7 Types of Voiceover Work

As a professional voice actor these days, you need to be aware of the scope of the industry.  There are so many different types of voiceover work.  Exciting and daunting in equal measure the voice acting industry is gargantuan.  If you are near the beginning of your voiceover journey then head here to learn all about how to start a voice over career.  Also, here’s an explanation on ‘what does a voice over artist do?‘

Check out this video on the voiceover universe and how voiceover work opportunities can come about:

 

What is ADR Voiceover?

Filmmaking is a complicated process. Today, achieving desired effects involves a range of techniques and technologies. One vital aspect is ADR voice recording, as much of a challenge for voiceover artists as it is for producers.  ADR is one of the more complex types of voiceover work.

If you’re interested in this field, the more you know about it, the better your chances of landing good ADR voiceover jobs and delivering them well. Start with the fundamentals below and work your way up from there.

So what does ADR Voiceover actually mean?

It stands for automated or additional dialogue replacement. What ADR does is overlay a movie’s vocal recordings with better ones, captured in a studio. It’s also referred to as “looping”, from the olden days when the new recording was on a loop of film that played repeatedly until properly integrated into the movie.

A common issue to keep in mind is ADR versus dubbing. The process is more or less the same, but their goals are different. Simply put, dubbing replaces a movie’s language, while ADR adjusts the existing vocal or audio elements, whether to correct or improve them.

Considering how much time, money, and effort it takes to create professional film, digital technology and its handy contributions to voiceover and ADR have been invaluable. Specialized tools can let you focus on the many decisions and technical work awaiting each project.

For example, what needs replacing? Is it the protagonist’s speech or a scene’s ambience? In the first case, the original actor or a suitable voiceover artist needs to record another audio version, perfectly synced with lip movements and other influential factors like physical motion and the environment.

The second scenario would bring in a group of artists to create audio for a particular scene’s background like a restaurant, bank, or mall. ADR isn’t just for covering mistakes or noises beyond filmmakers’ control. It’s meant to improve a movie’s overall effects and entertainment value.

What Goes Into Producing ADR Voiceover?

Each project is different. Depending on the necessary changes and your level of expertise, you could be working alone or in close collaboration with others. You may just need to make the recordings or even stitch the new audio into its scene, if you’re able.

Basically, the broader your skillset as a voice artist, the greater your value to employers. Not all filmmakers look forward to the extra expense, so the result has to be above reproach. Whether your ADR studio is at home or a client prefers you work from a chosen location, it helps to know exactly what equipment and techniques to expect or invest in.

ADR Voiceover Process

First, a project’s executives decide what scenes need fixing and how the ADR should be done. As the voice artist, it’s a good idea to watch the movie for context and acting inspiration. If not all of it, pay close attention to the dialogue you’re working on.

Recording different versions of the same section is common practice, so producers can pick their favourite takes. Some might give specifications like long pauses, intonations, or an accent. Feel free to add your own flair if it suits the scene and lip-sync. Additionally, you or the client can set up digital cues to help with your timing while acting.

What recording ADR dialogue should lead to are high-quality audio files that are easy to tailor into the perfect overlay. However, a studio without the right space or tools can’t do this, a key fact to remember if you plan on working from home.

Apart from a good microphone, headphones, and a large monitor or two, your studio must be soundproofed. The whole point of ADR is to create crisp audio, so any interference can be a problem.

Overall, the ADR production process is nothing without professional video and audio software like Adobe Audition, Adobe Premiere, Logic, Final Cut, and Pro Tools, coupled with Source Connect to work remotely and seamlessly with the client wherever they are in the world. For audio software, go for one you can use fluently and without breaking the bank.

The right software will be your best friend when recording and editing voiceover. Although generally the voiceover artist only needs to master the audio recording software, for ADR and similar voiceover work it’s also worth getting your head around video editing and being familiar with the interfaces of such software.

The final step in the process is making sure the scene and new audio fit well together. Careful planning and performance reduce the chances of ending up back in the studio for the same project.

ADR Voiceover Techniques

Succeeding in this industry is all about skill, focus, and determination. As tedious as it might get, each movie you study and contribute to is an experience and a chance at better opportunities. So, when approaching your next ADR voice casting, put your best foot forward.

Remember, the art of ADR is part acting and part strategy. Clients expect a convincing performance, but also an accommodating one that gives them everything necessary to complete their movie. With experience, you’ll become familiar with key techniques for ADR voiceover.

