Explainers, corporate videos and course videos often need a voice-over. There are three sources, and none is always best; it depends on purpose, budget and time. This page sets out the differences, then covers the script and the recording.
Record it yourself
The warmest option: viewers can hear it's someone from the company, and it's the fastest. The limit is the room and the gear. Echo and background noise in a typical office or home make a voice-over sound unprofessional.
- Find a small, quiet space with soft surfaces (in front of a wardrobe, a room with curtains); that has the least echo.
- Keep the phone or microphone about a fist to a hand's width from your mouth, and don't breathe straight into it.
- Speak a little slower, and pause a second between sections to make editing easier.
- If you slip, re-read from that sentence; no need to redo the whole section.
- Listen back once. If there's air-conditioning or fridge noise, move and re-record.
Hire a voice artist
Consistent and professional, with a choice of gender, age and tone. Two things to note: the script must be final before the session, since changing one sentence later means booking again; and the commercial licence (which platforms, for how long) should be agreed up front.
AI voice
Fast and easy to change: a re-read is just a regeneration. The limits are emotion and phrasing, which can sound unnatural, and occasional mispronunciations that need checking line by line. Also, not every AI voice service allows commercial use; some plans are personal-use only, so check the terms before using it in an ad.
Our experience: for explainers, tutorials and internal training, AI voices are mostly fine; for brand films and ads, a human voice is still more persuasive.
Writing the script
- Write spoken sentences, not written prose. Read it aloud once; wherever it doesn't flow, rewrite.
- At a normal pace, one minute of video takes roughly 130 to 150 English words; more and it feels rushed.
- Mark pauses and emphasis on the script.
- Note the pronunciation of technical terms, acronyms and names.
When you send it to us
Send the original recording (WAV or a high-bitrate M4A) together with the script text, so subtitles can be matched precisely. If it isn't recorded yet, or you're not sure which option to use, say so on the form and we'll advise during assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Can the voice-over be changed after recording?
Yes, but each changed sentence has to be re-recorded, and the room and level need to match. Finalise the script first.
Does every video need a voice-over?
No. Short social videos mostly work with subtitles and music; videos that explain a process or concept are the ones that need narration.
Can AI imitate the boss's voice?
Such services exist, but they need the person's explicit consent, and platforms have labelling rules for synthetic voices. Without consent and a check of the rules, we don't recommend it.
