Voice over is the spoken narration of a script, whether it’s for a video, commercial, or documentary. Often, a good voice over script requires careful planning and preparation to ensure that it will sound natural and engaging. The best professional voice actors will always have a strong grasp on what their pacing should be for each project, ensuring that they can clearly separate ideas in a way that makes it easy to follow along.
Having a clear script will also make it easier for the voice actor to focus on what they are recording, rather than worrying about what they might forget or leave out. There is nothing that will annoy a client more than hearing a long string of “uhms” and “ahs” as the voice actor struggles to recall what they have just said!
Good enunciation and clear diction are important, but so is having a natural delivery that sounds like the person speaking. It can be difficult to achieve this, especially for newcomers to the field, which is why many professional voice actors take the time to prepare with a coach or with practice.
In addition, the age, gender, and accent of a voice actor can influence how well their work resonates with viewers. For example, a company with a security system might hire a male voice actor to deliver a scary and authoritative tone when creating a fear-based video. However, they might opt for a female voice actor with soothing qualities when making an educational video about their product.