Types of Voice Over Work

The voice-over industry is a dynamic and diverse field, offering numerous opportunities for voice talents to showcase their skills across various mediums. From commercials to audiobooks, voice-over work spans multiple industries and caters to a wide range of audiences. Below, we explore the different kinds of voice-over work available, highlighting the unique characteristics and requirements of each category.

Commercials are one of the most recognizable types of voice-over work. They appear on television, radio, and digital platforms, promoting products, services, or brands. Commercial voice-over artists must convey a clear and persuasive message within a short timeframe, often 15 to 60 seconds. Key qualities for commercial voice-over work include versatility, the ability to adjust tone and style to match different products, from luxury items to everyday goods, engagement, capturing the audience’s attention quickly, and clarity, ensuring the message is easily understood.

Narration involves telling a story or explaining concepts, often in a longer format. This type of work is common in documentaries, corporate videos, e-learning modules, and educational content. Documentary narrators guide viewers through compelling stories or factual content. The tone often depends on the subject matter—informative, dramatic, or reflective. Corporate videos, including promotional materials, internal communications, and training videos, require a professional and polished voice to represent the brand effectively. The e-learning sector demands clear and patient narrators who can articulate complex concepts. This type of work requires consistent energy and pacing to maintain learner engagement.

Audiobooks represent a growing sector in the voice-over industry, catering to literature lovers and multitaskers. Narrating an audiobook requires acting skills to bring characters to life through distinct voices and emotional depth, stamina to sustain vocal performance over hours of recording, and attention to detail to ensure pronunciation and pacing are impeccable, creating a smooth listening experience. Audiobook narration can range from novels and short stories to non-fiction, biographies, and self-help books.

The Voice Shop offers classes on Narration for Audiobooks with the incredible Piper Goodeve! Check them out here.

Animation voice-over work involves creating character voices for cartoons, animated films, and TV series. This highly creative field requires unique voices to craft distinctive and memorable characters, range to perform various roles, often in the same project, and expressiveness to convey exaggerated emotions and personalities. Voice-over artists in animation often work closely with directors to align their performances with the visual storytelling.

The video game industry provides numerous opportunities for voice-over artists, from voicing main characters to background NPCs (non-playable characters). Video game voice-over work is similar to animation but often involves interactive storytelling, delivering lines that respond to player actions, dynamic performances, shifting between various emotional states or scenarios, and recording variations, repeating lines with different inflections to match in-game contexts.

The Voice Shop also offers Animation/Video Game training and classes via Industry Expert Steve Tardio. Check our Class Schedule for availability.

Dubbing involves replacing the original audio of a film, TV show, or other content with a localized version in a different language. Voice-over artists in this field must sync audio to match the timing and lip movements of the original actor, maintain authenticity by capturing the emotions and intentions of the original performance, and adapt to culture by ensuring the voice aligns with cultural nuances and expectations. This work is critical for expanding the reach of content to global audiences.

Some voice-over work extends to singing, such as performing jingles for advertisements or voicing musical characters in animations. Singing voice-over artists should have musical talent, strong vocal control and pitch accuracy, and adaptability to sing in various styles and genres.

With the rise of technology, voice-over artists now contribute to artificial intelligence systems, such as virtual assistants (e.g., Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant) and text-to-speech software. Key aspects include delivering clear, neutral, and universally understandable speech, maintaining identical tone and pacing across extensive recordings, and patience in recording numerous phrases and words with precision.

Podcasts and audio dramas often require voice-over artists for storytelling, character roles, or even advertisements within episodes. This growing medium values engaging delivery to capture listener interest over longer durations and a natural flow with conversational and relatable tones for narrative or interview formats. Audio dramas, akin to radio plays, rely on dynamic acting and sound effects to immerse audiences in fictional worlds.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems are used in customer service, guiding callers through menu options. Telephone voice-over work requires clarity to ensure instructions are easily understood, professionalism to represent the company’s brand tone, and patience to speak at a measured pace to accommodate all listeners.

