The Characteristics of Voice Over

While every voice over is a recording of someone speaking, not every recording of speech is necessarily a voice over.

Furthermore, the category of “voice over” can also be broken up into various subcategories.

So, what exactly are the characteristics of voice over?

In this article, we’ll explain what separates voice overs from other kinds of vocal recordings.

We’ll also cover what makes a great voice actor and outline the main types of voice overs that you might be familiar with.

What Is Voice Over?

In general, a voice over can be separated from other types of vocal performance using a few main criteria.

While it’s impossible to describe every conceivable kind of voice over, here are a few of the most common types.

Narration

Narration is one of the most common and widely recognized forms of voice over.

It is used to tell stories, deliver messages, communicate instructions, and more.

Narrators often record for movies, TV shows, and other forms of media.

In this case, they typically explain events and backstory through voice over without actually appearing as a character.

On the other hand, some narrators also act as characters and switch between these roles throughout the story.

Narration can be surprisingly tricky for voice over artists — especially for long-form content that can take hours to read through.

In these situations, the most important thing is to avoid becoming monotonous and losing the audience’s attention.

Along with conventional narration in movies and TV shows, this category also includes audiobook narration.

While some of the same concepts transfer, audiobook narrators need a somewhat different set of skills.

Unlike TV, for example, audiobook narration requires a wide vocal range to provide distinct character voices and keep the listener’s attention.

Some audiobooks rely on multiple actors to voice different characters and make the distinction clearer for listeners.

In documentaries, narrators often speak over animated or live-action visual content.

David Attenborough is a world-famous narrator who provides the perfect accompaniment to a wide range of nature documentaries.

His engaged yet restrained tone keeps users interested without distracting them from what’s unfolding onscreen.

Remember that different voice actors are suited to different kinds of content.

Attenborough’s signature style wouldn’t work as well as Redd Pepper’s when it comes to trailers for epic action movies.

Animation and Character Voices

A growing number of voice actors are working on animated content.

Some are also involved in dubbing content that was originally produced in another language.

The category of “animation” could include video games, films, TV shows, animated commercials, or any other animated media.

Animated content involves different forms of characterization compared to live-action TV and movies.

With that in mind, voice actors need specific skills to reach their goals in animation.

Live-action actors can give depth to their character through their voice as well as their physical mannerisms and actions.

Animation actors, on the other hand, can only contribute their voice.

This transition can be tough for actors who are used to working on live-action content.

Animated work often relies on celebrity voices to make characters more recognizable and generate more interest.

Some talented voice actors can dramatically change their styles to convincingly portray multiple characters in the same movie or show.

Hank Azaria, for example, voiced numerous Simpsons characters including Moe, Comic Book Guy, and Chief Wiggum.

However, Azaria’s portrayal of Apu was a source of controversy, leading to a public apology in 2021.

Authentic representation is a crucial factor to consider when casting voice actors for animated content.

Commercials

Commercials are all about producing a strong first impression and creating a sense of urgency.

The specific tone varies depending on the type of content in question.

Ads for luxury items, for example, might pair well with a cool, elevated voice over.

On the other hand, a burger commercial needs to appeal to a person’s appetite (and price sensitivity).

Explainer videos are another type of promotional content which describes how a product or service works while selling viewers or listeners on the benefits.

The Sanebox explainer video below is a great example of bridging the gap between communicating information and pushing viewers toward a sale.

Jane A’s voice over works perfectly by conveying the relevant details while maintaining a cheerful tone that matches the product benefit: spending less time on email management.

E-learning and Training

The e-learning industry grew to about $400 billion in 2023, and it should continue to grow over the next few years and beyond.

E-learning voice actors need to communicate information — including difficult material — without losing the students’ interest.

Even if they aren’t an expert, they have to speak naturally and confidently in order to make the topic more approachable.

The same concept applies to corporate training and other educational content.

Notice how the Procter and Gamble training video below communicates important priorities without being boring or dry.

Understanding Vocal Qualities

People respond differently to different vocal qualities.

It’s impossible to describe every single characteristic of the human voice, but you can focus on a few key qualities when seeking a professional voice actor.

Speed

The tempo of a voice actor’s speech can completely change the tone of their voice over.

If you have a lot of material and limited time, you might need a professional who can speak clearly at high speeds.

In contrast, educational and training environments generally call for a more relaxed pace that gives viewers time to fully absorb the content.

The average person speaks at roughly 150 words per minute, but that can fluctuate dramatically depending on the situation.

The right voice actor will perfectly complement your video through tempo along with volume, tone, and other qualities.

Volume

While you can edit a voice recording to adjust volume, the performer’s speaking volume will still impact the final product.

We naturally associate loud voices with urgency, while quiet voices and whispers convey a sense of mystery or intrigue.

Mid-volume voices are usually best for conversational content like narration and audiobooks, but this still depends on context.

Crescendi and decrescendi can punctuate key moments and give the audience a sense of narrative progression.

Tone

We all change our vocal tones throughout the day to match different situations.

Similarly, voice actors vary their tone to cultivate different emotional responses.

Of course, some aspects of our tone are out of our control.

For example, we can’t choose our accent or other natural vocal qualities, even though we can try to account for them.

Before starting your search for a new voice actor, think about the tone you’re looking for.

You should also consider the way your organization or brand communicates on other channels.

A unified style across different content types is critical for brand recognition and trust.

When auditioning voice actors, let them know your vision of the final product.

Final Thoughts

Voice over is a powerful tool for communicating with your audience and creating more engaging content.

Each type of voice over comes with its own style, conventions, and best practices.

If it’s your first time working on a professional voice over, you may not know where to start.

Over time, you’ll get more comfortable with the process and learn how to consistently develop professional recordings.

Whether you need voice actors for narration, animation, commercials, e-learning, training, or another project, be sure to check out our platform for more information about working with our team of carefully vetted voiceover professionals.

Did you like this article? Have any questions or ideas? Feel free to leave a comment below.