI voices can offer advantages such as cost efficiency and speed, it is important not to underestimate the value of the human touch in media productions. The human voice continues to be a powerful tool for creating genuine and compelling stories that engage audiences on a deeper level
Here’s how to create a professional phone message for your business:
The first impression is important – especially when it comes to your company and a potential customer. Here it has a direct impact on a potential sale or how you communicate a certain message.
In this blog post, we will try to help you create a professional phone message, so that your company can immediately make a professional impression and convey your brand in a positive way. Among other things, we will touch on the welcome message and how to communicate that you as a customer have called outside of office hours, as well as explain how to record a professional phone message in the best possible way.
It all starts with a welcome message Your switchboard’s welcome message is the first thing your customers hear, and this is where the customer should feel welcome, get a positive impression and get confirmation that they called the right place. The phone message should be professional, concise and easy to understand.
An example would be:
“Welcome to Voice To Me, please wait”, followed by a waiting tone or waiting music.
Nowadays, there are also many companies that need to connect customers to the right department. In these situations, a professional phone message can be:
“Welcome to Voice To Me. To ensure we can assist you in the best possible way, please select one of the following options,” after which the customer can select the service they require.
Strive to have as short a response time as possible. If a telephone queue occurs, it may be a good idea to use the time to inform the customer about, for example, current campaigns, alternative support routes or the like. These messages should not exceed 10 seconds in length and should not be repeated more than every 60 seconds.
Customers who call outside office hours:
It is very rare that customers call for no reason, and if they have called during the weekend, it is because they need your help. If they call outside office hours, it is important to inform them when they can call again for personal assistance. A professional phone message can be:
“Welcome to Voice To Me. You have called us outside of our office hours. We are open Monday to Friday between 8.30 and 16.00. Welcome back”
Your professional telephone message should primarily inform customers that they are calling outside of office hours, during a lunch break or similar. Afterwards, you must announce when your opening hours are.
Also remember to have phone messages ready for holidays, public holidays and when you are temporarily closed for, for example, internal conferences, training or similar.
Can I record my professional phone message myself?
Yes, of course you can. However, you should be sure that you are in control of the technical part and that you have a voice that you can connect to your company’s identity.
Should it be a male or a female voice, should the tone be formal or informal? The telephone voice should reflect your culture, values and identity. This is why one should consider elements such as dialect, tone and pacing and how this will affect the first impression a customer receives. Should you, for example, be perceived as thoroughly professional or perhaps you want the customer to feel that he or she called a friend and have a more everyday conversation? If you have a larger switchboard, it is also important that you make sure that the voice will be available for a long time to come, as it is common to change and add messages to your switchboard over time and then be able to keep the same voice. Having multiple voices in your switchboard for different messages often confuses the customer and gives a less professional impression of the company.
How to record a professional phone message:
Your recording should be short, clear and contain only the most important information. Names and company names should be pronounced clearly, so that the customer is not unsure who they have called. Remove the switchboard’s pre-recorded messages, where you only have to say one name, especially when you are a company. This may seem impersonal. Write a script to be sure to include everything and practice. Get others to listen to make sure all important information is there. Use a good microphone and be somewhere without background noise and room echo. Choose the right voice. The voice is very important for the impression and you should match it to your customer base.
Use a voiceover agency for your professional phone message:
If you want to be sure that your phone message sounds professional and is of the highest quality, both in terms of sound, content and technical settings, contact Voice To Me. We provide a large selection of professional voice artists that you can choose from and with the help of our coordinators you can get personal help and guidance. We are ready to help with the casting of voice actors that match your company’s image. Completely free of charge..
Are you searching for the perfect voice to bring life and character to your commercial? Then you’ve come to the right place! Voice To Me offers a selection of voices that can make your commercial memorable and engaging.
Is the Voice Important in a Commercial?
The voices in your commercial play a central role in conveying your message and creating the desired emotion. A professional voice can engage viewers, amplify the message, and lend credibility to your commercial. The right voice can truly make a difference and help you stand out from your competitors.