Promotional videos and explainer content are widely used in marketing, especially on social media and corporate websites. Voice-over artists in this field often simplify complex ideas to present information in an accessible way, align with branding to match the voice to the company’s identity, and drive engagement to encourage viewers to take action, such as subscribing or purchasing.

Voice-over talents are also employed for live events, such as award shows, sports games, and conferences. These roles require real-time adaptability to react to changes or unexpected scenarios, projecting confidence by speaking clearly to large audiences, and dynamic energy to keep the audience engaged and informed.

Medical and technical narration involves reading scripts filled with complex jargon, such as pharmaceutical commercials, training materials, or instructional videos. Artists must master pronunciation to articulate specialized terminology accurately, maintain authority to sound knowledgeable and trustworthy, and keep a steady pace to ensure the information is digestible for the target audience.

We recently interviewed a veteran of the medical VO space, Debbie Irwin. Read here full story here.

Voice-over artists also lend their talents to interactive toys, educational devices, and children’s learning tools. This category often requires playful and inviting tones to engage young audiences and character variety to create fun, distinct voices for different toys.

The voice-over industry offers a wide array of opportunities, catering to diverse skills and interests. Whether you prefer storytelling, character acting, or delivering educational content, there is a niche for everyone. Aspiring voice-over artists should explore various genres to identify their strengths and develop a versatile portfolio that showcases their range. With the increasing demand for audio content across industries, voice-over work continues to be a promising and rewarding career path.

To learn more about opportunities with the Voice Over space and how to learn, fill out the form here and schedule your free consultation! 

Wendy Lands: The Woman of 10,000 Voiceover Hours

Author Malcolm Gladwell says, “if you want to be an expert at anything, spend 10 years or 10,000 hours, and you’ll become one.”  Well Wendy, you made it.

As of one Canada’s most famous voices, Wendy Lands is a vocal star.  You’d have to be deaf to disagree.     

Enormously humble and overwhelmingly friendly, this renaissance woman of the microphone affects you right away, just by saying hello.  She embodies the term “The IT Factor.”      

But that became well known years before her voiceover career developed, because Wendy was once a charting record label singer.

By all indications, Wendy should have wound up as a singer. Music was in her life from her earliest recollections. “As an only child, I always felt different,” says Wendy, “But I was never pushed into all of this.” 

A proud college dropout like Michael Dell and Bill Gates, Wendy’s knowledge of the world superseded what University life offered her, so just like in high school which she also hated, “I just sort of tuned it out and dropped out of college.”

She got a record deal straight out of college, and this set the stage for what Wendy already knew; this was to be her life’s work. “It certainly became apparent when I was hearing myself on the radio singing a song.”

Wendy found voiceover to be more enjoyable than singing. And even at this level, Wendy still auditions for any new client she presents herself to. “And people want to be around me because I’m so easy going,” she tells me, “There’s an etiquette to being in the studio, and I know when to talk and when to not.” 

Perhaps most notable of all of Wendy’s credits is Canada’s most beloved commercial for BELL ATLANTIC of which Miss Lands of course is the voice for.

She hasn’t hit her stride. Wendy feels her very best work is the voicework to come.   But no question about it, she’s hit the 10,000-hour mark, and then some. 

Connect with Wendy:

https://www.wendylands.com/

Instagram 

Facebook 

TikTok  

Linkedin

Daisy Stracener: The New Flower in Voiceover

Daisy is as fresh as a spring day when it comes to voiceover. And although she may be new to the voiceover scene, she’s no stranger when it comes to the business of show. And right away, you can see the promise of the future:

With less than one year in the business full time, Daisy Stracener is showing encouraging signs of what could be.

“I’m definitely doing this for the rest of my life,” She says.  And at 41 years old, she’s been looking for the brass ring all of her life.

Since her childhood, Daisy has been interested in the stage. Learning tap-dancing at the age of four.

“When I was 10, my dad moved to LA and he brought me to the private art school Louis Caroll Academy.” So, Daisy was given the luxury of studying performing arts at a very young age. Through this, Daisy by-passed many subjects that normal middle schoolers were required to take as part of their curriculum.  It’s a concept that most American school systems do not facilitate, but in Daisy’s life, it was what gave her somewhat of a shortcut.

