You probably agree with the rest of the world when people say that the mere idea of listening to their own voices is horrifying. As you probably know, there is an entire scientific explanation behind this phenomenon. Nevertheless, recording your own voice to create content or advertise merchandise has its benefits.
People want to know who is behind all the tutorials they watch every week or who is behind the designs of their favorite items. It is a great way to connect with the audience. Still, recording a simple voiceover is not enough. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to take these to the next level.
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Get the right equipment
The very first thing you have to do is equip yourself with the right tools. You have to ensure that your voice is crystal clear and that the audience can understand every word you utter. Obviously, you have to eliminate all the additional sounds that cannot only be annoying but can also muffle the sound of your voice. If this were to happen, your listeners would lose interest in whatever you are saying to them, so they wouldn’t even bother listening to the entire thing.
First of all, you have to purchase a mic. When it comes to this, there are numerous options on the market right now, so you should first set a budget and find something within your price range. Then, you can slowly upgrade it over time. Next, if you plan on having long recording sessions, you should invest in a mic arm to ensure the microphone is at the perfect position, and it is also more convenient. Finally, let’s go back to the additional sounds that can destroy your voiceover. To prevent these from occurring, you should get a pop filter and attach it to your mic.
Find the right place
What do we mean by this? Well, ideally, you would record the voiceovers in a studio booth, and you would get a perfect recording the first time around. However, if this is not the case, you have to recreate these conditions in your own home. This is crucial if you want the voice over video to blend in perfectly with the background music or whatever you will use. If you have to record in a large room, you should use a reflection filter that will enable you to create your own studio booth.
Have a script
If you are creating a short tutorial or an ad, having everything on a piece of paper may seem unnecessary. However, this cannot be further from the truth. It doesn’t matter how many times you have read it and said it out loud. When you sit down in front of that mic, mistakes can easily slip in. The worst thing is that you may not even notice these immediately, so you may conclude the entire session thinking that it is perfect, only to realize that it is not and that you have to do it all over again.
Nevertheless, this part of the process can be made easier if you choose the right voice maker. For example, Murf.ai offers a feature that enables you to make changes in your recordings using a realistic text-to-speech service. You can choose to delete certain parts of the text, and the software will do it automatically as soon as you input the command and read the script once again. Basically, it is really similar to the way a word document works.
Think about AI voice
If for whatever reason, you believe that you are not up to the task of doing a voiceover, you can always turn to modern technology. That’s right. You can record a voiceover of your own and then use software that will transform the text into an AI voice over. No, you don’t have to worry that it will sound too artificial. Naturally, you have to turn to professional software to be certain that everything will turn out great. Plus, another advantage of this is that you can literally choose a voice you want to represent you. It will help you build your brand image and connect with the followers and customers.
Be careful with the pacing
When we are really excited about something and cannot wait to tell the story to other people, we tend to speak fast, omit some words, and even use facial expressions to show our attitudes. Well, none of these things are possible when it comes to doing voiceovers.
Firstly, if you speak too fast, people won’t understand a single word you are saying, so instead of getting them excited about something, you will just annoy them. The chances of them replaying the whole thing to catch the words they missed are quite slim. On the other hand, if you speak too slowly, they will get bored. This is why pacing is vital. You have to find the right balance. It also means that you have to take breaks when you speak to emphasize a certain phrase or information. Remember, no one can see you. All you have to convey the message is your voice.
In a nutshell, this is why you need to have a script and why you have to practice. As you can see, reading the words is not enough. You have to figure out a way to present them in the best way possible.
Speak clearly
Pronunciation and enunciation are crucial elements of any voiceover. Every word you utter must be sharp. However, this doesn’t mean that you should over-enunciate because you would sound ridiculous. Instead, you have to practice to find the right tone.
There is another thing you have to think about. That’s right. We are talking about your regional accent. Just because you say a certain word in a certain way and it sounds great to you, it doesn’t mean that everyone will agree. This is why you have to think about your target audience. Do they use the same accent? Do you want your content to be seen in other countries? Are you looking for a way to advertise and expand your business? We are not saying that you have to change your accent. After all, it is a part of your personality and maybe even your brand. Instead, you should maybe think about toning down the colloquial expressions if you are not sure that everyone will understand them.