For example, synchronization must become second nature. The point of playing and replaying a movie before recording is to find the right pace and inflections. After a few projects, you should be able to do it faster, almost like muscle memory.

Timing is another skill to build, ideally by studying your movies. You benefit from more natural syncing, while any visual or audio cues can be set up more precisely. Then, there’s the matter of pausing, essential to voice acting as much as cutting and stitching digital audio files.

Finally, improvisation is a plus in the ADR business. Since we’re talking about recordings, it’s got less to do with spontaneous acting and more with quickly coming up with creative ideas—ones you can deliver. Some clients even depend on their voiceover artists to bring ideas to the session.

Keep Learning About ADR Voiceover and Its Technology

In this day and age, you can’t get far in most professions without embracing some gadget or another. Voiceover is creative on the surface, but its foundations are deeply technological. If you want to shine, make sure you train in a range of software and hardware, as well as voice acting. Become the best you can be and treat every single project with the attention it deserves.

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What is Audio Drama Voice Acting?

If your voice is strong and versatile, you might do well working in radio and audio drama. This part of the voiceover industry is a popular one, however, which makes enriching your understanding of it that much more important.

Below you’ll find a brief introduction to the history and production of audio dramas. While deciding whether this is the sector for you, make a note of facts and tips, so you can apply them to your own journey up the voiceover ranks.  Audio Drama is one of the most attractive types of voiceover work for trained actors for obvious reasons.

How Voice Actors Work in Radio and Audio Drama

The process is the same as any other voiceover job, except that audio drama plays demand more acting than corporate tutorials, for example. Producers might scout for voice artists or post ads asking people that fit certain criteria to audition.

Keep in mind that audio drama voice acting can be taxing. Depending on the script, you might be working solo or with other professionals, bringing the play to life with your vocals, music, and sound effects. That’s why a voice with range is so important, one suitable for drama, comedy, narration, and more.

All-in-all, actors work on their skills and stamina, not to mention connections in the industry. A striking portfolio can only do so much without promoting it into the right hands. So, it’s common for voiceover professionals to use social media as much as online communities to land audio drama jobs.

How the Audio Drama Industry Has Evolved

Voice acting for radio is almost as old as the invention itself. Entire plays were already being broadcast in the 1920s through the so-called theatrophone. Seeing how much audiences enjoyed them, the brains behind radio programmes developed dramas specifically for their medium.

According to Bookriot, the first show in the UK was A Comedy of Danger by Richard Hughes, aired in 1924. That same year saw the US’s debut in the form of Charles Sommerville’s The Wolf. And, of course, there’s Orson Welles and his narration of The War of the Worlds in 1938.

Countless more shows joined the Golden Age of radio drama. Over the years, TV and the internet took over as reigning sources of entertainment, but audio drama production companies found ways to compete, from creating irresistible shows to embracing new technology.

At the end of the day, audio drama podcasting has been the industry’s saving grace. Now, any device can play your favourite programmes while you travel, work, or relax. The trend’s growing popularity translates into a huge landscape of opportunity for voice actors, whether collaborating with companies or delving by themselves.

Audio Drama Production Techniques

On the voice acting side, there are many ways to increase your chances of getting cast. Perfecting as many audio drama techniques as possible is a great goal to start with. Firstly, think about your strengths and what you can improve on.

Scripts may contain monologues, dialogues, narration, and just ambient conversation. So, you must be able to adapt to the needs of each role. This includes articulation, timbre, and accent, which also depend on the type of story you’re dealing with.

Is it drama, mystery, comedy, or something else? A period piece, for example, usually involves particular tones and speech patterns. A whodunnit might have a range of characters and voices, while favoring a low and smooth cadence, especially in the protagonist, to build tension.

When working in radio and audio drama, the best approach is to treat every project as if you’re going on stage. Even though your audience can’t see your face, your voice acting still needs to be crisp and convincing in the recording studio.

In terms of how audio dramas are produced today, top shows might have you in a proper studio and mingling with producers and fellow actors. However, it’s not essential for a successful career in voiceover.
With connectivity at its peak, many artists around the world work from home studios, some more high-tech than others. There are even podcasters creating and voicing their very own shows with basic tools like Audacity and YouTube. If nothing else, it’s a great way to build your skills, while making a name for yourself.

