The retail chain ÖoB is a Swedish chain with about 100 stores around the country. They contacted us through their marketing agency in March last year and were looking for a new voice that can present their offerings for commercials on television, radio and on social media.
We at Voice To Me got the mission to find a voice that fits ÖoB’s brand and that can present the different products in a fun and clear way. It was also important for the customer that the selected voice could be flexible as there could be rapid changes or additions in the scripts.
We jointly agreed that our voice talent Mikaela was a good match to the client wishes.
At the first recording we had a live session, a producer from the agency participated while Mikaela recorded in order to make it easier for her to find the right style. They managed to find a style they both liked quickly and Mikaela got through the rest of the script without any trouble.
Since then, a great deal of scripts have been read with Mikaela who now is very comfortable in her role as the voice for ÖoB.
We would be very happy if you would like to watch and listen to one of the films we made together here:
The Chinese car brand Maxus has through the Norwegian company RSA commissioned us to help with finding a voice for their video presentations. Maxus have dealers all over the country, and with their 100 percent electric cars they are class leading within the market.
We have helped Maxus make the voice for both Radio and TV commercials as well as informative videos for their website. Not only in Swedish, but also in Norwegian, Danish and Finnish.
The choices fell on the following voices who now have made several readings for Maxus as they have become a regular customer. We are so happy to work with RSA and Maxus.
National advertising Recently we helped Coca Cola Sweden with a Voiceover for their recycling campaign. They redesigned all the plastic bottles for Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite and Bonaqua. The commercial is produced by Lejonbröder” and the choice of voice fell on our talent Sanna
Maybe you have been told you have the perfect voice to become a professional voice actor. Perhaps you have a unique tone, you can impersonate a celebrity voice, you can sing, you can act, you have incredible vocal stamina…. Or a variety of other possibilities that have made you think:
“Should I become a voice talent?”.
But how do you get into voice over work?
There are a lot of companies with platforms that allow you to get into voice over work by recording a demo and matching a project with your voice. But which one is right for you? Well, let us help you get started.
Here are the 3 basics to becoming a voice talent:
1) You must have flexibility.
Most new voice talents don’t just jump into the biz full time without testing their workload and knowing the industry a bit. If you have a flexible schedule and want to start voicing projects as a hobby, you should know that most voice over projects require a 48-hour or less turn around for recording. This means at any given moment, regardless of time zone, you could be asked to voice professional narration. And since your voice is your product, product availability is key.
2) Ensure you have access to a voice recording studio
It sounds simple enough, but proper voicing equipment takes some space. Also, acoustically, where your recordings are done could impact the quality of voice over. So regardless of how you sell your voice over services, make sure you have a basic recording setup either at home or nearby. Pro tip: community radio stations/ production houses can also be great resources for getting started with voice over work.
3) You need to have the interest and ability to take vocal instruction
It may seem obvious, but you’ll need to be able to follow your client’s brief on the voice overs. Even if you work with a company or company platform to connect your voice with projects, instructions on timing, tone and intonation will need to be followed. If you are person who is open to learning, with these abilities to follow vocal instruction, you could be the perfect voice over talent.
While we know there are various options for a starting voice talent, at Voice To Me, we build a relationship with each of our talents, know their voice skills and help to establish a quality standard our clients trust. If you already have a portfolio, know your strengths, and want to join our team, you can apply as a voice talent here…. We cannot wait to hear from you.
3 simple steps to problem-free voice recording from Voice To Me.
1. Choose the voice-over talent you want
Listen to demos of the specific language you are looking for, or let us send a voice talent that we recommend for each language by contacting us at Voice To Me here.
The voices you have chosen are grouped in a list, which means that you can easily download all the voice samples to your computer, and advise colleagues and customers later on. You can also send a price inquiry for the voices you have chosen. A price inquiry can also be sent without specifying any voices first. We will send you an offer back within 2 hours. If you need help in finding a voice, or have other questions, you are of course welcome to phone us at +46(0)36-770 15 40.
2. Recording
As soon as you have approved the quote, we place the order to your chosen talent and we’ll send you login details for our My Voice To Me production environment. Here you can follow the entire process right up to delivery.
3. Delivery
The completed audio files will then be delivered in your choice of file format (wav, mp3, aif etc.) either via email or by download from our ftp server. Upon request, we can send a CD to you in the mail instead.
You then confirm receipt of the audio files.
If, after the recording has been made, any script changes are required, a small surcharge will be payable. However, if the voice-over artist has, for example, made a mistake in pronunciation or if either something is missing or you are dissatisfied with any section of the text, we will of course correct this at no extra cost.
Please note that at any point in the process, you can always obtain help from us by contacting us via e-mail or telephone.
Here are some advice for directors, producers, advertising agencies and others who work with voice actors.
Finding the right voice for your project can sometimes be a bit tricky and, above all, very subjective.
