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

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a slight difference. A voice-over usually reads informative or accompanying text, such as in documentaries or e-learning courses. A voice actor really gets into the skin of a character, for example in radio plays, animated films or dynamic adverts that require acting. Many professionals are skilled in both disciplines.

Can I get a short test recording in advance?

Yes, many professional voice artists are willing to record a short test clip (a so-called ‘custom demo’) of your script. This often involves just one or two sentences. This allows you to hear straight away whether the tone of voice and interpretation of the text match the vision you have in mind.

How are the audio files delivered?

The voice actor usually delivers the recordings as high-quality, unedited or lightly edited audio files (such as WAV or MP3). You can then import these files directly into your editing software. Make clear arrangements in advance regarding any adjustments (retakes) if the emphasis or pace needs to be fine-tuned afterwards. [FAQ_BLOCK]

How does online learning work at Voices Academy?

You take 15 lessons with video, assignments, and practice materials at your own pace. You receive personal feedback on your submitted recordings. Start at /academy/ ; practical questions are answered on this FAQ or via Academy contact .

Do I receive feedback on my recordings?

Yes. You submit practice recordings and receive personal feedback from Johfrah Lefebvre on technique, pace, and interpretation. Want to practise live? Combine Academy with a Studio workshop .

Do I need experience for a beginner's workshop?

No. Beginner workshops start from scratch: breath, articulation, and microphone technique. For each workshop, please check the stated level on /studio/ . Want to practise at home before you come? Check out Voices Academy for online lessons.

Can I combine Academy with Studio-workshops?

Yes. Many students initially take online lessons and then attend a live workshop for additional coaching. Studio: /studio/faq/ · Academy: /academy/ .

How do I choose the right voice for my project?

Listen to the demos on each voice artist's profile page. Pay attention to their tone, pace, and energy. A warm, calm voice is suitable for e-learning or meditation, while an energetic voice works better for radio commercials or promotional videos. Not sure? Use the filters for language, gender, and style to refine your search. You can also compare multiple voices by adding them to your favourites. Need help? Our team is happy to provide free advice on the best choice for your target audience and medium.

Do you work with AI voices?

No. Voices works exclusively with real, professional voice actors . Each recording is expertly crafted: spoken in a professional studio, with a keen sense of tone, timing and intention. Why not AI? A human voice conveys emotion, nuance and authenticity that no algorithm can match. That’s what makes the difference in a radio commercial, a corporate presentation or a telephone message where your customer needs to feel welcome. All the voices on our website are real people. You hear exactly who you’re booking.

Can I order a voice-over for e-learning?

Certainly. E-learning and instructional videos are one of our most requested project types. Choose a voice that articulates clearly and calmly , so that learners can easily follow the content. You can upload your full script. The voice actor will deliver the audio in high quality (WAV), ready to be edited into your course platform. For longer projects, we would be happy to discuss a volume discount.

Voice-over artist wanted: what should you look for when choosing a voice?

Voice-over artist wanted: what should you look for when choosing a voice? | Voices

Define the tone and atmosphere of your project

Before you start listening to various demos, it’s important to clearly define your project’s identity. What exactly do you want to convey, and how should the message come across? A voice-over artist for a trendy advert about an amusement park requires a completely different dynamic and energy to the voice for a hospital instruction video or an e-learning course for bankers.

Think carefully about the target audience you want to reach. Are you aiming to appeal to young parents, or experienced entrepreneurs? Tailor your tone of voice accordingly. A warm, reassuring voice works perfectly for a healthcare project, whilst an enthusiastic, fresh voice is an excellent fit for a young start-up.

The nuances of the Flemish accent

In Flanders, we’re very sensitive to linguistic nuances and accents. The right accent determines how credible your message comes across to the local listener. Are you looking for a voice that speaks in perfect, neutral Standard Dutch with a Belgian accent, or would you prefer a warm, regional accent to come through?

For a nationwide radio campaign, you’ll usually opt for a clear, standard pronunciation that sounds natural and is easily understood by everyone in Flanders. For a local project, however, a soft regional accent can actually add extra charm and make the message more recognisable. In any case, make sure the voice-over artist has a perfect command of typical Belgian sentence structure and pronunciation.