Explore Our Professional Voice Bank
In our voice bank, you’ll find a wide range of voices, each unique in its own way. Whether you need a warm and convincing voice to establish an emotional connection with your audience or an energetic and dynamic voice to highlight your product, we have the voice that suits your needs. Choose from over 1400 carefully selected professional voice actors.
Create Custom Voice Recordings for Your Commercial
We understand the importance of finding the right dialect and tone to communicate effectively with your target audience and convey your brand identity. Whether you already have a clear idea or need guidance, feel free to contact us for individual suggestions from our voice experts. They’ll help you choose the best voice for your commercial based on your preferences.
More Than Just Voices – Complete Production Support
In addition to offering high-quality voices for your commercial, Voice To Me can also support you throughout the entire production process. Our team of professional sound technicians and voice directors can assist with everything from script preparation and audio production to post-production and mastering.
Try, Get a Quote, or Contact Us
At Voice To Me, you can easily try out different voices from our voice archive to find the perfect match for your commercial. Additionally, you can quickly and smoothly fill out our quote form to receive a price tailored to your specific needs. If you have any questions or need more information, you’re always welcome to contact us. Our team is ready to help you find the right voice and deliver a professional and effective voice recording for your commercial.
Finding the right voice for your radio commercials is crucial to leave a lasting impression on your target audience. At Voice To Me, we offer a wide selection of professional voice actors who can take your radio commercials to new heights.
Why are Voices so Important for Radio Commercials?
The voices in your radio commercials play a central role in conveying your message and creating the desired atmosphere. A professional voice can engage listeners, enhance emotions, and increase credibility for your brand. The right voice can truly make a difference and help you stand out in the competitive world of radio commercials.
A Voice Bank with 1400 Professional Voices
Voice To Me offers a voice bank with over 1400 professional voices in 100 different languages. Our carefully curated collection provides a variety of voices with different styles, dialects, and personalities. Whether you need a warm and inviting voice for a heartfelt campaign or an energetic voice to reach a younger audience, we have the voice for your radio commercials.
The Right Dialect and Tone for Your Radio Commercials
We understand the importance of finding the right dialect and tone to effectively communicate with your target audience in line with your company’s identity. At Voice To Me, you can be sure to find the voice that perfectly suits your radio commercials. Whether you already know what you’re looking for or need guidance, you are welcome to contact us for individual suggestions from our voice experts who will help you choose the best voice for your advertising project.
Additional Services for Radio Commercial Production
In addition to offering outstanding voices for your radio commercials, Voice To Me also provides several other services to facilitate your advertising production. Our team of professional sound technicians and voice directors can assist with everything from script preparation, direction, and audio production to mastering and other post-production tasks. We strive to make the entire process smooth and efficient for you, allowing you to focus on what you and your company do best.
Preview, Fill in a Quote Form, or Contact Us
At Voice To Me, you can easily preview our voice bank to find the perfect voice for your radio commercials. Additionally, you can quickly and conveniently fill in our quote form to receive a price estimate tailored to your needs.
If you have any questions or need more information, you are always welcome to contact us. Our team is ready to help you find the right voice and deliver a professional and impactful voiceover for your commercials.
Set a new standard for your radio commercials with voices from Voice To Me. Explore our voice bank, fill in a quote form, or contact us today to get started on your next successful campaign. We look forward to helping you convey your message in a way that engages, touches, and impresses!
you want to reach outside the country’s borders? Then it’s time to start translating…
When you want to localize (make a language copy) a film, e-learning, audio book, etc. there are several things that you should consider:
Translation: The first step in localizing a film is to translate the dialogue into the target language. It is important that the translation is accurate and natural, and that it takes into account cultural differences.
Voice actors: If the film has spoken dialogue, you need to find suitable voice actors to dub or add the voices in the target language. You should choose voice actors who have good voice control and are knowledgeable in the target language.
Subtitles: If the film is not dubbed, but instead has subtitles in the target language, you must ensure that the subtitles are correct and clear. You should also consider readability and the position of the text on the screen.
Cultural differences: When localizing a film, it is important to take into account cultural differences between the original language and the target language. For example, jokes and references may need to be adapted to fit the new culture.
Technical aspects: Finally, when localizing a film, you should also consider technical aspects such as sound quality and image quality, to ensure that the film performs well in the target language market.
