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This post will take you through the importance of tone of voice for voice artists, and the key things to look out for when starting your career as a voice over. 

Why is tone of voice important?

Tone of voice will either make or break your voice over recording. 

Otherwise referred to as the way a voice actor speaks, tone of voice is everything from the literal pitch of the voice, to the emotion conveyed by the voice over. 

These elements, though it may seem obvious, are so important for people to pick up, especially when you literally can’t see the speaker. 

Tone of voice is essentially the “filter” your voice goes through, and is incredibly important for determining how your words are interpreted by the audience. And whether your campaign will be effective or not. 

The key thing to remember with tone of voice is that it represents the emotion put forward by the speaker, so it’s essential that tone of voice matches the intention of the given script. 

Know your archetypes

Before diving into the elements of what makes up voice over tone, it’s important to first establish your voice archetype. 

Also for clients, understanding voice archetypes helps make life easier for your chosen voice overs, and can keep you ahead as opposed to minimising productivity. 

Here are some examples of voice over archetypes:

• Announcer (Energetic, storytelling, and the right amount of salesy – Commonly used in consumer ads, movie and game trailers)
• Authority figure (No nonsense, confident voice – Commonly used in legal disclaimers, government announcements and corporate videos or presentations)
• Character voice (Typically exaggerated, energetic and animated – Commonly used in adverts, animated productions such as cartoons)
• Conversational (Friendly, warm and relatable – Common for ads, voicemail messages and explainer videos)
• Dramatic (Expressive and emotional – Perfect for dramatic readings and audiobooks)
• Impersonator (Energetic and exaggerated, sounds like a celebrity or public figure – Great for impressions overall, for parodies, comedy skits, etc)
• Mature & wise (Think: Morgan Freeman or David Attenborough – Perfect for documentary narration)
• Narrator (Clear, concise and authoritative – Great for non fiction audiobooks, e-learnings and online videos)
• Soothing or calming (Calming, gentle and soft – Perfect for meditation and relaxation recordings)

Now that you have a rough idea of what voice archetypes there are out there, let’s go through some of the key things to take into consideration when it comes to tone of voice.

Embody your personality

The sooner we realise a voice isn’t just a projected vibration of air, the better. 

The tone of voice you wish to portray can say a lot about the meaning of what you’re saying. Say you’re congratulating someone on their pregnancy, but you’re speaking in a blunt, unenthusiastic tone, it’s not going to seem very convincing.

The same can be said for someone whose parents just passed away, you won’t be making jokes, or be overly energetic with them, you will likely comfort them in a calming, understanding tone. 

Tone of voice can go a long way in general communication, the same can be said for tone of voice for voice over professionals. Embodying your personality in your voice is incredibly important, especially if you’re trying to convince people to take an action, like you would in a corporate radio ad. 

Even if you’re not selling something to people, say, you’re narrating an elearning course. You won’t want to be monotonal as this could cause users to tune out, so you’d add a bit more personality into what is typically a boring script. 

Take this iams cat advert as a purrfect example of personality (yes we know it’s corny). 

The voice over chosen for this created a “cat voice” and ran with it, and this ad was very memorable for the British audience, for which only Felix and Whiskers were the two main cat food competitors at the time. Likely based on the Looney Tunes classic Sylvester voice created by Mel Blanc, it’s proven an effective baseline. 

Tip: Much like you add your own flair to everyday communication, tone of voice is equally, if not more important for recording a voice over. 

Storytelling from the heart

Tone of voice is not only important for expressing personality, but also storytelling. Though decades have passed, the way we communicate may have changed, but ads? Not so much.

As audiobooks become more popular, the demand for creative voices also does. Though audiobooks are the projects that most commonly involve storytelling, it’s not the only project type that benefits from a good anecdote. 

In commercials you’d find that there are a great many ads that use storytelling as a tool to convince an audience to buy a product. After all, you must first gain trust before you can convince your audience to do anything. 

Check out how this Lurpak advert from 2014 does it!

This advert was aired in 2014, and takes the user through a sensory rollercoaster. 

Not only are there beautiful sizzling sound effects, and a buttery voice (pun intended – again), but this ad also tells a story about food in general, and how it can be an “adventure”, rather than just saying: “our butter’s nice”. 

Stories are just as, if not, more important to tell in audio form, for the audience that remains on the move and tuned into the radio. 

Bear this in mind the next time you book a voice over project, is there a story you want to tell?

Rhythm and flow

One often overlooked pointer is the importance of rhythm and flow when recording an audio project. 

Whilst not directly related to tone, the two are intertwined, whether we like it or not. For instance, when you associate someone speaking quickly, typically they’ll have a higher pitched voice, and vice versa can be said for those who take their time speaking. 

The rhythm that your voiceover conveys is important for determining the impression you want to leave behind with your audience. You want a regular pattern of movement, so as to not confuse your listeners, and it needs to fit in with the message you’re putting out there. 

If you’re trying to convince your audience to replace breast milk with your baby formula, you will gently describe the benefits of it, including the key USPs. If your rhythm is too fast, it may be interpreted as rushed, which is certainly not the impression you want to leave with a concerned mother or father. 

