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Modifying Voiceover Scripts for Better Flow

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:44:55 GMT

A solid voiceover script is the key to success for your podcast or your radio and television commercials. Writing voiceover scripts that are compelling and persuasive is very different from writing print ads and small blurbs that appear on online advertisements.

Peter Drew, a veteran voiceover artist who is involved in Internet and radio productions, emphasizes the idea of 'writing for the ear, not the eye.' This idea requires one to write brief and straight to the point messages, the kind that we use in conversations. This style may seem very strange for anyone who has written ad copies but developing this style will allow one to create effective and convincing voiceovers.

Listed here are some techniques you can immediately apply to improve your voiceover copies and get results out of them.

1. Make sure everything is in the active voice. Voiceovers need to take place in the present time, as if they were a real conversation. Make sure the whole script is written in the active voice so that the audience can identify with the messages easily.

2. Use a windscreen to protect the mic. If your voiceover script contains a lot of words that begin with the letters 'P', 'B' and 'T', the talent may have difficulty reading the sentence without distorting it. A windscreen can help eliminate this problem and help them deliver a more smooth-sounding sentence.

3. Highlight inflections or nuances in your copy. Marking up significant words or phrases in your script will help an artist understand and convey the subtleties of your message. You need to read out aloud the script first then identify significant words or phrases that needs to be stressed. Then you can either underline, italicize, or mark those important words and phrases in your script.

4. Write down phone numbers in word form. Numbers are also words that would need to be read. Spell each number so that you can detect if there are any blockages to your script's overall impact. Be prepare to edit your script if any part sounds inappropriate.

5. Get the listener's attention in the first line. Make sure your headline is an attention-grabbing intro to your voiceover script. Ideally, this introduction is under 10 words in length and contains at least one unique statement or key point.

Since a narrator will be delivering the copy, the writer of the script will need to account for breathing and the overall tone and personality of the voiceover artists. Once you have selected your voice over talent for an upcoming promotion, you may need to tweak the script slightly so that it flows with the talent's strongest skills and abilities. Make sure you're developing a strong and persuasive script using these guidelines, and give the voiceover talent plenty of time to practice so that you can modify your script as needed.

Author Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Actor from Minneapolis, Minnesota and Has Been Providing the Voice Talent for Hundreds of Projects and Advertisements Since'91.

Recording Professional Voiceovers

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:37:22 GMT

You're ready to do a professional recording after you've found a talent and have made a script. Doing a recording might seem daunting however there are some computer softwares that will provide you the tools you need to craft the whole project on your own even without the help of a videographer or a production team.

However, you need to prepare extensively for your recording. Preparation is key to make your whole project seamless. Below are some tips you can use in preparation for recording a quality piece.

1.Try your equipments. It is stated in the book "Producing Great Sound for Digital Video", written by Jay Rose, that a lot of problems during production can be avoided by getting the correct equipments and testing them ahead of schedule. Equipments failing on production day will cost you time and money. Check your equipment on the day itself, before you record anything to ensure a smooth recording session.

2. Check if the room produces echoes. The only way to do this is to seal the room by shutting all the doors and windows and record some samples. Again, test all of your equipments to determine and lessen echoes.

3. Make use of a background music. A Narration should feel and sound like as if the narrator is having an intimate conversation with the audience. There should not be any 'white noise' to produce this effect. If you find that you're recording a lot of 'white noise' and can do nothing about it, I suggest you use a background music to somehow mask those noises.

4. Search for your room's recording sweet spot. Find the one position of your microphone in the room that will produce the best recording. There's no actual system for doing this and you might spend some time in moving your mic around the room. Just remember that you don't ever want to produce an empty or strained sounding record ever.

5. Don't worry about outside traffic or small rumbles. Even simple things like fluorescent lighting or distant traffic outside the window can effect the sound quality of your voiceover recording. However, most mics do not pick up these sounds. If you do feel like the script is being affected by these outside sounds, consider adding a high-pass filter to the microphone for a crisper recording.