Starting Steps for Audio Drama Voiceover Artists

There are limits to how bold you should be when job hunting in voiceover. To begin with, most companies don’t accept voice reels out of the blue anymore, but prefer more organized methods. Some turn to voiceover directories and social media, while others have online CV systems.

If you want to get the attention of specific names in the industry, then learn their policies and how to apply for roles in their audio drama plays. Otherwise, set up profiles on voice acting platforms and do your best to network. Either way, make sure your key skills are clear to see.

Apart from stating your relevant voice acting background, create audio or video clips that demonstrate your vocal range. And make sure your collection really is diverse. You can’t tell what producers are looking for at any given time, so the more insight they instantly get into your experience and vocal skills, the likelier it is that you’ll be invited to audition.

The next point to consider is how to produce these clips. Don’t underestimate the value of a home studio, no matter how basic. Specialized gear might cost you a bit, but gives you independence in the long run.

Finally, all these steps come down to your fundamental abilities. Build your voice’s strength, intonation, and clarity. Boost your acting chops too, by practising with different scripts, joining classes, or doing voluntary voiceover jobs—what they lack in pay, they can make up for in experience.

Working in Radio and Audio Drama Takes Skill and Discipline

It’s never easy venturing into a new career. This is especially true in voiceover, but look at it as a challenge instead of an obstacle. You can have so much fun developing your talents in radio and audio dramas. That said, don’t lose focus as you maintain visibility and maximize opportunities.  While you are here, why not explore other types of voiceover work?

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What is Commercial Voiceover?

One of the types of voiceover work we are all exposed to on a daily basis.  With so many mediums around, voice actors are sought out more than ever for all kinds of broadcasts. Commercial voiceover jobs, however, are among the most popular. They’re also highly competitive, so successfully joining that market demands knowledge and skill.

Let’s break down what voiceover for commercials really involves. Below you’ll find a brief definition and history, as well as insights on how it’s used today to influence audiences in their purchase decisions.  For the voiceover artist, it certainly can be one of the more lucrative types of voiceover work.  Check out our collection of free voice over scripts.

What Is the Point of Commercial Voiceover?

At the end of the day, it’s ‘voiceover for advertising’. But the range of adverts that exists also diversifies the role of voice actors. For example, a banking ad for radio is treated differently from an ad for a game on YouTube. Each project works with its own tone, speed, language, target audience, and more.

Even so, everything comes down to one goal: promote a product and attract customers. Regardless of a project’s topic or medium, the priority of a commercial voiceover script and all other elements is to boost the brand’s visibility, appeal, and sales.

In terms of the commercial voice actor’s responsibility, he or she introduces a product or provides additional information about it. Additionally, they breathe life into the whole concept, drawing in the appropriate people and making the product’s usefulness believable.

Without a doubt, the commercial sector is a prominent part of the voiceover industry. Better yet, actors who make the cut can expect better pay, depending on factors like an ad’s buyout, distribution, renewal, and overall scope of the campaign.

How Did Commercial Voiceover Evolve?

The history of radio, TV, and recording affected the development of commercial voiceover. In the early 1900s, the radio was the latest major invention and source of entertainment for the masses. While Reginald Fessenden pioneered voice acting in general with his 1906 Christmas programme, announcements and adverts using voice actors were subsequently broadcast live between radio shows.

According to Britannica, advances in the wonders of magnetic tape a few decades later paved the way for audio recording to begin with. This allowed producers to capture ads and replay them. It was also an opportunity to make more commercial materials, in turn increasing the need for voice actors.

The evolution of TV alongside audio and video recording expanded the entertainment industry even more. Commercial ventures joined the bandwagon, gradually combining sound and visual elements to promote products a lot more effectively.

As digital recording and the internet joined the promotional market, a good voice’s power over consumers also became that much clearer. Many actors have become synonymous with ad campaigns over the ages, from Don LaFontaine to Morgan Freeman and Queen Latifah. And their ranks continue to swell.

How Do We Consume Commercial Voiceover?

Today we get ads on TV, radio, social media, podcasts, and even movie theatres. Each of these platforms can broadcast a brand’s message, reaching dozens or hundreds of people at a time. That said, a positive impact isn’t always guaranteed.

A lot of work goes into creating a spot with the potential to affect audiences in a certain way. Choosing the right voice for the project plays an important part, but so does writing a good script, using effective audiovisuals, and directing it all into an engaging advert.