Her parents knew that this little girl wanted to be a part of the arts. Above is a photo taken in the living room, when Daisy wanted her parents to see what she had come up with for very important audience of two.

In 1998, Daisy was cast in the independent film “Baby Blues” and unlike the other cast mates, Daisy had her mind only on the project. This was an unusual mindset for a teenager. “I never partied, and my dad was my rock of Gibraltar, always there to keep me steady and focused,” she says. 

Caption: Daisy on the set of the movie “Baby Blues” circa 1998

By high school, Daisy was fully focused on a career in performing arts and in the year 2000, she began to perform in coming-of-age theatrical productions.

Caption: “The Educated Heart” circa 2000

“To me working a 9-5 would be depressing,” Daisy tells me. “And that was the last thing on my mind.” 

As life would have it, Daisy would go on to get married and have a child. While not a 9-5, this took her out of the quest for searching for the rainbow for some time.

But in 2021, a friend of hers suggested she try voiceover. Lightning can strike twice. For Daisy it did.

And so now at mid-age, Daisy is using all she learned from childhood, education and experience to create yet another career, one as a voice actor.

“It’s all acting,” she says. “The only difference is your audience is your microphone.”

And as fresh as the morning dew, the woman whose name represents that of a spring flower, is blossoming again. 

Connect with Daisy:

• LinkedIn

• Facebook

• Instagram

• Website

Debbie Irwin: The Late Bloomer in Voiceover

To say that Debbie Irwin is a late bloomer would be an understatement. “I didn’t discover voiceover until I was 45 years old,” she says.

Debbie Irwin in her VO Studio

With an enriching childhood being raised off and on in Rome, Debbie saw the world as so many children do not. “Nature is amazing, and I had a front row seat.”

Young Debbie with a horse statue in Rome

With a father as an entomologist, and a mother as a therapist, Debbie was immersed from the beginning with the importance of knowledge, education and learning.

Her parents pulled no punches on the importance of only the very best in education. So, while Debbie started at the University of Chicago, she wound up being a student of Brown University.

For the uninitiated, Brown holds the distinction as one of the world’s finest academic institutions in the Ivy League with only a chosen few allowed to attend.

“Brown was a happy healthy place, and I picked semiotics as my major which is the study of signs and symbols in cultures.,” Debbie tells me. And it was there at Brown, that Debbie took an interest in radio and TV.

Before voiceover she experienced the NYC scene in the 80s, working in various jobs, discovering herself and experiencing the phenomenon of disco. It permeated the New York night life and had an effect on millions of people around the world, and Debbie was right in the thick of it.

She even spent five years as a stockbroker. But when voiceover intercepted, Debbie became hooked…

Nowadays, Debbie’s forte is medical narration. It’s THE most difficult genre to master and THE leanest of all voiceover genres amongst voice over artists. But it appealed to Debbie because of its difficulty.

Hear Debbie’s masterful delivery of medical narration on her website: https://debbieirwin.com/medical/medical-narration/

Debbie’s talents are not limited to just medical narration:

Treasures of New York – Museum of Modern Art – Narrated by Debbie Irwin

Deeply entrenched in wellness, Debbie cares deeply about mental health issues.  Her devotion to living a full and happy life is evident in her work involving people’s emotions. It’s evident in her voice.

So now fully outfitted with a home studio, Debbie Irwin has reinvented herself into a medical and wellness voice talent that cares very much about the message she sends using her voice.

And at 67, Debbie, the late bloomer, has finally arrived.

Debbie and her husband Michael

Connect with Debbie on her website and social media:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

LinkedIn

Byron Wagner: The Wizard of Words in Voiceover

To say that Byron Wagner is not a wizard is beyond the grasp of how anyone would describe him. As one of the nation’s premier audiobook narrators, Byron is in a distinct fraternity of sound, which is popular only with the very few because “99 percent of all voiceover artists do not work in narration,” he tells me.

