Voice Over for Explainer Videos: Start Your Project Here

The voice over in your explainer video can make all the difference in communicating your message to the audience. After all, communication is the key objective in any explainer video, and without a clear and engaging voice over, your message may not be received as intended.

Creating and adding the explainer video voice over is just a segment of the content production process, but it’s one of the most important components that can make or break your video.

Depending on your brand and the subject of the content, there are different types of voice overs that can be used. Friendly, warm, direct, stern…whatever tone you think will best represent your brand and resonate with the audience, the overall aim is to deliver an informative, engaging, and impactful narrative.

But where do you find the right voice over talent for your explainer video?Doing the recording in-house might seem like a cheaper option, but a professional and specialist agency can connect you with voice artists who have real experience in this niche.

Want to learn more about our explainer voiceover services? Keep reading as we talk you through everything you need to know to get started. Or, you can fill out a Quick Quote form, and we’ll get back to you right away.

Why Voice Over Matters in Explainer Videos

Be it an animated explainer or a live action video, the voice over is the primary tool of communication that connects with your target audience. Particularly in a world where attention spans are shrinking, the right voice over can captivate and hold the viewer’s attention throughout the video.

Engagement & Retention

An explainer video should be as engaging and informative as possible, and flashy, polished visuals won’t be enough. The video must have a voice that can deliver the message in a clear, concise, and compelling manner.

You also want your audience to remember what they’ve seen and heard in your explainer video. 

A well-crafted voice over can help with retention, making sure your message stays with the viewer long after the video has ended.

Brand Identity & Tone

The speaker can also play a crucial role in building brand identity and personality. The tone, style, and delivery of the voice over can define your brand’s character and help establish a connection with the audience, which can be invaluable for building loyalty, trust, and credibility.

Let’s imagine two explainer videos showcasing how to use a brand new piece of wearable tech for an audience of young adults…

The first video has a monotone, robotic dialogue that sounds less than enthusiastic, while the second has a lively, inspiring, and clear voice over that makes the viewer feel excited and motivated to try out the product.

Which video do you think will leave a lasting impression on the audience?Hint; it’s not the first one.

Steps to Start Your Explainer Video Project with Matinée

To help you complete your explainer video project successfully and as quickly as possible, here’s how you can get started with Matinée:

Step 1) Fill out a Quick Quote Form

Use the ‘Project Details’ section to include as much information on your explainer video as you can (or wish to share). 

Let us know details like subject matter, audience, intended use, language, budget, and deadline. The more information we have in the first instance, the quicker we can get back to you with a tailored response.

Step 2) Listen to the Voice Artist’s Demos

Listen to the demo reels for the artists we’ve specially selected for your project. Have your project team listen, too, and gather feedback on their preferred voice. Then, let us know which artist or artists you’d like to move forward with.

Step 3) We’ll Schedule the Voice Over Recording

Your project manager will then organise the recording of your script. Recordings that take place in our state-of-the-art recording studios will have a specialist sound engineer present, who will direct and monitor the entire process to ensure quality and consistency.

Step 4) Cleaning & Editing of the Audio

Once the recording is complete, either in our studios or when sent to us by the artist, we’ll carry out post-production. This can include cleaning and editing to enhance your final output.

Step 5) Delivery of Your Voice Over File

Once all post-production is complete, we’ll send you the final file(s) in your preferred format so that it’s prepped and ready to review and distribute wherever you need it.

How to Choose the Best Voice Artist for Your Explainer Video

Your choice in who you choose to narrate your explainer video will ultimately depend on a range of factors, including the target audience, brand identity, and budget. 

There can be quite a few parameters that you’ll need to consider, so, here are some ways you can filter your options to find the perfect voice actor for your project…

What Tone Should the Voice Over Have?

