Finding the right voice over speaker online can be a challenge. Where do you begin? How do I find the right voice talent? How expensive will the voice actor be? Should I be okay if they work from a home studio? What about if voice-over artists you choose to work with don't get back to you and you lose your money?

These are real questions, and there are more still that haunt us using online talent.

The reason for this article is to give you some basic information that you can use when looking to hire a voice actor.

Let's get to it.

How Do I Find The Right Voice Talent?

There are a few different ways you can find voice talent these days. The first way is to search online and use casting websites or websites like this one, that have voice talent (me / Anthony Pica) or others on many pages.

Some of these websites are free for you to join or cost you money. Either way, there is an unlimited amount of websites that offer voice-over actors for hire that all you have to do is type in "voice over".

The second way, and more traditional method, albeit more expensive, is to go to an established studio or talent agency. These businesses specialize in helping you find the right talent for your production, but they also make you pay a hefty fee for it.

Depending on your budget and the size of your product, there are great options both ways. 

Will I Get "Recording Studio" Quality From A Home Studio

The quick answer is "Maybe". I would like to tell you that everything you get online in the way of voiceovers will be of excellent quality, but that is not true. Personally, I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on building out my studio, and I continue to work every day on making it sound better.

There are many voice actors that have amazing acoustics in their studios. There are some that do not. The best way to navigate these uncertain waters is to simply look to see what equipment they are using, and what sound they are producing. Of course, this is a challenge if you do not know what equipment is good and what is not. 

But, it is important to note that I have worked with many voice actors that don't have "Super Expensive" equipment and still have amazing quality.

The only real way to tell is for you to listen for yourself and make sure there isn't reverb or too much sibilance/mouth noise in the audio.

If those criteria are met, you should be absolutely fine.

Does Voice Acting Matter

Absolutely! No matter what message you are trying to get across, you need a voice over recording that has great voice acting.

Think of it this way: If you want to relay a message to a specific audience, and want someone who knows nothing about you, your brand, what you stand for, and what you are trying to do, to deliver an amazing voice over that will connect with your audience, then yes, you need a great voice actor.

The best way to tell is to listen to how the voiceover artist tells the story of your words.

Notice that I didn't say, "What do they say"? I said to pay attention to HOW THEY SAY THEM. There is always a story underneath the story. There is the message we tell with the words and the message we tell with how we say the words. A great voice actor can do both, and that is exactly who you want to work with.

Is There A Certain Production Technique I Should Look For?

I have always been an advocate for being transparent with the process and technique of my production audio. It can be difficult sometimes to know how this is happening because not everyone understands what a good production technique looks like.

For example: How much post-editing are you doing? What plugins and equipment are you running through your audio? Are you even saving it as a WAV file or an MP3?

All of these questions are vital to a great sounding piece of audio, and all you have to do is ask what technique and process the voice actor uses to record your voice over.

The Right Way To Read A Script

Many people have debated about the right way a voice actor should read a script. But I want to give you practical advice.

Make sure that you give as much information to the voiceover performer as possible.

The more information you provide, the easy time they will have figuring out what you want.

This goes back to expectations. Earlier, I wrote about having an actor that can speak your message effectively without knowing anything about you or your business. Even the best actors in the world need some context.

In the directions you give, write down something about the idea you are trying to relay and how you want it to be accepted. The tone is an important part of voiceover acting and the more you can give, the more voice-over actors will be successful with your message.

Thank you for stopping by and if you need a voice over speaker for your project, I can help you by clicking here!