Where to Find a Voice Over for Your Instructional Training Video

Are you searching for someone to add a voice over to your new instructional video? Your options are vast, but the key to conveying a clear, direct, and effective message lies in choosing the right partner for the job.

You can find instructional, training, or demo video voice over services in various places, like freelance websites and even using AI – but voice over agencies can connect you with the top talent in the industry, which will ultimately result in the best end product for your content.

If you’re part of your company’s content team and have been tasked with creating an instructional video for a new product or service, it’s important to consider the voice over as an integral part of the process. 

It’s not simply about finding someone with a “nice-sounding” voice, but rather someone who can effectively communicate your message, engage your audience, and add value to your video.

We’re here to give you advice on finding the perfect voice over for your instructional or demo video, using our 40 years of industry experience to guide you in the right direction.

What Role Do Voice Overs Play in Training Videos?

No matter what industry you’re in, the product or service you’re promoting, or message you’re trying to convey, the primitive goal of any instruction video is to, well, instruct.

A demo video voice over supplements and enhances the visual content you’ve created, with the aim of…

• Clarifying complex concepts or steps, such as new clients signing up for your service
• Helping the audience retain information, such as updated safety protocols in your workplace
• Directing the audience in their actions, like how to assemble a new product or complete a task
• Complying with WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards for accessibility when producing instructional content for your website

The voice over you add to your content should benefit both you – as a company – and your audience, as it provides clear and concise instructions that are easier to understand and follow. 

Depending on the subject matter of your training video, this should also be appropriately complemented by visuals, animations, captions, or any other necessary multimedia elements to ensure maximum engagement and learning.

The Importance of the Right Voice Artist…

While you, of course, want to use a voice that sounds good and professional, it’s essential to choose a voice artist who is right for your specific content.

What we mean by this is that the artist should be able to convey the tone and emotion of your message accurately.

If you’re creating a training video for a serious subject, you don’t want a voice over that sounds too upbeat or lighthearted, as it will diminish the impact of your message, and vice versa.

…And Consequences of Choosing the Wrong One

In contrast to this lie the risks of choosing the wrong voice-over. 

These consequences can have significant impacts on your overall message and business goals, so taking the time to scout and select a suitable instruction video voice over is incredibly important.

Where to Find Instructional Video Voice Over Services in the UK

So, with all that importance weighing on finding the right voice over for your instructional video, where do you begin your search?

There are numerous places you can look for voice over services in the UK, including:

Freelancer Marketplaces

Freelancer marketplaces are platforms where you can connect with freelance voice artists who offer their services for a fee. These marketplaces typically have a wide pool of voice talents with varying levels of experience and rates.

While this might seem like the most affordable option, you may find that the level of service you receive isn’t the best you could be getting.

Voice Over Agencies & Studios

Voice over agencies are a more professional option and will provide you with a lot better quality for your investment.

You minimise time spent scrolling through thousands of options and instead work with an account manager to find the best fit for your project.

Agencies typically have a huge network of voice talents with varying levels of experience and rates, allowing you to choose someone who fits your budget while still providing a high-quality service. You may have the choice to request a talent who has worked on similar past projects or within your specific industry.

Voice over agencies will also be able to offer you additional services to elevate your content, such as adding subtitles or closed captions, and translation if needed. This can be especially beneficial if you have a global audience or workforce and need to distribute the message more widely.

Can You Use AI Voice Over for Training Videos?

AI is a popular topic of conversation in the voice over industry, and we constantly hear questions around whether AI can be used in replacement of human voice overs, specifically for instructional videos.

It’s true that AI voiceover for educational and training content can be beneficial, particularly if the video you’re producing is a simple, matter-of-fact video with a straightforward script.

However, at Matinée, we’re always champions of human voice overs. 

No matter how advanced AI technology becomes, it will never be able to replicate the nuances and emotions that human voice overs can convey.