Check out how Aptamil does it!

Aired in 2021, this ad represents the soothing archetype, yet takes the audience through the key USPs, building trust with the listener or viewer. 

Another example of how to apply different rhythms for different projects can be summarised perfectly for any video game, or toy advert targeting boys from age 7-14. For this you’d expect a faster paced, energetic announcer voice archetype that’s going to get little boys excited enough to tell their parents what they want for Christmas. 

Take this example of a Mexican hot wheels ad. 

Aired in 2000, this advert is old but gold. It encapsulates the excitement boys have towards the hotwheels franchise, speaking in a faster, trailer-like tone for the sake of provoking a child to get the news to their parents as soon as possible!

And that is why rhythm and flow is so important when it comes to tone of voice. 

Bonus tip #1: Silence is golden

Of course, we’re not talking about sending blank audio files to your clients, or (as a client), asking for silent audio. In this case we’re talking about placing pauses in the right places, and using silence to your advantage. 

Silence, in the form of pauses, in between sentences can help create suspense, but can also help create a feeling of calm and serenity. This is of course depending on the other factors in place. 

Whether there’s music in the background, whether your chosen voice over is confident or more timid-sounding, and the overall rhythm they wish to convey in their recording. 

Use silence to your advantage, it’s effective for communication, giving your audience time to soak in the message you’re sharing. 

Bonus tip #2: Speaking your target audience’s language

Speaking your audience’s language is incredibly important for the art of convincing. Are you using the words they’re looking to hear about when presenting your product?

Look at Lurpak, they used words to describe flavour of food, marketing butter, an all-round, world renowned flavour enhancer. 

How about Aptamil, who mentions breast feeding and how it’s important that your child starts out with that? 

Speaking your target audience’s language is not only important, it’s essential to delivering a convincing voice over performance. 

You could have the best voice in the world, know exactly how to use it, but still might not be tingling your audience’s eardrums the right way, simply because you aren’t saying the right things. When thinking of how best to relate to your audience, it’s key to perfect the tone you put out there, but also imperative that you use the terminology that drives conversion. 

The importance of tone of voice

Without a tone of voice the world would be a dull place. It would be nothing but monotonal voices that sound like Google translate, without an ounce of emotion, how boring. 

Imagine adverts with a man literally reading out the benefits of a product, without anecdotes, without a story, without personality behind the microphone, you don’t want that to apply to you!

Whether you’re recording an advert or an e-learning narration, audiobook or corporate video. 

Don’t neglect tone of voice for your voice over projects. It makes all the difference, it makes them, well, human. 

The post Why tone of voice is important for voice overs appeared first on Voicebooking.

This post will take you through some of the best female voice overs that voiced iconic male characters. 

Nancy Cartwright

One of the main voices of The Simpsons franchise, Nancy Cartwright has her hands full, having provided the voice of a great many male characters. 

These include Bart Simpson, Ralph Wiggum, Nelson Muntz, and Todd Flanders, to name a few. But those aren’t the only voices she’s got under her belt. 

She’s also the voice of Chuckie from Rugrats, as well as various other side characters throughout her career. 

Tara Strong

If there’s ever another female voice over legend known for voicing male characters it’s Tara Strong, with her range of whacky voices across the cartoon multiverse. 

Her voices include Timmy Turner from Fairly Odd Parents, as well as Dil Pickles from Rugrats. This multifaceted voice talent has voiced various male as well as female characters in her showbiz career. 

Regina King

Another great voice over that voiced male characters is Regina King, best known for voicing Huey & Riley Freeman from the Boondocks series. 

Whilst more known for her acting career, she’s also proven to be a very convincing young male voice, or voices in this case.

Check out a behind the scenes with her going through a Q & A in her character voices. 

Veronica Taylor

Having starred in various voice over roles, from TMNT characters to roles in live action movies. 

The most popular job on her resume is voicing the fan favourite Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum. That was the original voice, she was eventually replaced by Sarah Natochenny. 

Did you know Ash was voiced by a woman? I sure didn’t!

Pamela Adlon

The quirky, unconventional son, King of the Hill is genuinely one of the best shows of the late 90s to early 2000s. If you’ve seen King of the Hill, you’re probably familiar with the character Bobby Hill, the main protagonist’s son. 

One of the more obvious ones of the list, but Bobby Hill was too voiced by a woman, in this case it’s Pamela Adlon!

Did you like this list of iconic male characters voiced by women? Which ones surprised you the most? Drop your thoughts below!

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This can be strenuous and physically demanding, so it’s key for those professionals to warm up accordingly, especially for those in it for the long term. 

Read on to find out the importance of physical vocal warm ups, and some techniques you can get started with today. 

Why are vocal warm ups important?

Much like with any physical activity, vocal warm ups are essential for ensuring your voice is in tip top shape, able to extend range and protected against any unnecessary damage. 

Vocal warm ups aren’t just necessary for the humble voice over, you’ll find that artists and singers also need to warm up their vocal chords prior to performing. 

Vocal warm up exercises you can try

Here are a few vocal warm up exercises you can try today, or 10 minutes before your next voice over recording. 