A well-made and well-placed ad can move people, as well as persuade them to trust and invest in a brand. The purpose of a commercial voiceover artist is to add a human touch to the information being offered—make the advert more relatable.

Whether it’s through a visual or auditory medium, we consume messages we enjoy or connect with, even when we know that we’re dealing with promotional content. And the best ads don’t need more than a few minutes (or seconds) to imprint themselves in consumers’ minds, using drama, humour, or a more direct approach.

Take Nike, for example, delivering one powerful ad after another. Their emotional and social messages, which often include subtle yet compelling voice over, don’t necessarily push particular products. Instead, they associate their brand with positive social change, earning our approval even more.

How Does Commercial Voiceover Influence Its Audience?

To reach the skill required to dominate the ad sector, actors train their voices, accents, speed reading, and other qualities, so they can make the best possible impression on different producers and audiences. Commercial voiceover practice scripts are a common training tool that present a range of techniques and scenarios designed to sway people.

Ideally, when a new project comes along, the voice actor is ready to tackle its individual demands. What these depend on the advert itself. Is it corporate or casual? Is its target demographic young or mature? What does it discuss?

A funny ad about a mobile gaming app, for example, can be more memorable with everyday speech, a bright tone, and fast pace.

Promoting insurance services, on the other hand, needs a firm and professional cadence to inspire confidence in people that might be more serious and open to facts rather than laughs.
Then, you have audiences interested in more complex or intimate topics, like mental health, in which case smooth, slow voices have a higher chance of getting through.

To make things trickier, the copy a voice-over artist receives for an ad won’t always specify everything it needs. That’s where all that training comes in. Whether it’s for a monologue or dialogue, a skilled actor must be able to look at a script and instinctively summon appropriate rhythm and inflection for the benefit of his or her listeners.

Knowledge and Practice Make for a Bright Future in Commercial Voiceover

How do you get a voiceover job that pays well and keeps you on your toes? Get into commercial voiceover. It’s not easy, but understanding where the industry came from can help as much as strengthening your vocals and specific techniques at the microphone.

Continue gathering insights and preparing yourself for a difficult but very rewarding challenge. Don’t forget to keep building your portfolio too—proof of your experience and a great source of self-esteem when you need it.

More on voiceover demos.

While you’re here, explore the other types of voiceover work!

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What is Gaming Voice Acting?

For many, gaming is one of the most exciting types of voiceover work.  The video game industry is huge and so are its opportunities for voice actors. This also means intense competition and high standards. If you want to work in triple-A games, for example, you’ll need to prove yourself more than vocally.

Below are essential facts you need to know about voice acting for games. Make a note of trends and key aspects of the industry, not to mention skills you should work on. Keep paying attention to all these factors as they change with the gaming market.

How Voice Actors Work in Video Games

Giving your voice to characters — protagonists, NPCs, narrators, and beyond — is the fundamental responsibility of video game actors. Very often, voiceover artists take on multiple roles in a single title, broadening their range and paycheck. This is a wise strategy in maintaining a steady income through voiceover.

Before landing a prominent role, you might serve as a voice in the background or guiding users on mobile apps, but don’t underestimate these steppingstones. Voice acting for video games comes with so many prospects across genres and platforms that you could make a living by focusing on minor roles alone.

If you’re aiming for the top, however, you can look forward to almost full-on ‘acting jobs’, the best of which could even have you as a model for your character’s appearance, movement, and mannerisms. So, training your face and body as much as your voice is a good idea when preparing for the gaming sector.

Scale of the Gaming Industry

Think about all the platforms available today. Between PC, console, mobile, and VR/AR technology, not to mention cloud gaming and eSports, it’s no surprise that the market’s value exceeded £110 billion in 2020.

As it reaches for an estimated £214+ billion by 2026, Mordor Intelligence also reports that big brands like Sega, Ubisoft, and Atari have joined cloud distribution services to better accommodate gamers. Nvidia GeForce Now even released 19 games in May 2020, further demonstrating an urge for faster production and enhanced gaming experiences.

This benefits the voiceover industry too as the rate at which voice acting jobs for video games roll out has doubled. If you add that to the variety of categories, storylines, and vocal demands out there, you can see how much voiceover artists can gain with the right training and choices.

Voice Is Now an Integral Part of Many Games

Characters in video games always needed voices. Charles Andre Martinet voiced Super Mario since the 1990s. Eric Idle is Discworld’s Rincewind, and Kristen Bell played Lucy Stillman in the first three Assassin’s Creed games.

