Listening to a voice actor’s demo? Here’s how to choose the right voice

If you are looking for voice overs for your project, your first instinct may be to go with the artist who is the most experienced one as it reduces the chances of getting a bad voice-over. Having an experience in the voice over industry is a big factor that should be taken into account but there are many other skills that must be taken into consideration as the voice artist you select will literally become the voice of your brand. Before evaluating any voice actor’s demo, it’s important that you have a clear understanding of what your ad campaign entails. Having a script ready along with gender, tone, accent, and pitch requirements will help you home in on specific vocal requirements.

From a technical perspective, here are a few evaluation tips:

Project Type

The type of information you want to present to your audience determines your project type. The voice over for an explainer video will be totally different from an advertisement voice over or audiobook narration. Voice artists have different specialties. Some have voices that are expressive and just perfect for storytelling. Others have years of experience with e-learning voice-overs. Some talents could voice radio commercials in their sleep.

Therefore understanding the project needs can help you to select the right voice talent who can deliver you the best results.

Voice ‘OF’ the Audience

There is no one “right” voice that is going to work with all types of videos and all types of audiences. If you are creating a video for children then you may want a more expressive and energetic voice. If you are appealing to a senior audience then you may want a voice which calmer, deeper and measured. The wrong type of voice for a particular audience can cause them to feel alienated.

Acting ability and versatility.

A good voice actor should be able to take on a number of roles and take on different characters. Doing voice overs with the right accent, performing multiple roles require distinct skills, which come from a professional acting background. Depending on the purpose and nature of your campaign, the acting ability and flexibility in the voice of the artist you choose may be crucial. Explore the background and skill set of artists you consider, to ensure they have the acting skills you need, when you listen to their demos.

Creativity and professionalism

Other aspects to look at when evaluating a voice actor’s demo relate to creativity and professionalism. You may want to convey different emotions in your ad and need a voice actor who can narrate both engagingly and convincingly. Consider pronunciation, clarity, pacing, pitch, and accent as crucial factors that contribute to believability. Your target audience must relate not only to what is being said, but also to who is saying it.

Interpretative skills

Absolutely essential to a campaign or video’s success is the ability of the professional voice over artist to understand the brief, the business, the target audience and the objective of the campaign. They will need to have the versatility, creativity and talent to bring into their voice that spark and interpretation to bring the message or character to life. Understanding the experience of a voice over artist to see how many roles, industries and types of work they’ve undertaken, can ensure that they have the capability to deliver your project with the highest quality possible.

Also, when choosing a voice over artist think beyond the current video (video content for marketing)and consider how well they represent your brand long term. People can form an emotional attachment to a voice and connect it intrinsically with the brand. The trust that can develop if you have chosen the right voice over artist is not something that you want to break. This emphasizes why it is critical that you make the right decision about your voice over artists and ensure that they represent your brand values. Voyzapp is a technology powered voice over marketplace providing online auditions of thousands of voice artists who can provide you with quality recording services at minimum turnaround time.

Always remember that there’s more to a voiceover than just a voice. Make sure you find the full package of service and talent that will make your project a success