Voice over is a form of acting that takes place through the use of recorded audio. Voice actors are able to record their voices and then release them publicly, either as animated film or video game characters, on radio programs, or in commercials. This is done by dubbing the dialogue lines for films into another language or recording voice overs for animations and games. The thing about voice over work is that it’s not limited to just speaking but also includes other sounds such as singing songs and providing sound effects for video games. Voice-over actors need to be able to perform different types of vocalizations such as screams and laughs; they can also provide their own sound effects if needed when there isn’t anyone else around who can do it. WHAT IS VOICE OVER What Is Voice Over? Voice over is a voice recording of the script for an animation film, video game, or other types of media. The actor speaks words that are written in text form and their recorded voice is used to narrate the story. A person’s vocal range doesn’t matter when it comes to voice over work, but they do need to have a good speaking voice with perfect diction so that people who hear them can understand what they’re saying. Defining Voice Over Voice over is the voice heard in a film, video game, or other types of audiovisual work. It is usually distinguished from on-screen dialogue by being spoken aloud, rather than being portrayed as thoughts or soliloquies. In these contexts it may be thought of as “off-screen” dialogue and/or narration. Voice over has been used in animation since Walt Disney’s 1937 animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Voice overs are used for commercials and radio broadcasts as well as movies and TV shows. Voices can be male or female with an accent from any given culture. There are many misconceptions about voice-over. Some people believe that voice acting is a hobby or a way to make money on the side, but it’s actually far more than that. It may also come as surprise that famous actors such as Samuel L Jackson have been known to provide their own voiceovers when playing major roles in movies like Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith and Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War. The Importance of Voice Over Today I wanted to address a question that we often get from clients: how important is the voice over in videos? Whilst not every video needs a voice over, lots of videos gain something by having someone speaking over the moving images on-screen. And if you do have a voice over in your video, it’s important to get it right. That’s what this post is all about. The Importance of Voice Over There’s no denying the fact that a voiceover plays a very important role in the significance of a video. Firstly, we should give a definition of ‘voice over’ and explain exactly what it is. Voice over is essentially narration over a video. It’s a way of telling the story in words, whilst the images on-screen do the bulk of the heavy-lifting storytelling wise. As the story presented in your video is so important, if you want your video to be persuasive and effective, and leave a long lasting impression on your viewer, then it’s wise to choose your voice over artist very carefully. Let’s discuss some reasons why you should pick a talented voice over artist. An Emotive Voice Emotions are important in any marketing video. If we can move your audience to feel an emotion (whether it’s joy or sadness, happiness or whimsy), we can get them to feel connected with your product or service. A skilled voice over artist can add the right emotion to your video. And only the right voice can make someone feel compassionate, happy, sad or excited. The voice adds a human touch to your story. People connect with other people, so the right voice projecting the right emotions is of upmost importance. But what kind of voice do you need for your video? Well, if your video is selling an upbeat service like nightclub nights out, for instance, then you’ll want an equally upbeat voice that projects a fun, laid-back, party attitude. On the other, let’s say you’re selling something far more serious like funeral stationary, for example. Funeral stationary services create orders of service and other printed materials for funerals and wakes. A voice over for this kind of service would be far more sombre and serious. As a recent example, check out the voice over artist we used in a video for a funeral stationary service called Fitting Farewell: As you can see, this voice over took a far more serious tone than the kind of voice over we’d expect in the upbeat nightclub example. It seems obvious using extreme examples like a nightclub promotion and a funeral service, but in some cases the styles of voice over are a little more subtle. Add Some Personality To Your Video A professional voice over adds a personality to your video. An experienced voice over artist has the confidence that is needed to deliver the correct high-and-lows, the pauses and the right flow throughout the story they tell. Quality is the one factor that cannot be denied in a good video. One of the worst things you could possibly do is have a fantastic video that shot and edited perfectly, but then has a terrible voice over. A talented voice over artist brings