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Is the Golden Age of Voice Over Gone? Part One: Into the Digital Era

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Will things get better or worse in the digital age? That’s a question people consistently ask about everything from the economy to the voice over industry to a change in their favorite restaurant’s menu. While we could sit around discussing the question for hours, or even days, I recall a concise answer that summed it up best:

“Things don’t get better or worse. They get different.”

And that’s precisely what happened in the world of voice over. While some may pine for what might be considered the Golden Age of voice over, others say a new Golden Age may be upon us.

Either way, I have used a few key strategies over the years to sustain my own voice over career through whatever comes across my path. For others facing significant changes in their careers or those embarking on the VO bandwagon, these strategies may help you, too.

The Early Days of Voice Over

While the definition of voice over’s Golden Age may vary, I feel it’s an era reserved for some true veteran voice actors. I don’t consider myself part of the Golden Age, although I have been in the business for more than 25 years.

When I entered the scene in the 1990s, in-person studio recordings were the norm. If you wanted any level of notable voice over work, you needed to live in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Southern California, where the big studios and the big jobs were.

An average day in the voice over world for me included spending a lot of time attending live auditions, doing in-studio work – and being stuck in Southern California traffic.

Commercials made up the bulk of my work, primarily local commercials for businesses in the area. Yes, the work was exciting. And yes, I had a lot of fun.

I remember working at a studio in Irvine, California, with another OC native, Scott Rummell. He’s one of the top people in the voice over world, with a body of work that includes movie trailers, network promos, and national and regional TV commercials. He gave me a valuable leg up at the beginning of my career. We recorded spots together, acting as husband and wife for local supermarkets or copier companies.

My background was in acting, so I was used to working with other actors and creating believable dialogue. That was always the most fun… getting to work with other actors in a live situation.

A Voice Over Career in the 1990s

  • Live auditions
  • In-person studio recordings
  • Often recording with other actors in the studio together
  • Getting work through casting and talent agents
  • Voice over actor’s job was to read and interpret the copy
  • Engineers and production crew took care of the recording, editing, sound quality, and everything else that went into the finished, delivered product
  • In-person marketing – where personality played a huge role
  • Printed headshots
  • Demos on cassette tapes and then CDs were always cheaper if you bought them in bulk. I still have a box of CDs left over from 20 years ago!

The early days were exciting. I was getting paid to be an actor – and that was my goal. Some people never get near that. Sure, I had some side jobs at the beginning, like working as a florist and marketing a murder mystery dinner theater, but I was driven to make acting my full-time career.

At one point, one of my side jobs ended. I saw it as a turning point. I knew I could draw unemployment for about six months and use the time to get all the pieces together to focus on what I wanted to do.

From there, I just took one step after the other. The work got better. I made more money. Time is on your side. It will get a little easier if you can stick out the tough stuff in the beginning.

And although I do miss certain aspects of the early days, I know things tend to appear rosier in hindsight.

  • What I miss most: Working in person with other actors.
  • What I miss least: Being stuck in the Southern California traffic. I can get much more work when I’m not wasting time on the freeway.

The Digital Age of Voice Over

When the digital age began to unfold, my initial reaction was less than thrilled. It was more like: “Oh my gosh. What the heck is this technology, and how will I work with it?” And I might not have if I had not met my husband.

I was not a computer person AT ALL, and he was the one who nudged me into the computer and internet age. The transition has been challenging to me, but I’ve been able to learn what I need to know – and usually hire people to help with the rest.

Some people are more adept than I am with technology, but that doesn’t mean I’m not proud of the progress I’ve made. I still sometimes go through everything I’ve learned and pat myself on the back. Technology is wired into younglings these days, so it’s mostly a breeze for them. They have other challenges.

Technology aside, the biggest challenge in the digital age has been connecting with potential clients, the people who will hire you. The current mantra is that anybody and everybody can be a voice over talent – which also comes with a downside.

Now you’re not just competing with the people in L.A. you see in the audition waiting room. You’re competing with people in every state… in every country. You’re competing with the world.

Voice Over Experience Matters  

Seasoned voice actors have the advantage of experience and the ability to say no to jobs that are not a good fit. Examples are clients who may not have directed a lot of voice over recordings and put you through the mill, asking for multiple free auditions or even recordings. Sorry, no.

Seasoned actors can end up at a disadvantage in certain cases. Sometimes, a client may be looking for an unrefined voice, very raw and not polished. When you’ve been doing voice acting for so long, it’s hard to turn off the polish.

A Voice Over Career in the 2020s

  • Digital auditions
  • Digital studio recordings
  • Usually alone in a home studio
  • Getting work through voice over marketplaces, casting agencies, talent agencies, pay-to-play platforms
  • Voice over actor’s job is everything related to the craft: recording, editing, marketing, maintaining a website, the whole kit, and caboodle
  • Online marketing, where voice over websites and other savvy digital assets play a huge role
  • On-demand digital samples of work
  • Digital demos

After all these years, voice over work still brings me joy. My biggest joy is pleasing a client… when you get to hear something like, “Gee, that was fantastic. It’s great working with you.”