By taking all these factors into account, you can create a well-localized film that appeals to the target audience in the new language and in the new culture.
Traditionally, recording voice overs have been a time-consuming process. Initially, local recording studios and suitable voice talent needed to be found. Then, studio availability needed to be aligned to fit the talent’s and the client’s schedule. All involved could spend a full day on logistics.
Besides being a time-consuming process, the costs and pressure were high, and quality suffered. Not to mention the challenge of finding native voice talents in multiple languages to record at a physical studio, in a chosen city.
The pros of recording in a studio?
Clients can give creative feedback directly and help with pronunciation of tricky words or hitting the desired tone of voice.
Same day mix and delivery of the final audio.
The cons?
Expensive studio rents that are typically charged by hour.
Travel times are both time-consuming and expensive.
Challenges finding native language talents necessary for completing a global project.
Technology has advanced
… and the voice over industry has too.
A new wave of possibilities has emerged.
With voice talents using a remote recording setup (home studio) we can:
Centralize audio recording with equipment and quality requirements.
Centralize editing with a sound engineering team.
Ensure each project is voiced by native voice talents.
Use online Live Sessions to provide creative feedback – or free reading samples for style approval in advance!
Provide a fast turnaround, meeting deadlines, at a fair price.
In this way, an incredible voice over can be recorded locally, securing native, local voices and a global project reach. At less time and costs.
But, how do we do it?
At Voice To Me, our talents go through an application process where we are certain of their ability to comply with our equipment and quality requirements. Voice talents set up their studio and process to the specifications we give them. They deliver into our workflow and work as an extension of our team.
Thanks to tech, providing real-time feedback to the voice talents is no longer an issue as project managers, clients, and voice talents can meet online for a Live Session.
Today’s technology has made voice talents around the world more accessible. Those professional voice talents are typically found through a web tool where you can search through a roster of talents on a website yourself.
Most voice over websites typically allow filtering of talents by the language the talent speaks and the voice gender of demos. But there’s still a range of voice narration skills left to consider that typically aren’t shown on the websites. And this is while the client has no idea of how to find the RIGHT one for them.
Voice talents and their set of skills
So, let’s think about voices as products. In most instances, it’s difficult to buy a product without considering how you’ll use it. That’s exactly the same with voice overs. The voice talent’s product is their voice.
Voice talents each have a set of skills and attributes that describe their product. And some of those skills are better suited for certain lines of business.
I mean, imagine an eLearning module voiced by a talent without the skill of stamina. Or a tv commercial voiced by a talent that isn’t aligned with the brand. Or a cartoon movie voiced by a talent not skilled with staying in character.
Actually, many professional voice talents have become specialized in a line of business and prefer to voice for it. Of course, there are talents with a whole range of skills. But we believe it’s a staple of quality when a voice talent is able to shine at what they enjoy and do best.
Tricks of the trade , -The secret solution:
Overall, one of the best things you can do for your voice selection process is to consider the line of business. It will help ensure a more seamless recording process and give your project the expertise needed to be successful!
The secret solution is to get in touch with us. We at Voice To Me know all our voicetalent by heart. We know who is better suited for a particular product. We know for example that ROBERT is really good when it comes to longer scripts such as e-learning, audio books etc. He´s got the stamina and is able to keep the same tone, style and tempo throughout the whole recording.
We also know that KIRA is a master when it comes to taking directions. She is the perfect choice when you want a commercial to sound In a very special way. She instantly understands what you are looking for and will easily follow your directions during a livesession.
And lastly if you are unsure which voice to go with, – Let them battle it out in a free custom demo competition..
No, its no joke.. Just send over your script and directions to us here at Voice To Me and we will hand pick a couple of talents who will record a free demos for you.
This way you will be sure to get it right, the first time..
Oh, we almost forgot to mention…: When working with us you will always get our 100% happy customer guarantee. If you do not like what you hear, you do not pay..
(our guarantee states that we will keep re-recording until you are happy with the material. However, if you change the script or make big changes in the directions, you will need to pay a small additional fee for the re-recording.)
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.
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 filenames
One column for timecodes
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 thepurpose.
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.
