Cinematic Voice Over: Videos That Set You Apart

There is no question that the rise of content marketing has brought with it an era in which video reigns supreme. With YouTube being the world’s second-largest search engine, businesses cannot afford to overlook this valuable way to reach customers.

As a business, you need to be producing quality video content in order to consistently stand out from the crowd — and to make sure you’re appearing at the top of search results. But where do you begin? 

Voiceovers: Stand Out From The Crowd

Many brands are using a voiceover to help introduce and explain their products, but the first step is deciding what kind of voiceover you want. Do you want a serious voice that sounds authoritative? Or would an energetic, fun voice be more in line with your brand’s personality? 

One of the most powerful techniques in visual storytelling is the cinematic voice over — a narrating voice that builds a story as viewers watch a short film. This kind of narration gives your story mood, atmosphere, and feeling. Today, we’re going to help you decide whether a cinematic voice over is right for you and your business.

The Purpose Of A Voiceover For Your Business Videos

The purpose of a voiceover for your business videos is to give the viewer context for what they’re about to see, whether it’s a testimonial, a product demo, or just an overall brand message. It’s important that your voiceover is clear and concise and that it represents your brand.

A voiceover can make or break your video, so you need to be very careful when choosing a voiceover artist or a script for your content. Your videos don’t always need a voiceover but if you do decide to add one, it needs to be on-brand. 

What Should You Look For In A Voiceover Artist?

When you’re looking for a voiceover artist, you should be looking for someone who’s really great at conveying your message. If you’re working with someone who’s not a professional voiceover artist, it’s important to make sure they have a good ear for how your message should sound.

You also want someone who can bring your script to life. You want someone with a voice that’s interesting and engaging. Of course, that’s all subjective, but it’s also important to think about the demographic you want to reach.

When Hiring A Cinematic Voice Over Professional, What Are The Things That You Should Ask Them?

Finding a reliable contractor is not easy. When you’re hiring a new professional, you want to make sure that the person you’re working with will be ethical, responsible, and will complete tasks on time. 

The questions below will help you on your search to find a voiceover professional for your video.

1. Can You Give Me An Example Of A Project You’ve Worked On Like Mine?

Cinematic voice overs are fairly niche, so it’s fundamental to take a look at the portfolio of potential voice talent. To make sure you’re working with the best, look through voice talent portfolios before casting a project. In addition to seeing how they read for different scripts and in different genres, you’ll also get an idea about their range and versatility.

2. What Is Your Recording Setup?

When hiring a professional, you should expect them to use modern, high-quality recording equipment. Don’t be afraid to ask about what kind of equipment they use for your project; most recording artists love talking about their craft,

3. What Is The Usual Turnaround Time For A Job?

Once you’ve confirmed a voiceover artist, make sure to establish an agreed-upon schedule for approving your draft and finalizing the cinematic voice over. This way both you and your voice actor will have the time necessary to complete your project successfully.

If you’re thinking about hiring a voiceover talent for an upcoming project, you should make your move quickly — booking the best voiceovers is often easier said than done. With a growing list of customers and multiple demands from major companies, most voice actors are in high demand and can be booked up well in advance.

4. Do You Do Revisions? How Many?

With a good script and a decent budget, you’re more likely to get the voiceover you want the first time around. However, we don’t live in an ideal world — if your first attempt isn’t exactly what you want, request revisions. Make sure you understand what is included in the revision package before signing the contract.

Things To Avoid When Recording Your Own Voiceovers (And How To Be Sure You Don’t Make These Mistakes)

If you’re looking for ways to lower your marketing costs, the easiest way to do it is by recording your own marketing voiceovers. However, many businesses fall short when they try to make their own promotional videos —and the results can be disastrous. 

We’ve compiled some of the top voiceover tips so that you can make sure your recordings will be spot-on and effective.

1. Choose An Appropriate Space

When recording voiceovers, it’s paramount to ensure that you’re in a quiet room. No echoes or reverb will ruin a professional-sounding recording, and you’re going to want your audio to be as crisp and clear as possible.

2. Don’t Try Too Hard

A common mistake made by amateur voiceover artists is to imitate the style of other actors and marketing campaigns. Listeners can tell when a voiceover is just trying to sound like the actor from an ad that they liked, and this comes off as being inauthentic. Rather than mimicking existing styles, new voice-over artists should develop their own unique voice and style.

The best voiceover artists are also great storytellers. They have the ability to engage listeners and make them feel a part of the story — without sounding like they’re reading off of a script. The trick to sounding natural is delivering dialogue in a way that you would when speaking to a friend: pause, breathe, speak slowly.

3. Equipment Matters

The most important component of a voiceover is the audio recording equipment that the voice actor uses — it’s absolutely fundamental to producing a quality final product. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking cheap microphones and poor recording devices are just as good as higher-end equipment — they’re not. Voice actors who invest in their own equipment and gain experience with proper recording techniques will always produce better results than those using entry-level or low-grade equipment.

Is Using A Cinematic Voice Over Right For My Business?

 A cinematic voice over is an effective way to create a cinematic feel to your video. It’s also a great way to add a layer of authority and credibility to your content. But that doesn’t mean it works on every type of visual content out there.

The most important thing to remember about using a voiceover in your video is that it is there to add character and personality to what you’re creating. The voiceover should never be the main focus of the video, but it should be there to draw the viewer in.

If you’re still not sure, speak to a professional voice actor or company providing voiceover services who can give you the right advice and help you find a voice that matches your brand and your product.