6. Switch off fans and blowers. Fans on computers, air-cons and other blower devices can affect the air atmosphere of your recording room as they produce turbulence. This is more evident in a small room than a large one. The solution to this is to switch of these equipment while doing a recording. You can turn them on in between segments.

You should also be able to monitor the recording throughout the production cycle using a pair of headphones. Take advantage of playback functions in a different room to make sure that everything is going smoothly; this will reduce the need to do another 'take' and can also help you address any problems with the audio quality right away.

About the Author: Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Actor from Minneapolis, MN and Has Provided the Voice Talent for Dozens of Projects and Advertisements Since 1991.

6 Reasons Marketers Should Consider Professional Voice Over Talent

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:08:49 GMT

Those working in the realm of marketing are more than likely aware that a multimedia elements can prove valuable additions to just about any campaign. Though the audio/visual approach to marketing was honed on more traditional media such as television, the advent of the Internet has left us with even greater opportunities, including but certainly not limited to webinars, podcasts, and YouTube videos.

With all of these avenues for the creation of memorable campaigns, savvy marketers will quickly realize that, although compelling visuals are certainly important, you will also want to put some thought into other crucial ways of reaching your audience, including powerful slogans and audio components.

Hiring a voice over artist will help you create a compelling and high-impact segment for your target market. No matter what type of advertising method you choose, any audio segments need to be developed with voice over talent; here are six reasons why:

1. Voice overs can enhance your brand. Voice overs help to enhance your company's brand image and set your message apart from the rest. Consumers today are bombarded with advertising messages in print and online, and voice overs help to deliver your message in a unique way.

2. A high-quality voice over shows professionalism. When you're speaking to a large potential audience, you're going to want to ensure that you're expressing your message in a manner that makes you look good. The right voice over talent will make your marketing seem polished and professional, and this will reflect on your organization as a whole.

3. To set you apart from others in your field. In the competitive markets of today, a new brand must innovate in order to reach the right audience, and you as a marketer must come up with memorable strategies to increase the brand's visibility - a high-quality voice over is a great start.

4. Voice overs help to create a high-impact message. While print and web-based media are some of the most sought-after advertising mediums available, voice overs can complement and enhance your marketing strategy. Podcasting, audio presentations, and even online commercials all require some form of narration; you can deliver your slogan or marketing message with voice overs strategically designed for high impact.

5. Voice over talent can increase website traffic. As more people turn to podcasts, webinars, and even television for entertainment and business, you can boost traffic to your website with strategically-placed messages. Audio files on websites are becoming easier to implement, and people can simply tune in as soon as they visit your page.

6. Voice overs can cost less than other forms of advertising. Both radio and podcasts can cost much less than other advertising mediums such as television and online video production. If you're working with a tight marketing budget, you can invest in quality voice overs to create the biggest impact with your marketing dollars.

Author Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Actor from Minneapolis, MN and Has Provided the Voice Talent for Dozens of Projects and Advertisements Since 1991.

Understanding Voice Over Jargon

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 07:39:27 GMT

Voice overs are quickly becoming one of the most important elements of any marketing strategy and advertising campaign, and are a valuable way to persuade your target market consistently, and effectively. By adding a human element to your marketing messages, you can encourage people to pay attention, boost sales, and most importantly, create a positive brand connection with all customers.

Those who are considering using voice actors in their marketing projects would do well to learn a few key terms and definitions that are commonly used to talk about the voice over field.

Audition Tapes: Prospective voice actors and actresses will submit their audition tapes as they apply for the job. In addition to allowing you to judge the abilities of each actor, these tapes also can be kept on hand to help you keep track of the numerous applicants you will be interviewing.

Demo Tapes: Demo tapes are also part of the interview and audition process, and can be recorded in your own studio, or completed by the voice over talent. These tapes will be a recording of the sample scripts you provide as part of the interview.