I recently experienced one of those sessions where we whizzed through a series of difficult recordings for a major university fundraiser. In many cases, they were satisfied with the first take. It’s so freeing to work with someone who has such confidence in my abilities and can just let me go and do my thing.

I used to be thrilled to hear my voice on TV or on the radio. My voice would come on while my kids were watching TV, and they’d say, “There’s mom!”

Now I do a smattering of commercials, and most of my work is long-form narration. E-learning and similar projects, along with some phone prompt work. I got into voice over narration very quickly, which perfectly aligns with the demands in the digital age.

And yes, my work is still fun. It’s like a game for me. Every morning I wake up and see what’s in my email inbox. I’m scouting possible jobs not just for me but also for my college-age daughter, who also does voice over work. I meet with her over Zoom once a day to do whatever auditions and client work she has in between her other work and classes. It’s a sneaky way for me to be in constant touch with her while she’s away at college…and she still makes a nice purse from her work too, which helps to pay for it all.

I have a set routine and a speed. It energizes me to think, “There’s another audition, another opportunity.” You never know which one is going to hit a client. When you do get the job offer, it’s a big win. Fortunately, I put enough spaghetti on the wall so some of it does stick!

  • What I enjoy most is: Ease and speed of my daily routine.
  • What I enjoy least: Dealing with finicky technology. Nearly all of my career’s most memorable scary moments involve technology failing at extremely inopportune times.

How to Keep a Voice Over Career Going

Even though I miss some aspects of the earlier days of voice over, and I am still not a big fan of technology, at no point did I ever want to throw in the towel to pursue another career. As with any type of freelance career, income can fluctuate. But even during years when we didn’t make as much money as we’d hoped, I’m still making more than I would at any other job that uses my education, experience, and skills.

The strategies I used to keep my voice over career going can be used by anyone in any career. They are:

  • Look forward, not back: Remember, the past is always rosier in your mind, and new things can be even more exciting.
  • Know your limitations: There was no doubt I was not a computer person, and I never pretended to be.
  • Learn and adapt: I was willing to learn what I needed to stay in the game. This reminds me of an Eleanor Roosevelt quote: “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” And I certainly thought I couldn’t do all those computer tasks!
  • Get a game plan: Those six months of preparing for a voice over career gave me a solid path and foundation for moving forward.
  • Keep your eye on the prize: Voice over work was and is my passion. No matter what challenges I need to face, I remind myself daily how lucky I am to have a job I love.

Will I still love voice over with artificial intelligence (AI) honing in? Ask me again in two years (kidding)! You can check out my take on voice over and AI in my next article: “Is the Golden Age of Voice Over Gone? Part Two: Here Comes AI.” Stay tuned!  

Voice Over Trends 2022: Hottest Marketing Trends You Don’t Want to Miss

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Hop on your computer or smartphone, and within seconds you’re sure to end up running across a video. Or two. Or three. Voice over trends in video has been steadily gaining steam as one of the most popular ways to connect with your target audience. And the audience loves it, too.

In fact, 99% of the respondents to a video marketing survey said they enjoy watching online video content from brands.

That said, it’s no surprise that three of the top voice over trends for 2022 all happen to be related to video. They are:

While brands can certainly DIY with video, it’s imperative they deliver quality. That means quality content, quality footage and quality audio. A seasoned voice over pro can contribute greatly to the latter, helping to transform a run-of-the-mill vlog, social or interactive video into a compelling piece that perfectly speaks for and aligns with your brand. Here’s how.

Voice Over Trends & Vlogs

We all know about blogs (you’re reading one now). Since their introduction in the mid-1990s, blogs have become one of the most common ways for both businesses and individuals to share information. But with more than 600 million blogs currently on the internet, getting people to pay attention to your blog may be no easy feat.

Video blogs, or vlogs, can help gain new attention. Instead of reading words on a page, your audience is treated to a video on the screen. And if you want it to succeed, it needs to go beyond a video of you just sitting there reading your blog. A vlog script is going to be written a lot differently than a straight-up blog post.

Vlogs present a prime opportunity to:

  • Showcase your brand style and personality
  • Create a human connection between your business and your audience
  • Keep people coming back for more

Why You Want It

Vlogs have become a hot commodity, and with good reason. They get results.

How Voice Over Contributes to Vlog Success

The tone and style of your writing gets your brand personality across in your blogs. The right voice over artist does the same for your vlogs. That means you want to pay careful attention to the voice you choose. Sure, you need just the right tone and style. But you also need just the right sound.

A rugged, masculine brand, for instance, may lose credibility if the voice in your vlog sounds like a preppy, 20-something barista. And your peppy, energetic brand may lose customers if you deliver a vlog with an overly mature and/or serious voice.

The main aim of a vlog is to build a friendly, trusting relationship with your viewers—and the voice you use can play a huge role in making this happen. You want a casual and welcoming tone that reflects the style and personality of your brand. While this may be a tricky task for some, it’s a regular part of the job for voice over artists.