What has changed over the decades is the quality of characterization and, therefore, voice acting for games. More than ever, developers want to create immersive stories with compelling characters, relationships, plot twists, moral consequences, and so on.

As a result, modern projects aim for more interesting voiceover scripts that video game actors and actresses can enjoy, even for NPC roles and narrators. In fact, players now expect a certain degree of character development and can lose interest in titles that don’t deliver. The trend is clearly here to stay.

Other Memorable Voices in Video Games

As already mentioned, top productions today like to mould digital characters from their actors, pushing voiceover artists beyond reading from a script. A great example is Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Melina Juergens earned the Bafta Games Award for Performer in 2018 for fleshing out the titular role.

But it’s not just adventure and RPGs that put more effort into creating memorable characters. First-person shooters are stepping up to enrich their action-packed titles with powerful voices like those of Jeff Goldblum and Kiefer Sutherland.

The former plays Nero Blackstone in Call of Duty: Black Ops III, while the latter went from two Call of Duty titles into Metal Gear V to voice Big Boss. Many more celebrities, from Samuel L. Jackson to Mark Hamill, join projects and boost their entertainment value.

It’s hard to believe there’s any room in the industry for new voiceover talent. That’s why it’s reassuring to hear about actors making a name for themselves through video games more than movies or TV shows.

For example, Alix Wilton Regan stood out in indie game voice acting, thanks to titles like RuneScape and Divinity: Original Sin. She has since participated in Cyberpunk 2077 and the Dragon Age franchise, making her voice a familiar one in the industry. Such success stories are great to follow while voice acting for games.

How to Start Out in Video Game Voiceover

You’ll find gaming jobs in the same places as any other voiceover work. However, it may be worth keeping an eye on video game developers, publishers, and other experts. Follow them on social media and subscribe to newsletters as calls for voice actors might show up there too.

In the meantime, build your voice’s strength and versatility, if not your acting skills as a whole. It’s good to be prepared for any kind of gaming project. In terms of practice, you can mimic movie dialogue, read out playscripts, dramatically narrate books, and study characters in popular video games.

Explore characters’ design and vocal qualities. Learning your way around a studio’s development process and technology is a great way to approach the question of how to get into voice acting for games. You want to impress employers with your knowledge as much as your voice.

Grow your brain and portfolio, but don’t forget about keeping your vocals healthy. As one of the more gruelling types of voiceover work, you should also get to know how to prepare for and endure recordings. Your career’s lifespan depends on it.

Make the Most of Video Game Voice Over Tips

Since video games are stories in their own right, memorable and relatable characters are very important. They draw players in and add depth to the whole experience, whether they’re wielding a sword or gun, a touchscreen or console controller. Take the time to master voice acting for games, so you can fully embrace the fun yourself.

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What Is Animation Voice Acting?

Voice acting for animation is a fun but challenging sector to get into. Fortunately, entertainment like cartoons needing voice actors are ever-popular, so there are plenty of opportunities. The issue is in standing out from many other talents and holding your own.

Below are things all animation voice actors should know about the industry. While reading up, work on the skills you need, from acting to producing your own demo reel. Put in the effort, find your place in the business, and the projects you’re offered will only get more interesting.

How Voice Actors Work in Animation

The skill set of animation voiceover work is similar to that of video game projects, for example, performance, versatility, and stamina being key requirements. In fact, these two sectors overlap, so talents often aim to impress game developers.  There’s certainly a crossover with ‘games inspired by animation’ and vice versa.

Since titles can veer anywhere from first-person shooters with minor dialogue to well-rounded stories with beautifully developed characters, there’s no limit to what projects you can find. The question is: what suits you?

Consider that animated commercials about trucks or sports tend to go for deep timbres rather than light ones. The latter, however, do very well in cartoons, either for kids or adults. Basically, you either aim for animation voice acting jobs that suit your voice or develop your voice to fit the jobs.

Either way voice acting for animation is hard work. It takes training, keeping a close eye on what roles ask for, putting your best foot forward with each project, and gradually building a strong portfolio.

Types of Animation

We already mentioned video games, commercials, and cartoons, but these are just the surface of a very rich industry. For starters, each of these categories contains dozens of opportunities, including narration, a range of characters, and even productions for different platforms.

We’re talking about PC versus mobile devices, as well as movies versus TV and streaming services.  Animation is not just cutesy characters in cartoons. Voiceovers can often be working on projects like whiteboard animation videos for businesses that sometimes require professional voiceovers.

