The right voice for your corporate video is not simply one with a pleasant tone. It is the voice that delivers your message in the right way to the right person.

To decide whether my voice fits your project, listen to what it does for the script: does the message become clearer? Does the tone feel natural for your audience? Does the performance match the image your company wants to convey?

As a voice-over actor who records in my own home studio, the performance you hear in my demos or in a test recording comes from the same person who will record your project. You work with me directly to define the tone before the recording.

Start with the person who will watch the video

A corporate video may be intended for customers, new employees, partners or a team that needs to understand a new procedure. The same script will not necessarily be delivered in the same way in each of these situations.

A video welcoming a new employee may call for an approachable, reassuring voice. A technical product presentation may need a precise, measured performance that is easy to follow. A sales video may need more energy without sounding like an advertisement when that is not its purpose.

Before choosing, simply complete this sentence: “The person watching this video should feel that I am speaking to them like…” An advisor? An experienced colleague? Someone clearly presenting a solution? That answer provides a much more useful direction than “I want a nice voice.”

Ask what the voice needs to accomplish

Does your video need to explain, reassure, present, guide or encourage the viewer to learn more? The answer affects the pace, energy and words that need to stand out.

Consider a video that introduces a new platform to a company’s employees. A very energetic performance might attract attention, but it could also sound as though the platform is being sold to them. A more direct, conversational voice can help the listener follow the steps and understand what is changing for them.

The choice is therefore not between a “good” voice and a “bad” one. It is between a performance that supports your goal and one that distracts from the message.

What should you listen for in a voice-over demo?

Tone is the first thing you notice. But keep listening.

  • Does the voice sound as though it is speaking to someone or simply reading a script?
  • Does the pace give the listener enough time to understand?
  • Do the important words stand out naturally?
  • Does the energy fit the images and subject?
  • Is the sound clean and consistent?

On my voice-over demo page, you can hear different performances for advertising, commercial videos, animated explainer videos and e-learning. Start with the example closest to the intended use of your video, then listen to the range as well. A demo shows one possible direction; it does not limit your project to a single delivery style.

Can a short test confirm your choice?

Yes. A demo helps you make an initial selection, but your own script gives you a more precise answer. The words, audience and intention of your video are different from those of a previously recorded demo.

If you are unsure, you can send me a short excerpt along with a few notes about the tone you are looking for. I will record a brief test at no charge so that you can hear my voice on your project before deciding.

Choose a representative passage: a few sentences that contain your company’s actual vocabulary and the overall tone of the video. If you are comparing two directions, name the difference clearly, such as “more conversational” and “more corporate.” You can then assess the performance instead of merely imagining what the result might sound like.

What should you send me for the test?

You can keep it very simple:

  • Who the video is for.
  • What that person should understand or feel.
  • Two or three words describing the tone you want.
  • A short, representative excerpt from the script.
  • Any special pronunciations and useful timing constraints.

You may also include an example of a video whose tone you like and explain what you want to take from it. Is it the calm delivery? The sense of connection? The pace? This keeps us from trying to copy another voice and helps us find the right intention for your message instead.

If you are preparing the complete project, you will find a more detailed checklist in What should you send a voice-over actor before recording?

So the right question is not simply, “Do I like this voice?” Ask instead, “Does this performance help the right person receive our message the way we intend?”

If the answer is yes, you have probably found the right voice for your video.

I look forward to working with you!

Yves Amyot
StudioYvesAmyot.com — Your voice at your service.