You can also look for voice over talent who not only have experience reading scripts, but editing or even writing them as well.

Social Video Marketing 

Social media videos can be posted on your social feed or as a social media story, on platforms that range from Facebook to Instagram, from TikTok to Twitter. Where you post your video depends on where your target audience hangs out.

You can also use a variety of different video types to meet a wide range of goals. These include:

  • Explainer videos that explain how a product or service works
  • Educational videos for providing tips, guides and other info while creating brand awareness
  • Brand history videos that outline your brand’s origin and creation
  • Behind-the-scenes videos that give viewers a sneak peek into your company
  • Brand anthem videos, which outline why your brand exists

Why You Want It

When done right, social video marketing is incredibly effective for grabbing attention—and results.

  • Social video generates 1200% more shares than images and text combined.
  • People retain 95% of a message when they see it on video, compared to the 10% retention rate of text.
  • Brands that use video grow revenue 49% more quickly than those that don’t use video.

How Voice Over Trends Contribute to Social Media Video Success 

People tend to barrel through their social media feeds at rapid speeds. The only way to gain any attention is to deliver something that grabs and holds their attention. A high-quality video can be that something.

It’s a simple next step to make sure the voice aligns with the type of video and information being presented. Common sense can assist in matching the right voice with the right product or service.

And just because you have a variety of different video types doesn’t mean you need to hire a variety of different voice over actors. The most skilled voice over performers are able to match their tone and style with the type of video and information at hand. Once you find a voice that aligns with your brand, you may be able to use that same voice for every video project in the hopper.

Interactive Videos  

Unlike linear video where the viewer passively watches the video on the screen, interactive video (IV) invites people to click or otherwise make selections that make an action occur.

Interactive video quizzes are a good example. Depending on the answer you provide, they either move to a screen that says you’re right or one that says you’re wrong.

A more advanced example would be an interactive video in which you are able to choose different pairs of shoes, shirts and other apparel…that completes with a model wearing the items you selected.

Interactive video has the power to:

  • Make your video more compelling and effective
  • Draw the viewer into the content
  • Make a memorable impact, particularly for training and learning videos

Why You Want It

Just how much more compelling and effective is interactive video? Interactive video:

  • Delivers up to four times more engagements and conversions over linear video
  • Averages a click-through rate that’s 10 times higher than passive video
  • Increases the completion rate of watching the entire video by 36%

How Voice Over Trends Contribute to Interactive Video Success 

One of the greatest allures of interactive video is giving control to the viewer. It’s the viewer who makes the decisions and determines where the interaction will take them. With this in mind, you need a voice that is friendly and welcoming but in no way pushy or overbearing.

Some may also incorrectly believe that interactive video dumbs things down, or makes things too simplistic. Although it is true that IV is a staple in the gaming and K-12 e-learning environment, the concept can be effectively used for many other applications.

Interactive videos can deliver complex information in a way that’s both compelling and sophisticated, providing an experience that’s on the same knowledge level as the viewers. In this case you’d want a voice that’s again welcoming, but not too causal or overly enthusiastic. A voice that feels like it’s actually speaking to the viewer/listener one-on-one, in a real conversation, keeper the viewer engaged for the entire video.

In short, your interactive video is best poised to get the results you want if it has the voice you need. And that voice had better be consistent. Unlike linear video that can be recorded in one fell swoop, interactive video is typically made up of several different components.

The video may have different branches, events and overlays that pause for a viewer to make a decision—and then resume down the selected path once the decision is made. Your voice over needs to be consistent throughout all the different components, even if those components are recorded at different times.

For viewers in a hurry, providing a downloadable audio summary of the video can deliver an overview of all the info the video contains. Of course, your voice over talent could record that, too.

With vlogs, social video marketing and interactive video topping the list of voice over trends for 2022, there’s no doubt video will continue to explode in the marketing world. As more and more brands produce it, the stiffer the competition becomes. It’s become more essential than ever to give your videos the edge that make them stand out from the pack. Adding professional voice over video narration can be just the element to make that happen.

Emotional Branding: The Power of Emotional Video Narratives

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While we humans like to think we’re in control, making decisions based on logic and rational thought, we’re really not. In fact, up to 90% of our decisions are based on emotion. Yet we’re not always apt to admit that, even to ourselves.

We instead justify our actions, explaining to ourselves and others why buying that flashy new sports car instead of the practical minivan was a rational decision based on logic and fact.

Even when people deny the power emotions have to persuade them, they still fall under their spell. That’s exactly why emotional branding is such a powerful and effective technique.

You got a good taste of emotional marketing in our brand anthem blog, and now you’re getting the full entrée on emotional branding—topped off with examples of compelling video narration in action.

What Is Emotional Branding?

Emotional branding is a marketing technique that uses the power of emotion to build a relationship between a brand and its prospects and customers. The benefits of emotional branding are enormous, with the ability to:

  • Differentiate your brand from the competition
  • Create a human connection and positive brand recognition
  • Increase brand loyalty, resulting in greater retention and customer lifetime value

The term was first introduced by Marc Gobé in his 2001 book “Emotional Branding: The New Paradigm for Connecting Brands to People.” And the concept has been on fire ever since.

