Whatever the scale of your business is, it pays to have some great voiceovers. You can use them for your online video narration, audio-aided banner ads, or telephone messages on hold. Given how many voice over talents there are to choose from, it would help if you ask some key questions to yourself first before deciding who to hire.
How Much Do Voiceovers Cost?
The rate of a voice talent’s services is largely determined by their availability, credentials, demand and type of project. A full time voice actor would be more expensive to hire than one who is only working part time in this field. Another factor that affects how the voiceovers are priced is whether the talent is providing union work or not. The deadline that you have given them also matters, as well as your agreement with the voice actors as to what extent you can use their voice recording. It could be for a certain broadcast only or for whatever purpose you deemed suitable as the client.
Quotations about voiceovers are usually calculated by taking into account the project’s turnaround time, its length, and voice talent selected.
What Kind of Audience Am I Targeting with My Voiceovers?
Take note of the listeners that you have in mind for your voiceovers. You can then tell the voice over talents exactly the type of audience that you want them to speak to.
When Should I Book the Voice Over Talents?
Depending on how big your project is, it might take as short as 30 minutes to finish your project or as long as 36 to 48 hours or even more for really large projects. For instance, a 15-second phone greeting with a voice actor ready for recording may be delivered to you in as fast as 30 minutes.
If you need a movie narrative that runs for a few hours, wherein a specific voice actor has to perform the narration, the agency will need some time to deliver. They may have to hold auditions first, choose the right talent, and record your movie.
What Specific Gender Fits My Project?
By specifying whether you want a male or female voice over talent, you can easily narrow down your choices by 50%.
According to some studies, most of the listeners are happy hearing female voices, while only a few would be pleased with male voices. Still, there are some factors to consider.
The purpose of the voice over project is the major factor that determines whether a male or female voice is suitable for use. For example, an ad that advertises children’s toys would best be narrated by a female voice, something that is comparable to a caring and fun mother.
What Accent Suits My Project Best?
Just like how the gender of the voice talent affects your projects, the accent used in it also matters. It is as important as the tone used in your voice over.
If you have noticed, the US audience has been delighting in watching and listening to British Simon Cowell criticise the contestants on his talent shows, American Idol and X-Factor US. Another Brit hosting pair, Cat Deeley and Nigel Lythgoe, has remained effective in hosting So You Think You Can Dance for years now.
According to a study, this is because the listeners associate the accent they hear with the stereotype for the ethnic origin of the language used. British accents are deemed to be linked to royalty and authority.
There is just something tricky in using accented voiceovers. For some listeners, it would be easier for them to trust voices that sound like their own. An American can trust a voice with an American accent and the same goes for an Australian listening to an Australian-accented voice over.
What Does the Agency Guarantee Regarding the Quality of the Voiceovers?
Even a voice over project that seemed to be perfectly recorded might not be 100% satisfactory to you. If you don’t like how certain words or names were pronounced, the voiceover talent and the agency should be more than willing to do the revisions for you at no extra charge providing you don’t change the original script.
