6 Key Factors to Consider When Hiring a Voiceover Artist for Your Project

Finding the right voiceover artist for your project can significantly enhance your content's quality and engagement. Whether you're producing a video, creating promotional materials, or crafting an audio experience, the voice you choose makes a substantial difference. A compelling voice can captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression. Below, I’ll share key factors to consider when hiring a voiceover artist to ensure you find the perfect match for your needs.

1. High-Quality Audio

First and foremost, a basic requirement for a good voiceover is high-quality audio. A professional voiceover artist will be using high-quality equipment, including a good XLR microphone, audio interface and sound proof studio. Their studio should be soundproofed and acoustically treated to minimize background noise and ensure clear, crisp sound. You should be looking for a noise floor* of around -60db in their studio.

A voiceover artist using a top-notch XLR microphone, like the Sennheiser MKH-416, Neumann U87ai or Neumann TLM103, can produce recordings that are significantly higher-quality and are a lot more versatile than USB microphones. Another way to know if they have high quality equipment and can deliver high-quality audio, is by asking what delivery formats they provide. The highest-quality audio format is a WAV file, but they should be able to provide most formats for you including MP3.

*noise floor is the sound or noise the microphone picks up when no other sound is being made in the studio

2. Versatility

Another important factor when considering a voiceover artist is versatility. A talented voiceover artist should be able to adapt their voice to various styles and tones. This is proof of their skills, whether you need their full range for your project or not. A voiceover artists should be versatile, being able to provide a quick upbeat happy voiceover for a promotional video, a calm, soothing read for a nature documentary, or a clear, professional tone for a corporate voiceover.

When reviewing samples, pay attention to how the artist varies their performance. Artists who can deliver a variety of reads from dramatic and inspirational to friendly and conversational are often easier to redirect and collaborate with, saving you time and money. You can also explore and have more fun with the voiceover artist, letting them try different reads to see what works best for your project.

3. Experience

Experience plays a considerable role in a voiceover artist’s credibility. It's not necessary, but it's helpful to find a voiceover artist with experience. Artists with several years of experience are often not only more skilled, but are also more credible and professional within their business, communication and overall service. They can interpret scripts skillfully, which can enhance the final output and are able to provide a more efficient and enjoyable experience for you.

Checking their portfolio can also provide insights into the work they enjoy doing the most and where they are most marketable (what they are hired for the most). For example, an artist who has voiced many emotional, inspirational voiceovers may not only enjoy those projects more, but will likely be naturally very good at them and could potentially find more nuance within your script. The more relevant the experience, the better they can align with your project's specific needs. Experience becomes very important when it comes to character work as well and I can highly recommend choosing a voiceover artist with an acting background, although it is not necessary.

4. Credibility

In today's digital environment, reviews and testimonials can heavily influence your hiring decision. Experience, as mentioned above, and feedback from past clients provide valuable insights into the artist's working style, reliability, and professionalism.

When reaching out directly, look out for client testimonials or repeat clients. If reaching out through a voiceover marketplace, like Fiverr and voices.com, look for artists who consistently receive positive reviews and who have completed projects recently.

5. Audio Engineering

This depends on your voiceover needs, but is important to consider. Are you looking to receive a raw** voiceover audio file? Or are you looking for an audio file that is processed and ready to add to your project? Consider whether your prospective voiceover artist has audio processing skills. Many artists know how to apply essential audio techniques such as equalization and compression, further enhancing sound quality.

If you lack the tools or expertise to edit audio, hiring someone who offers these services can be advantageous. Discuss your requirements upfront. If you need your audio to be edited for you, clarity on this need will streamline the process.

** raw audio is unedited audio, there is no equalization, compression, normalization, or anything else applied to enhance the audio.

6. Budget

Finally, consider your budget and the specific requirements of your project. Voiceover artists often set rates based on their experience, the type of project, the scope of the project, and the rights required. You can find good rate guides on Gravy for the Brain and GVAA.

Be upfront about your budget when communicating with potential candidates. Some artists are open to negotiating fees based on project scope and your needs. For instance, if you have a small independent project, sharing that information can help you find a suitable option without compromising quality.

Selecting a voiceover artist involves assessing various factors, including audio quality, versatility, experience, credibility, audio engineering and budget. By considering these six key factors, you can find an artist who will bring your creative vision to life efficiently.

Investing time in evaluating potential candidates pays off in the quality of your final product. Remember to communicate your specific needs clearly, and you'll be well on your way to discovering the perfect voice for your project! And if in doubt, don't be afraid to ask for a sample to see if you and the voiceover artist are a good fit.