His book introduces the 10 Commandments of Emotional Branding, which outlines how brands sell products not just because the products are useful—but because they produce experiences and forge emotional connections.

10 Commandments of Emotional Branding

Gobé’s commandments focus on the transformation of ideas associated with the traditional marketing mindset into concepts aligned with emotional marketing. Here’s a quick paraphrasing of all 10:

  1. Not consumers, but respected individuals.
  2. Not products, but things that create memorable life events.
  3. Not only honest but trusted. People expect brands to talk about being honest. Go one better by building brand loyalty through likability and trust.
  4. Not quality, but preferred. Go beyond a focus on the quality of your product. Dig into the preferences of your target audience to make sure you remain the preferred brand producing the preferred products.
  5. Not notoriety, but an aspiration. Being well-known is good. Being a brand that delivers a good feeling and emotional connection is even better.
  6. Not identity, but personality. Just because your brand has a clear identity doesn’t mean it has a charismatic personality with strong values.
  7. Not function, but feelings. Make your products more than a practical solution to a need. Craft them to embody an emotional experience that aligns with aesthetics.
  8. Not ubiquity, but presence. Being everywhere isn’t as effective as having a strong presence in places where your target audience hangs out.
  9. Not communication, but dialog. Give up your one-sided conversation in favor of an interactive dialogue with feedback, accessibility, and social proof.
  10. Not service, but relationships. Don’t just sell products. Connect with your audience to establish loyalty, taking their suggestions and making them feel they are part of your brand.

The Art of Persuasion

Putting the commandments to work takes even more strategy. An effective one is to couple them with the three pillars of persuasion introduced by Aristotle. Those pillars are:

  • Ethos: Appeal to credibility and authority
  • Pathos: Appeal to empathy and emotion
  • Logos: Appeal to logic and reason

Ethos is connected to the credibility and values of your brand’s personality. You want to showcase how your quality products are backed by a company with strong moral and ethical values. Strengthen your brand ethos by being transparent with your company policies, impeccable customer service, dependability, and reliability.

Pathos appeals to empathy or stirring up the desired emotions in your target audience. Do this by creating a sense of urgency for making a purchase, along with delivering a sense of safety and belonging. Ignite emotion through your communication and marketing.

Logos refers to the logical side of it all. No matter how good you are at exciting emotions, people aren’t likely to buy your products or services unless they deliver high-quality options that actually perform. Feature product specs, service details, and customer reviews.

All three elements can be highlighted through customer feedback, with visible reviews and social proof supporting the overall appeal of your brand.

Emotional Motivators

Another important aspect of emotional branding is paying attention to emotional motivators, or the feelings that drive customer behavior. But what are they? The consumer intelligence firm of Motista set out to define and measure them. And that they did, coming up with a list of more than 300 emotional motivators that drive consumers to action.

Here are 10 of the most powerful for driving action across a broad range of industries and categories. People are emotionally motivated by a desire to:

  1. Stand out from the crowd
  2. Have confidence in the future
  3. Enjoy a sense of well-being
  4. Feel a sense of freedom
  5. Tap into a sense of thrill
  6. Feel a sense of belonging
  7. Protect the environment
  8. Be the person they want to be
  9. Feel secure
  10. Succeed in life

Emotional Branding vs. Emotional Marketing

One more note may seem obvious but still merits a mention. Emotional branding refers to the overall strategy of building a brand that connects to people’s emotions, aspirations, and needs. Emotional marketing does the same thing, but it may only apply to specific advertisements or marketing campaigns.

Brands don’t necessarily need to invest in an overall emotional branding strategy to get results from emotional marketing. Yet using the two concepts together has a way of creating the most memorable experiences.

Emotional Appeal Using Video Narration

Video marketing has exploded, and it’s also one of the best ways to create a coveted emotional connection with your audience. The most effective emotional videos contain striking visuals, a polished script, storytelling elements—all supported by compelling video narration.

You’ll see what I mean with the following examples, all of which use elements of emotional branding or marketing to heighten their effectiveness.

Video Narration: Farm Bureau Insurance

This brand anthem video example uses:  

  • Storytelling
  • Emotional motivators: confidence in the future, sense of well-being, feeling secure, succeeding in life

Video Narration: Insurance Noodle

This explainer video uses:

  • Storytelling
  • Emotional motivators: stand out from the crowd (of other insurance agents), feeling secure, succeeding in life
  • User statistics to strengthen authority and credibility

Video Narration: CARFAX  

This corporate video uses:

  • Storytelling
  • Emotional motivators: confidence in the future, feeling secure

Getting Started with Emotional Branding

Now that you have a basic understanding of emotional branding and are aware of its many benefits, it’s time to try it on for size. You don’t necessarily have to start off by revamping your entire brand strategy. Give it a go on a smaller scale with a video or two.

When you’re ready, feel free to reach out to request a custom audition or quote for video narration. I’m always happy to help.