Recording Studio: This is where all recording of audition tapes, demo tapes, and other related material takes place. You can rent a recording studio for your project, or request your voice over talent to make their own tapes at their recording studio and submit them accordingly.

ISDN Voiceover: Professional voice over talent will record most of their work in a home studio that makes use of ISDN technology. These recordings are sharper and more fine-tuned than the average recording studio.

Commercial Voice Overs: Intended to push a service or product, commercial voice over scripts take a direct sales approach. With the right actor or actress, a commercial voice over can make your campaign much more effective and memorable.

Narrative Voice Overs: These often accompany a film, video, or story and are scripted to entertain and inform, rather than sell. However, you may require a narrative voice for a portion of a commercial or sales segment.

Impressions: A voice actor or actress who can impersonate a famous voice can add an extra layer of humor to your ad campaign, and advertisements including impressions never fail to capture the attention of an audience. This is an easy way to make your product or service stand out from the pack.

Performers' Unions: Unions such as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the Screen Artists Guild, in addition to advocating for the rights of their members and dealing with pay rate issues, provide voice actors and actresses valuable opportunities to grow and develop their skills.

Actors: The voice industry is full of actors and actresses with a knack for drama, who entered the field because of its unique nature and potential profitability. The voices provided by professional talent can help give your marketing a human flavor.

Familiarity with these key concepts and the associated terminology will help you immensely in your dealing with professionals in the voice over business. If you approach interviewing talent from an organized, educated perspective, you are sure to find a voice over professional who will boost the appeal of your advertising campaign.

About the Author: Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Actor from Minneapolis, MN and Has Been Providing the Voice Talent for Hundreds of Projects and Advertisements Since 1991.

Key Traits Of Great Voice Over Talent

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:54:10 GMT

If you're reading this article, it's likely that you have already made the decision to hire a professional voice actor or actress for your marketing project - congratulations! A voice over professional can add a lot to just about any project. After this decision, however, comes perhaps the most difficult yet essential part of the process: interviewing. Those who have not done extensive work involving voice over may be wondering what exactly it is that sets truly great voice actors and actresses apart from the rest of the pack.

These are seven of the most important traits to look for when interviewing voice over talent:

1.He or she has a believable voice. Though there is certainly a place for exaggerated narration in the style of an announcer or newscaster, you're generally going to want an actor or actress who can perform naturally in a wide range of vocal styles.

2.A good sense of pitch. Beautiful voices don't happen by accident - they are cultivated with much practice. Many of the best voice actors are also accomplished singers, and this is because both disciplines require a studied grasp of pitch and tone.

3.He or she is willing to provide you with high quality examples of his or her work. When interviewing voice over talent, it's essential that you obtain a demo tape from each of your prospects. In addition to granting you insight into the quality of a candidate's work, this will help you keep your prospects straight after you're done interviewing.

4.Versatility. This is fairly self-explanatory; a truly skilled voice over professional will have the skill and talent necessary to perform well in a wide variety of dissimilar projects. Whether authoritatively reading off facts and figures, or attempting to make listeners laugh, a true professional will shine.

5.A good sense of tempo. Another 'musical' element of voice over work is that of tempo, or pacing; you should look for a voice actor or actress whose speech flows naturally, and who has an intuitive grasp of the the rhythm with which he or she must speak in order to get your message across.

6.The voice over artist has solid references. Take the time to review references or testimonials to determine if you're working with an amateur or professional. Voice over artists who have a history of quality projects, working with a diverse set of clients, and providing consistency with their work are strong candidates for your project.

7.He or she exhibits enthusiasm and vocal stamina. At times, recording a voice is no picnic; lines will likely need to be repeated over and over to get the exact right take. Be sure to pick a candidate that will maintain a good attitude and a strong voice under these conditions.

