How to Get Started in Voice Over

Voice over can be a great way to work from home or on the road while still making a living. This type of work can include commercials, cartoons, video games and even narration for movies or other media. In many cases, it’s not necessary to go through formal training as is required for other forms of acting but honing your skills, knowing what you want out of your career and putting in the time are essential.

A demo reel is a must for anyone seeking to secure voice over work. This is essentially your portfolio and will showcase the different voices you are capable of recording and imitating. For this reason, it is important that your demo reel offers a range of voice qualities so that you are more likely to find the right match for the job.

In order to record a quality voice over, you’ll need to have a good set of recording equipment. This includes a microphone, which should be positioned close to your mouth for best results and audio software for editing your final recordings. The mic should be a high-quality one with a clear sound to avoid picking up background noise or sibilance (plosive speech sounds).

Another key part of your equipment is your computer. This will need to have good audio quality software that can reduce background noise, sibilance and other issues that may be picked up by the mic during recording. It is also a good idea to have headphones and speakers to help you listen to your recordings and edit them effectively.

Once you’ve got all the gear you need, it’s time to practice! Try to read out loud every day and if you can, take the opportunity to record yourself. This will allow you to hear what your recordings will actually sound like and how they will be used. It’s a great way to improve your accuracy, pacing and intonation. You’ll be able to identify words or phrases that you struggle with and work on them until they feel natural and effortless.

Aim for a clear, crisp tone with an emphasis on the correct pronunciation of each word. Nothing ruins a voice over quicker than mumbled words or difficult to understand pronunciations. A good tip is to ask a friend who doesn’t work in the voice over industry for their opinion of your diction and pronunciation. This will help you to remove any snags or misunderstandings that might arise from using your own dialect or accent.

When you’re ready to record your voice over, it’s a good idea to run through the script a few times before attempting to record it. It will give you a better idea of what the finished product should look like and will also allow you to catch any areas where the script might need to be edited to make it more clear or easier to follow.

Finally, when you’re done recording your voice over, it’s a really good idea to listen to it all the way through. This will give you a much better idea of how the overall pacing and tone of the recording will be received by your audience. voice over