out the best in the video, rather than detracts from it. So look for voice over artists who have a long track-record of producing great results. It’s the difference between someone with a voice fit for Radio 4 and a student at university with a 4-track looking to make a bit of beer money! We have a number of voice over artists we work with regularly and can, of course, find the perfect voice over artist for your project. Who Is The Perfect Voice Over Artist For Your Video Project? With that said, we’re often asked what kind of voiceover artist is the perfect one for your project? Here are a few things to look for that can help you find your ideal artist: 1. Clarity And Consistency The first thing that you should look for in your actor should be the clarity of his voice. He should be able to deliver every word and every sentence without mumbling, garbling or stumbling over any words. It might seem obvious, but you’ll be surprised at how many not-so-professional voice over artists are out there. The words need be clearly understood. Make sure that in trying to do so, the artist doesn’t overdo it. A Shakespearean theatre background might be perfect some some voice overs, but not others! It should be just right. 2. Pay Attention To Detail Most people might be unaware of mouth noises. These are the tiniest of sounds that are produced when people talk; the little breathes you take after a sentence and the unnecessary sigh, etc. A skilled voice over artist should be either able to control them or not have them at all. 3. Confidence Is Key A good voiceover artist must be confident in his vocals. He should have a full control over his voice and should be able to change the loudness, softness, tone and timbre of his tone. And if they’re skilled these changes should be quick. Here are some points on confidence and how it’s reflected in voice over skill: The artist should be skilled channelling many different kinds of emotions into the microphone. They should be flexible to new ideas for the improvement of their character. A true artist should be able to change and adapt with changes to their script. An experienced artist is comfortable following the written script, but can also come up with ways to enhance the role. A professional artist is connected to his character. They feel the character and whatever he has to say. They sound truly convincing. They project confidence in whatever they say. They need to stay calm, cool and confident at all times. 4. Conversational Skills Are Important Your professional artist should speak at a conversational speed. Not too many pauses, nor speaking too fast or too slow. Preferably, your actor should be a native of wherever the product/service is aimed at, since most people find local voices more reassuring and trustworthy. Sometimes, though, the voice over needs to be spoken in a certain accent or dialect. 5. A Team Player Your artist should be a team player. If you have more than one voiceover artist in your video, then they should be able to perfectly coordinate with one another. Being a team player makes everything far easier. You’ll find most professional voice over artists are used to working in a team and have good social skills. These are all the qualities and attributes that you should be looking for in your professional voiceover artist. I hope this has been helpful! Now you know why a voiceover is important in your videos and you know what to look for in a professional voice over artist. The Role Of Voice Acting One way that can be done is through voice acting which gives life to characters and helps them feel more realistic than if they were just animated sprites on screen (which would also require dialogue). Do you ever hear a voice on the radio or television and think, “Wow, that’s them?” Well, it might not be! Voice-over actors are an integral part of any script for film or TV. They provide the voices to make what we see come alive with their words. As such, they can change the tone and meaning of a text without changing anything else in the story. This is why professional voice acting services are so great for commercials because they help use sound instead of visuals to get your message across. What is the role of voice acting in video games, and why does it matter? Voice actors are often overlooked as a vital part of any game’s production process. They play an important role in bringing characters to life and can even add depth to the story if they have a good understanding of what they’re doing. As such, it’s important for any aspiring voice actor or person looking for work in this field to know how their abilities could contribute not only to one project but potentially over time as well. Voice Acting – Knowing Where To Begin Do you want to break into the voice acting industry but don’t know where to start? Here are some tips on how you can get started. 