Interviewing potential voice talent may, at times, feel tedious, but in reality it is a key factor in the success of your project. If you can find a voice actor or actress with all of the aforementioned traits during the interview process, you will save yourself a lot of time and trouble down the road.

Author Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Artist from Minneapolis, MN and Has Provided the Voice Talent for Hundreds of Companies and Agencies Since 1991.

Hiring a Voice Over Artist Over the Web

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:48:09 GMT

The sheer number of voice actors vying for jobs today can be a little overwhelming when you're looking for the one perfect candidate to represent your project. Take your search online can be a great way to streamline the process of finding the right voice actor for the job.

Those working on multimedia would be wise to take advantage of the great online resources available. Need a script? There are plenty of script databases available on the web, and some of them are even free. In order to make the hiring process quicker and more efficient, you can peruse potential hires' websites, which will often contain portfolios. This will help narrow your field of candidates, and give you an idea of what to expect from a candidate early on. In addition to checking out voice talent's rsums and portfolios, some even use the Internet to conduct interviews.

Though the web can definitely make your search for talent quicker and more efficient, without the appropriate strategy it can turn into a gigantic waste of time. Potential voice actors you find online, for example, may not be as reliable as they first appear, and may delay your progress by failing to submit their samples in a timely manner. These kinds of obstacles can be easily surmounted, however, with a little bit of know-how. Here are some valuable tips on hiring voice talent on the web:

1. Ask for web-based samples after initial contact. Professionals will be able to send over an .mpeg sample or direct you to samples they have available online; this can make it much easier to distinguish the professionals from the amateurs, and save you time in sending and receiving demo tapes, or setting up an audition. You can use this step as the first part of your screening process.

2. Request a formal resume. All potential candidates should be able to submit a professional resume that includes references and experience working with various clients. Don't be afraid to contact previous clients for a testimonial or reference, and be sure to pick at least two different companies for a fair assessment of the talent's ability to deliver on the project.

3. Ask the candidate for a preferred rate. You should make sure you understand how much the actor would like to be paid, and when. Actors may want to be compensated either per hour or per project, and though some do not mind being compensated on delivery, others may want a portion up front.

4. Interview candidates by telephone. Barring the possibility of meeting your prospect in person, speaking to him or her on the telephone is the best way to familiarize yourself with a potential voice actor or actress. In addition to discussing the candidates' employment history and gauging their experience and professionalism, you can have him them demonstrate their abilities with a brief reading.

5. Ask if they can provide all services digitally. Some professionals have the equipment and skills to record the voice over in their home studio, convert it into a media file for review, and allow you to download it directly from the web. Find out what your options are, and plan accordingly to save on mailing fees, travel expenses, and other costs typically incurred for projects of this scope.

About the Author: Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota and Has Provided the Voice Talent for Dozens of Projects and Advertisements Since 1991.

Choosing Voice Over Scripts For Talent Interviews

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:38:50 GMT

If you're considering hiring voice over talent for an upcoming project, you'll need to schedule an interview, review demo tapes, and request a sample script reading from potential applicants. Voice over scripts make it easier to find just the right match for your business, and can make the interview process much more valuable. Think of the script as a sample of work your applicants can produce for you.

You don't need to give applicants too long to prepare for a sample script reading, as there is generally no line memorization involved. The applicants can make use of the script as they perform their reading, so they should only need an hour or so to get comfortable with the script before going into the studio.

The vocal style and tone of the actor or actress is an important consideration for companies looking to have voice work done. First, you must decide on the demographic at which your marketing is directed. Having a particular group in mind is the first step towards figuring out what you want in a voice actor, and this is doubly important in that it streamlines the hiring process by narrowing the pool of talent and reducing the number of applicants you must interview.

Regardless of exactly what it is that you're marketing, you're going to need several different scripts in order to judge the nature of a particular actor or actress's talents. Think about what your company is trying to produce. Are you looking to create an informal, humorous advertisement, and therefore seeking a voice that will make your audience laugh? Are you trying to create an air of journalistic integrity, necessitating a more authoritative-sounding voice? The tone that you ultimately want in your finished product will serve as the basis for your sample script.

