Whether you’re looking to make a video that will drive engagement and sales or simply want to connect with customers in an entertaining way, it’s important to have a high-quality voice over for your production. A talented professional can make the difference between a video that flops and one that delivers exceptional results.
With more than half of the world’s population speaking English, it is no surprise that voice acting is such a huge industry. In fact, there are many ways in which voice acting is employed including dubbing movies into different languages, animating characters for video games, and voicing radio commercials. However, it’s important to understand the different types of voice acting to decide which is right for you.
A common type of voice over is narration, which is the act of telling a story. This is most commonly seen in television shows and films where a narrator tells the story of the film or show. Often, the narration will be sympathetic to the tone and emotion of the piece. For example, a narrator in a drama will probably sound serious or depressed, but a voice-over for a nature documentary will sound more cheerful and optimistic.
Another popular type of voice over is e-learning, which is audio or video content that is used to teach students. This could include anything from a simple tutorial on a new computer system to a full-blown course on a specific topic. In the past, this type of voice over was often seen on educational websites but has now expanded to other platforms such as social media and YouTube.
Video game voice overs are another growing area and this is where the voice actor really shines. This type of voice over can be character voice work (such as a video game hero or secondary character), narration, or even audio effects. There are a lot of opportunities for this kind of voice over and it’s becoming increasingly popular with younger generations.
Bristol is a hotbed for voice talent with numerous iconic production houses based there. These include Aardman Animations who are behind Wallace and Gromit, Shawn the Sheep, and Chicken Run, plus Rockstar North who have made huge hits such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. The city is also home to Voquent who have a large selection of voices from this part of the country.
In second place is Manchester with a huge selection of TV producers and broadcasters. This includes the headquarters of the BBC and several TV studios where classic British favourites such as Blue Peter, Dragon’s Den, and Coronation Street are produced. It’s also home to the Media City UK site, which is an impressive hub of digital and traditional media production. The city also has its own voiceover agency, BRAVA, who have clients such as the BBC and HSBC. voiceovers.uk