By Nate Myers
Voice over (VO) is a talent and career path where a Voice Artist records a spoken narrative for a professional project, such as a film, television program, commercial, or video game. VO Artists are skilled professionals who use their voices to bring life to characters, provide narration, or present information. Voiceover is integral to modern media, entertainment, and our relationships with companies and products.
Voice acting students practice different types of voice-overs
with a voice acting coach at The Voice Shop.
Several genres of voice-over have emerged over time. In this article, we will discuss the different genres of voice-over, their characteristics, and the skills required to excel in each:
1. Commercial Voice Over: Commercial voice over refers to voice work done for commercials that promote a particular product or service. These voiceovers can be found on radio and television ads and online advertisements. Commercial voiceovers are designed to sell a product or service, and the voice artist must be able to convey the desired emotion and tone of the commercial. This genre of voice-over requires the artist to be energetic and persuasive and to deliver a compelling message that will make the audience take action.
2. Narration Voice Over: Narration voice over involves the utilization of a voice artist to narrate a documentary, a film, or a video presentation. The artist's voice guides the audience through the content, providing context, background information, and explanations. This genre of voice over requires the artist to have a clear and articulate voice, the ability to project authority and credibility, and the skill to match the tone of the content.
3. Character Voice Over: Character voice over is a genre that uses voice to bring animated characters to life in television shows, movies, and video games. Voice artists create unique voices for characters, ranging from humans to animals or even inanimate objects. This genre of voice over requires the artist to have a broad range of vocal abilities, be able to create unique and memorable characters, and bring a level of authenticity and emotion to their performances. Animation voice-over is highly competitive, and voice artists must be able to create a wide range of voices and characters to stand out in this industry.
4. IVR Voice Over: Interactive Voice Response (IVR) enables businesses to automate customer support through pre-recorded voice prompts. IVR voice over involves using a voice actor to record the prompts that guide customers through the system. This genre of voice over requires the artist to have a clear and friendly voice, be able to articulate complex information clearly and concisely, and have the ability to engage with customers effectively.
5. E-Learning Voice Over: E-learning voice over involves using a voice artist to record audio content for educational and training materials. This genre of voice over requires the voice actor to have a clear and articulate voice, the ability to explain complex information clearly and concisely, and a detailed script (or, even better), a deep understanding of the subject matter itself. E-learning voice over artists must be able to engage with learners, deliver information in an engaging and memorable way, and convey a sense of authority and credibility.
Each category can get more granular, leading to infinite opportunities to specialize or diversify as a Voice Over Artist. For example, there are niches in Cartoons, Video Games within Character Voice Over. These smaller niches can be a specialization or career direction if desired!
If any of the above categories interest you as a possible career, The Voice Shop is here to help! We offer courses from Industry Experts in Voice Over, Animation, Narration, and more. Take classes from veterans of the voice-over industry like Mike George, Steve Tardio, and Piper Goodeve. Explore our classes HERE. Or contact info@voiceshopcoaching.com for a free consultation on which voice acting class would be best for you and the direction of your voice acting career.
