How to Easily Format a Script for a Voice Over

Often, when businesses come to us to record a script for a voice over, the deadline is usually “two days ago”, “a few hours from now,” or “as soon as humanly possible!”

But let’s be honest—sometimes the “script” is simply a set of interesting ideas.

Or it’s derived from a 30,000-word PowerPoint Presentation used for developing an e-learning course—all pertinent points and no personality!

But, hey! No judgment here.

We’re aware that just because a person knows their business inside out, it doesn’t mean they can fire off a perfectly formatted script for a voice over without a second thought.

In fact, it’s one of the reasons we developed our free AI copywriter tool—to craft a professional script for people who don’t feel confident writing, or who have 101 other things taking precedence on their to-do list.

However, whether you decide to make use of our free tool, write the script yourself, or have someone else write it for you, you still might be up against the clock to have something recorded (with little to no errors, of course.)

Pickup recordings mean pushing your deadline, and we don’t want that either.

Given all of the above, we’d like to offer you a quick guide to help you submit scripts for a voice over that will make the process easy for you and the voice actor you’re working with.

(spoiler: downloadable templates below).

Following these steps carefully will help minimize errors, stress, and unnecessary back-and-forth recordings.

Here goes!

1. Found a voice actor yet?

If you already have someone you’re working with, great! You can skip to section 2.

Otherwise, take a listen to our voice actors. Simply filter results using the parameters on the left pane and click play to hear voice demos.

You can also drill down further and go into individual voice actor pages to listen to demos in all categories.

Demos typically contain snippets of various styles in each category.

Once you find a talent you like, be sure to reference a section in their voice demo (For example—let them know that the read between 00:35 – 00-50 sounds exactly how you’d like it to sound for your project).

For best results, simply post a project or pick out several voice actors and ask them to record a custom audition.

This way you’ll get the best idea of what YOUR recording will sound like.

2. Provide audio or video references

Okay, you’re right. Just like the first section, this one also doesn’t have much to do with formatting the script for a voice over.

It does, however, have to do with how you’d like your voice actor to read your text, and that can help save you precious time.

Sometimes the style and sensibility of the read you’re after may not be easy to put into words.

The best thing to do in this case is to send audio and/or video references to the voice actor so they can “get the vibe” you’re interested in.

We highly recommend you include references when requesting auditions because they will provide a great guide for the actor to follow.

And now…let’s talk about your copy!

3. Checking your script

When submitting a script for a voice over recording, you’ll want it to be as final as possible, especially for long-form narration.

Making last-minute changes after recording can lead to additional costs and delays, so it’s best to get everything right from the get-go.

For that reason, we highly recommend that you have a professional editor proofread the text to make sure it’s 100% kosher.

A fresh pair of eyes can catch typos, awkward phrasing, or unclear wording or sentence structure that might trip the voice actor up or just cause general head-scratching during the recording process.

You’ll also want to make sure the script aligns with your brand’s voice and messaging.

Also, remember that voice actors have different revision policies.

Many will include a round of revisions after the initial recording (within reason), while others may charge for pickups.

To avoid surprises, always check the voice actor’s revision policy upfront so your expectations are aligned.

4. Submitting your script

Examples of a Script for a Voice Over

Here are some examples to get you going:

Voice Over for Automotive Industry (Video Script)

Time codes are used for aligning (or synching) the voice over audio to the video’s visuals during or after the recording.

Time codes, along with the video’s visuals, can also help the voice talent understand the pace required.

DOWNLOAD A VOICE OVER SCRIPT TEMPLATE FOR VIDEOS

Voice over scripts for e-learning / IVRs, etc.

Sometimes, your project will require a voice actor or a sound editor to cut the recorded audio into individual files.

Similar rules apply, but here you’ll want to specify where to cut the audio and how to name each file

DOWNLOAD A VOICE OVER SCRIPT TEMPLATE FOR E-LEARNING

Again, be sure to make full use of the comments section to explain how certain terms should be pronounced.

Additionally, you can record these terms on your phone and send them to the voice actor. That way, you’re pretty much guaranteed they will get it right the first time.

Final Words

Creating a great script for a voice over is not in everyone’s zone of genius.

But the good news is, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

By following these few simple steps, you can be sure your script is clear, error-free, and easy for your voice actor to follow.

Getting it right from the start will save you headaches later on and help you get the recording you need without last-minute revisions.

And of course, in all stages of the process, from sourcing a voice actor to finding the right background music, and even creating the script itself, check the Voice Crafters platform for top talent and free tools that ensure you have everything you need.

Did you like this article? Have any questions? Please feel free to comment below.