Knowing how to find a voice actor can save you so much time and money. Here is everything you need to know about voice actors, and various ways to find them.
Finding a voice actor is never easy. Especially if you have a clear idea of what kind of narration you want. But there are a few steps a casting director can follow to simplify the process and make things a bit simpler.
Preparation
Before you start searching for a perfect voice actor, there are a couple of things you will need to do. The starting point is the idea. Who will be your audience? Do you have a script? What is the message behind the story?
All of these questions will give you an idea of what to expect, as well as what type of voice-over artist you will need for it. You can also check out feedback, and whether people in your company (or surroundings) have something to add.
Once you have all the necessary elements, you can proceed to the next phase. Searching for the right voice actor will not be easy, but there are a couple of different options for you to try out.
Online voice actors
The simplest option is to search for voice actors online. And fortunately, there are plenty of different platforms you can find. This means that your focus will be on freelancers, and you can always go for the most popular websites.
Needless to say, this will open a whole new series of questions. You will need to consider the price you are willing to pay, whether the content will be available in multiple languages, unique features, and so much more.
In the majority of cases, you will be able to request a demo reel or voice-over sample to hear what they have to offer.
Voices123
Voices123 is one of the biggest platforms for voice-over talents. If you are interested in freelancers, there is a high chance you will be able to find them here. Other options such as Fiverr include all spheres, and it’s always better to opt for a website focused on VA only.
How it works is quite simple. All you need to do is make an account, and start looking for talents. As for the price, it can vary significantly based on your preferences. Some voice-over actors can be quite expensive, and if you want high quality, you will need to spend money.
Bunny Studio
Bunny Studio has a similar approach but offers so much more. Yes, you can still find voice actors, but you can also get various other services. It is possible to find freelancers that are writers, video editors, audio editing services, designers, and others.
One of the best things about Bunny Studio is that the platform is affordable, and there are plenty of talents using it at the moment. Since people from all over the world are members of Bunny Studio, you will have a great chance of finding an artist for your voice-over project.
Voices.com
Voices.com started working in 2003, and it quickly became one of the biggest platforms when it comes to voice talents. There are more than half a million users (both voice actors and companies), which will only increase your chances of finding a good deal.
Even though the company has headquarters in Canada and London, English is not the only option. You can find users from all over the world, and Voices.com currently provides services in over 160 countries.
AI voice over alternative
But if getting a voice actor sounds like a problem to you, there is an alternative. Instead of working with humans, waiting for them to finish the recording, countless casting calls, and wondering whether you made the right choice, you can always go for artificial intelligence.
Using text to speech apps can make a world of difference. More importantly, it can simplify the entire process. Assuming you already have a script, the only thing you’ll need to do is start the app, and it will do the rest.
You can get studio-quality recordings in just a couple of clicks, and it is an excellent way to make narration or dubbing on your own. This a perfect option for those looking to make their own home studio.
Speechify’s voice over generator
Speechify is a text to speech app that can serve as a voice-over generator for your videos. Furthermore, you can use Speechify regardless of the platform, and the entire process is quite simple.
Once your script is ready, just open the app and select the voice you like. After that, you can export audio files, make voiceovers, and further customize and edit your content. And having such a powerful and versatile app will change the way you feel about voiceovers. Speechify will also work on any other content, and it is a perfect tool for e-learning.
FAQs
How much does it cost to hire a voice actor?
There are many factors that will determine the price of the voice-over work. For example, the length of the session, amount of dialogues, type of voice acting, language, accents, and so on. This means that the price can go from $50 to more than $2,000 based on the job.
Narrations, video games, explainer videos, movie trailers, podcasts, TV commercials, and other voice-over jobs will all have different prices.
Are voice actors expensive?
Professional voice actors can be expensive. It mostly comes down to the category. If you are looking for some of the great voice actors you can find today, it won’t be cheap. But at the same time, you can lower the cost by experimenting with text to speech software instead.
What are some good voice acting services?
The simplest way to find professional voice-over is to browse popular freelancer platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, Voice123, Voice.com, Bunny Studio, and others.
Or you can just check out one of TTS apps such as Speechify. This way, you won’t need to hire a full-time voice actor. And you will get to use not only English voices, but also different accents and styles (age, female or male voices, and others).