The Brand Anthem: What It Is, Why You Need One

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What do powerful songs, movies and really good books have in common? They stir up enough emotion for you to remember them forever (or at least a really long time). A brand anthem, when done right, can do exactly the same.

Brand anthems are one of the hottest things in marketing right about now, although they’re not necessarily the newest thing. Also known as brand manifestos, brand anthems have been around for years. Whether you’re familiar with the concept or just learning about it now, brand anthems remain a timeless way to bare and share your company’s soul.

Brand Anthem Explained

A brand anthem is a declaration of what your brand is all about. It proclaims who you are, what you stand for and—perhaps most importantly—why you exist. While you may immediately think of a song when you hear the word anthem, you won’t find any brand anthems blaring over loudspeakers at a baseball game. The ones with the biggest impact are showing up as brand anthem videos.

Unlike the explainer video that talks about the how, or straight-up commercials that tell you all about the what, brand anthem videos focus on the why.

Why do you do what you do?

The why gets to the heart of a company’s passion and purpose. And if you can open that heart to your audience, your brand anthem will be one powerful declaration indeed.

Example of a Brand Anthem Video

One of the best ways to get the gist of a brand anthem video is to see one in action, like this example from my web video narration library.

This particular video is only 1 minute and 22 seconds long. But we don’t even get a hint of the product or company behind the video until a good 45 seconds into the clip. That’s because the video is not about the product or the company.

It’s all about the purpose behind the company’s product, the why. And why should you buy life insurance? Because you’re sharing the love with someone you care for. Or, as the company so sweetly sums it up: “Life insurance is love insurance.”

What a Brand Anthem Does

One of the most obvious effects of a well-crafted brand anthem is its ability to make an emotional connection with the audience. Emotions are a potent force that can:

  • Make your brand more memorable, with people remembering things that stirred up emotion much more easily than they remember a lineup of statistics or facts
  • Gain more attention, for both your company and your content; people particularly love sharing videos that leave them feeling warm, fuzzy, empowered, and altogether good
  • Create new customers, as emotion is the bigger driving force behind purchasing decisions than logic or rational thinking (even though people like to think they make purchasing decisions based on logic)
  • Strengthen bonds with existing customers, resulting in increased customer loyalty and enthusiastic brand advocates

And those are just the benefits outside your organization. Internally, a brand anthem can unite employees behind a specific purpose while increasing enthusiasm and drive.

How to Create a Brand Anthem

Now that you know what a brand anthem is and why it’s important for every company to have one, you may be wondering how to create one. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither is a brand anthem.

Your first step is to really sit down and think about why your company exists in the first place. And no, making money is not going to fly as the basis behind an effective brand anthem.

You instead want to brainstorm about your brand identity.

  • Who is your brand?
  • What are you serious about?
  • Why do you do what you do?
  • What is the driving force behind your existence?

Feel free to write down everything that comes to mind, as companies can be complex entities. But once you have loads of notes and thoughts compiled, it’s essential to boil it all down to a singular, unified message.

Think: “Life insurance is love insurance.”

Is there a particular tagline, purpose or mission statement that sums up your company? Identify it. Smooth it out. Then create a video that supports it.

Key Elements of an Effective Brand Anthem Video

Brand anthem videos can vary wildly, from the highly sensational to the straightforward and down-to-earth. Regardless of the particular style or specific message, all the exceptional ones have a number of elements in common.

Emotional Charge

You want to create a video that makes viewers say, “Wow.” Leave existing customers with a strong sense of pride for being associated with your brand. Make potential customers eager to learn more about your business. Skip facts and figures for a focus on feelings.

Straightforward, Unified Message

You don’t have to say a lot to have a lot of impact. Keep your central message in mind and make sure every element in your video supports it. Don’t go off on tangents or overload your video with needless info. A clear and concise message is often the most captivating.

Focus on the Story, Not the Sale

Sure, your products and services come with immense benefits and features. But your brand anthem video is not the place to share them. You instead want to create a platform where a story unfolds, one that your purpose helps end happily ever after.

High-Quality, Compelling Visuals

Video gives you a chance to showcase captivating visuals. Take advantage of it. Whether you use dramatic footage of a natural landscape or adorable shots of a happy family, give viewers something enticing to watch. Hint: a talking head behind a desk is not all that enticing.

Impeccable Narration

Your brand anthem video showcases what your brand is all about. That means you need just the right voice to properly convey your message. This applies to the style and tone of your written video script, as well as the voice over narration of your finished product. Don’t skimp on either one. Go with a pro that can get it right.

Voice Over for Brand Anthem Videos

While voice over narration is important in all types of videos, it becomes even more so when used to support a brand anthem. That’s because the voice over actor has to double duty. Their voice must:

  1. Match the tone and style of your message
  2. Elicit strong emotion in your audience

Think carefully about the type of voice that may be able to do both for your company, and ask for plenty of custom auditions along the way. Whether your anthem works best with a sultry or serious female voice or the voice of a grizzled old man, you’ll know it when you hear it. It will align perfectly with your visuals, music and message. When done right, your brand anthem video will send tingles down your spine. And do exactly the same for your audience.

