Have you ever been told that you have a captivating voice or an exceptional ability to bring words to life? If so, you might want to consider turning your vocal talents into a profitable career by starting a voice-over business. Voice over work is in high demand across various industries, including advertising, entertainment, e-learning, and more. In this article, we will guide you through the essential steps to kickstart your versatile voice-over business successfully.

Voice Over Business

Voiceover Equipment #2 – The Recording Studio Basics

May 3, 2022 by Leah Arscott

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the industry, a voiceover recording studio is more important than purchasing any single piece of equipment. You may have a fantastic voice that can read many genres, including corporate narration, commercial, eLearning, or animation. However, even if you have a superb microphone, you can have many background noises bleeding into your recording if you don’t have a quiet space.

Noises such as cars or airplanes passing by, your family walking around the home, or the sound of your air conditioner running will be distracting to the listener. Additionally, you may increase the risk of your clients being unhappy with the final product. There is a lot of buzz online within the community about this topic, so let’s chat about what you need to know to create your own voiceover recording studio.

The Ideal Space

A professional recording studio is the best space to record your voice over. The top choices are professional studios with a custom booth, a sound engineer on hand, and tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Some voice actors rent out professional studios and perform their jobs there, but that isn’t a sustainable option.

Evolution of the Voiceover Recording Studio

In the past, voice actors led their careers relying on recording in professional studios. They would receive their auditions from their agent, audition time and date, and drive to the studio to record their audition. If selected, the talent would return to that studio or another to do the final recording. The audio quality would be excellent, but time, energy, and money were required to work this way. Living in the digital age, voice actors have moved their studios into their homes. Up to the year 2020, only about half of the voice actors had home studios. Once the pandemic hit, voice actors were forced to acquire a home studio as quickly as possible if they wanted to continue working.

My First Recording Booth – The Closet

Luckily, I had already had a booth set up. That was one of the main reasons I considered voice acting, the fact that I could do it from home. The word “booth” is interesting because my first recording space was actually a closet within my house. I did much research when starting in voice over, and many online stated that the most cost-effective option was to use an existing closet within your home and retrofit it into a working voice over booth. So as the millennial in me, that is what I did.

You want it to be quiet in any recording space with no noise bleeding through and no echoes. Otherwise, you get a boxy sound—vocal isolation and sound absorption, not complete soundproofing. When your recording is acoustically treated with the right equipment, your recording will sound crisp, clear, and professional. This will make the editing much more manageable.

Building From Scratch

I emptied a closet, purchased some studio foam from Amazon, and started nailing in each 12” x 12” piece until I covered most of the walls. I also bought a moving blanket from Amazon to cover up the closet’s back wall. Moving blankets are a cheap and effective way to dampen noise and reverberation. Once that was complete, I added a carpet to the floor. Next, I added my microphone and a music stand and went to work. It took a few weeks of trial and error to get the best sound to my ear.

After many months of still doubting my sound, I decided to hire George Whittam, one of Hollywood’s top sound engineers, to check my sound quality. I sent him a few raw (unedited) recordings, and within 45 minutes, he had my sound in tip-top shape. If I could do it again, I would have hired him months earlier to give me the utmost confidence when I recorded every audition and went into each live-directed session. Nevertheless, he said my booth sounded great but needed minor adjustments within my editing software.

Your Voiceover Recording Studio Doesn’t Have to Be Beautiful

That first booth was not a pretty sight. It was pretty unappealing to the eye. The colors were orange and black (not my favs), and it was dark, small, and stuffy. I had to keep open the door frequently during long live-directed recording sessions because the temperature rose quickly there. It was a place I did not to be all day. I felt it was a tomb!

Though that closet was a sight for sore eyes, it was pretty profitable for me. I was able to record thousands of auditions, work with hundreds of international clients, and it allowed me to leave my regular full-time job and pursue voice acting as a real career. I also recorded commercials seen on network television there. It’s funny when I think about it. One would never know that I recorded that in a dingy closet from my home. I think only five clients have ever asked me where I record. My reply was “a professional studio as approved by a top Los Angeles sound engineer.” That was all they needed to hear, and I got the job. 🙂

My Voiceover Studio Version 2.0

Eventually, I decided it was time for an upgrade. So after a lot of research, now I have a portable voice over booth. I did much research online to find something within my budget that would still allow me to record good quality broadcast voice over, and my priority was to find a booth that was comfortable to stay in during long sessions and not overheat.

