Voice Over: from Learning to Earning from Udemy

If you think you have a voice that people keep complimenting then you may have the raw material to make a career in the world of voice-overs.

Once you have applied yourself and learnt the skills of a voice-over you can walk into any studio and perform. You don’t need any equipment to do this – just your voice – it’s the ultimate portable skill.

If you do want to work from your own studio at home we’ll show you what you need.

Like any other skill, for example juggling, you have to practice and apply yourself. This course will show you what you need to do to become proficient at voice-overs and find the niches for which your voice is best suited.

In recent years, voices and accents of all kinds have become in demand, you no longer have sound like the honey voiced announcers of old. The use of voice-overs has grown exponentially with media of all kinds needing voice work for their productions, and this is your opportunity.

All over the world English is the international language and there are many possibilities to supply those voice-overs yourself to producers abroad.

You’ll learn from experienced voice-overs on how they get work and producers on what they want and need from a voice. We’ll show you how to improve your voice and make yourself more versatile. This course opens the door to a well paid profession you can even do from home.

Tutors:

Steve England, Radio Producer and Voice Over

Julia Small, Radio Producer and Voice Over

Guest speakers:

- Chris Brookes, Screen Writer and Author

- Rachel Knighting, Head of Production & Audio Producer at S2Blue

- Tom Marshall, Producer and Voiceover Artist

- Steve Jones, Director at Spoken-Image

- Emma Davis, Producer and Voiceover Artist

What's inside

Learning objectives

How the voice business works
What you may need to change in your own voice?
How to learn from experienced voice-overs and acquire their skills?
Insight on building your own home studio inexpensively
Where to find work?
Developing your versatility
Tips on reading fluently
Microphone technique
Making a read interesting

Expanding your “comfort zone”
Special skills for reading commercials
How to get clients and how to keep them?
Reading to time
Making a showreel
The different people and organisations that need voice-overs
How to deal with producers?
Show more
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How the voice business works
What you may need to change in your own voice?
How to learn from experienced voice-overs and acquire their skills?
Insight on building your own home studio inexpensively
Where to find work?
Developing your versatility
Tips on reading fluently
Microphone technique
Making a read interesting
Expanding your “comfort zone”
Special skills for reading commercials
How to get clients and how to keep them?
Reading to time
Making a showreel
The different people and organisations that need voice-overs
How to deal with producers?
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Voice Over - Module 1

An overview of the business

The changing requirements of the media

Different types of voicing work

Finding your strengths and weakness

Overcoming shyness and embarrassment

Challenges of breaking into the industry

Meet Emma Davis - Producer and Voiceover Artist

Voice Over - Module 2

Recording and listening to your own voice

Assessing areas you might be able to improve

Common faults if you want to speak R.P. (Received Pronunciation)

Finding your range

How to figure out the techniques of the professionals?

Voice Over - Module 3

Studio equipment

Microphones and Mic technique

Studios and setting up your own home studio

Connecting to producers

Putting together a small inexpensive portable studio

Voice Over - Module 4

Voicing male & female

Learning to voice to time

How to alter your delivery for different parts of the business?

Natural Voicing

Preparations for a session

Interview with Rachel Knighting (Head of Production & Audio Producer at S2blue)

Voice Over - Module 5

Recording

Outsourcing editing

Processing

Delivering finished files

Voice Over - Module 6

Talking Books: a new opportunity

What authors want and dealing with difficult ones - Plus Chris Brookes' tips

Platforms to audition on

Technical requirements - Plus Chris Brookes' tips

How long does it take to read a book?

Different deals with authors

Voice Over - Module 7

Making showreels - Plus interview with Tom Marshall (Voiceover Artist)

How to market yourself? Plus interview with Tom Marshall

How to approach producers?

Running your voicing like a proper business - Plus interview with Tom Marshall

Voices on demand - Plus interview with Tom Marshall

Voice Over - Module 8

How to get experience?

Different audition platforms

What to say about yourself?

Clients to watch out for and those to treasure with Tom Marshall

Building relationships with producers and clients

What to charge - Plus interview with Tom Marshall

Invoicing and billing - Plus interview with Tom Marshall

Voice Over - Module 9

Advertising agency sessions

Preparing for a session

Marking up the script

Dealing with clients

Dealing with producers - Plus interview with Steve Jones

Remakes

Demo reads

Producing yourself

Bonus

How to become a voiceover

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores the changing requirements of the media, which reflects the evolving landscape of voice-over work and helps learners stay current

Covers building a home studio, which allows learners to create professional-quality recordings without needing to rent expensive studio space

Includes interviews with producers and voice-over artists, which provides learners with valuable insights and perspectives from industry professionals

Discusses overcoming shyness and embarrassment, which are common challenges for those new to voice-over work and public speaking

Examines the technical requirements for audiobook narration, which is a growing area for voice actors and provides additional income opportunities

Teaches microphone techniques, which are essential for capturing high-quality audio and delivering professional-sounding voice-overs

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Voice Over: from Learning to Earning with these activities:

Practice Reading Fluently

Show steps

Improve reading fluency to enhance voice-over performance and reduce errors during recording sessions.