Contact Debbie to request an audition or request a voice over quote for your next video project now.

10 Things Every Home Studio MUST Have to Create High-Quality Voice Over Audio

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Even with the best voice, the best script and the best editing and direction, your voice over project is not likely to make the cut without one other key ingredient: a well-equipped home studio that can produce quality voice over audio. The overall quality of your recordings is only going to be as good as the methods and equipment you use to capture and control the sound.

With more than 25 years in the voice over industry, I’ve landed on the essential components that I need in order to create the high-quality voice over audio my clients expect. Here are the top 10 things every home studio must have to do the same.

1. High-Quality Microphone

The higher the quality of your microphone, the better the quality of your recordings.

If you’re serious about a professional voice over career, the microphone is one place you don’t want to skimp. At all. Sure, there are dozens of microphones available in the lower price range – but investing in a really good mic is one investment you will never regret.

The microphone is the main tool you use to capture your voice. The better it sounds, the better you’ll sound.

My years of experience have made me a big fan of Neumann microphones. My current model is the Neumann TLM 102 Microphone. This particular mic is rather small and compact, yet its sound quality and versatility are amazing.

When I upgraded to this mic several years ago, I sound-tested four other very high quality microphones along with this one in my studio. I believe the TLM 102 was actually the lowest priced of all of the mics tested, yet when comparing the sound of my voice on all five mics, it was clear that this was the right mic for me. Someone with a different tone or register might have chosen a different option. So, the best mic for you may not be the most expensive mic that you can find. You should find the best quality mic that is a good fit for your voice but at the most reasonable price point.

My favorite features of the mic include:

  • Compact size: Doesn’t get in the way of viewing my scripts or screens
  • TLM technology: TLM stands for “transformerless.” That means the typical output transformer you find in microphones is replaced by an electronic circuit, which results in low noise and high clarity.
  • Built-in boost: There’s a vocal quality known as “sweetness,” which makes vocals really stand out. This mic has the capacity to enhance that quality, adding smoothness and dimension to vocal recordings.

2. Microphone Accessories 

Microphone accessories, like a microphone stand, shock mount and pop filter, can help enhance the sound quality even further.

The exceptional sound of a quality microphone can easily be ruined with excessive noise from other sources. These can include handling, mechanical interference and popping sounds made from fast-moving air when you’re speaking or singing. Three accessories can help decrease the chances of all of the above.

  • Microphone stand: This keeps the mic steady and stable while freeing up your hands for other things.  I actually have my stand mounted to the wall on a versatile boom arm. It is important that the mic stand be free standing and NOT attached to your desk to avoid extraneous noise and vibration. Even a floor stand can pick up vibration.
  • Shock mount: This piece of equipment supports your mic. It’s designed to reduce noise caused by mechanical vibrations and handling.
  • Pop screen: Noise protection that reduces or altogether eliminates popping sounds in vocal recordings. I definitely prefer the metal screen vs. the fabric screen.

Another perk of high-quality microphones is often finding some of these features already included. For instance, the Rode microphone I use as a backup/travel mic has a built-in pop screen. My TLM102 came with two types of shock mounts and I tend to prefer the elastic suspension style.

3. Audio Software, Quality Computer 

Also known as a digital audio workstation (DAW), audio software is what you use to record and edit.

Recording and editing software is a must, as is a quality computer that’s compatible with the DAW you choose. Slow or outdated computers can really kill your efficiency and productivity.

My DAW of choice is Adobe Audition Audio Software. It has tons of useful features that let me easily edit, clean up and enhance my recordings. It also has capabilities for restoring damaged recordings, adding music to fit an exact duration of time, and expertly exporting recordings. 

I originally used Sony Sound Forge which worked great for many years… Until Sony sold it to another company who completely failed on many levels. I was forced to change software programs a few years back, and it was kind of a painful transition. But, the way I do things now is much more speedy and efficient for editing.

4. Mic Preamp, Processor

A mic preamp amplifies the microphone signal, while a processor provides additional power to the preamp. They’re often combined in a single unit.

For best results with your recordings, both a mic preamp and processor are essential for your home studio. Most microphones have very low outputs, and a preamp ensures the output is boosted to a usable level. While most audio interfaces and mixers have built-in preamps, they may not be powerful enough to achieve the most professional results.

You can find the mic preamp and processor combined into a single unit, which is the case with my Harman DBX 286s Mic Preamp/Processor. This piece of equipment is a full channel strip processor with a quality preamplifier and four different processors. Each processor brings a different benefit to the sound quality. The four processors can be used independently or in any combination with the others.

Be aware that sometimes producers and engineers prefer that you NOT use any processor on your recording. I now use just a touch of processing on most recordings, but for many years I recorded very raw audio and let the producer tweak it to whatever degree they needed. You have to be careful with processors and not overdo it.

5. Mixer 

Mixers are used in home recording studios to combine and process audio signals, and then route them where they need to go.