Humming and lip trills

The first exercise we recommend is a set of humming and lip trill exercises. 

Humming is a great way to ease your vocal chords into producing a deeper sound that’s resonating. This is essential for restoring your vocal tone quality, say, if you’re recording after sleeping for a while, by getting rid of that sleepy voice. 

Lip trills are great for loosening the facial muscles to help with those intricate pronunciations. 

Below you can find an example of a voice over practising this.

Voice Over Piers: Why I work with Voicebooking.com

Vocal rises and falls

If you’re a voice over with a less monotonal delivery, you’d benefit from this exercise, where your focus is to raise and lower your voice’s pitch. 

Otherwise known as vocal scales, this is one that takes a bit of practice. That being said, it doesn’t have to be perfect, you can start off slow if you’re just trying to wake your voice up. 

This vocal warm up technique is for those on the more animated side, such as a character voice over, an energetic commercial voice over, or singer even.

Body and facial stretching 

Stretching is key as you need to open up your chest, neck and shoulders, as well as your face to be able to convey the best possible version of your voice. 

You can start off with a neck stretch, following up with a shoulder roll and full body stretch, then gently massage your facial muscles, namely the cheeks. After that you should be all set to start with your recording session. 

Face Exercises & Warm Ups for Singing – Release Tension Before You Sing

Tongue twisters

Even voice overs can stutter and murmur sometimes, yes even the professional ones! This is the case especially if their scripts are full of alliteration and questionable word choices. 

That being said, to prevent any unwanted tripping over words, tongue twisters are here as a preliminary practice, so you’re less likely to choke on your wording. 

Some examples of English tongue twisters you can practise:

1. Red lorry, yellow lorry 
2. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
3. She sells sea shells on the sea shore
4. Which witch is which?
5. Eleven benevolent elephants
6. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Tongue twisters are great for improvement of fluency and pronunciation of spoken English, for voice overs or even for practice prior to speaking publicly. 

Tongue Twisters English | Learning English Pronunciation Exercise

For those looking to pursue a career as a voice over artist, this is something to consider before recording any demos, and taking on any roles at all. 

As mentioned earlier, voice warm ups are just as important as the athlete who stretches their legs before a run. Warming up your voice not only prevents it from damage, but also maximises the potential of your voice over recording, and only takes up about 10 minutes of your day!

For more information on how to become a voice talent, read our older post on becoming a voice over. 

The post Vocal warm ups for voice actors appeared first on Voicebooking.

With the iconic Disney productions, from both their cartoon movies to their Pixar creations, there’s been iconic voice overs helping to truly breathe life into those characters. 

Let’s go through some of the best ones now. 

James Earl Jones (Mufasa – Lion King 1994)

One who has made it on many a list, James Earl Jones truly has an iconic voice that is hard to imitate. 

Encapsulating somewhat of a “god” like voice, he perceived the king of the land, Mufasa, perfectly. One of the many examples of a voice chosen perfectly for the role.

Jim Cummings (Winnie – Winnie the Pooh 1983)

Though Winnie has been voiced by many, the most iconic interpretation is undoubtedly by Jim Cummings, voiced from 1983 onwards. 

Winnie wasn’t the only one that he voiced, he also voiced Tigger from 1989 onwards. A true virtuoso in the game, Jim Cummings is a true iconic voice of the list.

Eddie Murphie (Mushu – Mulan 1998)

Eddie Murphy, having been notorious for his role in Dreamworks’ Shrek as the beloved Donkey, was also the voice talent behind the first Mulan’s character Mushu, the colourful dragon from the movie. 

In the sequel he was replaced by another voice actor, but it’s fair to say that the next voice actor was trying to fill in the shoes that Eddie Murphy already perfectly executed. Even before his role as Donkey, he was embodying characters 3 years earlier, and left a lasting impression on people’s hearts.

Ellen Degeneres (Dory – Finding Nemo/Dory 2003-14)

Did you know this fun fact? Ellen Degeneres was and has been the voice for Dory in the Pixar classic, Finding Nemo. 

It shocked me when I first found out too – who knew show hosts also voiced animated characters?

She did so well in fact, that she had another film dedicated to the Dory character 11 years later. 

Billy Crystal (Mike wazowski – Monster’s inc 2001)

Another character worth mentioning, when it comes to the iconic Mike Wazowski’s voice from Monster’s Inc, this is embodied perfectly by none other than Billy Crystal. 

A loveable character, and unforgettable voice, Billy Crystal actually competed with the likes of Robin Williams and Jack Black for this role!

Idina Menzel (Elsa – Frozen 2013-2019)

The iconic Else voice was provided by none other than Idina Menzel, being the one and only animated voice character she’s done in the past. 

Both Frozen movies were among the highest-grossing animated films of all time, pretty good for her first voice acting gig.

Tom Hanks (Woody – Toy story 1995-2019)

The Toy Story franchise is arguably one of the best things to come from the Disney Pixar studio, and the main protagonist of the speaking-toy-world being Woody, the cowboy toy. 

Woody, known for his lively and energetic personality, was voiced by none other than Tom Hanks, a wacky character in most of his performances.

