What makes a great Voice Actor?
Almost anyone with a voice can talk. But is he convincing? Is she whiny? Do you need a serious voice that gets your point across? Is there inherent sarcasm that you need to convey to bring that humorous television commercial or YouTube video where it needs to be? Will the voice you're settling for turn people off or cause them to distrust you? There are all very important qualifications when searching for the right voiceover person.
A voice talent should also be a voice actor. Chuck Fresh has over 30 years as an experienced voice actor. He's done announcer voices, animated characters, video game voices, television commercials, radio commercials, and more. Fresh has the uncanny ability to read between the lines in most scripts and discover exactly what feeling, tone, and emotion to deliver. There aren't too many people who can do that.
Click to visit Voice Talent Chuck Fresh's demos to see what a difference a voice actor can make.
Most people have a certain voice in mind when they write a script. It may be something similar to an established celebrity. Or it may be something so far out in left field that no one can describe. Voice talent Chuck Fresh seems to know how to get that voice from your mind and into a digital file, so you can send your world-changing idea into cyberspace.
Of course, you could record your own voices. You'll need professional equipment and audio editing software to make it sound good. Your iPhone or Macbook's built-in microphone is going to sound terrible in most cases, resulting in a tinny, weak, and embarrassing sound. Please don't do that! If you're going to do it yourself, invest in some good equipment.
Locating Voice Talent
In order to find the right talent, visit websites that are professionally designed to represent tones of voice-over actors. You'll need to listen to several demo recordings and samples which will help you narrow things down. You'll be amazed at how most voice talents have one, direct, monotone delivery. Those are probably ex-radio DJs who are afraid to stand out, or simply can't act. Fresh has about 100 different characters and deliveries on his website. Chances are you won't believe it's the same person! Have a listen here: voice actor
Limit your candidates to five voice talents, or you'll drive yourself crazy. It takes a lot of time and effort to listen. Call or email your favorites, and request they read a sentence or two so you can hear the quality of their audio, and determine if they're the right fit for you project. Most professional voice actors will gladly provide a short audition for free.
Furthermore, be sure to set your budget beforehand. You do get what you pay for -- professional voice actors are rare, so they'll charge a little more than an amateur. If your finances are tight, expect you'll use somebody that is less experienced.
Remember, the human voice is a powerful tool in expressing messages and can evoke emotional responses in a very personal way. Trust. Believability. Professionalism. Dialect. Tone. Emotion. Pitch. Variation. There are many factors that differentiate a pro from a DJ. The talent you select to your project will often be an initial impression for your project. Great voice talent brings credibility and will resonate with your audience. Contact Chuck first.