More voiceover booths are available on the market than ever before as the digital landscape has evolved. I settled on a Vocal Booth to Go, a portable unit initially designed for the artist on the go. But, it works as my main booth. I purchased the 4×4 booth and placed it in a walk-in closet within my home. I nailed up two moving blankets onto the left and right walls of the closet to dampen the noise. Then I added my studio foam from my old closet to the back wall and placed the 4×4 booth inside. So, in effect, I have a booth within a booth 🙂 It’s a little hack that works quite well.

The last time I checked, my dB was -55, which is pretty good. I love the Vocal Booth because it’s a PVC frame with moving blankets as the “walls.” The color is white, which is light, bright, and refreshing. My old booth was quite dark and felt like a tomb. This new space is much bigger and gives me room to move my arms and legs, which is especially necessary for animation work and leaves me with energy at the end of my day. I also now have room for a desk, chair, and a monitor to do my daily work.

Your Voiceover Recording Studio is Up To You

Whether you are a diverse voice talent or a niche specialist, your recording studio can be customized to your needs. It would be unreasonable to assume that every voice talent has spent thousands of dollars on their booths because it doesn’t matter what it looks like. It’s about how it sounds and feels to you, the talent.

The next article will discuss some of the top-rated voice over sound booths available today.

Voiceover Equipment #1 Preamps and Headphones

April 20, 2022 by Leah Arscott

Suppose you are interested in making voice over a career. In that case, it’s very important to purchase the right equipment to give you a leg up and remain competitive against thousands of other actors. While raw talent, training, and business sense are essential factors to success, your voiceover equipment can also play a significant role.

Using inexpensive equipment can be acceptable at the very outset of your career. However, to make considerable strides in booking big-budget jobs and ongoing projects, good quality equipment can make a difference in your business. We’ve talked about how to choose a microphone and the factors to look for. Now, we will look at two more important pieces of equipment for a voiceover home studio, preamps, and headphones.

Microphone Preamps for Home Recording

A digital interface is crucial when recording quality voice over using a computer. A digital interface is a form of technology that connects multiple pieces of equipment. It allows hardware devices to communicate with one another and accept audio and video in various forms. XLR microphones require a digital interface. Both are connected and used to convert the audio (your voice or music) into analog and into a form that can be heard and edited on the computer.

Can’t I Just Use a USB Microphone?

Yes, you can. It is much simpler to use and relatively cheaper to purchase. A USB mic is a microphone that connects straight into your computer, mobile device, or tablet, and the recording interface is built into the mic. No other equipment is required, and you can produce quality recordings.

Why An XLR Microphone?

An XLR mic has a port on the bottom to connect to an XLR cable. That cable then connects to your digital interface and then to your computer. It’s a seamless approach that provides better quality sound. XLR microphones are more expensive to set up initially, that’s true. You will need a microphone, digital interface, cables, and a computer. You will also need to install drivers or a control panel for the interface. Digital interfaces allow you to record various types of audio, not just voice over. Most interfaces come with multiple ports so you can connect to other mics or instruments.

Voiceover Equipment Sound Quality

Using a digital interface and XLR mic, the sound quality you get is second to none. A USB Mic’s resolution is 16-bit 44.1/48 kHz sampling rate. Using an XLR mic with a digital interface allows for a resolution of 24-bit, and up to 192 kHz sampling rate. There are many digital interfaces on the market to choose from. Here is a list of two popular options:

The Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface is USD 190. This is the pre-amp I use every day and the most popular on the market. I started my career with this interface and haven’t yet upgraded because I’m still so happy with it. At a reasonable price point, this interface has terrific quality and performance. It contains a gain button and an additional input port for instruments.
The Apollo Twin MK11 (Solo, Duo, Quad) is USD 1110. Serious professionals use this preamp because of its advanced features and heavy price tag, and they are considered the best audio interface for home studios. The solo, duo, and quad have varying levels of plugins, and the solo has the least, which is why independent voice actors favor it.

Stick with a more reasonably priced preamp if you’re just starting in voiceover. If you decide to make voiceover a full-time career and want an upgrade, consider the Apollo Twin MK11.

Voiceover Equipment Headphones

I wear my headphones every day and all day when I record and edit my voice over work. I initially started my career using my Mac-built-in computer speakers. Still, a very successful sound engineer told me that I was doing a disservice to my work and that using headphones would make a vast difference in my product quality. That being said, I went straight to my local music store a purchased a good professional-grade pair.

