Voice over: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What voice over is

A voice actor records narration, commercials, explainers or character reads from a home or professional studio and delivers clean audio files to your script. The voice actor's delivery sets the tone of the message, so the choice of voice matters as much as the words.

Signs you need it

  • You have a script for an explainer, a training module or a product video and need a clear, pleasant narration.
  • You need a commercial or an advertisement read in a particular tone.
  • You are making an audiobook, a game or an animation that needs character voices.
  • You need a voice for an announcement, a phone message or a presentation.
  • You have recorded your own narration and it sounds too rough for your audience.
  • You need several versions of the same script, such as a long read and a short read.

What the pro does

  • Reads the script and talks through the tone, the audience and the pace you want.
  • Records a short test or sample so you can approve the voice and the delivery before the full session.
  • Records the full script in a quiet space, with takes for each section where needed.
  • Edits the recording to remove mistakes and breaths that do not fit, and sets the levels.
  • Delivers the audio files in the formats you need, with the usage rights stated in the agreement.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of the script and the number of words or minutes to be recorded.
  • Number of voices or characters in the script.
  • How the voice will be used, such as online, broadcast or inside a product.
  • Whether the voice actor records at home or in a professional studio.
  • Editing, such as clean-up or a version with music added.
  • Turnaround time and the number of revision rounds.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The length of the script and the number of voices.
  • How the voice will be used, and for how long.
  • The file formats delivered, and whether a sample is included before the full session.
  • The number of revision rounds and any re-recording.
  • Who owns the recordings, and any limits on where the voice can be used.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can you send a sample read of a script like mine?
  • How will you record, and what is the audio setup at your home studio?
  • How will the voice be used, and for how long?
  • How many revision rounds are included, and what counts as a re-recording?
  • Will you edit the files and deliver them in the formats I need?
  • Who owns the recording, and can I use it in other places?

Red flags

  • Will not share a sample of its voice or its recording setup.
  • Asks for payment before the usage rights are written down.
  • Promises that a voice will work for any use without asking how it will be used.
  • Uses a poor recording setup and does not explain how the sound is controlled.
  • Records the full script without approving the tone with you first.

What you can do yourself

You can record your own narration in a quiet room, with a microphone placed close to your mouth, reading slowly and recording a few seconds of silence before and after. Hire a voice actor when the narration must sound polished or match a particular character or tone, when the message is for a commercial or public use, or when you want a voice that is clear to a wide audience.

Licenses and permits

Voice over work is not commonly licensed, so a license is usually not required for this work. Check with your state or local licensing agency about business rules that apply to you, and agree in writing how the voice may be used, where, and for how long, since that agreement matters more than any license.

Voice over questions

What are usage rights for a voice recording?

Usage rights describe where and how the recording can be used, such as online, in a broadcast or in a product, and for how long. Agree them in writing before recording, because a voice used beyond the agreement can lead to a dispute.

Should I record at home or in a studio?

A good home setup can be clear, but a studio usually has better room control and equipment. Ask the voice actor to share a sample from the setup they will use for your project.

Can I change the script after the session?

Small changes are often possible, but a large rewrite may need a new session. Confirm the number of changes included and how additional sessions are handled.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer voice over remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

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  3. 3. They reach out

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