Recording a voice-over - what should you look for when choosing a voice?

1. The tone and atmosphere: what should the voice convey?

Every project has its own character and a specific aim. For an instructional video about a new product, you need a calm, trustworthy voice that provides clarity. For a dynamic advert, on the other hand, it can be a bit more energetic, enthusiastic or even slightly playful.

Ask yourself in advance what emotion you want to evoke in the listener. Once you have a clear picture of this, you can search much more effectively for voices that effortlessly convey that specific tone and atmosphere. A professional voice-over artist has an unerring feel for the script and will adapt their style to your requirements.

2. The target audience and the right linguistic nuance

Who exactly do you want to reach with your message? Are you addressing young people, or are you targeting experienced professionals in a specific sector? This determines not only the writing style of your text, but also the tone of voice and accent you choose.

In Flanders, there is also a significant difference in pronunciation and tone:

• Polished colloquial Dutch: Relatable, warm and spontaneous. Ideal for social media and young brands.
• Standard Belgian Dutch: Sounds neutral, businesslike and professional. Extremely suitable for formal corporate videos, documentaries or e-learning.

So think carefully about your audience’s background, so that the voice sounds immediately familiar and credible to them.

3. Experience and flexibility in the recording studio

Having a lovely voice is one thing, but delivering a script in an engaging and natural way is a skill in its own right. Experienced voice-over artists know exactly how to breathe, where to place the right emphasis and how to pace their delivery so that the listener can take in the message smoothly.

When selecting a voice, consider the following:

• Does the voice artist have experience with your type of project?
• Can the voice adapt quickly to your direction?
• Is the voice capable of conveying different emotions convincingly?

If you choose a professional who knows how things work in a studio, you’ll save a great deal of time later on when editing and mixing the audio.

4. Technical quality of the recording

When you decide to start recording a voice-over, the technical quality of the sound is at least as important as the voice itself. Distracting background noise, a poor-quality microphone or too much reverb can completely ruin a beautifully recorded script.

You should therefore always ask for a recent demo or a short test recording. That way, you can immediately tell whether the recording meets professional standards. A good voice artist delivers clean audio files that are free from distracting background noise and are ready to be edited into your video or animation straight away.

Frequently asked questions about selecting voice-overs

How do I know if a voice suits my brand?

The best method is to listen to various voice demos with your eyes closed. Try to imagine how the voice sounds in combination with the visuals or music you intend to use. You might also ask a small test group for their opinion to find out what emotion the voice evokes in them.

What is the difference between a voice-over artist and a voice actor?

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, the emphasis is slightly different. A traditional voice-over artist often reads the text in an informative or explanatory manner, for example in a documentary or instruction manual. A voice actor really gets into character and conveys more drama, personality or humour, which works perfectly for adverts and animated films.

Ready to bring your project to life?

Finding the right voice doesn’t have to be a difficult quest. By thinking carefully in advance about the tone, your target audience and the desired quality, you’ll lay a solid foundation for a successful audio or video project. Want to get started straight away and looking for a voice that conveys your message with the right persuasive power? Discover our high-quality range and choose the ideal Flemish voice-over today to tell your story perfectly.