Why not use my mobile phone headphones? Because they are of inferior quality and not capable of hearing all the beautiful nuances that your voice delivers. If you plan on making voice over a career, it’s crucial to invest in professional headphones and nothing in-ear. In-ear headphones offer inaccurate bass frequencies because of the size of the driver.

It’s essential to get an authentic portrayal of what your voice sounds like, and that can only be done with over-the-ear headphones. Ok, no problem at all. I can use my BeatsbyDre then, you might say. Uh, no! Noise-canceling headphones are also not advisable. They play extra noise through the headphones to counteract the noise outside, therefore not accurately portraying what you’re hearing. They are also costly for no reason. Pass! 🙂

Professional Headphone Options

Bluetooth headphones are also not advised as they could pick up interference with neighborhood sounds and traffic passing your home, especially if you live in an urban area. Over-the-ear headphones with a wire are the best choice, and here are two options:

Audio-Technica M40 is USD 140. These are my headphones and have been going strong since I began my voiceover career. The sound is crisp, clean, comfortable, articulate, and perfect for long sessions. They get the job done and, thankfully very sturdy as I’ve dropped them too many times to remember.
Sennheiser HD 630VB is USD 250. You can never go wrong by purchasing a Sennheiser product. These are amazing high-quality closed-back, over-the-ear headphones, and they provide clear, detailed sound and have a variable bass boost option.

Voiceover Equipment You Can Count On

Whichever digital preamp interface and studio headphones you decide to purchase will be determined by your budget and goals. You’ll never make a mistake if you take your time doing thorough research. Happy hunting.

Choosing a Voiceover Microphone

April 4, 2022 by Leah Arscott

Because of advances in modern technology, many have started a rewarding career in this industry from home and have been very successful. Although it is relatively easy to start, a critical component to consider is the technology required to start this business. An essential tool in your technology toolbox would be a voiceover microphone. How else will you capture the sound of your instrument? One can possess a great voice, acting ability, and drive, but without a good microphone, a voiceover career is just a pipe dream. There are hundreds of mics on the market, so let’s explore how to decipher which one is right for you?

Voiceover Microphone Options

USB Microphones are the newest technology of microphones. They were designed with a USB end to plug directly into your computer and begin recording. They are the most popular microphones because they are inexpensive, user-friendly, and available in most online stores. You can set it up quickly and easily. A couple of popular USB mics include:

Blue Microphone Snowball iCE
Blue Yeti USB Mic
Audio Technica AT 2020

Dynamic microphones are the top choice for radio broadcasters. They give DJs that big, boomy, warm radio sound which is helpful while speaking in a noisy DJ booth. As a popular choice for podcasters, musicians, and singers, they are great at recording instruments like the drums. They are usually reasonably priced and don’t require a power source. Popular dynamic pics are:

Shure SM58
Electro-Voice RE20
Sennheiser MD-441U

Large-diaphragm condenser microphones work well for voiceover recording and singing. It provides the best sound quality, tone, and resonance and makes your voice bigger, crisper, and beautiful. You can capture the depth of low-frequency sounds and the preferred choice of audio engineers.

Rode NT1
Sennheiser MK416
Neumann U87

How to Choose a Microphone?

What do you want to spend on a new mic? Overall, the best microphones are the large diaphragm condenser microphones, but they are usually the most expensive. Many newbie voice actors feel more comfortable choosing a USB mic to start, as they are unsure of success and fear investing too much into this new hobby or career. The USB mic can barely be distinguished from a condenser mic as technology evolves.

If you are serious about making voiceover a career and want to invest in a good microphone, I recommend a condenser microphone if you have the budget. The sound is the best and will give you a competitive edge against top talent. Agents will likely take you more seriously if you have invested in a good mic and may be more likely to represent you.

Try Before You Buy

I would also definitely recommend doing a “mic shoot-out.” This means going to a local music store and asking the technician to set up 3-5 microphones for you to try in a quiet space. It may take some time to set up, but it is worth it. When I had to make my choice for a mic, I had three mic’s in a soundproof room set up and spent a good 40 minutes testing each one slowly. I tend to have a higher register voice and book a lot of work with specs for teenagers, millennials, and young adult voices. I wanted a mic to give me a slightly warmer, and deeper tone, and only by taking my time was I able to feel confident in my choice.

My Voiceover Microphone Choices

I chose the Rode NT1 as my first microphone. I did a lot of research and loved the sound it gave me. My clients asked me which mic I used, and most replied, “Oh, that’s a great mic!