In order to find a suitable voice over sample script, possibly free of charge, all you need to do is consult on of the many script databases available on the Internet. With the resources at your disposal, it should be a cinch to find something that matches the tone and style you have chosen. Even if you've decided to write your own sample script, the scripts you can find online, free of charge, can provide invaluable help as reference materials, if you have a good idea of what you're looking to create.

Last of all, you are going to want to obtain a demo script of each applicant. These demos should allow yourself to compare and contrast the performances of the applicants side by side. To this end, you shouldn't just have your potential voice actors read one script; have them real several, with varying tone and subject matter, so that you can judge the versatility of your applicants, and the styles to which they are each uniquely suited. If you do not want to record these demos in your studio, you can request that applicants submit them with their initial applications.

Author Terry Daniel is a Professional Voice Over Actor from Minneapolis, MN and Has Been Providing the Voice Talent for Hundreds of Projects and Advertisements Since 1991.

Hiring A Voice Over Actor Is A Good Idea

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:15:38 GMT

No matter how badly you think you need to save money, it is never a good idea for a merchant to read his own commercial—unless, of course, he has a talent for it. The truth is, however, that most people don't. They may succeed in giving their commercial an air of originality, but that isn't a good thing if it results in people laughing at your commercial. And people are less likely to purchase your product or service if they don't respect you.

Many people mistakenly underestimate the importance of the voice over talent they use when approaching the public, because many people mistakenly believe that all they have to do to sell their product or service is to let people know that it's there. As long as they do something memorable, people will buy from them, right? Wrong. They may remember the guy with the funny voice or the guy who read in a monotone or tried to act out a little skit with his brother, but they'll buy from the guy who hired a voice over professional artist to do his commercial.

And that is the heart of the matter. There is a purpose behind buying airtime and creating a commercial—you are trying to convince people to do something. You're trying to talk them out of their hard-earned cash, to come and give it to you in exchange for what you have to offer. You are trying, in other words, to impress them. If they sense that you didn't care enough about your marketing to do it correctly, then they will not be impressed. In fact, if you attempt to convince them using a very bad commercial, they may even feel as though you are insulting their intelligence, and that is definitely something you don't want.

When your commercial airs, it should sound professional. This makes you look professional. It may be the first contact a potential customer has with your business. In this way, your commercial is like your clothing. You wouldn't wear something sloppy and poorly assembled to go meet a client, so why would you present them with a sloppy and poorly assembled piece of advertising? Even though the voice telling the world about your service has nothing to do with how well you do what you do, in the same way the state of your clothing has nothing to do with how good you are at your job, you want to make the best impression possible with that voice, just as you would with your suit.

So what are the elements of a well-read commercial that a professional voice-over artist can give you? Professionalism is one very important thing that you will get. Your brother-in-law can't give you that in reading your commercial, because he doesn't know how. Just because he's been speaking all his life doesn't mean that he does it well. In fact, most people don't speak well. Speaking well is partly about pronouncing the words clearly so that people can understand, and partly about doing that so that it sounds natural.

Everyone in need of a commercial has to do it in the way they think is best, of course. For some it actually may not matter if they put out a professional-sounding commercials. Some customers may truly not care. However, someone who wants potential customers to associate his business with a voice that sounds professional, then it is vitally important that he hire a professional to do the talking.

Hiring the right voice over talent is a positive approach

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 07:12:06 GMT

Today, marketing is driven by websites, blogs and email; such as, podcast and screencasting, and multimedia on the internet. In the fast paced world of today’s internet communications it’s easy to forget about the former success of “old-school” advertising. This means your business needs a marketing strategy that includes voice talent, quality photos, and videos.

