Becoming an audiobook reader might seem easy. We can see how well a female or male voice over artist conveys the information to audiences. However, it’s not as easy as we think. Yup, this job is almost the same as a radio announcer. Broadcasters must have excellent reading skills. Have you ever had a dream to become a voice-over? If you have a good voice, you can develop it through this work. There are jobs out there that require shifting from commercial voice over to audiobooks. Besides being able to develop speaking skills, you can also add to a broader insight. Here are five essential keys to pay attention to when it comes to shifting the commercial voice over to audiobooks.
- Casting Process
The first step generally taken by the recipient of a voice recording is the casting process. Of course, this is not easy because you have to determine by the criteria. You mustn’t have a golden voice to be a voice-over. Both female and male voice over artist has the same opportunity. The most important thing is that you can provide what the client wants. Whether it’s for advertising purposes or knowledge, you must be able to get it done well. You can look for references through a website or video platform to learn about the casting process. It’s very easy to do.
- Prepare the Right Equipment
Going on to more technical matters, you need to have a particular room for recording. Whether it’s a mini studio or a more proper one, this kind of space is essential in maximising shifting the commercial voice over to audiobooks. You don’t want to get preliminary results, do you? So, pay attention to the place where you do this shifting process. Besides, you should also set up the right equipment. There will be a mic stand, USB microphone, or audio interface to support this process. Start to plug it into your computer and record the voice.
Don’t forget the audio recording software for great results. Make sure if you are not recording at a high level. This method will spoil the products you have made. You better use a low level because it can be edited in terms of the volume. However, doing it only with a recording application can also be done via your smartphone. Using this way is not a problem as long as the results are clean and without other noise distractions.
- The Scripts to be Read
Apart from the studio and equipment, there is a script too. There will be a large selection of writings with genres ranging from fiction, horror, motivation, and even horror. However, there are two types of script, namely casual and formal. If you are going to make a demo, you must prepare for a good script. If you still don’t know which script is excellent and correct, make sure that the sentences are in order and easy to read. Besides, pay attention to the spelling as well. Don’t make the sentence too short, as this is not a quick message service.
If you’re still having trouble creating a demo, there are lots of helpful resources. You can even download and store it on your laptop or smartphone. You will learn where to pause the words and where to not. One more thing you need to pay attention to from the script is the language used. If English is not the primary language, you have to be careful with how it is pronounced. Correct script preparation will become your portfolio. If you want to apply for swift commercial voice over to audiobook, this will be a plus value. For better opportunity, make three to four demos with different characters. The agency that needs your position will consider you more. Are you ready yet?
- The Duration to Record the Voice
In line with the script above, the duration also affects the shifting from commercial voice over to audiobooks. This aspect has to do with speed in voice over. You surely want the timing to match, and the goal is conveyed. It’s not easy to convince the audience of what you have to say. You have to be smarter to adjust the duration; too fast is not fair nor too slow. We can take the example of the voice over which was done in 80 minutes. This duration is too short of inserting a lot of information. You can only read about 120 to 130 words. The voice-over artist also needs to match the order of sentences in the script or on the screen.
- Provide Storytelling Instead of Reading Book
What’s next, you should remember about is provide storytelling instead of reading book. First of all, pay attention to who the target audience will be listening to the audiobook. If your target is between the ages of 30, you can choose a female or male voice over artist with that age around. Meanwhile, if your target is teenagers, you can also adjust the voice’s age over the artist.
The second thing to note is the intonation of the voice. You can give directions regarding the tone of voice you want. Whether it is cheerful, serious, or otherwise, a voice-over must know about it. Make sure if you choose them with precise intonation and, of course, professional. Imagine when you were reading a novel with an exciting plot. You can feel that you are there in the story you read. It would be good to provide this way of telling the audience. However, if you have to give a severe atmosphere, use a severe feel too. Don’t let your intonation be too childish.
After knowing the keys above, we can conclude that this profession can still be learned. In this era, the need for audiobooks becomes a great potential for you. You don’t have to worry about the place and the equipment. You can even do it at home with simple recording devices. So, are you interested in trying this profession? Challenge yourself with the various scripts and turn them into great audiobooks.
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