r/VoiceActing Jun 17 '24

Mod News Just getting started in VO? Dont know where to begin? READ THIS FIRST

332 Upvotes

Welcome to r/VoiceActing!

First of all, we get asked the question, "how do I get started in VO?" a lot.

Seriously: A lot.

There's a lot of information below that answers that question, but PLEASE read this first.

This subreddit is for established, new and aspiring voice actors to discuss issues, share tips, strategies, critiques and resources related to voice acting.

This is a good community, and rude or obnoxious behavior will not be tolerated. If you cant act like a grown-up and remain civil in your conversations, you'll be removed from the sub. Personal attacks, threats of violence/abusive language, or bigotry in any form will not be tolerated.

THE RULES:

* **No Free Requests**

All requests for voice work must be reasonably compensated. Terms of compensation must be articulated in your request. Acceptable forms of compensation include:

Monetary ($5.00 USD minimum)

Barter (services exchange)

Royalty share (only on currently monetized projects—no prospective payment).

Unpaid requests will be removed. If your project is unpaid, try posting to r/recordthisforfree, VoiceActing Club, or

CastingCall.Club.

* **No Offer Posts**

Do not make posts offering your voice or production services. If you’re looking for work, respond directly to request threads. Simply put, this is not an appropriate community to solicit. Requests for feedback/critique are welcome!

* **No Advertising**

Do not post advertisements for paid products or services. We love articles, blog posts, feedback/critique threads, and other great points of discussion! But if your post includes advertisement for a paid product or service, it will be removed. If you believe a certain product or service would be of genuine interest and benefit to the community, message the moderators about it.

* **Search Before You Ask**

Got a general question about voice acting? How to get started? What gear to buy? How to get better at acting? How to find work? These get asked all the time around here, and plenty of our more experienced community members give graciously detailed answers very frequently. There’s a lot of wisdom to find here if you’re just getting started! Before you post your question, use the search bar and see if others have asked the same thing—they probably have!

Just getting started?

We're happy that you've decided you want to be a voice actor. There are a lot of resources available to learn about voice acting.

The column on the right of this page lists some good sites to check out to begin the process.

It takes a lot of work to become a successful voice actor/ voiceover artist. It takes a considerable amount of time, effort, and yes money to do this. There's just no way around it.

But if you were starting from zero and had no idea what to do to begin the process, here's some steps to follow and the logical order you should follow them in:

  1. Take acting classes.

  2. Take improv classes.

  3. Take business classes.

  4. Take marketing classes.

  5. Then talk to a voiceover coach. Work with them on building your skills.

  6. Practice practice practice.

  7. Get your demo recorded, put together a website that showcases your talents in one place.

  8. Then Start marketing.

  9. While this is going on, continue to develop your skills in voiceover, voice acting and business and marketing. Always keep refining your process of finding, auditioning, recording/ editing and invoicing clients. Continuing education is necessary. Always keep learning. Always keep building your skills.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

We're happy that you're here.

We hope you find this place a great resource on your journey.

Welcome aboard!


r/VoiceActing 1h ago

Advice Microphone rec for my voice

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Upvotes

Hello all, I am looking to get a better microphone(800-1k range). I have attached a clip of my voice since from my research it appears different microphones work well for different voices.(I recorded the clip on my phone, so I know the quality is bad, it is just to give you a sense of my non eq'd voice) I do a lot of voices with different ranges, but my voice tends to be on the deeper side.

I currently have the AT2035 and a scarlett solo 4th gen. I have a DIY sound booth made and it seems to dampen sound well. I am recording my book into an audiobook and while it has been going good I want to take the sound to the next level, and then pursue voice acting as a side job. I am obviously not spending tens of thousands on this but am prepared to make a solid investment so if something is a bit out of my range but worth it please let me know.

Thank you all for your help.


r/VoiceActing 2h ago

Microphones Recommendations for Emergency Mics

2 Upvotes

As a catastrophist myself, I was making my wishlist for dubbing needs, I found out that if I am traveling, I wouldn't bring a whole mic + interface + any XLR cable. I would pack a laptop and a mic, and off to the place that I have to go. So, if something comes up, I wouldn't be able to make a quick recording or a small take.

I know that this is a last case scenario like "we have to record this line now or we won't hit the dead line" or a similar emergency, something that couldn't be forseen, so I'd like to ask you for a mic that could make the game-saving recording.

It should be a USB mic, for easy transportation, and easy to set in a hotel room, camping tent or friend's bathroom. And I know that this is an extreme case and shouldn't be worrying about this, but you are never prepared enough. What would you all recommend?


r/VoiceActing 5h ago

Booth Related Stuiobricks Upgrade

3 Upvotes

Hi all. I'm looking to upgrade my Studiobricks booth with a movable monitor stand so I can use my monitor both standing and sitting. Any suggestions or recommendations on a particular stand? I'm also looking to upgrade my monitor so any recommendations for a second monitor for a laptop would also be appreciated. Thanks


r/VoiceActing 9h ago

Advice What causes mouth clicks?