In addition to letting you combine and route audio signals in a convenient way, the best mixers even let you change the dynamics of the sound. While it’s true many DAWs and other software programs have audio mixing capabilities, some voice over artists prefer the real knobs, buttons and faders you find on the hardware mixers.

I am one of those artists. I use the Mackie Onyx 820i Pro Mixer. This compact mixer allows me to quickly and intuitively adjust audio levels and other attributes to produce the exact sound I’m going for. It’s also one of my favorite pieces of home studio equipment. They don’t make them anymore, but a couple years back I bought a second Mackie Onyx, just to have as a backup.

6. ISDN Voice Over Equipment

Officially known as Integrated Services Digital Network, ISDN enables recording studios to connect with voice over talent working remotely in their home studios.

In the old days, you used to have to show up in person to record with a client in a professional recording studio. Today, all you need is a connecting platform to connect your DAW/computer to the recording studio. ISDN was the original in this regard. ISDN has been around since the mid-1980s, and although there are now several competing platforms (Source Connect, ipDTL and even Skype) it remains to go-to standard for remote recording sessions for most recording studios and many voice over actors across the world.

CAVEAT: Be aware that ISDN is a soon-to-be-extinct dinosaur (although how soon nobody knows) so if you are a new voice talent, you probably won’t want to invest in ISDN and instead use something like Source Connect. That being said, I still prefer ISDN sessions over all other options.

The quality of the audio is so good on ISDN, you feel like you’re standing in your client’s recording booth, wherever that may be. It’s also good enough to capture the recording on the client’s end, which means you don’t have to record, edit and upload the files yourself. All is recorded in real time as if you were actually in their studio.

I’ve been using ISDN for twenty years, and my ISDN voice over equipment of choice is Musicam Suprima LC and Telos Zephyr.

There are other good less expensive alternatives to ISDN, my preference being Source Connect. Most VO talent and production companies are moving away more and more from ISDN, mostly because of telephone company costs involved and the fact that phone companies are phasing out this service over time.

7. Studio Headphones

Studio headphones are a lot different than your standard headphones. Those differences are what make them essential for home recording studios.

Even the highest-quality pair of standard headphones isn’t going to be useful for recording. They simply aren’t designed for the job. Studio headphones are. Being designed for the job means:

  • Providing accurate sound. Studio headphones give you the authentic sound of your audio, whereas standard headphones tend to automatically modify the audio in some way to make it sound more appealing. While you may want your music to sound better when you listen to it, you don’t want your voice to be enhanced in any way. You want to know exactly how it sounds as you’re recording it.
  • Having a wider frequency range. Standard headphones typically can’t detect background noises or other distortions that occur at extremely high or low frequencies. Studio headphones can. This allows you to remove the distortions as needed.
  • Being higher quality. Studio headphones tend to have superior construction. This makes them more comfortable, durable and longer-lasting.

8. Studio Monitors

You need at least one computer monitor to use your audio software, and adding a second one comes with many additional benefits.

I lived with a single computer monitor for years, as that’s technically all you need to access your DAW. The monitor can display your audio software controls, allowing you to use your keyboard and mouse to control your recording sessions in real time.

When we installed a new voice over recording system, I had a second studio monitor installed. Wow. It makes a huge difference in my productivity. The second monitor gives me access to everything else during a recording session. This includes emails, computer files, scratch videos the client sent via Hightail or DropBox, videos or online information, and even Skype.

My full setup has two monitors in both my office and my recording studio (four total). It took some design and detailed understanding of how to get this all setup. Fortunately, I have a husband who has knowledge in these areas and was able to consult with the right people to figure out what we needed.

9. Sound Card or Audio Interface

A critical part of your sound chain setup, sound cards and audio interfaces allow you to get the sound into and out of your computer.

Many professional voice over actors still like to use a sound card, as it can greatly affect the recording quality of your microphone. I use the Echo MiaMIDI computer sound card, which was easy to set up, easy to use, and helps with my audio editing when I’m using Adobe Audition.

However, going with the common theme here of things no longer being available, you can’t find this sound card anymore. I hear more and more that the audio interfaces are more common and preferred these days, so I suggest you do research on those for this aspect of your recording setup.

10. Soundproof Treatment

Soundproofing enhances the quality of your recordings by keeping unwanted noise out of your studio.

Whether it’s a truck going by outside or footsteps in the next room, external noises can be picked up by high-quality microphones. While you can get rid of some unwanted noise during the editing process, it’s not always possible to get rid of all of it. Besides, it’s preferable to spend the time and effort during editing working to improve the overall recording, not fix things that are wrong with it.

There are dozens of different soundproofing options, from professional installation to DIY varieties.

Watch out for tricky things like the sound of water running through pipes in the walls, air conditioning or furnace noise and, of course, the dreaded lawn equipment noise. One of the most important decisions is which room to convert into your studio. We had to move from a room located in the front of the house to a walk-in closet on the backside of our house, just to avoid the neighbors’ lawn equipment.

You can enhance the quality of sound in your studio even further by combining soundproofing with an acoustic treatment. Acoustic treatments are designed to absorb excessive ambiance to make the acoustics in the room sound better.