So while it may seem convenient and cost-effective to use AI voice, here are a few reasons why we believe human voice overs still reign supreme:

Authenticity	Human voice overs bring a level of authenticity and relatability to the video that AI voices simply cannot match.  The tone, inflection, and delivery of a human voice can make viewers feel more connected to the content and trust the information being presented.
Emotion	AI does not have human emotions. Genuine emotion is especially important for instructional videos that may require motivation from the viewer.
Adaptability	Human voice artists can adapt and adjust their tone or delivery based on the VO script or subject. AI voice overs lack this capability.
Acceptance	For some, knowing the voice over is AI-generated may be off-putting and not as trustworthy compared to a human voice over.

How to Choose the Right Voice Over Service for Your Training Video

While there are pros and cons to using AI-generated voices or freelancers, voice over agencies offer a combination of quality assurance, convenience, and personalisation that can greatly enhance the overall effectiveness of your training video.

You’ll gain support from long-time industry experts, access to a wider range of voice talent, and the confidence that your video’s script will receive proper attention and refinement.

How Does the Voice Over Process Work?

Ideally before you hire a voice over talent, you’ll have your script ready to send over to the agency or artist. If you haven’t done this yet, now is the time to do so. We have a great article on how to write a voice over script, which we recommend reading…

We’d also recommend having your video completed (or as near completion as possible) so the voice over artist can see how their work will fit into the final product.

But assuming both of those are done, here’s how the process of hiring a voice over talent usually goes:

1. Enquire – Fill out an online form or directly contact the voice over agency. An account manager will review your request.
2. Choose your artists – Your account manager will liaise with a talent manager to find the most appropriate artists and demos for your project. We’ll send you a shortlist from which you can choose.
3. Record the script – After agreement, your project manager will schedule the recording session.
4. Clean and edit – Once the script has been recorded, we’ll clean and edit the sound files, and encode them in your desired format.
5. Delivery – And that’s it! Your instruction video voice over will be ready to enhance your visual content.

Next Steps: Starting Your Search for the Perfect Demo Video Voice Artist

Want to get started on your instructional video voice over project? Fill out a Quick Quote below with as much information as possible, and we’ll get back to you with a tailored quote.

Our team of expert project managers will work with you every step of the way to ensure your instructional video voice over is completed on time and sounds exactly how you envisioned it.

Looking for more guidance on selecting the perfect voice artist for your project? Check out our blog post on ‘How to Choose the Right Voice Over Artist for Your Project’ for tips and tricks from industry professionals.

FAQs

How Much Does It Cost for Instructional Video Voice Over Services? + –

The cost of the recording will differ depending on the agency, the artist, the length (and complexity) of the script, and any other additional services. Matinée’s voice over recordings start from £425 per hour, which are some of the most competitive in the industry.

You can visit our Rate Card page for a detailed breakdown of costs, or get in touch for a personalised quote.

How Do You Make Effective Instructional Videos? + –

Effective instructional videos will be direct, informative, and engaging. They should clearly guide the viewers through the content in a way that is easy to understand, retain, and put into practice.

To achieve this, here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Before creating your instructional video, define the purpose or goal of your video. This will help you stay focused and ensure that all the content is relevant and useful.
2. Keep it concise and organised, with the information presented in a logical and structured way.
3. Use visuals and graphics to enhance understanding. Visual aids such as diagrams, charts, or animations can be very effective in explaining complex concepts or processes.
4. Use a combination of voice over narration and subtitles (or closed captions) to make your video accessible to a wider audience.
5. Use real-life examples or scenarios to illustrate your points and make the content more relatable for viewers.

What is the Best Length for a Corporate Training Video? + –

This ultimately depends on the training being covered, as you don’t want to limit the length if it means compromising on the quality of information being conveyed. However, around 5 minutes is typically a good guideline to keep viewers engaged and focused.

If the training requires more time, consider breaking it up into shorter segments or using interactive elements to keep the audience engaged.

How Do You Write an Instructional Video Script? + –

We recommend reading our article ‘How to Write a Voice Over Script‘ for in-depth discussion on this, but here are some general guidelines for writing an effective instructional video script:

1. Start with a clear goal and outcome in mind.
2. Write your script as you would speak and explain the steps concisely and clearly.
3. Use simple, easy-to-understand language.
4. Maintain a logical structure and include clear call-to-actions.
5. Add time codes (if applicable) to ensure accurate timing of visuals and narration.
6. Include a pronunciation guide for any technical terms or names.

You can find further details on the script writing process in our article above.