1 Do your research – Find out what type of work is available and what skills are needed to pursue that line of work (this could be anything from theatre performance or radio broadcasting). Once you have a good idea about which direction would suit your interests best, find more information on training programs that will help prepare you for it. 2 Practice! – You’ll need practice in order to perfect your craft and become a professional voice actor. Start by reading aloud as much as possible and then recording yourself with an audio recorder. How do you know which auditions are worth your time? When should you go in person or just send in an mp3? Is there such thing as too many credits on your resume? These are all questions that myself and other VO actors have asked ourselves. Getting Started In Voice Over There are many opportunities to get started, but here are some tips on how you can start making voice over recordings from the comfort of your home. -Find a quiet space with no outside noise, like an office or bedroom. This will help eliminate background noises that may be picked up by the microphone. -Make sure you have at least 1 hour of uninterrupted recording time for each project as this is typically how long it takes to record one script. -Use headphones when recording so you don’t pick up any ambient noise from your surroundings which can cause distortions in the sound quality and clarity of your voice over. There are several common pitfalls that new performers often stumble into when seeking representation or pursuing their own career opportunities; we’ll cover those here so that readers know where not to go astray! Types Of Voice Acting Voice Acting is an ever growing field that has many unheard of roles. There are four types of voice acting, these being: Narrative Voice-over work, Commercials Voice-overs, Promotional Voice-overs and Animation Voice-overs. The type of voice actor you want to be in the industry will depend on what you want your goal out of voice acting to be. For example if you’re looking for a steady income then commercial or promotional work might be best suited for you while if your goal is to do more narrative work then animation might suit your needs better. Voice acting is a male-dominated industry. The most common type of voice actor is the male voice. With this being said, it’s important to discuss the different types of voices and what they mean for the industry. Male Voice: This type of voice usually has an authoritative tone that can be heard in many TV shows, cartoons, or commercials. Female Voice: Females are considered more soothing than males as they have higher pitched voices with less lower tones present. Cartoon Voices: These are often high-pitched and squeaky sounds that match up well with children’s television programs such as Spongebob Squarepants or Dora The Explorer . Commercial Voice: A commercial voice is typically used by companies who want to sell their products which may include Voice acting is a booming industry that has been growing for decades. A voice actor can be an individual, or a group of people, who are given the task to create sound effects and voices for animated films and other productions. There are three types of voice actors: lead actors, supporting cast members, and extras. Lead actors provide the main character’s dialogue in most productions; they have a major role in any production that features more than one spoken language. Supporting cast members supply noise or a single line at times throughout the film to add depth to the background scenery; extras don’t speak but instead fill out the scene with their body movements as well as any non-verbal sounds such as laughter or crying. What Makes A Good Voice-Over? We all remember our favorite cartoon characters, but did you know that the voice actors behind them had to work hard and perfect their craft in order to make it sound just right? Voice-over is a form of acting. What makes a really good voice-over is a vocal range, accent variety, dialect skills, and emotional intelligence. Good voice-overs are hard to come by. There is always the option of getting a new one, but that can be expensive and time-consuming. Luckily there are some things you can do to help your voice sound better on camera. 1 Drink water before recording so your throat isn’t dry when talking into the microphone. 2 Use an app like Voice Changer or VoiceChop to put a different tone in your voice for comedic effect! It’s also fun to use these apps with friends and family members because it will create memories together that no one will forget! There is no set formula for how one should sound when announcing something or voicing an opinion on something else. But there are some key elements that make up that perfect Voice Over. What Income Can Voice-Over Artists Expect? Income ranges drastically depending on a number of factors, such as how much you charge per hour and what type of work you do. Voice actors can make anywhere from $150. The average starting salary for a voice-over artist is $35 per hour with an annual earning potential between $16,000-$27,000. The more successful artists make upwards of $150 per hour or more! In today’s world, people are turning to voice acting more and more. Most of the time, this is because they want to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. The amount of money you will make as a voice actor depends on how many projects you have scheduled per year and your type of project (whether it be commercial or animation). The average salary for an animator is $51k with their highest salaries being around $73k. The post What Is Voice Over? Definition, Examples & How To Use It Correctly appeared first on Filmmaking Lifestyle.
