Every once in awhile someone will ask me to give their voice-over demo or a recent audition a listen and provide feedback (Usually b/c they aren’t getting enough VO work and want to know WHY).
Some sound amazing…
…and others need some work.
And while I can’t read the mind of a client, I can tell when something sounds off.
It could be their performance that’s holding them back, but usually it’s simply the quality of the recording.
So to help improve the quality of your recordings….
I just created this video with 9 voice-over tips to record better sounding voice-over.
These are the voice-over tips I mention most often when I run across a poor voice over recording.
I hope it helps you record great quality voice-over!
Voice-Over Tips for Better Sounding Voice-Over
by Jason McCoy
Updated August 2022
I enjoyed your video, Jason!!
Even though I’ve been a voice actor with my own recording ‘studio’ for 10 years you gave a couple of really good tips that will help improve the quality of my recordings.
RE my recording studio, it’s a closet I affectionately refer to as “the cockpit”. I made sound-baffling panels using 3″ thick 48″ x 24″ Roxul insulation for all four sides of the closet plus an overhead panel so the ‘cockpit’ walls are completely covered with this insulation. The effect was dramatic: now I have a -60 dB ambient noise with NO sound ‘bouncing’. However, by doing this I lost 6″ width in the ‘booth’ so now when I enter the booth I only have about a foot from each arm to the wall. But . . . it is quiet!
Sound proofing the closet took some time, well, two days in all, and cost about $200 in materials but what a difference! Outside inescapable noise does creep in from time to time, car horns, low flying airplanes, nuclear explosions et al, but that is a rare occurrence that simply means I have to re-record a couple of seconds of audio. No Probs!!
I also bought and installed a bright red illuminated “RECORDING” sign on the outside of the door just to let people know when I’m recording. Also put one of my Roxul panels on the outside of the door to absorb whatever sound creeps down the hall to the Cockpit.
FYI you can see my entire setup and hear the quality of my recordings (absence of background noise) on my website at RedDoorVoice.com. Thanks again and keep up the great work. Much appreciated.
Break-a-leg, and all!
Doug Lane
Red Door Voiceover
Sounds like a great setup Doug!
Hi Jason! I started with your emails quite a few months ago and just am now starting to get around to looking into VO seriously. I really appreciate all the information your giving, its very helpful and you make it short and to the point! It totally helps watching/listening to you to get a good handle on what VO is all about! I was unable to sign up for the classes you had a few months back and wondered if you would be offering these again?
Hi Kathi – Yes, my courses open up every 6 months or so.
Thanks Jason making a lovely vedio and best tips.
Thanks for the great tips! My home studio is in my walk-in closet that is completely isolated from any outside walls. I use a sure58 with a pop filter, set the computer outside and put a comforter over my dresser in the closet. It’s worked great and I’ve been getting consistent work via voices.com.
it’s amazing the professional sound you can achieve with stuff you already have on-hand. Congrats on your success!
I am just getting started. Thank you for the simple tips.
As a newbie here is a good newbie error. I though mics were omni-directional. My son ( A recording /music tech and musician) pointed out that there is a diaphragm and I had it at a 90 Degree angle…A 90degree turn and up went the quality 🙂
Great tip Mike!