What Do You Need to Get Started as a Voiceover Artist?

If you are trying to break into the voiceover industry, then you very likely have a lot of questions.  Some of those answers will simply come to you naturally, over time, and as you gain experience, but before you can get to that point, you have to make a start.  That means that the first question to answer is what you will need to do so.

Microphone Obviously, if you are going to record yourself, you need some sort of device capable of capturing your voice.  That means that you will need a microphone.  Please be aware that they come in a wide range of prices, but you may just get what you pay for.  A lot of beginners will attempt to cut costs when buying the microphone, and this isn’t the best idea, especially if you don’t have a soundproof studio to record in.  Some of these have the capability of automatically filtering out the background noises, while detecting the finer nuances of your voice, and that can ultimately mean a much better product to send off to clients. Take the time to match the right mic to your vocal qualities. Visit you local music store and comparison test several of them.

Headphones There are many reasons why you will want headphones.  The primary one is for playback of your recording.  It will allow you to really hear what the client is going to hear.  This is important for the playback, but also for any editing that you may do.  Of course, headphones can also be noise cancelling, which means that you are less apt to be distracted while working. Make sure they are studio monitor type and not those meant for music listening.

Mic Stand Some of the microphones are designed to rest on table tops, in which case the stand won’t be necessary, but if you intend to be standing during recording, or you need a place to store the mic while not in use, you’ll need to consider a stand.

Software You will need software for recording and also editing.  There are several options, so it is a good idea to do some research to discern what the best fit is for you.

A Steady Voice None of the above matters if you don’t have a clear, crisp voice, and the ability to enunciate and moderate your tempo.  Not everyone is cut out to do this job.  If you are easily winded, tend to lose your voice after speaking for a long period of time, or have a voice that regularly ‘cracks’, then this might not be the right fit for you.

Business Know-How It’s not all about the voice, however.  You can have the best voice, the best equipment, but none of it matters if you can’t sell yourself, manage your finances and run a day-to-day business professionally.