Robin Williams (Genie – Aladdin 1992-1996)

Aladdin’s genie is likely one of the most memorable performances in the modern animation world, even having debuted in 1992! 

The genie from Aladdin was voiced by none other than childhood favourite, the legendary late Robin Williams, who sadly passed away in 2014, may he rest in peace.

Walt Disney (Mickey mouse 1929-1946)

Last, and certainly not least, Walt Disney himself. 

It wouldn’t be right to mention iconic Disney voices without naming the late Walt Disney himself, as the original inspiration and iconic voice of Mickey Mouse in Disney’s earliest days. 

As the saying goes, legends never die, the case being true with Walt Disney’s legacy, as even the Mickey Mouse voices to this day imitate his rendition even back from the 1920’s. 

A true legend, who birthed nothing but gold in the world of animation.

Some of the most talented voices, ever. 

Disney has undoubtedly birthed some of the best voice actors ever, whether we’re talking about heroes or villains, Disney’s proven to deliver exceptional content, every time. 

There must be something in the water over there at Disney’s studios.

The post Most iconic Disney voice actors appeared first on Voicebooking.

Introduce yourself quickly; who are you and what do you do?

Benjamin Hagberg from Stockholm, Sweden. I now work full time as VO professional. Mostly from my home-studio booth.

How did you become a voice over actor?

From my childhood I have some really fond memories of voices and great narrators from children stories that I listened to on tape cassettes. I particularly remembered a Swedish reading of the famous ”The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Grahame. The narrator had such a charismatic voice and did the different character voices with the utmost brilliance. This fascination for what you can do with the voice has always followed me. As for my career as a voice-over, I grew into the profession over the years. 

I went to a preparatory acting school for 2 years back in 2006. There, I was introduced to the possibility of recording VO. After graduation, I freelanced for a while as an actor while continuing to develop my voice. I got help through private training with voice coaches and people studying to become Voice teachers. I loved to train my voice in my spare time, as it kept me motivated.

At the same time, I contacted as many voice agencies as possible in Stockholm. Some called me to come and record voice samples. Nothing happened for a few years. But around 2012, an agency called me. They told me that it stood between me and another voice for recording a national radio commercial for Lufthansa. Lo and behold, one week later, they told me I got the job!

Things started to progress slowly from there. Around 2013-14, I began getting more and more jobs. So I set up my own recording space at home. Years went by with me doing Voice Over work part-time. In 2018, the same year my wonderful son was born, I was flooded with more VO jobs. So I could finally make it a full-time career. And that’s where I am today. Now I also have a professional recording booth at home which is wonderful! My own ”office-space”  which also fascinates every person visiting our apartment

What do you love about your job?

I love when I get into the state of being completely absorbed” in the moment” and forgetting everything else when performing a voice over job. This is what I call “the magical state”. It doesn’t happen every day, of course. But when it happens, it’s a wonderful reminder that voice work is my true passion. I also love the everyday routine of recording and working with my voice, which is at the essence of my job as a VO.  

If you weren’t a voice actor, what would you like to do then? And why?

I think I would like to be a stage performer, maybe a singing performer. The world of theaters has always fascinated me. I have always liked singing and performing as well. 

But it could also be something completely different. I could be someone who works with ideas and production for films, particularly documentary movies for OMNIMAX-theaters. I’ve always been fascinated with these OMNIMAX-theaters and the amazing films they have. I love the feeling of being completely transported to another world, whether you’re flying around in space or exploring the deep canyons of the Grand Canyon. 

Why did you choose to be a part of Voicebooking? And what do you like about Voicebooking?

I can’t remember for sure how I heard of Voicebooking but I remember I registered to become a voice at Voicebooking back in 2014-2015. And then in 2017, they wanted me to be a Swedish voice in their archive. 

Since then I have had the fortune to be a part of this agency. They have given me the opportunity to work with some really high profile clients and develop my career and my skills as a VO. I really like that Voicebooking is such an innovative and dedicated voice agency. It’s one of the best voice agencies I have worked with. 

The fact that they invite us voice-talents to an annual event in Amsterdam is something special. This is really appreciated by me as a VO-talent, since it gives me the chance to meet people who work there and get to know the business better. It also makes me as VO feel special.

What project did you like the most/are you most proud of, and why?

It’s difficult to single out just one project, but I particularly enjoy projects that allow me to showcase my vocal abilities. For instance, I’ve had the opportunity to work on some trailer projects for Nickelodeon, as well as several dubbing projects for various video games, which I found to be quite enjoyable. 

Some memorable projects involved performing as a sports commentator for a radio commercial, and I’ve also had the opportunity to be the pre-recorded announcer for live events for different companies. Generally, I enjoy projects that challenge me to step out of my comfort zone and allow me to surprise myself and the client.

What was the most crazy voice over job you have had? Which job was the most fun to do?

Craziest? One that comes to mind is a job where I recorded pre-scripted presentations for every person at a 50th birthday party. The client wanted each guest to be highlighted over loudspeakers at the party while they were seated. The script was a bit strange but hilarious, and my performance had to be over the top to match the vibe. 

