The right pitch and tone of voice
The tone of voice, also known as timbre, subconsciously evokes emotions in the listener. A deep, warm voice often conveys calm and reliability, which works perfectly for a corporate film or a user guide. A clear, dynamic voice, on the other hand, is ideal for conveying enthusiasm in an advert.
Think in advance about the feeling your brand wants to convey. Are you looking for a voice that sounds as if a good friend is giving you advice, or do you need a more businesslike, expert tone? The right Flemish voice-over artist will sense this instinctively and adapt the pitch to suit your project.
Pronunciation and regional accents
Flanders is rich in different dialects and accents. For most professional productions, however, you’ll want a voice that speaks clear, well-articulated Belgian Dutch. We also refer to this as ‘neutral Flemish’. This ensures that the message is perfectly understandable to everyone in Flanders, from West Flanders to Limburg.
- Pay attention to pronunciation: Is the articulation clear enough without sounding too forced?
- Ask about flexibility: Can the voice actor adopt a slight local accent if required, or speak flawlessly in a neutral manner?
- Check intelligibility at a faster speaking pace.
Experience and genuine acting talent
Simply reading a script aloud isn’t difficult, but truly bringing a story to life is a skill in its own right. An experienced Flemish voice actor is, first and foremost, an actor. They know exactly when to pause, how a particular emphasis changes the meaning of a sentence, and how the pace builds tension.
By choosing someone with experience, you’ll also save a great deal of time during the recording sessions. A professional often needs just a few pointers to capture exactly the right atmosphere you have in mind.
Technical quality of the recording
No matter how beautiful a voice may be, if the recording quality is substandard, your project immediately loses its professional appeal. Many voice actors now work from their own home studios. This is convenient and quick, but it also places high demands on their equipment.
You should therefore always ask for a demo or a short test recording. Pay attention to any distracting background noise, echoes or sound that’s too harsh. A good Flemish voice actor will deliver clear audio that’s ready to be added to your video or edit straight away.
Flexibility and smooth communication
Good communication is half the battle. It’s a real pleasure to work with a voice actor who actively contributes ideas to your project. Is the actor open to feedback? Is it possible to quickly record a small adjustment if the text changes slightly afterwards? A flexible collaboration not only ensures a better end result, but also makes the whole process a lot more enjoyable.