Byron describes his youth as less than impressive. ” I was the classic underachiever,” he tells me.   Born in Nebraska, the oldest of three boys,  Byron now lives in the thick of it in Los Angeles. But he was given a talent grant from Ohio University. And it was there that the philosophy of education was distinct. “Broadcasting and journalism should be fused.”  So, under that alignment, Byron began to think of voice and information as one item. “It had a huge effect on me.”

Byron (center) with his family.

Carved out by the system in his childhood as a gifted and talented student, “it wasn’t helpful because schools were molded for the working class,” Byron tells me. So, the now very well-known narrator could lean on his childhood background, being highly involved with acting and magic.

Byron, then and now, using his voice and creating “magic”.

Now, at the peak of his career as a narrator, Byron mentors (25) students at the same time to teach them everything he knows about voice and how to use it in the digital age. “And I realized early on that the radio business was not about art but about sales. “So, upon realizing that, I got out of the radio business.”   This opened him up to new audio worlds outside of radio, which was his beginning in the world of sound and voiceover.

As the inventor of audio codec, Byron was in a class of his own.

He created technology and taught others how to develop their talent while working in the voiceover business and audiobook narration.

But to be clear, “I did not create the underlying mathematical algorithm for compressing the digital audio. However, I created the first successful commercial real-time hardware implementation. Disney first used it on Lion King and increased $300 million in revenue.”

Now, at 72 years old, Byron produces thousands of words daily under the glowing pressure of authors and publishers, and it all works well. His career is that of a sophisticated artist in the purest sense. Audiobook narration from top writers. Teaching twenty-five students at a time. And remaining highly active and focused on technology as it continues to affect our modern world.

Just completing the audiobook of Henry Kissinger titled “Genesis,” Bryon is in a unique position. It’s called the top. The top of voiceover where very few can hang. But for the very few that can, they are in a class all by itself. It truly demonstrates wizardry. And that’s what makes Byron Wagner a wizard of words.

#voiceover #voicetraining #voiceactor #audiobooks #narration #ByronWagner

Rebecca Haugh: The Dream of Voiceover, that came from a Dream, Literally

Rebecca Haugh has a very cool life. She’s a voiceover artist who splits her time between Italy and California.

“And it all came to me in a dream,” she says. “I dreamed I saw a microphone through a window.”  Some people pay attention to dreams, and some don’t. Rebecca did. And that resulted in this.

Heavily cultured and degreed in television, film, and broadcasting, Rebecca had ample experience in all forms of show business before voiceover became a full-time occupation.

So, it wasn’t until later in life that Rebecca had an epiphany. “That’s how I’ll live internationally; I’ll do voiceover.”  And that’s exactly what she did, and it worked.

Rebecca’s first national ad.

Here, again, is an example of the gift that voiceover offers the cultured person. “I’m a digital nomad,” she says, “and I can be anywhere on earth from California to Rome and still deliver with the very same effectiveness.”

And she’s right. All the producer of any project is looking for is an exceptional performance. And Rebecca does that.

So, being as creative and seasoned as Rebecca, in fact, is - she imagined how to live a fascinating life in the arts, as she lives on the planet wherever she wanted to. It worked. www.LovethatRebecca.com

Educated at San Jose University, her fascination with broadcasting and all it entails took her down a road for years of being on-camera and remaining relative. And with a professor for a father and living as a playful kid in Culver City, Rebecca became an original. 

She could act. She could host. She could produce marketing and graphic design. She could do it all. And all that background led to the world of voiceover. “Because in VO, you do not have to live in LA or go to an office, and you can set the course of your life on your own terms.”

And Rebecca loves voiceover because of the anonymity. “Nobody knows who you are, and I like that,” she says. “I created this life.”

And amid this freedom, Rebecca created her project www.voimprov.com. It’s a way to teach the younger or older generation a great way to be original.

All of these ideas came to Rebecca through the course of several reinventions. From one stage to the next, she proved to herself that one size does not fit all. And she may be in the countryside of Rome, Italy, or somewhere in California, but you’d never know.

So, if you ever feel in a funk in your voiceover career, think about Rebecca Haugh. She took her dream of a microphone, which literally happened to her during sleep, and “I listened to that instinct.”

