How to Prepare for a Voiceover Session

By Guy Michaels

It’s a truly exciting moment when you book a voiceover session, especially if it’s a directed one! It shows your hard work is paying off. To help you absolutely nail it and feel super confident, let’s talk about how to prepare for a voiceover session. Trust me, the more prepared you are, the more professional you’ll come across, and the smoother the entire recording process will be.

Learn How to Prepare for a Voiceover Session

Getting ready for a voiceover session, especially a directed one, is crucial for both new and experienced voice actors. It’s all about showcasing your professionalism and making the most of your time with the client or director.

Understanding the Directed Voiceover Session

A directed voiceover session means you’ll have a director or client on the line, giving you real-time feedback and guidance on your performance. This could be via Zoom, Skype, Source-Connect, or a phone patch. It’s a collaborative process where they help shape your tone and delivery to perfectly match their vision for the project. Think of it like a coaching session where you get perspective and techniques you can use in any future directed session. This real-time feedback is invaluable for getting the exact performance the client needs.

Script Preparation is Key

This is where a good chunk of your prep work happens. You absolutely need to read the script thoroughly before the session.

• Understand the Message: Take time to thoroughly understand the script to grasp its intended tone, message, and emotional impact.
• Target Audience: Tailor your delivery to connect with the target audience effectively. Who are you talking to?
• Pronunciation: Go through any tricky pronunciations beforehand. If there are names, technical terms, or anything you’re unsure about, ask for clarification before or at the start of the session. There’s no harm in asking!
• Mark Up Your Script: This is your personal roadmap. Highlight key phrases, note inflections, and plan out your pauses. Strategic pauses can highlight points and build suspense.
• Script Changes: Be ready for potential script changes during the session. It happens! Stay flexible and adaptable.

Microphone and Home Studio Workflow

Your home studio is your base of operations, and its technical readiness is paramount.

• Equipment Check: Before the session, make sure all your equipment is working perfectly. Do a quick sound check to ensure your microphone is connected, your audio settings are correct, and you’re recording high-quality audio. This includes your microphone, audio interface, and headphones.
• Sound Quality: Poor quality audio is a huge turn-off. Ensure your recording environment is quiet and free from background noise. You want your voice to shine through, not get drowned out by any external sounds.
• Software Ready: Have your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) or recording software open and ready to go. Know how to start recording, pause, and stop seamlessly.
• Notifications Off: Turn off all notifications on your phone and computer to avoid any interruptions during the live session. You don’t want a ping or a pop-up to ruin a perfect take!
• Hydration: Keep water handy! Vocal warm-ups and proper hydration are essential for maintaining vocal health and avoiding strain.

During the Voiceover Recording Session

Now that you’re technically and mentally prepared, here’s how to rock the actual session:

• Stay Calm and Focused: Nerves can get the better of anyone, but staying calm helps you deliver your best performance. Remember, you’ve done the prep work!
• Listen to Direction: Pay close attention to the director’s feedback. They’ll guide you on tone, pace, and character. Be open to trying different things, even if it feels a bit outside your comfort zone.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Make a Mistake: Everyone makes mistakes! If you stumble over a word or mess up a line, just pause, take a breath, and go back to the beginning of the sentence or phrase. It’s much easier to edit a clean pickup than a messy one.
• Multiple Takes: Be prepared to do multiple takes of lines or sections. This is standard practice in a directed session as the client might want to explore different options.
• Time Stamps (if applicable): If you’re providing raw audio for someone else to edit, clarify if they need time stamps for specific takes or errors. This streamlines their workflow.
• Asking Questions: If you’re unsure about a direction or a line, ask for clarification. It’s always better to ask than to deliver something incorrectly.

After the Recording Session

Once you’ve done recording, your job isn’t quite over.

• Edit (if required): If you’re delivering edited audio, now’s the time to clean up your takes. This involves removing breaths, clicks, or any glitches, and compiling the best performances into a seamless audio file.
• Delivery: Send the files over in the agreed-upon format and via the preferred method (e.g., WeTransfer, Google Drive, or DropBox).

By following these steps, you’ll not only deliver high-quality voiceover work but also build a reputation as a professional voice actor who is reliable, efficient, and a pleasure to work with. And that, ultimately, leads to more bookings and voiceover success!

Find more STUDIO TIPS FOR VOICEOVER on our sister site.