The most fun job? Maybe one where I dubbed the Swedish version of a Babbel commercial. It was called” An alien abroad”. The character was an alien walking around London who couldn’t speak a human language. But with Babbel’s help, he soon spoke with a perfect Brittish accent. While doing the dubbing, I was supposed to speak as if I was behind a mask. It helped a bit that I had a cold that day, so my voice sounded naturally muffled. 

Every craftsman/woman has their own special set of talents. What makes you the voice actor that you are?

There are a few things that makes me the voice talent I am. One is my ability to understand the “business” of VO. I’m good at understanding and adjusting my voice and tone to different genres and types of the target audience. That is very important. You have to understand that reading an instruction manual for medicine differs from reading a cereal commercial. Clients are often very much aware of the style they are looking for in the delivery. They would appreciate it if you, as the VO, could deliver as they wish. 

As a Swedish VO, I often get to do VO where the original English version is available, and they want the Swedish VO in the same tone and style as the original. I can adjust the tone or style of my Swedish delivery easily. Then the interpretation and reading come naturally. Maybe that’s one of my strong sides as a voice-over, the “ear for it”.

Lastly, I noticed throughout the years that I’m able to have a lot of energy in my voice and that I’m able to sustain long voice-sessions without getting too tired in my voice. I read a lot of audiobooks which can be tiring for your voice. But voice training and techniques I’ve learned during my career have greatly improved my stamina.

What advice would you give your younger voice actor-self?

This is a tricky question. Well, one thing. Trust in yourself and your abilities. Don’t pretend to be somebody else, meaning don’t try to ”imitate” other styles of voice. Trust in the fact that it is your voice that you should portray, not how you think a voice-over ”should” sound like. This is still something I struggle with today though. I have to remind myself to trust in my own voice. 

The post The client is always right – stories from our voice over Benjamin appeared first on Voicebooking.

Morgan Freeman

If you haven’t heard of Morgan Freeman in relation to voice over, you must be living under a rock. This man’s undeniable talent has mesmerised generations of audiences for decades with his unique, calming, commanding voice. 

Being nothing short of remarkable, Morgan Freeman has been involved in various projects such as the voice of Vitruvius in the Lego Movie, as well as Scooby Doo’s Mystery Inc’s nemesis: “Mr. E moreover”, and Batman’s infamous Lucius Fox. 

There’s very few people in this world who can even scratch the surface of Morgan Freeman’s voice over legacy. 

The late Don Lafontaine

The reason why the trailer voice is as it is today is due to the work of the late Don Lafontaine, legend who passed back in 2008, dubbed “the voice of god”. Unparalleled in his delivery and infamous for his catchphrase “in a world”, he’s dominated the world of trailer narration for years, recording over 5,000 trailers in his lofty career.

A true standard set, he’s able to convey emotion, drama and suspense through his voice, he’s set a true legacy that many have drawn inspiration from. We have a voice over on our roster that can also emulate the “trailer voice” in question here, his name’s Boet, and you can hire him today!

Tara Strong

A name on the list for her versatility, especially in depicting male character voices, Tara Strong is a voice over that’s worked as a voice for Dil Pickles from Rugrats, Timmy Turner from Fairly Odd Parents, and even Meg Griffin from Family Guy. 

Her ability to embody Timmy Turner’s youthful male voice in the cartoon is unparalleled, going to show how incredibly talented this voice over artist is. Her contributions to these iconic shows have left a lasting mark on the hearts of many children (and adults), one legacy that is hard to shake indeed. 

David Attenborough

One of the most truly iconic voice overs in British television history, Sir David Attenborough is known for being the voice of the average nature documentary as we know it in the UK. If you grew up in Britain, you’d know that nature documentaries just aren’t the same without his unique voice telling the story.

A voice you simply can’t imitate; whether it’s the passion, the personality or simply the art form he’s mastered, David Attenborough’s a true national treasure, the world simply doesn’t make voices like his anymore.

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones is a household name that has left a true mark on the cinema world with his unique, deep voice. Known for his commanding presence, he has been the genius behind various iconic characters, including Mufasa from Lion King as well as Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise. 

Not only has he played his part in breathing life into two of the most legendary villains in cinema history, he’s also shown versatility in the comedy classic “Coming to America”, as the King Jaffe Joffer. Though not playing the voice over role in that film, his resonating voice was truly a legacy set for years to come. 

Nancy Cartwright

Yet another example of an iconic female voice over who has voiced male cartoon characters. Considered a specialist in the game, her claim to fame is none other than Bart Simpson himself, from the popular cartoon “The Simpsons” (right?!). 

Not only that, but she’s also the voice of Rufus from Kim Possible, as well as Chuckie’s voice from Rugrats! Her talent is truly unparalleled, setting a standard for voice artists for years to come, especially when it comes to embodying iconic male character voices. A true legend of the voice over world. 

Seth Macfarlane

A man who’s pioneered and pushed the limits of the adult cartoon world, Seth Mcfarlane is a legend for the voicing of characters Peter, Brian and Stewie Griffin. 

Not only has he voiced various Family Guy voices, but he’s also the main character voice for the Ted movie franchise, though he does use his “Peter” voice, his voice is known for its versatility and ability to embody the characters he plays.