And, while most people pay attention to the walls and ceiling, it’s easy to forget about sound-proofing the floor. A thick pad can do wonders for knocking out low frequency vibrations.

In Conclusion…

With these 10 components in place, your home studio will be equipped to produce high-quality voice over recordings indicative of true professional. You’ll also enjoy a setup that lets you perform your work in the most efficient and effective way. Doing your research and investing in quality equipment is definitely worth the time and effort, as it will provide you with everything you need to produce exceptional recordings for years to come.

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Obstacles that Can Get in the Way of Following Your Dreams

by

Following Your Dreams

Following your dreams takes a lot of faith and courage. But it also requires persistence – the ability to keep on keeping on regardless of the obstacles that may crop up. And there can be many. While you may think obstacles only come from outside forces, the opposite is also true. In fact, the greatest obstacles tend to be those we create for ourselves.

Be sure to also check out part one of this two part series on Following Your Dreams.

Self-Doubt

Even the most successful and seemingly confident people have experienced self-doubt at some time in their lives. It’s a perfectly normal human trait. Those who have followed their dreams to success are the ones who have overcome it. Overcoming self-doubt involves nipping it in the bud. Realize when it’s plaguing you and then make a conscious effort to change your mindset.

Tips to help you conquer self-doubt include:

  • Surrounding yourself with positive, successful people
  • Paying attention to the positive feedback you get, not negative comments
  • Not worrying what other people think. Base your decisions on what you think is right, not what you think other people think is right.
  • Not comparing yourself to others. You don’t do yourself any favors by gauging your success as it compares to the success of others.
  • Set a series of smaller goals, in addition to your big goal, so you’re consistently achieving a series of wins.

Frustration, Giving Up Too Early

No one said following your dream would be easy, or that attaining it would be instantaneous. It can take incredibly hard, incredibly tenacious work to make it happen. You have to be in it for the long haul, no matter what. If you give up too early or too easily, it’s not going to happen.

When Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz was trying to raise money from investors to make his coffee shop dreams come true, he hit a major brick wall… More than 200 of them, in fact. He spoke to 242 potential investors during the year he was trying to raise money – and 217 of them said no.

Colonial Sanders is another great example of persistence. He was 65 years old when the restaurant he owned failed and he went to plan B. His plan was to share his special chicken recipe with restaurants for free, in exchange for the restaurants giving him a percentage of the chicken sale profits. He got 1,009 rejections before someone agreed to his plan.

Those are two great examples to keep in mind when you feel frustrated and feel like giving up. Remember their stories, along with the old sales adage that says you’re going to get 20 “No’s” before you get a “Yes.”

Not Pushing Hard Enough

Not only are rejections par for the course, but they can also be an indication that you’re on the right track. If you go out of your way to only get a yes and avoid a no, you’re probably not pushing hard enough, according to author Andrea Waltz. She says this type of behavior “leads to a mediocre life where you’re always in your comfort zone.”

The success of your dreams is not where you are in your comfort zone, but above it. You have to grow and meet it if you want it. A few ways to push harder include:

  • Imagining yourself getting to your next level. Focus on what that next level is, and what you need to do get there.
  • Taking on a little bit more than you think you can. Challenge yourself to bigger and better things all the time.
  • Looking at how other people got where you want to be.
  • Remaining inspired and motivated. This can come from inspirational quotes, videos, images, meditations and support from someone on your side.

World Events, Such as COVID-19

Once you get past all the self-made barriers stopping you from following your dreams, you may still face forces beyond your control. What’s going on with the coronavirus is a prime example of this. With so many businesses operating on limited hours or, in some cases, not at all, you may think this is the worst time to follow your dreams.

That’s not necessarily true. You can still do the legwork for following your dreams. Perhaps you can enroll in classes or training you were too busy to tackle, or catch up on your industry reading or networking. You can also look for opportunities within the situation, rather than excuses for letting it slow you down.

Look for a need, and then offer to fill it. In my voice over business, for instance, I’ve made sure clients know I’m available for new messaging, commercial spots, retail in-store announces, IVR system recordings and more providing updated information or changing schedules due to COVID-19.

One final tip is to stay positive and optimistic. This is another mindset you can learn to cultivate with repeated efforts over time. As Sam Altman says in his “How to Be Successful” post: “I have never met a very successful pessimistic person.” So don’t let outside circumstances – or your own thinking – take you down and out. Keep moving forward, heading onward and upward instead.

Be sure to also check out part one of this two part series on Following Your Dreams.

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Debbie Grattan is a top-rated professional female voice over talent with more than 25 years of experience delivering voice over services worldwide. She regularly records commercial voice overs for radio and tv as well as infomercial voice overs and direct response marketing for children's toys, health, fitness and beauty products. Other specialties include female narration voice overs for corporate narration, web videos, tutorials, explainer videos and technical medical narration. Debbie also provides phone-related voice over services including phone prompts, messages-on-hold and outbound phone marketing for companies in the United States and Canada.

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