Show steps

Select diverse texts to read aloud, focusing on varying sentence structures and vocabulary.
Record yourself reading and listen back, identifying areas for improvement in pace and clarity.
Practice tongue twisters and vocal exercises to improve articulation and pronunciation.

Review 'Voice-Over Voice Acting: What It Is, How to Do It, and How to Make It Pay'

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of the voice-over industry and learn practical techniques for improving your skills and building a career.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, highlighting key concepts and techniques.
Practice the exercises and techniques described in the book.
Research the author and their background in the voice-over industry.

Review 'The Art of Voice Acting'

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of voice acting as an art form and develop your ability to create compelling characters and deliver engaging performances.

View The Art of Voice Acting on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, paying close attention to the chapters on character development and script interpretation.
Practice the exercises and techniques described in the book, focusing on developing different vocal styles.
Analyze the performances of professional voice actors, identifying the techniques they use to create believable characters.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Attend Voice-Over Industry Events

Show steps

Connect with industry professionals, learn about current trends, and discover potential job opportunities.

Show steps

Research and identify relevant voice-over industry events, such as conferences, workshops, or meetups.
Prepare a brief introduction about yourself and your voice-over experience.
Attend the event, actively network with other attendees, and collect contact information.
Follow up with new contacts after the event to build relationships and explore potential collaborations.

Record a Practice Voice-Over Demo

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Develop a professional-sounding demo reel to showcase your voice-over skills and attract potential clients.

Show steps

Select a variety of scripts representing different voice-over genres (e.g., commercials, narration, animation).
Record each script, focusing on clear pronunciation, engaging delivery, and appropriate tone.
Edit the recordings to create a polished demo reel showcasing your best work.
Get feedback from peers or mentors on your demo reel and make revisions as needed.

Build a Home Recording Studio

Show steps

Set up a functional and affordable home recording studio to facilitate practice and professional voice-over work.

Show steps

Research and select essential equipment, including a microphone, audio interface, and recording software.
Optimize a quiet space in your home for recording, addressing acoustics and minimizing background noise.
Set up and configure your equipment, ensuring proper connections and software settings.
Test your setup by recording and evaluating audio quality, making adjustments as needed.

Create a Voice-Over Portfolio Website

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Establish an online presence to showcase your voice-over skills and attract potential clients.

Show steps

Choose a domain name and web hosting provider.
Select a website template or design a custom website layout.
Upload your demo reel, resume, and other relevant information to your website.
Optimize your website for search engines to improve visibility.
Promote your website on social media and other online platforms.

Career center

Learners who complete Voice Over: from Learning to Earning will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Voice-Over Artist

A voice-over artist is a versatile vocal performer, providing voices for commercials, documentaries, animation, and various other media. This course delivers what is needed to become a proficient voice-over artist and it helps identify niches for which your voice is best suited. Learners hear from experienced voice-overs about how they get work. The course also discusses how to improve your voice and make yourself more versatile, which is paramount to success. The course covers the changing requirements of the media, different types of voicing work, and how to run your voicing like a business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Voice-Over Artist

Voice Actor

A voice actor brings characters and narratives to life through vocal performance in various media. This course provides a comprehensive look at the voice-over industry, including how to improve your voice, making it more versatile, and how to find the niches that are best suited for your voice. The course covers a range of topics relevant to a voice actor, such as microphone technique, making a read interesting, special skills for commercials, and how to read to time. The course helps voice actors learn to deal with producers and clients, which is helpful for growing a voice acting career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Voice Actor

Commercial Voice Talent

A commercial voice talent specializes in creating engaging and persuasive voice-overs for advertisements and marketing campaigns. This course provides specific skills for reading commercials as well as other areas relevant to commercial voice talent. It shows you how to improve your voice and make yourself more versatile. The course also offers information about finding your strengths, dealing with producers, and getting clients. All of these skills help commercial voice talent deliver high-quality performances.