Walt Disney

One of the pioneers of animation as we know it, the late Walt Disney left a legacy like no other, leading to the classic Disney cartoon movies such as Jungle Book, Lion King and the projection of Pixar studios.

What you may not have known is that he was also a very talented voice actor, providing the original voice for the iconic Mickey Mouse character, before his untimely death in 1966. A voice actor who set the scene for years to come, it would be wrong to leave him out of this list.

We’ve also covered Disney’s content strategy in more detail in a past post, for those interested in reading more about his legacy.

Robin Williams

There’s very few people in this world who can even scratch the surface of the energy, raw talent and overall impression this man has left on the world.

The beloved actor, known for his roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji and Good morning Vietnam, Robin Williams, sadly passed away in 2014. The late Robin Williams was also the talented voice behind the infamous Genie in Aladdin, Fender Pinwheeler from Robots, as well as Ramon & Lovelace from Happy Feet.

Iconic voice overs 

These iconic voice-over artists have left an untouchable mark on the entertainment industry, captivating audiences and bringing characters to life with their extraordinary skills. Let’s recap the incredible contributions of these legendary voices:

Morgan Freeman: With his commanding presence, Freeman brought depth and authority to characters like Vitruvius in The Lego Movie and Lucius Fox in Batman Begins, a legend as legendary as they come.

Don LaFontaine: Known as the “Voice of God,” LaFontaine revolutionised trailer narrations and created a captivating cinematic experience with his deep and resonant voice.

Tara Strong: With her versatile range, Strong breathed life into characters like Dil Pickles in Rugrats, Meg Griffin in Family Guy, and Timmy Turner in The Fairly OddParents. 

David Attenborough: His smooth and buttery voice has truly left a mark on British culture, being the literal only memorable voice of nature documentaries, a national treasure, and unforgettable narrator.

James Earl Jones: His majestic voice embodied characters such as Mufasa in The Lion King and Darth Vader in Star Wars, leaving a lasting legacy.

Nancy Cartwright: Her portrayal of Bart Simpson in The Simpsons and Chuckie Finster in Rugrats showcased her exceptional talent for crafting memorable and beloved characters.

Seth MacFarlane: The creator of Family Guy, MacFarlane’s vocal talents brought characters like Peter Griffin and Stewie Griffin to life, solidifying his reputation as a master of comedic voice acting.

Walt Disney: The man who brought Disney to the world, and was the original voice artist for Mickey Mouse, setting a standard for the world of cartoon and voice over.

Robin Williams: With his captivating energy and unmatched talent, the late Robin Williams truly left a lasting legacy for years to come.

These iconic voice-over artists have gifted us with timeless performances, unforgettable catchphrases, and a magical world of animated and cinematic experiences. 

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So how did this happen? Should voice talents be concerned about AI taking over the industry? Read along as we explore the buzz of AI voice over and what it means for the future of the voice over industry.

The rise of AI voices

There’s no denying that AI-generated voices are taking the world by storm. You can hardly scroll any social media platform without coming across a video narrated by a robotic voice. 

Some websites are even giving visitors the option to listen to articles. Just earlier this year, Apple followed the crowd by launching a new feature to have audiobooks read by: you guessed it, AI voices. 

The company claimed that this would help smaller publishers and lesser-known authors save both time and money. Recording the whole book with a human narrator is indeed expensive and time-consuming.

Cheap, fast, and effortless are factors that make everyone drool. That’s precisely why this new voice over technology is booming for those looking to add narration to their content. Hassle-free. 

We at Voicebooking have witnessed the hype ourselves. In fact, our voice over generator platform has a staggering twenty thousand users per month. The number has doubled in over a year.

More ways to use AI Voices

Are you aware of the many uses of automated voices? It’s no longer just applied for basic purposes like recording voicemail messages. Our voice generator, for instance, enables you to create narrations for commercials, gaming, web videos, e-learning, and more.

With the help of AI voice generator tools, you can access realistic, engaging, and expressive voices for a wide variety of productions. All within seconds. In fact, synthetic voices are starting to become a potential alternative for dubbing films.

That’s not all. Besides making life easier for producers, AI voices also benefit the audience, especially those with reading or visual disabilities. 

If you are making e-learning courses, providing an option for auditory learners is a great idea. They learn best through their ears and can retain up to 75 percent of what they hear.

As the technology in the voice over industry continues to evolve, more innovative uses for artificial voices will likely emerge.

AI voices now sound more human

We have come a long way, the first ever speaking machine was invented around 1800. Played like a musical instrument, it produces a trumpet-like sound of simple words like “mama” and “papa”. 

After 200 years, the talking machines of our time, Siri, Cortana, and Alexa, speak to us so eloquently. Sure, they are far ahead of their speaking machine ancestor, but they still lack qualities that make speech sound, well, human.

Recently, more and more tech companies have conducted new research and developed tools that can capture those natural speech qualities. Artificial intelligence voices have advanced drastically. Some robot voices no longer sound robotic. 

