Quick tips for a hassle-free voiceover experience
So you might be creating an explainer video, a social media campaign, corporate training module or a TV commercial and you want to make sure the voiceover artist you’re hiring nails the brief from the get go.
You’ve got the script ready, but how can you communicate your vision while avoiding multiple rounds of revisions?
The smoothest voiceover gigs are often the ones where the client has thought about references.
Follow this 6-step checklist to get the best voiceover performance for your project.
AUDIO SAMPLES: If there’s a sample or demo from a voice actor’s website or profile that you love the vibe of—let them know! It doesn’t even need to be their own work. If you’ve come across a VO elsewhere that’s speaking your language, share it with the actor for inspiration.
COMPLETED SCRIPT: Is this the final copy of the script? Have you read it out loud? Have you shared it with other stakeholders in the project? If you need to make script changes after the voiceover has been recorded, you may be charged additional fees for re-recordings.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Who are we talking to? Is the target audience young families, sporting fans, CEOs, IT students, hospitality workers?
PRONUNCIATIONS: People, places and companies—as well as industry specific jargon that might not be obvious to someone outside the know. A quick voice note can be super helpful and reduce the need for revisions.
MUSIC & VISUALS: Sharing a storyboard for the project is a great way for the actor to use imagery to bring emotion and sub context out of the script. Backing music ideas will also allow the actor to find the pace and rhythm of the VO.
FEEDBACK: If you do need changes made to the recording, be specific! Highlight which parts you liked and which you didn’t. What needs changing? The speed, the inflections, the tone, articulation? If you’re too vague, then there will no doubt be more re-records needed down the line.
Remember, you don’t need to go into a lot of depth for each step. But a little guidance goes a long way and will make the voiceover process much smoother. So you can get on with producing your project, without the need for multiple rounds of revisions.
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