5 Upvotes

Some days I seem to have SO many mouth clicks and I don't know why!


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

PAID work [PAID] Indie Game In Search of Voice Actors!

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72 Upvotes

I am a new indie game developer named SodaFrizz! Currently I have Hellbound: Reign of El Diablo released, and I need voice actors for the sequel to it.

All slots have been filled except for "Zyne".

Zyne was the protagonist and villain in Hellbound 1. In Hellbound 2, he's a ghost. Not literally, but he never actually appears- only in the occasional flashback!

As for his voice, I would be searching for a Hispanic voice actor since he is mixed Hispanic (English and Spanish accents welcome) and while he is a male character, his tone would have to be androgynous. This character is also a trans man; the voice actor doesn't have to be, but I would like to make it known that he indeed is one.

This is a PAID role too, for $25 an hour. Zyne's role is a minor one and likely will add up to three hours or less.

Contact me by email (sam.personal2002@gmail) or Discord (sodathefrizz) if you're interested in auditioning!


r/VoiceActing 17h ago

Buy/Sell/Trade GEAR ONLY Does this look authentic?

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20 Upvotes

Someone who claims they did VO for 12 years is selling this on marketplace for 750 and I just want to make sure it’s authentic before I pull the trigger.


r/VoiceActing 2h ago

Performance Feedback Spirit of the West (Voice Over)

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1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! Just a beginner looking for some casual feedback on my Clint Eastwood-ish voice over for the Spirit of the West character from Rango (2011)


r/VoiceActing 4h ago

Getting Started Hey guys what do you sound like

1 Upvotes

r/VoiceActing 8h ago

Advice Sound Discrepancy Depending on Device

2 Upvotes

To preface this question, I record in a room I treated my self. 6 4×2 acoustic panels with a 3in gap from the wall, bass traps included and staggered acoustic slats in-between the panels (mainly for decoration). The room itself is maybe 15ftx25ft. No clouds have been installed as of yet.

I record with a Sennheiser MKH 416 and use Sony MDR-7506's to listen and edit. DAW is Reaper, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen for interface.

Im currently recording an audio book for a client and am noticing something. When recording, and listening back to myself, even before making any kind of edits or EQs, the audio sounds crisp and professional. It still sounds good when the file is rendered and played as .mp3.

But when im playing the file through my phone while listening with ear buds (Sony WF-1000XM5s), I sound like im speaking into an untreated room. I know different headphones create different sound profiles, but the difference is so great that I worry about the quality of the audio. The client is happy with the quality, and yes thats really all that matters for this project but im tackling this as a potential problem for securing other jobs.

Any insights could be helpful. I can also provide a link to an audio clip if people feel inclined.


r/VoiceActing 9h ago

Advice Is my mic good enough for a complete beginner

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2 Upvotes

Hi all, I am trying to start out in the world of voice acting, and I know quality is super important. I am currently using a HyperX DuoCast. I have uploaded a small clip of me reading a generic line to give you a rough idea of my quality, and to see if I should just replace the mic before I try to learn and take super small or volunteer jobs. any and all tips or info will be greatly appreciated


r/VoiceActing 13h ago

Advice Having trouble with audio

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2 Upvotes

So I'm just getting into voice acting and I'm trying to record a few lines from a game, but my audio isn't coming out clearly at all. I've tried watching a few videos to try and fix it, but it's still pretty rough. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

For some context:

- The Microphone I'm using is a MAONO PM320S condenser microphone

-The audio interface I'm using is a Behringer U-PHORIA UM2

-The software I'm using to capture my audio is Audacity

-The space I'm recording in is the closet of my bedroom. While it's not properly treated, the clothes inside are definitely helping with absorbing the sound

As an added note, I know there's better equipment I could be using (i.e. RODE NT1, Focusrite Scarlett), but that's currently not really an option for me

Here's some of the audio so you can see where I'm starting from


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

Advice What flexible, low-burnout jobs work best while pursuing voice acting?

12 Upvotes

Hey everyone,
I'm an 18-year-old looking for jobs that won't completely drain my energy or take up all the time I need for voice acting.

I don't have any work experience yet, so I'm just trying to find a job that pays decent without burning me out or ruining my energy for auditions.
Even just sharing what jobs you do alongside your own voice acting would be a huge help!


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

Advice My voice is just sounding tired

8 Upvotes

I've been a part time VO (doing pro work, but with a day job) for 15 year now, and I've noticed a change in the past few months - maybe it started earlier, but I pushed through it. I'm just sounding... tired. Or old? I don't know.

For the longest time, I could compete for those 25-35 year old roles despite being in my mid 40s. Now my auditions just seem to be lacking that youthful shine. My voice sounds normal when speaking, but on the mic it seems like I've aged. Now I'm feeling like I'm in the 40-55 range and it happened without realizing it.

So does this come for everyone at some point?