I remember the first time listening to Apple’s AI-narrated audiobooks. I was surprised by how real they sounded. They took me back to the good old days when my mother read me bedtime stories. The rhythms, the intonation, the little silences, all come almost naturally.

Will AI voices replace humans?

It’s indeed incredible how far computers have come to mimic our voices. But then, the big questions arise: Is AI a threat to the voice over industry? Has the war against the machine begun?

I’ve heard my fellow voice talents worried that the world will prefer cheap and fast digital voices over theirs. But let’s take a closer look. Most of our AI voice generator users are not clients who have worked with our voice overs. They do not have a roster of talents. 

Those who work with voice overs aren’t likely to use synthetic voices. Even if they do, it’s often limited to projects that don’t require a human touch, such as instructional manuals. So, it’s clear that these are two different kinds of clientele. 

AI still has a long way to go before it can truly replicate humans. We bring artistry to our work that machines cannot do. We don’t only convey emotion. We pour our heart and soul into the work. 

Remember that our voices bring warmth and authenticity that’s hard to replicate. Instead of fearing the inevitable rise of AI voice-over technology, we can embrace it and coexist.

Try out our voice-over generator

With the ability to generate voice over in only seconds, AI voices are becoming a popular choice for narrating various productions. The advancement in this industry will only continue to grow. So why not be ahead of the game and give it a try yourself?

Our newly launched Voice Over Generator 2.0 allows you to generate advanced robot voices for your content. You can customize the emphasis, speed, pitch and even add pauses between words. Embrace the AI voice revolution today!

The post The Future of Voice Over: Will AI Take Over? appeared first on Voicebooking.

Regardless of your stance on them, AI voices have proven to serve a great many purposes, depending on what you use them for. This post is going to break down some of the key ways you too can use an AI voice, based on anonymous data gathered from our own voice over generator tool. 

As a presentation voice over

Whether you need a set of slides for your university project, for an internal training session or to help accompany a pitch. A slideshow is always better with a bit of narration. 

You can use an AI voice for a presentation, making it easy for the tone to stay neutral. Which is great for presentations that involve a lot of facts and figures, making it easy to stick to the point. 

Also, many people don’t really like the sound of their own voice, or simply don’t have the time to arrange a good microphone, then align the sound to the presentation, hence why some may choose to opt for the easier AI option. 

For a voicemail recording

We’ve all been there. You’ve called up a company and dealt with their interactive voice response system (IVR), tapping numbers whilst the bot connects you with a person. 

The responses given by the voice are typically pre-recorded, by a person or a bot, and help guide the user towards their desired goal. Whilst a human voice sounds more personable, many choose to get the job done using an generated voice instead. 

You’re going to give customers static information as part of the user journey, or direct them to a customer services representative. You can serve both purposes by either utilising an AI voice or hiring a voice over for your voicemail greeting. 

For social media ads

Why beat them, when you can join them? With all the posts and memes using an artificially generated voice over, it’s only right. 

Social media is a great way to capture the attention of your target audience. The one medium where you can access any of the world’s communities, from the comfort of your home. 

If you’re a relatively new business, an artificial voice over is a great, cost effective way to get your message across, whilst still sounding like a part of the daily content people scroll through. 

For tutorials

You may also choose to use an AI voice over for narrating tutorials. This is a good idea for those who simply want to put these things together with little effort.

It can be tedious recording a tutorial, then recording your voice, making sure it keeps in time with the video, and then rinsing and repeating for your next tutorial. 

A generated voice over can be a good solution for those who simply want to get their tutorials out there. 

For everyday video use

I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed a wide range of youtube channels are using AI voices more than ever. Whether it’s for how to’s, youtube top 10s or short stories pulled from somewhere like Reddit. 

Going back to the previous point about not everyone liking their own voice, the same can be said for the everyday content creators. Not to mention the extra effort it can take to record your own voice over, for every single video. 

For operating systems

You may have also noticed that generated voices are also especially present in technology. Think: Siri; the voice over reading out your next bus or train stop; or even a screen reader on a laptop. 

Whilst these projects are typically extensive, these are still solid uses for an AI voice over. Although most would argue that a human voice over will work better as a more personable option, robotic voices can also get the job done. 

For narrating corporate videos

Maybe you’re an intern at a company that’s been tasked with creating a corporate video to summarise what your company’s about. Or you’re a manager creating this corporate video and don’t want to stick your voice on it. 

You may choose to use an AI voice for narrating your corporate video, simply because it’s the easier option. It really depends on the type of impression you’re trying to leave behind. 

The human-voiced corporate videos are typically more personable, but for an international company you may opt for the many languages a voice over generator can offer. 

For elearning videos

An elearning video is really and truly meant to just teach a student how to do something. No one said that elearnings has to be voiced over by a person. 

Elearning businesses have proven to be very lucrative, with the demand for cost-effectively training staff only going up. 

To meet this demand, you may choose to use an automated voice for your next elearning project. Though a friendly tone is harder to evoke from an automated voice, it’s not impossible. 

Will AI take over voice over?

You may be asking: Will AI voices replace human voices? To answer that question, we’d need to be at the point where the demand for human voices has disappeared. 