Next on her imaginative list is to host a show as the narrator. “I like animals, and I’d love to wind myself into narrating a show like that,” Rebecca tells me. “Not a serious show, but one written with a lighthearted touch.”

In summation, she is free to live in the business she loves and vagabond enough to live some in Italy and some in the U.S. Rebecca has the liberty to do anything she wants to do whenever she wants to do it.

Artistic people have a way, once seasoned, to create a life they want, not one a corporation has planned. And so, there is no question about it: Rebecca Haugh has a very cool life. What a dream!

Don’t Give Up - Get Started with Voiceover Recording

By Nate Meyers

Laying down the tracks of your voice can be a discouraging hill to climb. I know. It kept me from starting my journey for YEARS—no exaggeration—years. Just take that first step! I have some of the basics below for you. You’ll find that you can achieve great results with the right tools and a bit of practice! Let’s break it down step by step, making it as approachable as possible.

1. Choosing Your Equipment

Microphone

• Type: A good condenser microphone is your best friend in voiceover work. It captures the nuances of your voice beautifully. Don’t worry—many great options won’t break the bank! Models like the Audio-Technica AT2020 and Rode NT1 are fantastic choices for beginners.

Audio Interface

• Think of an audio interface as a bridge connecting your microphone to your computer. It’s essential for getting clear sound. Brands like Focusrite and PreSonus have beginner-friendly options that are easy to use.

Headphones

• Investing in a pair of closed-back headphones is a smart move. They’ll help you monitor your recordings without any distracting background noise. Models like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are popular for their comfort and sound quality.

Pop Filter

• A pop filter is a small, affordable accessory that can make a big difference. It reduces plosive sounds (like “p” and “b”) that can muddy your recordings. They’re easy to set up and well worth the investment.

Good equipment is essential but does not have to be expensive to get started.

 Acoustic Treatment

• Consider creating a cozy recording space. Soft furnishings like blankets or pillows can help absorb sound and reduce echoes. This is an easy way to enhance your audio quality!

2. Setting Up Your Recording Space

• Location: Find a quiet room to focus on your recording without interruptions. You’ll be amazed at how much this improves your sound quality!

3. Installing Your DAW

• Choose a DAW: A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is where the magic happens! Options like Audacity (free) or GarageBand (for Mac users) are user-friendly and perfect for beginners. Don’t hesitate to explore tutorials—they’ll make learning a breeze!

• Installation: Download and install your chosen DAW. The process is straightforward, and you’ll be up and running in no time!

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) like Garage Band are easy (and free) to use to capture your voiceover recordings.

 4. Connecting Your Equipment

• Connect the Microphone: If you have an XLR microphone, simply connect it to the audio interface. USB microphones are even easier—just plug them into your computer.

• Connect the Audio Interface: Plug your audio interface into your computer via USB. Follow any setup prompts, and you’re almost there!

• Headphones: Connect your headphones to the audio interface to hear yourself clearly while recording.

5. Configuring Your DAW

• Open Your DAW: Launch your DAW and let the creativity flow!

• Audio Settings: In the preferences, select your audio interface as the input and output device. Although setting this up may seem technical, it’s a straightforward process that will empower you to record.

• Create a New Project: Start a new project and add an audio track for your voice. You’re officially ready to record!

6. Recording Your Voice

• Setting Levels: Do a quick test to set your recording levels. Speak naturally, adjusting the gain until your levels peak around -12 dB to -6 dB. This ensures you capture clear sound without distortion.

• Monitoring: Use direct monitoring on your audio interface (if available) to hear yourself through the headphones while recording. This can boost your confidence!

• Start Recording: Press the record button and let your voice shine! Take your time; remember, doing multiple takes is perfectly fine. Each attempt is a step toward improvement.

7. Editing Your Recording

• Stop Recording: Once you’re done, stop the recording and listen to your take. Celebrate your effort, regardless of how it sounds—this is all part of the learning process!

• Editing Tools: Use the editing features in your DAW to enhance your recording. Most DAWs have intuitive tools that make this process easier than you might think.

• Effects: To polish your audio, consider applying basic effects like compression and equalization. These are powerful tools that can help your voice stand out!

