Internet users have been consuming video material more and more in recent years. Hence, online video content is exploding. With videos drawing more and more user attention, the demand for voice-overs has increased. Businesses and brands are trying to meet this demand but may not find the success they were aiming for, falling into a common trap. Simply, if your project's voice-over is of poor quality, your video will not be good, no matter the overall quality. This article includes all the essential information you need to know about voice-overs, including what a voice-over is, what types are there, and how to do it. So without further ado, let's get to it!
What is a Voice-Over?
A voice-over is a production technique in which a voice that is not part of the scene is heard over the action. It is usually used in documentaries, movies, and video games. The voice-over is generally read from a script, and may be spoken by someone who appears elsewhere in the production or by a specialist voice talent.
In simpler terms, a voice-over is just someone talking while a video is playing. The voice-over might give information about what's happening in the video, or it might tell a story that goes along with the action in the video.
For example, in a news video about a natural disaster, the voice-over might be someone reading the news report. In a video about a product, the voice-over might be someone describing how the product works.
Generally, you can find voice-overs in the following (and more) types of videos:
1) Educational videos
2) Product videos
3) Explainer videos
4) How-to videos
5) Animated videos
6) Video games
Voice-Over Types
There are two main types of voice-over: narration and non-narration. Narration is when the voice-over tells a story or gives information about what's happening in the video. Non-narration videos are informational, educational, and instructional. This can also be used to great effect in commercials, corporate videos, and explainer videos.
Narration voice-overs are used to tell a story. The narrator is usually not a character in the story, but they might be. A good example of this is a documentary. The narration guides the viewer through the story, filling in gaps and providing information not shown on screen.
Non-narration is more for informational purposes. The voice-over in these videos is usually giving instructions or explaining something that is not necessarily happening on screen. These voice-overs are often more serious and straightforward than narration voice-overs. A good example of this would be an animated explainer video.
Whatever the type of content, a good voice-over should be clear, articulate, easy to understand, and match the tone of the video.
How to Do a Voice-Over?
Now that you know what a voice-over is, it's time to learn how to do one. Here's where you need to start:
1. Prepare
Before you begin, it's important to prepare the basics. If you don't have a professional space surrounded by sound-absorbing foam, make sure to find a place that's as quiet as possible, with proper acoustics.
You'll also need to have some equipment in place:
1) Microphone: A good microphone will make your voice sound clear and crisp. If you're just starting out, any decent-quality microphone will do the trick. But if you're looking to take your voice-over to the next level, invest in a professional-grade microphone.
2) Speakers or headphones: You'll need to be able to hear what you're recording. Make sure to get a good pair of speakers or headphones.
3) Recording software: While there are many options available, we recommend using Podcastle’s voice-over recording software, as it can help you meet demanding requirements and make stunning voice-overs with minimal equipment and no special skills (more on this later).
2. Write a Script
No matter what type of voice-over you're doing, you'll need a script. The script will act as your guide during the recording process and will help you stay on track. Having a script will also help you avoid making any mistakes and convey your message in an effective way. If you're not sure where to start, check out our guide on how to write a script.
3. Test Your Sound
Make sure you're recording in an environment free of distractions, and perform a test run before starting the actual recording. You don't need to read out the whole script and practice from the beginning to the end, but make sure to have enough covered so you can assess the desired configurations properly. Also test your equipment to make sure everything has been set up accurately.
4. Record The Voice Over
Now it's time to start recording the actual voice-over. Here are a few tips to help you throughout the recording process:
1) Speak clearly: This might seem like a no-brainer, but it's important to enunciate your words and speak clearly when recording a voice-over. Avoid mumbling or speaking too fast, as this will make it difficult for the listener to understand what you're saying.
2) Focus on your tone: The tone of your voice is just as important as the words you're speaking. Make sure to use inflection and emphasis where necessary and avoid sounding monotonous.
3) Take mistakes easy: Mistakes happen. If you make a mistake while recording, don't worry about it too much, and just keep going. You can always edit out the mistakes in post-production.
If You're Using Podcastle to Make a Voice-Over
Podcastle is the perfect tool for creating voice-overs, whether you're a beginner or a professional. With Podcastle, you can create high-quality voice-overs without any prior experience or expensive equipment.
Record Studio-Quality Audio
Podcastle uses advanced audio processing algorithms to clean up your recording and make it sound studio-quality. It eliminates all the background noise, freeing you from worrying about your environment. It also automatically adjusts your recordings for consistent sound volume. So if you have a tendency to move toward and away from your microphone, you won't be hurting your recordings.
Edit Your Audio with Ease
Podcastle's editing interface is designed to be as user-friendly as possible. Even if you've never edited audio before, you'll be able to figure it out in no time. And if you're a professional audio editor, you'll find all the features and tools you need to create the perfect voice-over.
You can apply Magic Dust to clean the background noise and auto-leveling to fix the volume levels, along with other helpful tools. Namely, Silence Remover will detect and eliminate all the silent segments from your audio automatically. You can have the AI highlight filler words, such as "um" and "ah," which you can then remove, each with a click.
You can also seamlessly edit recordings with several tracks by merging your clips and keeping them tight in sync. Use it before applying the Silence Remover, so that only the long pauses you want to remove are deleted from your recording.
Use AI to Turn Your Text Into a Voice-Over (With Your Own Voice)
Last but not least, with Podcastle's help, you can easily convert your text into a voice-over. Your text can be read via a set of realistic AI voices, or you can create a new voice and use it to make a clone of your own voice.
Revoice allows you to create a digital copy of your own voice that can be used like the other voice skins for Text-to-Speech generation. You can even "record" entire natural-sounding voice-overs by simply pasting your script into the Text Editor!
To create a clone of your voice, all you need to do is record yourself reading 70 pre-selected sentences. Once the 70 sentences are recorded, Podcastle's AI system will process and generate a digital copy of your voice within 24 hours of submission.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has helped you understand what a voice-over is and how to do one. Voice-overs are a great way to add an extra layer of depth and personality to your videos, and with the right approach, they can make a big impact.
If you're looking for an easy way to create professional-grade voice-overs, be sure to check out Podcastle and learn more about how it can help you create audio and visual content.