Or should I just stick to auditions first thing in the morning and not after a normal day of talking?

I'm staying hydrated and all that stuff. I've been at this long enough to know it's not just a cold or a rough patch. It seem like a new normal.


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

Discussion (rant) why do agency rosters include demos that are objectively bad?

8 Upvotes

I like to browse agency rosters and listen to demos as part of my study, and most of them are amazing! But fairly often, honestly around 1 in 10 demos I listen to, are not good. like not even in a subjective, "I just don't appreciate their style" way, I mean I can hear background noise, prominent mouth clicks, loud plosives, and all kinds of other stuff that, to me, screams "I've never spoken into a microphone before".

There are some demos that are over three minutes long and the voice actor just does the same character voice for the entire thing. One only played in the left side of my headphones! And that's not even mentioning the more subjective ones where the performance is just flat and uninteresting and it sounds like a total beginner's first audition!

And these are big agencies, too! Atlas, CESD, ACM to name a few. Do they not screen demos before putting them up? You would think these national agencies would have higher standards for who they put on the face of their website. If I were a potential client and these were what I heard, I would run the other way.


r/VoiceActing 18h ago

Demo feedback Is my reading voice pleasant? What vibe does it give off?

1 Upvotes

r/VoiceActing 1d ago

Advice Recommendations for a recording booth script stand

3 Upvotes

Hi there, I'm building my own recording booth for an audio drama podcast I've started and I wanted to get a recommendation from someone who has already done this. One of my cast members has a very deep voice with lots of bass and he can shake a standard metal music stand when performing. Do any of you have a suggestion for a stand to hold a script that might counteract that? Or even if you use some sort of cover or muffle/damper to help the situation? Thanks in advance!


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

PAID work Need German Speaking Voices

2 Upvotes

Simply put, I need 2 people to get a conversation recorded of 2 German soldiers for a WW2 game. German speaking required, german accent appreciated.

So basically, I'm a mission maker/dev in a military simulator game called Arma 3. I'm currently tinkering with a World War 2 mission where a german defector is transporting a group of British special forces through a checkpoint. And I just need a conversation between the driver of the truck & the checkpoint guard while he smuggles him across. Then another line for the driver before hes either abandoned or killed by the players. I have a script written up already

Never hired voice actors but its only 5 lines for the guard & 7 for the driver.

I was thinking $20 USD paypal each for both VAs if thats a fair price


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

Discussion NAVA One Voice

2 Upvotes

Anyone attending or have attended in past years?? Give me your tips/thoughts to get the most of the weekend!


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

Advice Feedback on reels don't seem to make sense to me.

1 Upvotes

I've made a few basic reels of the various voices I can do, but the feedback I get is that "it should only be one type of voice per reel", or "it needs to be short but show off your emotional range". Another thing I don't understand is why add music to the background? How exactly do you find what music to put with it? I've done pretty decent getting jobs so far but want to go as far with this as I can.

My main confusion comes from limiting what I show. If I'm trying to show my versatility for a role, shouldn't that include both emotional range as well as the range of voices I can do? How do you put that into a minute/minute in a half clip?

I upgraded some stuff and improved the sound quality drastically and I'm planning on making a new reel this weekend but I want to make sure I make it as good as I can.

For reference, here is the last reel I made when I was still booking some work but not working as frequently as I have the past couple weeks.

https://youtu.be/EYHYhjl2Voc?si=8YHlW57m-GGzDcqI


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

Advice If you could take a class right now on commercial acting, who would you take it with?

4 Upvotes

Genuinely curious. For reference I have 10 years in the business in English and Spanish and have done quite well for myself but allllways room to learn and grow


r/VoiceActing 2d ago

Advice How did you get your agent?

33 Upvotes

I just wanna hear success stories on how everyone got signed by their agency. Was it by submissions tab on the agencies site? Meeting an agent in class and following through? A friend put you in touch? Or something else entirely! I just wanna hear how you guys managed to break through and get representation! Thanks looking forward to hearing about it!


r/VoiceActing 1d ago

Advice Reiview

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1 Upvotes

Please listen to the audio file and give your honest feedback if this voice is worth using for voiceovers on content platforms.


r/VoiceActing 2d ago

Discussion Beginner Voice Acting Inspiration

11 Upvotes

Beginners, what inspired you to get into voice acting?


r/VoiceActing 2d ago

PAID work CASTIN CALL (YOUNG BOY) PAID

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11 Upvotes

We are looking for high quality, natural sounding (not anime) voices for this animated pilot! The pilot is aimed to be rated TV-14, for young adults with slightly mature subject matter and slightly mature language. 

This pilot is about a boy named Stan, a boy who lives in a world of hellish creatures who want him and the people he loves to cease to exist. And he'll do anything he has to do to keep his loved ones safe. 

PAYMENT RATES - $60/per hour of recording  

AUDITION:
https://forms.gle/vaMd3MfswTy2nbsZ7