Pay attention to the technical quality of the recording

Unfortunately, a beautiful voice is worthless if the recording quality leaves something to be desired. These days, almost all professional voice-over artists work from their own high-quality home studio. This means they can deliver quickly, but it also places high demands on their equipment.

When listening to demos, pay attention to the following technical aspects:

Can you hear any distracting background noise, a slight echo or background hiss?
Does the voice sound clear and close, as if the speaker were standing right in front of you?
Is the diction clear enough, without hissing ‘s’ sounds or popping ‘p’ sounds?

A flawless recording will save you hours of editing work later on and ensure your entire production has a professional feel.

Flexibility, timing and acting

A good voice-over involves much more than simply reading a script fluently. It is a form of acting. The voice-over artist must play with timing, place the right emphasis and dare to leave pauses where necessary.

Listen to the demos to see if the voice-over artist can convey different emotions. Can the voice sound serious, yet convey a smile just a moment later? That flexibility is worth its weight in gold, especially when your video requires specific timing that must match the on-screen footage exactly.

Frequently asked questions

Short and to the point. Click to see the answer.

How does online learning work at Voices Academy?: You take 15 lessons with video, assignments, and practice materials at your own pace. You receive personal feedback on your submitted recordings.
Start at /academy/; practical questions are answered on this FAQ or via Academy contact.
Do I receive feedback on my recordings?: Yes. You submit practice recordings and receive personal feedback from Johfrah Lefebvre on technique, pace, and interpretation. Want to practise live? Combine Academy with a Studio workshop.
Do I need experience for a beginner's workshop?: No. Beginner workshops start from scratch: breath, articulation, and microphone technique. For each workshop, please check the stated level on /studio/. Want to practise at home before you come? Check out Voices Academy for online lessons.
Can I combine Academy with Studio-workshops?: Yes. Many students initially take online lessons and then attend a live workshop for additional coaching.
Studio: /studio/faq/ · Academy: /academy/.
How do I choose the right voice for my project?: Listen to the demos on each voice artist's profile page. Pay attention to their tone, pace, and energy. A warm, calm voice is suitable for e-learning or meditation, while an energetic voice works better for radio commercials or promotional videos.
Not sure? Use the filters for language, gender, and style to refine your search. You can also compare multiple voices by adding them to your favourites.
Need help? Our team is happy to provide free advice on the best choice for your target audience and medium.
Do you work with AI voices?: No. Voices works exclusively with real, professional voice actors. Each recording is expertly crafted: spoken in a professional studio, with a keen sense of tone, timing and intention.
Why not AI? A human voice conveys emotion, nuance and authenticity that no algorithm can match. That’s what makes the difference in a radio commercial, a corporate presentation or a telephone message where your customer needs to feel welcome.
All the voices on our website are real people. You hear exactly who you’re booking.
Can I order a voice-over for e-learning?: Certainly. E-learning and instructional videos are one of our most requested project types. Choose a voice that articulates clearly and calmly, so that learners can easily follow the content.
You can upload your full script. The voice actor will deliver the audio in high quality (WAV), ready to be edited into your course platform. For longer projects, we would be happy to discuss a volume discount.
What is the difference between a commercial and a corporate voice-over?: For a commercial (radio spot, TV advert, online advertisement), you pay a buyout: the right to broadcast the recording on the chosen medium for an agreed period. The price is higher because the reach is greater.
A corporate voice-over (corporate video, internal presentation, e-learning) falls into the non-broadcast or internal use category. For these, you only pay the session fee, without a media buyout.
Unsure which category applies? Select your medium in the configurator and the price will adjust automatically.
What if I'm not satisfied with the recording?: Don't worry. A retake to correct the tone of voice or a pronunciation error is always included. We will keep working until you are 100% satisfied. In the event of an unbridgeable difference, our "Not satisfied? Money back!" guarantee applies.
Can I provide instructions?: Yes, absolutely! When placing your order, you can provide instructions or add an audio briefing. For example, you can specify the required tone of voice. Do you want it to sound upbeat? Or spoken at a slower pace? You can also use a recording to indicate the correct pronunciation of specific company or brand names.