As real voices are still valued as far as the media world is concerned, there’s no incentive to completely replace them with AI voices, unless you’re facing more of a budget issue. 

Whilst the price may be cheaper, an automated voice simply can’t convey the nuances of an experienced voice over. For the time being, the demand for a real, human voice is still very much in place, and will be for years to come. 

The post Different ways to use an AI voice over appeared first on Voicebooking.

Introduce yourself quickly; who are you and what do you do?

 My name is Greg Marston and all I do (for a living) is voice-over-ing!

How did you become a voice over actor?

 Many, many years ago, I started out as a radio presenter (a DJ!) and sound engineer, producer, copywriter, journalist, editor, mixer (2 track and 4 track in those days!), quiz master and interviewer, along with many other associated duties and activities. Beginning as a volunteer at the on-campus University of Western Australia radio station and ending up as “Music Director” (a glorified title for Programme Director) at the ABC in Perth, Western Australia. All of this led indirectly to me becoming a voice-over, full time, in the late 1990’s after I moved back from Australia to the UK.

What do you love about your job?

 Essentially, the freedom and the fact that I’m answerable to no one but myself! However, in terms of what I love about being a voice over, well, I never know what’s going to land in my inbox next and I’ve had some crazy sh*t land in many of my inboxes since we all started using computers as part of our everyday lives. I also like ‘tech’, microphones, studio environments, working with others (whenever possible) and words. I love words. And I love finding substitutes for words when a word in a script just doesn’t seem to fit. Also, working to and with music…

If you weren’t a voice actor, what would you like to do then? And why?

 A rock star or an actor! No, really. That’s all I ever wanted to be from as far back as I can remember. As a kid, growing up in the 60’s and 70’s in the UK, my parents used to listen to the radio programmes (The Goon Show and other such BBC comedies) and then, when TV was affordable (we weren’t a particularly affluent family), we’d watch as many shows, musicals, comedies and so on as we could. Dad would sing little ditties from his younger years (Mum too, occasionally), so there was a lot of music and entertainment in our house. And then came The Beatles…

Why did you choose to be a part of Voicebooking? And what do you like about Voicebooking? 

In 2016, the year after I returned to the UK from Australia (having moved back to be closer to my family in Oz in 2006), I was at VOX for the first time in a few years and ran into Philip Banks, another Voicebooking voice over. I didn’t really “know” Philip, but he must’ve recognised me (or I him) and he introduced me to one of the Voicebooking crew who just happened to also be at VOX that year. And the rest is history. Voicebooking apparently liked what they heard after I’d sent them my demos and, 6 years later, I’m still enjoying working with a very communicative and professional bunch of really lovely people, some of whom I met on September 20, 2018 in Amsterdam! Voicebooking is, without doubt, the most organised voice over organisation I’ve ever worked with.

What project did you like the most or are you most proud of, and why? 

I really don’t know that I can say there is one single project I like most and/or am most proud of. Having been in this crazy business for almost 40 years, I’ve voiced thousands of scripts, most of which are actually gone from what I call my brain! Some of the best creative work I’ve done was when I was living in Dubai for a year in 2014, working with producers, directors, sound specialists and like, voicing to picture, animation etc. Some of the most well produced ads and corporate narratives I’ve ever been part of were made in the middle of the desert. But I’ve sure voiced a few good projects since I’ve been back in the UK – and, of course, through Voicebooking. But there’s no “one single” project which springs to mind…

What was the most crazy voice over job you have had? Which job was the most fun to do?

One of my very early UK voice-overs was helping out a bunch of guys who were just starting up their own production company (they went on to make some very decent videos before everything went online, which I was part of, both on and off camera). Not knowing very much about microphones and stands, all they had at their disposal was a watering can and a Shure SM58. We tied the mic to the spout with a rubber-band, I did the voice over and it didn’t end up too bad, from what I recall! Most fun job? Possibly a series of live presentations for some massive printing machines at an Expo in Los Angeles, late 90’s. For the very last session, the producer made me wear some giant Mickey Mouse hands. Hilarity.

Every craftsman/woman has their own special set of talents. What makes you the voice actor that you are?

I am a hybrid of many ‘voices’, styles and influences. My Mum and Dad always taught us four kids to “speak properly”. My Mum was from the West of England, but didn’t sound like a pirate, and my Dad was from London but didn’t sound like a cockney. They just both spoke well. Not posh, but with good, clear diction. When I was 13, we migrated to Australia, so that was interesting, although I never acquired an Aussie accent. And I was very heavily influenced by actors and comedians I watched on the TV and at the movies – from Steve Martin to Monty Python – and I guess I’ve taken certain nuances and inflections from that melting pot, making me sound a little different than many other male voice-overs…

What advice would you give your younger voice actor-self?

That is one loaded question! I would give a lot of varied advice to my younger voice actor self, including such things as having more confidence, being patient, doing some actual studying and reading so I knew even more about the world of broadcasting, music, entertainment etc. Having said that, I’m not unhappy with how things have turned out for me as a voice over/actor. So I guess the main thing, to quote a line from one of my favourite movies (I love movies!), “Galaxy Quest”, is simply “never give up, never surrender!”… 

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