In the case of explainers, animation actresses with a clear and level cadence are in demand. Promotional content, on the other hand, prefer rousing voices.

Think about even more special projects like interactive training videos. Employers often have these animated to boost immersion and learning. The voiceover would not only need to be approachable, but also accurate when delivering the script, especially if it’s rather technical.

In other words, don’t be surprised if producers ask for experience in particular subjects, as well as types of animation. But this visual medium is used in so many ways today that you’re bound to find the perfect niche to start or focus your career on.

Types of Target Audiences

Who the animation is meant to attract is another important factor in a producer’s mind when they put out a call for voiceover artists. Animation game actors could be speaking to a young audience through a title that teaches mathematics, so their tone would need to be fun and friendly.

Other games or cartoons are for adults, in which case there’s more range and freedom available in terms of roles. Expect scripts to differ greatly from project to project, but not just because of the age of their target audiences.

The driving force of animated productions can involve gender, language, profession, and all kinds of interests. So, to make them appealing to the relevant people, they each need to be designed and voiced with care. As an actor, you do your part to the best of your abilities.

Popular Animated Titles and Voiceovers

If you’re aiming for a career in animation voice acting, chances are you already have a favourite movie, series, or video game in mind. Practice, dedication, and smart moves could land you a life-changing role like that. Here are some famous examples.

Movies
• Robin Williams – Genie (Aladdin)
• Idina Menzel – Elsa (Frozen)
• George Clooney – Mr. Fox (Fantastic Mr. Fox)

Series
• Mila Kunis – Meg (Family Guy)
• Nancy Cartwright – Bart (The Simpsons)
• Billy West – Philip J. Fry (Futurama)

Video Games
• Mark Hamill – Joker (Batman: Arkham)
• Troy Baker – Joel (The Last of Us)
• Felicia Day – Tallis (Dragon Age 2)

While you could set your heart on voice acting for cartoons, don’t forget about commercials and how memorable some campaigns have been over the years like Compare the Market’s meerkats, both characters voiced by Simon Greenall.

Starting Points for Voiceover Artists in Animation

Let’s sum up what you need to do for a good start in animation voice acting. First of all, recognize your existing vocal qualities, how you can develop them further, and where they fit in the current industry.

Next, strengthen your performance with sample scripts, classes, and any other available resources. Work on intonation, interpretation, voice range, stamina, and even singing. All of these can boost your value to producers.

You want to be able to showcase more than one or two abilities. Put them in a high-quality animation voiceover demo reel, which you can send to interested parties or just upload to relevant platforms for people to see.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to add to and keep refining these demos to demonstrate new skills as your career progresses. On that point, a home studio and recording experience would be pretty much essential.

Find the Joy of Voice Acting for Animation

Learning to flesh out cartoon characters with just your voice is quite the process, but, once you get the hang of it and settle into your niche, you can really enjoy each job. There’s strong competition, however, only countered by a powerful presence.

So, build your skills, reels, and network. With these in hand, pick your jobs wisely and stay busy. Above all, have fun, while expanding your CV and making a good name for yourself.  Behind the Voice Actors is a useful resource.

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What Is Audiobook Voice Acting?

Listening to stories is becoming more and more popular each year, solidifying a great sector for voiceover artists to get into. Making a successful career out of it isn’t a walk in the park, however and it’s definitely one of the more challenging types of voiceover work – if only because of the time it takes to record!

Keep reading to find out how voice acting for audiobooks works. You’ll also discover lots of tips to help you get started and establish yourself in the business.  For more insight, listen to Episodes 1 and 2 of The Recorded Voice podcast

Also check out the article on getting into audiobook narration

How Voice Actors Work in Audiobook Narration

Audiobook voiceover work stems from what listeners need from the experience. Some people might listen to a book while cleaning or driving, while others prefer to relax with a soothing romance or intriguing mystery.

The most important factors here are the audiobook narrator’s voice and skill. Since listeners completely rely on the actor to deliver their entertainment, a bad production stands out and can severely put them off.

This is why good narration is an essential part of audiobook voice acting. From there, how you work and where you find jobs comes down to the different types of projects out there.
Consider, for example, the rise of self-publishing to rival traditional routes.

Big book publishers have their own audiobook departments, which manage most voiceover business, from hiring to recording. Indie companies or self-published authors usually find and collaborate with artists through less formal means. Either way, remote work is common, which makes a home studio a wise investment too.

