INCasting Blog item - 5 commandments of a quality Voice Over

The five commandments of a quality voice-over artist.

Some VOA that you most likely have heard, (but only the experts truly know) are:

James Jonah Cummings: Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Tigger (Winnie the poo) Darkwing Duck(Ducktails)

Richard West: Fry & Dr. Zoidburg, Professor, & Zap Branigan (Futurama), Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd (Space Jam)

Tara Strong: Rikku (Final Fantasy 10), Harlequin (Batman Arkham City)

Don La Fontaine: Staring in over 5000 movie trailers, Video Game Announcements, Network Promotions, and TV Advertisements.

Jen Taylor: AI (Halo 4)

Today we hear many models, actors, and actresses say they don't know how to start when it comes to voice overs, so here are our 5 commandments to remember when you want to become a quality Voice Over Artist.

1. Settle Thyself:

Listen for outside noise: While most professional recording studios are well prepared to record your voice over work, by noticing your surroundings in each recording studio you record in, then you are sure to get a good start in making a quality recording. Listen to your environment with and without headphones...recording and not. Just for a few minutes, try to see if you can trace any dogs, bells, people, cars, scooters, kids, airplanes, or booming bass from your new rap star neighbors.

Listen for inside noise: Acknowledging the sounds in your direct environment is most important when preparing. Good mics and poor mics can pick up wavelengths sounds and maybe even entities floating about the air whether you know they are there… or not.

Listen for Internal Noise: Sometimes we have the internal voice in the back of our heads babbling away. Things we need to remember, things we may have forgotten, (shit did I leave the stove on?), the nagging internal critic-who always tells us that we could have prepared better, and the internal protector that states “why even do it in the first place, if there's a chance of failure?”.

Oh…heh.. just me? Ahem. >>clears throat<<

Despite how loud, soft, positive or negative your inner voice can be, the best way to turn off that inner monologue is through exercise or meditation.

So if you can run around the block…great!

Know some mouth exercises….? Perfect! (Pun sort of not intended)

Or even a little “woosah” …?

Find 12 mini meditation techniques to calm your mind and body Here.

2. Level Thyself: Remember to check the distance between your mouths to the mic. Keeping your mouth about a fist size amount away from the mic allows for a good recording. Listen if you sound too harsh or not loud enough on your playback to and adjust accordingly.

As for home a beginners guide to home recording experts say:

Keep the peak at or around -3dB

Have an Average RMS between -23dB and -18dB

Have a noise floor at or below -60dB

*It is important to know however that each person has a different set up of levels due to the differentiating characteristics of voices. Just as professional musicians have their own sized instruments; voice over artist should get to know their best levels.

Acoustics & Room Reflection: Sometimes we need to record voice-overs on the run, and have no time for making it into the studio. It's really important whether you are home recording or recording a voice audition on the run. One can record in a closet full of clothes or hang blankets on the walls. Why not try making a blanket tent recording studio and record some ghost stories in there while you are at it. If you are trying to set up your home studio, you can never go wrong with acoustic foam.

3. Know Thyself: Well... I mean... know your performance flaws, in a matter of speaking. Sometimes have a Snakey S, a Poppy P, or a Crusty C? (again, pun sort of not intended) No one likes it but many of us have it. To save yourself from making yourself crazy (personal experience), first get a pop filter. This takes away the harshness of these nasty little letters. Next try to pull slightly away when you say these letters, and don't drink liquids just before you read.

4. Review Thyself: Probably thee most important commandment is to review your recordings. Despite not having time to check before you send, it would be better to send a late but great recording, than to send an on-time bad one. Make the time to listen to your final exports for your voice over audio files before uploading or sending in and you will always make the grade.

5. Gear Thyself: While the best research is done by you and for your personal taste and budget here are some of our finds and links where to buy for each price range.

Headphones:

Poor Homey: One Odio- Around 33

Middle-Class Joe: Audio-Technica ATH-M30x- Around 69

Rich Bitch: MH40- Around 250

Microphones:

Poor Homey: MXL V67G – Around 60

Middle-Class Joe: Rode NT1KIT-Around 200

Rich Bitch: Neumann TLM 103 – Around 1100

Computers:

Poor Homey: Anything with at least 8 GB of RAM and the ability to capture audio in real time.

Middle-Class Joe: Same

Rich Bitch: Same