Two hundred voice-over talents can describe their voices as “warm” but only you can say which voice is right for your project. If you find it difficult to decide, we can offer a short custom made demo at no cost using a few sentences from your script. That way, you can listen to how the voice reads your script, and not just hear a general selection of their other work.
Ask about the background and experience of the voice. Many voices have a wide register and can read in many different ways, but no one can do everything. Make sure the voice you hire can perform whats most important for you.
Screenplay and directing tips:
• Describe your target audience Start by giving a brief description of who will listen to the finished recording. Whose attention do you hope to catch? It helps the voice get a picture of the audience.
• Be as descriptive as possible
You should strive to be as descriptive as possible when conveying how you want the finished product to sound. Sometimes voice actors get a script together with just one directing word, eg. ”Optimistic. ” This is not always enough to find exactly the right tone. To facilitate your ordering instructions, we have compiled a list of useful words:
TIP: if you want your voice actor to sound Sensitive, try using a scale or an example to convey how sensitive you want the voice to be. Or, say you want the voice to sound like a character or play a role: a storyteller, business manager, mom, neighbor, best friend, lawyer, doctor, trusted teacher, or a bored receptionist.
• Give specific examples
It doesn’t help the voice actor to hear you want them to sound “just like a celebrity or like someone on a particular commercial, if they can’t hear those references. Therefore, please send a sound file with the tone you aim at. Some voice actors can mimic voices, and if they hear an example of how you want it to sound, they can probably come very close in tempo, tone and style.
• Write an easy-to-read script.
Sometimes scripts have edited notes and revisions, which can confuse the voice. Try sending a clean and neat script in a 12 – point font. This makes it easier for the voice to concentrate on how to read the text instead of how the text is written ..
Also note that we charge extra to read a text once again due to script changes, so always proofread your script before sending it to us.
• Pronunciation
In cases where a word or a number can be read in different ways, we wish you to write a pronunciation guide or send an audio file that can guide the voice during recording. For example, always spell out the pronunciation next to a number. The same goes for company names, product names and so on.
• Match the time to the amount of words
There is nothing more irritating for a voice over artist than getting a script that is not timed. For example, getting a script for a 20-second long commercial containing text that cannot be read under 30 seconds. Add instructions such as “calm” and “credible” and we have a recipie for impossible and frustrating. The text will of course only be able to read in one way – “fast”!
Try to read your script out loud and take the time properly before sending your order. Editing the script before recording saves a lot of time. Also remember that “less is more”, the more information you put into a text, the less the recipient will remember.
Some producers want the voice to record all the sentences in a script, even though they know it will pass over time. They like to hear different versions and then edit the sentences. Then tell the voice that it is acceptable to go over time. If this is not made clear, the reading sounds stressed and the voice will feel frustrated as it will be impossible to read the text within the specified time limit.
Are you looking for a professional voice over artist for your next project? Here are a couple of reasons why you should work with Voice To Me.
We have over 1400 voice over talents in our database. Everyone is highly qualified,
You know a Voice To Me voice on talent through these qualities: experienced domestic voice over professionals living in their home countries, ensuring a modern, practical approach to local culture and ways of thinking – aspects, all of which have a great impact on pronunciation, articulation and horizontal tones – whether language or business language.
We also offer:
Professional voice transfer (min. Three years) Professional studio set Editing / post-production Best sound quality Broadband Internet connection Top Delivery Performance Immediate availability High efficiency / low recycling rate Recommended speeches over talents Recommended voice-over talents are contracted voice-over professionals with whom we work closely. Recommended voice over talents are the best listed voice over pros indicated by a star.
Quick turnaround for your voice over project See the star icon that symbolizes our recommended voice over talents as a “cut to the chase” indicator. We do not need to negotiate a price for each individual investigation. Due to our market-leading position, frame agreements with our recommended voice over talents not only mean surprisingly attractive prices and fast delivery, they also ensure quick quotes and accurate price estimates that allow you to make immediate and reliable cost estimates for your project.
Voice recordings with best value As in most other industries, there are basic rules for business textbooks: when volumes increase, prices fall. That’s why our recommended voice-over talents are your best choice. 9 out of 10 customers choose our recommended voice over talents for their projects.
Voice over first takes our specialty Our voices over talents know the name of the game. They have many years of experience in adapting style and feeling to your requirements. You will be amazed at how accurately they can nail the right tone of voice without boring instructions and many repainting.
Zero waste of time on editing voice files All talk over speech are experienced audio technicians and post producers. This limits time-saving processes because your audio files do not have to go through a lot of delaying steps if you need further editing, file splitting, etc. Ordering voice translations on Voice To Me is a one-step process.
Only active voice over talents You will not find available profiles in our database. If speech over speech does not report requests or reject assignments, they are removed from our database. That’s why you can always count on the “goods” we have on screen.
Two ways to quickly find the right voice for your next project.