See salaries and explore the career path for Commercial Voice Talent

Audiobook Narrator

An audiobook narrator crafts captivating listening experiences by reading books aloud, bringing stories and characters to life through voice. This course is particularly valuable for an audiobook narrator, as it dedicates a whole module to talking books, including what authors want, technical requirements, and different deals with authors. The course also discusses topics relevant to audiobook narrators, such as making a read interesting, expanding your comfort zone, and reading to time. The course helps audiobook narrators learn how to find work and navigate client relationships.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audiobook Narrator

Animation Voice Actor

An animation voice actor provides the voices for animated characters, bringing them to life through unique vocal performances and interpretations. This course is useful for anyone interested in becoming an animation voice actor since the course covers different types of voicing work and how to alter your delivery for different parts of the business. It helps animation voice actors learn how to improve their voice. It also provides insight into how to deal with producers and clients. The course helps animation voice actors understand the business and navigate the industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animation Voice Actor

Video Game Voice Actor

A video game voice actor provides the voices for characters in video games, bringing immersive experiences to players. This course may be useful for the aspiring video game voice actor by helping them develop their vocal skills and techniques. The course discusses different types of voicing work, how to improve your voice, and how to alter your delivery. The course also shows how to deal with producers and clients, which is helpful for a video game voice actor who is seeking work and looking to develop relationships within the industry.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Voice Actor

Voice Over Coach

A voice-over coach guides and trains aspiring voice actors, helping them develop their skills and pursue a career in the field. This course may be useful for a voice over coach due to its comprehensive overview of the voice over business and the skills you need to develop. The course discusses microphone technique, improving your voice, developing versatility, and dealing with clients and producers. All of these skills are useful for a voice over coach who is looking to guide, train and mentor future voice talents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Voice Over Coach

Elearning Narrator

An elearning narrator creates engaging voice-overs for online courses and educational materials, helping to enhance the learning experience. This course may be helpful for an elearning narrator, because it shows how to make a read interesting and how to read to time, which is essential for a successful educational experience. The course also covers reading fluently, marketing yourself, and dealing with producers and clients. These are all important to building a successful career as an elearning narrator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Elearning Narrator

Podcast Host

A podcast host creates and presents audio content, often engaging with listeners through interviews, discussions, or storytelling. This course may be useful for a podcast host by building a strong foundation in vocal performance, which is key to success in podcasting. The course covers areas such as improving your voice, making a read interesting, and how to deliver for different parts of the business. The course also focuses on marketing yourself and building relationships with producers and clients which is useful for hosts who want to monetize or grow their shows.

See salaries and explore the career path for Podcast Host

Documentary Narrator

A documentary narrator is responsible for providing the voice-over narration for documentaries, conveying information and engaging with viewers through their voice. This course may be useful for a documentary narrator because the course helps improve your voice and make it more versatile which is important for narration. The course covers different voicing work, and how to alter your delivery in different situations. The course also covers areas such as making a read interesting, expanding your comfort zone and reading to time, which are all relevant to documentary narration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Documentary Narrator

Radio Announcer

A radio announcer presents news, music, or other content on the radio, engaging listeners with their voice and delivery. This course may be useful for a radio announcer, by honing vocal skills and understanding the voice-over business. The course explores several facets of voice work, including microphone technique, making reads interesting, reading to time, and finding your range. The course provides tips on dealing with clients, which is useful for those working in a live radio environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Radio Announcer

Audio Producer

An audio producer oversees the technical and creative aspects of audio recordings, including voice-overs, music, and sound effects. This course may be useful for an audio producer because it offers insight into the world of voice-overs from the perspective of both the voice-over artist and the producer. The course features guest speakers who are audio producers that provide their insights. The course covers areas such as microphone techniques, studio equipment, and how to connect with producers, which is helpful for those who work in audio production.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Producer

Content Creator

A content creator develops and produces engaging material for various platforms, potentially including podcasts and videos that require voice overs. This course may be useful for a content creator who wants to create audio content because the course teaches how to make your voice more versatile, enhance your vocal skills, and make your reads interesting. The course also teaches how to market yourself which can help content creators grow their audience and their brand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator

Audio Editor

An audio editor is responsible for refining and polishing audio recordings, including voice-overs, to achieve a high-quality final product. This course may be useful for an audio editor because it discusses the process of outsourcing editing as well as processing audio files. The course also helps audio editors understand what is needed from the voice over artist perspective. This knowledge can help an audio engineer make informed decisions that result in higher quality content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Editor

Public Speaker

A public speaker delivers speeches or presentations to audiences, informing, persuading, or entertaining them through their voice and delivery. This course may be useful for a public speaker by teaching how to improve their voice, enhance their vocal skills, and make their delivery more engaging. The course also covers areas such as expanding your comfort zone, and reading fluently, which is useful for someone who may have to read a script in front of an audience or deliver a memorable performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Speaker

Voice Over

from Learning to Earning

What's inside

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Syllabus

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Activities

Career center

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