Depending on the product, service, or concept presented in the video, the way the script is delivered can vary greatly. Some examples of explainer video voice over tones include:

• Friendly and conversational
• Informative and authoritative
• Playful and energetic
• Professional and serious
• Motivational and inspiring

If you have a brand profile or tone guidelines, these can be a great reference point for choosing the right voice over tone. You could also pass this information onto us in part of your brief, or just provide us with the specifics of what you’re looking for and we’ll find the best match from our database.

Who Will Your Audience Resonate With?

Your audience should be a big influencer in your voice over choice. If they don’t feel a connection or find the voice irritating or unsuitable, they may not engage with the video and your message could be lost.

Is the explainer video script best narrated by a male or female voice? What age range should the voice actor portray? Is there a specific accent or language that your target audience would respond well to? These are all important factors in choosing the right voice talent.

At Matinée, we have a diverse and talented pool of voice artists from various backgrounds, languages (over 80!), and ages. The more specific you can be about the intended audience, the more accurately we can select the best talent for your project.

What is Your Budget?

As with any aspect of content production, we know budget is a major consideration. But keep in mind, the right voice over can elevate your explainer video and make it worth every penny.

Professionalism comes at a cost, but the quality and impact of your video will reflect that investment. Experienced voice over artist can add value to your brand and ensure your message is delivered effectively.

Explainer video voice overs tend to have a lower production cost than other types of voice over (like adverts, where usage rates are also applied). Explainers are short, and typically fit within our one-hour minimum recording fee.

Voice over rates will differ from artist to artist, but if you let us know your budget, we can recommend the best options within that range.

Does the Artist Need an Understanding of Your Niche?

Having a voice over artist with prior experience in your niche or industry can be a huge advantage, particularly if your product or service offering is technical or complex.

Industries like medical, legal, and education may require a certain level of expertise and familiarity with industry terminology. In this case, we can connect you with a voice actor who has relevant experience to ensure the script is delivered accurately and confidently.

Should your script include any jargon or complicated terminology, you can send us a pronunciation guide with phonetic spellings of the terms, so the artist can deliver them correctly. You could also provide an explanation or context for each term to help the artist deliver them with confidence and understanding.

Conclusion

No matter whether you require a straight-forward and informative or a dynamic and friendly voice over for explainer videos, Matinée has a solution for you. Our extensive range of talented voice artists and state-of-the-art recording facilities allow us to produce high-quality and engaging explainer videos that effectively communicate your message.

You can get started on your project today by filling out a Quick Quote form or contacting our team directly.

FAQs

How Do You Script An Explainer Video? + –

The key elements of any script include:

• A hook to grab the audience’s attention
• An explanation of the problem your product or service solves
• The solution (your product or service)
• Features and benefits
• A call-to-action (CTA)
• Time codes to help the voice over artist and editor

Explainer videos, in particular, should be focused on simplicity and clarity, with a conversational tone and clear visuals to support the narration.

Can You Use AI Voice Overs for Explainer Videos? + –

You certainly can, and they may be suitable for smaller budget projects. Our AI voice overs have been cleverly developed to sound as natural as possible, and are a good option if you need a quick turnaround.

However, for high-quality and personalised voice overs that have that personal je ne sais quoi, we recommend human voice artists every time.

How Long Should an Explainer Video Be? + –

Explainer videos are typically shorter, aiming to deliver a message concisely and efficiently. A maximum of 2 minutes is best, and ideally, you want your video to be between 60-90 seconds. You’ll be surprised how much information can be packed into a short time frame.

How Much Do Explainer Video Voice Overs Cost? + –

Exact rates will depend on the specific details and requirements of your project, such as the language (or languages) needed, the length of the script, post-production add-ons, and the fees set by the artist. Usage fees, however, don’t apply to explainer videos, as they’re not used for commercial purposes.

That said, we offer competitive hourly rates for recorded audio. Get in touch with us so we can provide an accurate and personalised quote for your project

How Quickly Can You Turn Around My Explainer Video Project? + –

We can often turn around explainer video projects very quickly as they typically fit within our one-hour recording session minimum fee. For an exact turnaround time, get in touch with us to discuss your project and requirements.