8. Exporting Your Recording

• Finalizing: Once you’re happy with your edits, export your final recording. WAV files are great for high quality, while MP3s are perfect for sharing.

• Settings: Choosing standard settings (like 16-bit/44.1 kHz) to maintain quality when exporting. You’re getting closer to sharing your voice with the world!

9. Continual Improvement

• Practice: Embrace the journey! Regular practice is key. Experiment with different styles and techniques to discover what resonates with you.

• Listen Critically: Keep listening to your recordings with an open mind. Each take is a chance to learn and grow.

• Learn: Explore tutorials and resources. The more you know, the more confident you’ll become!

Don’t be discouraged; start laying your first tracks TODAY!

Starting your voiceover journey may feel like a big step, but remember, the expert has failed more times than the novice has tried. With each recording (no matter how cringy), you’re honing your craft and building your unique voice. Embrace the learning curve, stay patient, and, most importantly, enjoy the process! You have the potential to create something truly special. Dive in, have fun, and watch your skills flourish!

Try a voiceover class at The Voice Shop. There is a wide range of online or in-person classes for beginners with top industry voiceover coaches.

Get started today and boost your voice-acting capabilities with proven techniques and guidance.

#voiceover #voiceactor #voiceoverclasses #voicecoach #voiceovertraining

Emily McGonagle: From a Lawyer to a Voiceover Artist

Emily McGonagle is a lawyer.

Well, she was. “It was three o’clock in the morning, and I was preparing for a case, and then it hit me,” Emily tells me. “I don’t think I want to be married to my job.”  And so, in that flash of a moment, Emily decided that the field of law that she was practicing in the UK was not for her. “I didn’t care about doing this job, and my heart just wasn’t into it.”

And that’s a recurring theme in the world of voiceover. People reinvent their lives because of the circumstances they are in, which they don’t want to remain in. After all, when have you ever cradled your baby as you speak to your spouse and say, “Honey, someday she’ll be a voiceover artist.”  It doesn’t happen. Everyone who’s in voiceover got there unintentionally.

Emily hails from Colchester, England, in Essex County, and grew up in a close-knit family. “It was a normal childhood, and I was singing and dancing at three years old,” she says. And while always academically inclined, the arts were not on her teenage radar.

Emily attended the University of Bristol in England and also spent a year studying in Bordeaux, France. She got a Law and French degree and went on to train as a lawyer with an international law firm in London. “It was that TV show “Ally McBeal” that was the image I held in my head, but it wasn’t like that at all.”

Emily got married and suffered an ectopic pregnancy, undergoing emergency surgery, which devastated her. But luck smiled on Emily, and she had a successful pregnancy. That was followed by another child. And all along, she was searching for a business she could practice at home while caring for her children, and that’s when voiceover appeared in her life. “I had no acting background, but I loved the idea of doing character voices and animation.

Within a month, Emily booked her first job. Ultimately, Emily would book one in twenty-four. And for the uninitiated, booking two in a hundred is considered a success. “I’d always had an ear for accents, so Irish and Australian and Regional English and the general American dialects” were voices she could do.

“Gargoyle Doyle” the trailer

Emily has an affinity for cartoons. “I love entertaining characters and find that joy in cartoons.”

“Me, The Family Pet?” voicing Rex and Sally.

In terms of how she finds the voice, her explanation is simple. “It depends on the character, so I need an image in my mind.”

“Fire Spike” voicing Mummy Dragon and Dr. Purr.”

 Commercials are also within Emily’s voiceover range.

Dr. Beckmann TV commercial

 Corporate explainer videos are also an area in which Emily excels.

Nominated for the One Voice Award for 2024, Emily got the nod for Best Character Performance in Animation.

And of all the payoffs that voiceover has brought into Emily’s life is her family. Voiceover and being a mum work well in Emily’s life. www.emilymcgonagle.com

And so, at 40 years old, Emily reinvented her life and is one of the most sought-after character voices available.

No question about it; Emily McGonagle no longer reports to the boardroom, and her lawyer days are behind her now.

#voiceover #voiceovertraining #voiceoverclasses #voiceacting #voicecoaching #EmilyMcGonagle