Almost four years later into my career, I felt the need to upgrade my mic. My latest purchase was the Neumann TLM103. Neumann is probably the most respected microphone company, and the TLM103 is a trendy choice for voice actors. I rented this mic for one month from my local music store, and within 20 minutes, I knew it was the mic for me. It was incredibly crisp and clear and gave my voice a lot of colors. I will continue to use my Rode NT1 but will use it as part of my traveling rig.

Other Great Microphones

Two other very popular microphones for voice actors are the Sennheiser MK416 and Neumann U87. The MK416 is what they call a shot-gun mic. It is the microphone most used on film sets. It’s the one you see set up on a boom arm with the mic operator raising the boom arm right above the actors’ heads, following them around the set. This mic is very forgiving and can hide a lot of background noise. If your beginner booth isn’t the quietest, this will be a great choice.

The Neumann U87 is the Rolls Royce of microphones commonly seen in Hollywood studios. There is a lot of debate about whether it is worth the heavy $5,000 price tag, but those who do it are taken seriously as professional voice actors, and agencies are pleased if their talent owns one.

Your Best Voiceover Performance

The voiceover business is a unique, rewarding, and creative industry. There has never been a better time to begin a career in Voiceover. Everywhere we turn, we hear voices on television, radio, online, on the phone, and even when we pay at self-checkout at the grocery store.

Whichever mic you choose is ultimately up to your individual needs, goals, and desires. You can not go wrong with doing your research and not rushing into any major decisions. When you pick the right mic, you will be confident in your abilities and perform at your best potential.

What to Consider Before Getting Into Voice Acting

March 2, 2022 by Leah Arscott

“Oh, you’re a voice actor? That’s so cool; how can I get into that?” I get this question monthly from friends, family, and acquaintances. I thought I would write an official article on this topic to refer whoever is interested in starting a career in voice acting to a single resource with all the information they require. Before anyone is interested in diving into this fantastic, fun, competitive, and crazy industry, here are four main components to consider.

#1 Background and Experience
#2 Business Ability
#3 Artistic Ability
#4 Technical Ability

Background and Experience

Most voice actors fall into this industry from previous roles and backgrounds. While some children live on cartoons and dream of being the next Daffy Duck, that isn’t the usual trajectory. Most grow up and get into the world of business, technical roles, or acting. Each background is unique to giving the new voice talent the skills they need to succeed in their new career. Many feel that their knowledge isn’t sufficient to make them successful. However, when you begin to peel back the layers of your experience, skills, and background, there are things you can use in your new career.

If you were a manager in a previous role, you are undoubtedly organized, have good time-management ability, and can set goals and prioritize throughout your workday. If you had a technical role, you are detail-oriented and have a high aptitude for learning new hardware and software tools, and can break down complex problems into more manageable pieces. If you have an acting or musical background, you can perform at a moment’s notice, understand rhythm, pitch, and dissect a script quickly.

Business Ability

The ability to run a business is important for voice acting. Voice actors don’t usually belong to a single company or enterprise. They are entrepreneurs running their own businesses. It is imperative to inherit professional skills to run a successful business. I have seen voice actors fall flat after only a few months because they don’t want to do the tedious paperwork; they just want to act. That can be possible if you score an agent who provides you with endless opportunities and auditions, but that’s just not how it works in today’s age. You need to hunt down the options. Voice acting is selling your voice to buyers. Agents are just one tool in your voice over prospecting toolkit.

How to Develop Voice Acting Business Ability

A business is broken down into various departments:

Sales
Marketing
Accounting
Legal
Customer Service
Finance
Business Development

You will need to become proficient in all these aspects. This doesn’t happen overnight but slowly but surely, and if you are committed, it’s possible to run your business like a well-oiled machine. So get out a pen and paper and start brainstorming which skills you possess? Have you worked in customer service in your past? What about accounting? Do you know how to draft an invoice? Have you sold anything before? Make a list of all your skills, and you’ll come to see you know more than you think. If you need more help, research your local business school or online learning programs to take a course in achieving business skills.

Artistic Ability in Voice Acting

The second most crucial ability is artistic. But, wait! Shouldn’t this be the first? Well, no, talent can be learned, trained, and crafted, but the majority of voice acting falls under the business ability even more than the acting itself. Auditioning and recording jobs for clients is a small fraction of all the other tasks involved in running your voice acting business.

I will say that some have a natural ability to act or perform, and that certainly comes in handy and will set you apart from the rest. This talent will help you to book better jobs. However, if you don’t follow up with them for payment, send them marketing emails, and audition again and again you will not be successful.