Before T.V. and the internet, people tuned into the radio to get their daily news and commercials. Voice over artists were in high demand back then since many businesses turned to radio to promote and advertise their brand. By the time T.V. arrived, people were already familiar with ‘hearing’ a lot of advertisements; television took this to a whole new level with images and even more sound.

Fast forward 50 years and people are turning to a new medium for entertainment and information; the world wide web has grown to become one of the technological forerunners for advertisers and marketers, and encourages many people to effectively read pitches and sales letters as oppose to listening to them. However, this is rapidly evolving with the development of podcasting, online videos, and other multimedia across the web.

Now that blogging and podcasting are more popular than ever, every company requires a memorable message that impresses readers and listeners so they can remember your brand long-term. The same effect that the radio had on the masses in the 50’s is coming back in full swing with internet advertising, video commercials, and podcasts. Voice artists now play an important role in delivering your business’s marketing message, slogan, and can even promote your brand. Hiring the right voice over talent (with the assistance of a voice over agent) is a positive approach to creating a high-impact and attract new prospects right away.

Voice talent can be applied to little commercials, introducing products on a web page, podcasting, or just making a radio ad. If you are thinking about producing a television commercial, you’ll need a voice over artist to manage the script so it is professional and produces the kind of impact you’re looking for.

For businesses that want a competitive edge on the web - voice overs are becoming more and more important to their success. Musical narrations, songs and jingles can still have a strong impact on visitors and potential customers, and are necessary when you’re advertising on the radio as part of your marketing plan. Submitting voice overs into your advertising messages helps to strengthen your brand, create an identity, and even build a strong relationship with potential customers.

Print advertising may have less impact as more people turn to video or audio on the web. Why bother investing your marketing resources in an area where only a few people are evenpaying attention? Commercials and audio segments produced with a voice artist can produce the result you need and make your marketing message stand apart from the competition.

The vast number of places that voice overs wind up

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:33:25 GMT

The work of voice actors is ubiquitous in the modern world. In fact, your daily life is probably brimming with it, and chances are, you don't even notice it. Or at least you didn't before you started considering one of them. If you are wondering why you never thought about them before, it's because you aren't supposed to. One of the coolest things about being voice talent is the ability to get someone's attention while simultaneously diverting their attention from yourself to the product being sold. That sounds a bit difficult when you start to really ponder it, doesn't it? If you attempt to create these results yourself, you’re only going to end up drawing the listener’s attention to you and off of your message, which is not good. That's the main reason you should hire a professional voice artist to do the job for you.

Consider the vast number of places that voice overs wind up, and that is after crossing off jingles and T.V.. But you can use voice talent to announce your special event or your business’s website. Hey, you can even use an actor to broadcast information about your personal website if you really want it to be known badly enough. Many people those kinds of projects for themselves. Maybe it is because they do not consider them as important enough to hire someone. In that case, why are they bothering with it at all? If it is worth your effort, it is worth doing right.

For instance, if you want to produce an audio book, why would you even consider voicing it yourself - unless, of course, you’ve got a professional-grade training level. And most people simply don't. Then you have corporate videos and educational videos, which are very useful and can be highly lucrative - if done professionally. If you have a good script, and the listeners enjoy hearing the narrator, then you have a message that can bring you a measure of success. But if people can't stand hearing the voice for one reason or another, then your message is in trouble.

“But I talk to people with this voice all the time!” you may say. True, but your listening audience will tolerate a lot more in person than they will forgive you for on a recording. And are there people actually paying to have you speak at this point? Probably not. If they are, then stop reading right now. This article is not for you.

You could think that hiring an amateur or doing it yourself will save you some dough. In the beginning, yes, but if this is a business venture you are planning, it will actually cost you money in the end. Looking ridiculous can cost you the respect of the buyers you are trying to impress. People are more likely to spend their money with people who give the appearance that they know what they are doing. If they hear you confused in a voice over, as so many do-it-yourselfers do, then they’re going to reconsider buying your product or service.