6 Tips for Directing Voiceover Talent

Whether you’re working on your first voice over or your hundredth, your relationship with the actor will have a major effect on the final product.

As a voice director, it’s your responsibility to make sure everyone has what they need and is prepared for a successful recording session.

While every voiceover artist has a different style, there are a few things you can do to make the actor‘s life easier.

These concepts apply whether you’re collaborating in person or directing the voice actor remotely.

Let’s take a look at some of the most effective tips for collaborating with a voice artist and turning your copy into an audiowork of art!

1. Before the Session — Prepare the Script

Typos and other script issues can slow down a session and interrupt your rhythm. 

Make sure to comprehensively review your script and remove any imperfections before the session.

Otherwise, you may end up wasting the time of everyone involved.

The way you format a script will affect how it’s perceived by your voiceover talent.

New changes may need to be approved by a variety of stakeholders, leading to a time-consuming back and forth and a rescheduled session.

The voice actor should have all the information they need as soon as you get started.

Along with basic editing and proofreading, it’s also important to clarify anything that could be ambiguous.

Use your smartphone to record pronunciations for unusual names, places, abbreviations, proprietary terms, and other uncommon words.

2. Before the Session — Verify Timing

Voice over work is often tied to time constraints like ad slots and accompanying visual content.

If the voice over is for a timed spot, read it yourself before the session to make sure it hits your target.

You should also prep a time-coded script for the actor’s reference.

Time coding involves matching up each section of the script to a specific time.

For example, you might list the time markers for visual cuts that need to be aligned with specific parts of the script.

The average English speaker speaks at roughly 150 words per minute, so a 30-second ad slot is enough time for around 75 spoken words.

Of course, the actual speech rate will vary depending on the style of content and the professional voice actor you work with.

3. Help the Actor Understand What You’re Looking For

Your script may not be enough to communicate your expectations on its own.

Remember that the voice actor won’t have as much context regarding your project goals.

You’ll need to provide guidance and background information to help them match what you’re looking for.

For example, let’s say they’re recording lines for a character in a TV show.

On top of the script itself, they’ll need some details about the character‘s history, motivations, and relationships to other characters.

Some directors supplement that basic information with storyboards, video drafts, or examples of similar voice overs.

If there’s anything that stood out to you in their audition tape, make sure to let them know so they can focus on that during the actual session.

The more details you can offer, the easier it will be for them to fine-tune their style based on your goals.

4. Create a Positive Atmosphere

Vocal recording sessions can become tense surprisingly quickly.

The client is looking for the perfect take, the artist is anxious to do a good job, and both sides have their own deadlines and other priorities to consider.

Breaking up that tension will lead to a better recording and make the actor want to work with you again in the future.

If you need them to adjust their approach, remember to offer positive feedback along with any constructive criticism.

Don’t forget to give them enough space to ask their own questions about your ideas for the recording.

Of course, it’s easier to be positive and relaxed when you’ve ironed out timing, typos, and other issues before the session.

5. Be Specific

Having a clear idea in your head is one thing, but getting someone else to understand that idea is another.

In fact, understanding the client’s expectations is one of the most difficult aspects of voice over work.

Clients often provide well-meaning but ultimately vague feedback.

For example, if you tell a voice actor to “speak more positively,” they may have trouble recognizing exactly what you mean.

Reading the script out loud is often the best way to demonstrate what you have in mind.

6. Try Out Other Ideas

You’ll have your own ideas and expectations for the project, but remember that voice actors offer unique experience and insights.

Make sure to schedule enough time to record several takes of each section of the script.

You should also have some extra time to experiment with any inspiration that comes to you or the actor during the session.

Don’t hesitate to make edits to the script if you come up with anything that may be more effective than the original idea.

You can always mix and match takes at the end, so don’t worry about getting everything right on the first try.

If you have any agents, engineers, or other people on the call, see if they can offer any other suggestions.

These professionals are regularly involved in voice over work and may provide a unique perspective on the script or delivery.

Takeaways

Directing voiceover talent is a challenge, and it takes time to feel more comfortable with the process of writing a script, recording audio, and editing into a final product.

Fortunately, you can make the job easier by preparing in advance and setting clear expectations.

These tips will help you avoid common mistakes and lead more fruitful recording sessions.

Maintaining a positive atmosphere while offering specific feedback and staying open to new ideas will go a long way toward making your next project a resounding success.

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