All-in-all, your experience, network, and competition as a voice actor affect the kinds of jobs you have access to, your chance of landing them, and how much you’ll be paid. Keep in mind that an audiobook narrator’s salary can range anywhere between $50 and $500 per hour.

You’ll find ads in many places, from official websites to social media profiles and online marketplaces for freelancers. So, staying up to date and fully engaging with the audiobook industry is very important too.

Fortunately, audiobook voice actors are in demand. So, get your skills up to scratch and prepare yourself for the challenges ahead. You can thrive in this field, if you put in the effort.

Skills Needed in Voice Acting for Audiobooks

You want to learn audiobook narration skills? Start with your vocals. No matter what kind of voice you have—deep, gravelly, soft, or otherwise—you need to be able to control it and colour your readings correctly and pleasantly.

This also comes down to your acting. Books aren’t just made of descriptions. You’ll come across conversations between different characters and even internal monologues, all of which you should be able to perform.

In fact, your voice’s flexibility determines your skill range. Your basic timbre might suit some projects more than others, but this doesn’t mean you can’t develop different ways to use it. Working on your inflections, for example, can help tackle various narrating styles, whether dramatic or comic, slow or fast, impersonal or emotive.

Considering how long books can be, it’s a good idea to work on stamina too. Some jobs record audiobooks in chunks, but that’s not the case with all projects. Don’t be surprised if you have to read and perform to the best of your abilities for several hours.

Even with breaks in between, this takes a toll on your voice and energy, so prepare your mind and body for lengthy recording sessions. Regular practice and vocal exercises, not to mention good hydration and nutrition, go a long way.

Finally, you need to know how to record good voiceover, factoring in performance techniques in relation to the technology you use. As already mentioned, setting up your own studio may be necessary, to include recording and editing software alongside a booth tailored for voiceover.
If nothing else, having the technical skills and resources to work independently lets you excel as a freelancer and prove yourself a versatile asset to any project.

Starting Points for Audiobook Voiceover Artists

Let’s summarize how to become an audiobook narrator.

1.  Develop your performance skills and stamina. Practice with books, scripts, and even our course on voice acting for narration. Learning from experts like Helen Lloyd can only benefit your debut onto the audiobook scene. At the end of the day, you want to build a strong, resilient, and flexible voice. Tick these boxes and you’re ready to impress your way onto better and better audiobook voice acting jobs.
2. Get to know both the voiceover and literary industry. Understand how the two fields co-exist and where you could fit in the scheme of things. For example, look into the different genres in fiction and non-fiction, especially those popular as audiobooks.
   Then, when starting out, you could master a specific type of narration and focus your job search on relevant opportunities. Once your foot is in the door, feel free to branch out into other areas.
3. Expand your technological skills. The more demonstrable experience you bring to the table, the more confident employers will feel when hiring you. They may even entrust you with more responsibilities, which could lead to better payment.
4. Create a demo reel, a great way to showcase your acting and technical skills. Whether you make it all yourself or collaborate with professionals, the task can give you invaluable experience, connections, and a portfolio to be proud of.
5. Join platforms for jobs and contacts. Apart from keeping an eye on major voiceover and audiobook names in the business, maybe even signing up to newsletters, make the most of online communities. Popular voiceover directories and social networks should be your first stops.

Audiobook Voiceover: A Fun but Challenging Sector

Narrating books takes talent and dedication. It’s not just about good enunciation, but also bringing words to life in a way that hooks listeners and holds their attention.

All the resources and opportunities around make it easier to acquire the skills you need, no matter how demanding. Gather as many reliable tips as you can and build foundations strong enough to support a career in voice acting for audiobooks.

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What Is Corporate Voice Acting?

Like most voiceover sectors, corporate projects have their own way of doing things. It’s not just about the types of voices they prefer, but also the contexts that benefit from experienced actors. Generally speaking, corporate content usually wants to persuade, inform, and inspire, which takes a delicate mix of performance and marketing to achieve.

Here’s how voice acting for business works, both as an industry and a career for actors. Get to know the different kinds of corporate voiceover narration you’ll encounter and a few best practices to ensure your skills flourish.  Overall, it’s arguably the largest of all the types of voiceover work in terms of opportunity for regular work.

