So what is the secret to doing better voice-overs?
First, let me tell you this: to do better voice-overs that will stand out from the majority of voices you hear, you need to create a voice that could be described as three-dimensional.
But what does that mean in concrete terms?
And I will give you concrete examples, using the same text to demonstrate a voice in 1 dimension, 2 dimensions and finally 3 dimensions.
First, what would a 1-dimensional voice be?
A 1-dimensional voice would be what we call, in the jargon, the announcer’s voice. That voice that always speaks with the same tone, the same level of energy, the salesperson’s energy, like certain radio ads.
For example, a radio ad will sound something like this:
(Read in the announcer’s tone. One dimension) We are offering you up to 50% off until this coming October 1st. Yes, you heard that right, 50% off.
And we would have the same tone, even when making online learning videos. For example, I have a text here for people undergoing physical rehabilitation:
(Another example of a 1-dimensional reading): “This exercise is designed to help the large joints in your hands. Make a fist with your right hand, squeezing as much as possible. You may need to use the palm or side of your left hand to help, by pushing on your fingers. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then release and pause for 5 seconds.”
A two-dimensional voice-over is more skillful. The text and the message are clear, well spoken and well articulated; there may be changes in rhythm and tone. In short, it is technically well done. In fact, a large majority of the voices we hear are done this way.
I will read you the same excerpt I read earlier, in a two-dimensional way:
“This exercise is designed to help the large joints in your hands. Make a fist with your right hand, squeezing as much as possible. You may need to use the palm or side of your left hand to help, by pushing on your fingers. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then release and pause for 5 seconds.”
It is clear, it is well delivered. And it works. Most of the voice-overs we hear are done like this. I have done a great many this way myself. But one day, you want to go further.
The goal we should try to reach when doing voice-over is to create voices in 3 dimensions.
And that means that in addition to being skillful at making a text understood, we manage to really address someone. We manage to really visualize what we read, to feel it and ultimately to convey an emotion to the listener.
I will give you another example with the text from earlier, with a reading in 3 dimensions:
“This exercise is designed to help the large joints in your hands. Make a fist with your right hand, squeezing as much as possible. You may need to use the palm or side of your left hand to help, by pushing on your fingers. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then release and pause for 5 seconds.”
So I not only read the text well, but I tried to really visualize what I was saying, to do it as if I were actually addressing someone who matters to me. And in this case, since it is a text for people undergoing physical rehabilitation, I also put compassion into it. To really make the person listening feel that I am with them.
This is what gives more dimension to the narration, a 3rd dimension.
And when we manage to do that, the quality of our narration, of our voice-over, is above average.
So, to sum up:
One-dimensional narration is announcer-style narration. We put in energy, the salesperson’s energy, and the texts, whatever they are, when narrated in the manner of an announcer, are always delivered more or less the same way, with a few variations.
Two-dimensional narration is narration that is technically well done, well controlled, that can have changes in rhythm and changes in tone, and it is effective. And a large part of what we hear in voice-over is done this way.
Three-dimensional narration goes further. Narration in 3 dimensions is not only technically well controlled, but also addresses someone directly and tries to make them experience an emotion.
And when we succeed, we achieve a higher quality of voice-over. A voice that could be described as three-dimensional.
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YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/StudioYvesAmyot
Website of Yves Amyot’s recording studio. Narrator, off-screen voice, voice-over, narration.