How To Develop Artistic Ability?

You can work with a Voice Acting Coach, join an improv class, attend an acting school, or take drop-in acting classes. All of these are ways to train your artistic ability. The best actors in the world never stop coaching, and neither do voice actors. There are different coaches for different genres, so be sure to research which coach is right for you and the genre you are aiming to perform in. It’s always beneficial to start with a Commercial coach.

How to Develop the Technical Ability for Voice Acting

To be a successful voice actor, you need technical skills and know-how to use voice acting hardware and software. Examples include a microphone, computer, Logic Pro X, Adobe Audition, Audacity, and Izotope RX7.

This skill can be quickly developed by taking online or in-person courses. You can also ask around if any of your friends know of the hardware and software, and they can show you how to use it. If you are willing to learn the required business, artistic and technical skills you will be well rewarded with the opportunity to work with amazing people, and projects!

Effective Voice Over Marketing Strategy # 1

January 27, 2022 by Leah Arscott

Whether you’re a lone voice over artist or a well-established company with hundreds of employees, the goal is the same. You need sales to survive and thrive. Without sales, there is NO business. But how do you get more business to your B2B or B2C customers? Well, here is the short answer, you need to market! But with so many tactics available, how do you know which voice over marketing strategy is the right fit for you? Over the next few blog posts, we will be highlighting the top 5 most effective methods. These are very current and popular strategies that are sure to spark your creativity.

Get started with the first effective way to market your product or voice over service.

Let’s Get Personal!

However you market your talent, this means it needs to be personal to your customers. Some may argue it is easier to do with small businesses, but even large-scale corporations can be effective in this category. For example, a few years ago, Coca-Cola embarked on one of its most successful campaigns. Do you remember the personalized bottles with people’s names? I’m sure you do! Everyone, even myself, was running out looking for a bottle with either my name or my friend’s name to surprise them with a little gift. This was a relatively simple yet, highly effective way to market. They had us, and we did the marketing for them. People were tagging the bottle on Social Media left, right, and center, which got the word out.

Customizing Your Voice Over Marketing

The voices you use in your campaigns can also help you Get Personal to your clients. Are the voices you use disconnected to your audience? Or do they draw the customer in? Gone are the days of the big, booming announcer voices. Watch a little TV today, and you will come to realize most of the ads use softer, more conversational voices. Nobody wants to feel sold too. They prefer to feel like a friend describing this new cool thing. Those are the voices that reign on the small screen, and this is a great way to get personal.

Set Your Small Businesses Apart

Small businesses can do the same. Every marketing email sent and phone call should be done with the customer in mind. Never send an email with the heading “Dear Client.” Take a few extra minutes to log onto their website and social media accounts and get to know the individual you email. Find some sort of common ground. Do they like cats? Did you go to the same school? Do you like the same sports? In a sea of impersonalized content out there, a little bit of personalization goes a long way, and THAT is what will set you apart. 🙂

Authenticity and Voice Over Marketing

With that said, not only do you need to be personal with your clients, you also have to be personal. That means being authentic in every way possible. Some of the most successful and legendary people in history are always authentic! For example, Elvis Presley, Andy Warhol, Princess Diana, Martin Luther King Jr, Albert Einstein. Many people viewed these individuals as radical, vulgar, deranged, or mad. But they are some of the greatest artists, activists, and scientists of all time because they were authentic! How can you be original? Once you identify this, it will help set you apart, and your marketing will become more strategic and targeted.

Social Media Deep Dive

Take a quick look at your company profiles, whether social media or your website. Is it basic or boring? Is it just a bunch of corporate mumbo-jumbo? Would you want to hire you based on your current marketing strategies? Is it tailor-made to your clients? Do you stand out above all the rest in your voice over niche?

These are essential questions to ask yourself. Once you identify your current social media profiles, there is usually room for improvement to get personal. So don’t be shy about posting your favorite moments. That picture of your kitty sleeping in the window, those excellent seats you got for the basketball game or that beautiful sunset you saw the other day. Once potential clients feel they are connecting to an actual human, then long-term relationships form.

Voice Over Marketing That Builds Relationships

So, what have we learned? Well, being personal is the difference between making a sale and keeping a long-term client. This is why the art of building relationships is a vital skill that most companies look for in their sales staff. This is why so many deals occur on the golf course, right? So don’t be shy, get personal, and enjoy the benefits that will come from it. Just don’t take it personally, ok? 😛