1, Have an expert help you find the right voice. This is the easiest way … Just fill in our short form and let a professional “voice caster” suggest a voice artist according to your wishes and that suits your needs.
2, Choose a voice on your own from the voice bank. Listen for yourself, and when you find a voice in our voice bank that fits your project, you just need to fill in our short quotation form and we will return with a price quote and delivery notice within 2-3 hours.
If you need help, tips or advice, our coordinators are available to you via direct chat during business hours. You can also call us on +46 (0) 36 770 15 40, or email info@voicetome.com
Writing a script to be read aloud isn’t easy work. Here are some tips on how to write a good speaker script.
It doesn’t matter if you are writing a commercial, a marketing video or an on hold message, you have to use the right words in the right order to create the right impact. The voice talent’s job is to bring your words to life. The last thing you want your voice over (VO) talent to do is guess what you mean or how you want them to say something. Voice To Me has put together a list of 5 solid points to help your voice talent read the copy the way you mean for it to sound!
1. NO CAPS A SCRIPT IN ALL CAPS IS LIKE YOU’RE YELLING!!
Not only does it feel like the writer is pitching a fit, but all caps is harder to read. And harder to read is a recipe for mistakes in both text and context. To a voice talent ALL CAPS means emphasize, but it’s better to use a bold or underline rather than all caps if you would like your VO talent to give the words or phrases a subtle yet discernable emphasis. To voice talent proof your script use simple sentence case in a nice, easy to read font such as Arial in size 12 or 14.
2. Give Pronunciations
The last thing you want to hear in your project is the voice talent mangling your client’s name or their product. When it comes to pronunciation of any kind, we say, “When it doubt, spell it out.” Sure, voice talents can hit up Forvo.com (a pronunciation site) or cull through YouTube videos to try and find the right pronunciation, but it’s much more accurate, and fast, if you let us know how to say it correctly as a note in the script. Some producers send us an Mp3 with the correct pronunciation two or three times in a row. This cuts down on pickups and patches, and you end up with a much smoother narration. Truth: if there is a way for us to mispronounce something, we will find it. To talent proof your script, let them know exactly how you want something said before they start recording. Ps. If you do not have a smartphone or microphone at hand you can call our pronunciation guide phone number.
3. Zero or “O”
Numbers are tricky. Percentages are shifty. And fractions…forget about it. Voice talents can say numbers in so many different ways and combinations, and invariably, the client would like them read the other way.
Pop Quiz. Say these numbers:
1578 – Fifteen seventy-eight or one-five-seven-eight? 7.049% – Seven point zero four nine percent or seven point “O” four nine percent? $20,995 – Twenty-thousand, nine-hundred ninety-five dollars or twenty-nine-ninety-five? 2013 – Two thousand thirteen or twenty-thirteen? Told you. Numbers are crafty and completely open to interpretation. Take the guesswork out of numbers for your voice talent and state your preference. It’s that easy.
4. Punctuation is Your Friend
The power of a voice talent is their ability to connect to the material and make it sound believable and natural, and punctuation is key to making that happen. When voice talents don’t have a punctuation road map to follow, we will take pauses when we need to breath or where we think is a good place, which might completely change the context of your script. The well-placed comma is a thing of beauty. The word “pause” in brackets is fine, but I’ve been known to read those. While it makes for comedy and great out takes for the Christmas party, it means extra time in the studio. If you want your voice talent to take a thoughtful pause in your script, use punctuation to show us where and for how long.
5. How Do I Read A – (Dash)?
What do you see when you look at Monday-Thursday? Do you see Monday through Thursday? We don’t. We see Monday dash Friday. How about this: www.cool_website.com/callme? It might be obvious to you as the owner of the website, or the writer might have cut and pasted the web address into the script without thinking about how badly I can trash it. In that simple web address, We see all sorts of landmines. To voice talent proof your script, fully write out any of these questionable names or phrases once in a script note. It might look like:
An Example Web Site URL: www.cool_website.com /callme
Now Written For Narration: w w w dot cool underscore website dot come slash call me
With this simple step, you won’t have to hear the many variations that voice talents can come up with to say your name or deliver your information incorrectly. Trust us, We do this for a living!
The easiest way to get your message across the way you want it is to voice talent proof your script. You don’t need to spend hours in the studio to get the read you want for your project. All you need to do is write your script so that your voice talent knows exactly what you want to hear.
Here are 20 reasons why you should choose Voice To Me for your next voice job:
* Europe’s leading voice-over agency * Delivery within a few hours * 1400 professional votes * 100 languages * Simple search function * Easy to listen, share or download audio files * Child talents * Dialects * Quick quote * Ask us directly via chat * Direct the talent through a live session * Translation * Mastring * Soundproofing * Sound processing * Adaptation of film * Quality guarantee * Get a piece of your text read as a free demo * Voices of all ages * Express delivery
How to order a voice over
