

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.
We at Voice To Me have over 15 years of localization experience and only work with professional transcribers, translators, voices and sound engineers.
The only thing you need to do is send us your material, sit back and see how your business overnight grows from your existing market to the world.
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?
The cons?
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:
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.
The short answer? YES!
Better read the long answer…
The long answer
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The script should be clearly divided into paragraphs and columns. A rule of thumb is:
When you have been through these 5 simple steps, you will have all you need to start your voice-over project right.
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. 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.
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.
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
Don’t hesitate to contact us
Listen to our range of voices here
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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-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!