How Actors Work in Corporate Voiceover

Corporate voice acting jobs can be found in the same places as other projects: online communities, directories, social media, and so on. In this case, however, employers tend to look for very specific qualities that match their production’s mood and target audience.

For one, the range of work available goes beyond voice acting for explainer videos, even needing to be broken down to projects of an internal or external nature. The best jobs provide detailed briefs, but executives often speed up the recruitment process by going for professionals with existing experience in particular projects like training videos for employees or adverts that publicise a brand.

Consequently, an effective corporate voiceover demo reel, whether on an online profile or shared by an agency, demonstrates expertise in different areas. What an employer will try to detect in a candidate is the right tone, age, gender, speed, style, and more that might help the content’s goal.

For example, while the whole point of voice acting for business is to immerse, some projects might aim to educate their audience or convince them of something regarding the brand. Also, different voices have different effects on listeners, so executives try to find a nice balance between vocal skills and corporate objectives.

Different Types of Corporate Voiceover

Now, what do we mean by internal and external content? The former is designed for purposes and audiences within the corporation. Think of presentations for interns, staff, and managers. The latter goes for entities on the outside like potential customers and partners.

Voiceover for Training

Both these branches use various types of productions to elicit the response they need from viewers or listeners. And voices are integral to hitting the mark. Take eLearning voiceover, for example, which can calmly instruct a new receptionist on how to welcome visitors in accordance with a company’s policies.

That same training structure exists in casual but professional how-to videos that often use friendly and energetic voices to make consumers pause and watch while scrolling through their social network’s feed. Because of them, brands may see boosts in their visibility and sales.

But not without matching the right voice with the right audience. The aim is to inspire confidence, security, and even sympathy so people can absorb the information in front of them and know how to put it into action. So, not connecting with the actor impacts their response to the content.  eLearning itself is a very large industry and just one of the types of voiceover work that employs professional voices daily.

Voiceover for Presentation

Another popular kind of corporate voiceover work are presentations, especially internal. They can be no less educational than training programmes, but their layout and delivery have unique needs best tackled by an experienced actor.

A video that explains and evaluates a company’s annual online traffic can be quite technical and boring, so you want the accompanying speech to breathe life into it. As far as explainer video productions go, presentations can be very rewarding with a steady and engaging voice putting complex jargon into simple words.

Starting Points for Corporate Voiceover Artists

Landing a corporate voice acting job is about having the vocals and skills to support a company’s content and goal. If you want to do well in this industry, you need to make a strong and memorable impression on producers.

1. Build a Professional and Commercial Voice

You need a voice that’s clear and striking, no matter how it adapts between professional and commercial, internal and external scripts. Excelling in all these types of projects also widens the scope of opportunities you can take on.

2. Practice With Corporate Voiceover Scripts, Video, and Audio

There’s a lot of material for you to train with. Watch corporate videos, listen to radio or podcast ads, and read out scripts using known techniques. Even better, join a course and learn from experts in the field. At the end of the day, you want to be intriguing as an artist and confident in the recording studio.

3. Produce a High-Quality Demo Reel

Make it yourself or get help. Either way, your reel should demonstrate the scope of your abilities and background in corporate voiceover. A short and sweet video is all potential employers need to get a taste of what you offer. If you do have tech skills, mention them too as they can distinguish you from the competition.

4. Join Platforms Businesses Like

Signing up with an agency and joining popular voice acting websites is a good way to start your career. You can share your reel, skills, and other important information, while applying for auditions. That said, don’t overlook platforms that are less specialized but favoured by companies.
LinkedIn is great for displaying your experience in just as much detail and then following and approaching brands. Facebook can feature the same companies in a less formal setting. Your aim is to make them think of you as soon as they need voiceover artists.

5. Broadcast Your Presence and Talents

With your voice at its best and your abilities beautifully displayed, promote yourself. Socialize with actors and brands. Create videos and podcasts, while clearly stating where people can reach you for work. Be creative and smart but not overbearing.

As one of the largest types of voiceover work, Corporate voiceover really is an industry unto itself, one that can prove very lucrative if you prepare yourself right and make decisive moves. It takes as much marketing acumen as it does creative, so explore both sides of the business and how you can be a part of it. What other types of voiceover work can you think of?

Is Voiceover Coaching right for you?

Professional voice actors (or voice talent) should all consider a programme of CPD and that’s what Voiceover Kickstart is all about.  Book a 121 session with Guy Michaels today:  Voiceover Coaching