How to Write a Voice Over Brief: What to Include & Not to Include

Read advice on how to write a voice over brief from one of our very own VO experts and uncover exactly what you should (and shouldn’t) include to get the most out of your voice over.

As a client, it can be hard to know what information a voice artist requires in order to record the perfect voiceover, especially if you haven’t worked with a voice artist before. 

What information do they actually need to know vs what isn’t so important? How much detail should you provide vs what can be left to the voice artist’s interpretation?

We work with countless clients every year, and we know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to writing voice over briefs.

In this blog post, we’ve curated a list of the key information to include within a project brief, which can be essential in influencing a voice artist’s delivery, tone, and performance.

How to Write a Great Voice Over Brief: Advice from Our Experts

Tom Aurelius, our former Account Manager and Marketing Coordinator, has shared his top tips on how to write a voice over brief that’ll help your project run smoothly and get the best results.

As someone who oversees multiple projects every day and has read many a voice over brief, Tom knows first-hand the difference between a well-written brief and one that could cause confusion or delays.

Here’s his advice on what you should include:

(1) Define Your Target Audience

It’s important to provide the voice artist with as many details as you can about the intended target audience for the final product. Consider things like:

• Age range
• Gender
• Cultural background
• Geographical location
• Language and language familiarity
• Knowledge of the topic or product

In relation to the audience, who is the voice artist representing? Are they a wise teacher, a fellow co-worker, or a close friend?

Voice artists will adapt their tone and delivery style to the role they’re portraying, and the audience they’re talking to. In this case, it is always beneficial to advise on this prior to the recording session taking place.

Learn why regional UK accents can make a huge difference in the power of your voice over:

(2) Will There Be a Backing Track?

The overall tone of an audio recording can be drastically altered by the addition of music.

Tom advises, “It’s a good idea to make the voice artist aware of whether they will be speaking over an audio track and, if so, at what volume level. Provide them with a sample of the song if you can; as this will assist them in syncing their speaking tempo and tone to the track.”

(3) Directional Notes

Usually, clients already have a sense of their preferred tone for the voice over in mind, so make sure you include this in the brief.

It can be really helpful for voice artists if they are supplied with some descriptive words that best describe the overall vision, which, in turn, helps them understand the tone you’re going for.

Do you imagine the script to be read in a peppy, chatty, solemn, or dark tone? Or perhaps a combination of these styles?

However, as important as it is to guide the voice artist as much as possible, it’s just as important to not overload them with information — this can sometimes lead to confusion, resulting in the need for re-records.

(4) Where Will the Voice Over Be Used?

Make sure to advise on where this audio will be used ahead of time, so that the voice artist is aware of the appropriate tone and style required for the desired listening environment.

(5) Pronunciation Notes

A pronunciation guide can be particularly beneficial if the script contains any uncommon words or scientific or medical phrases your voice actor may not be familiar with. It could be as easy as including the phonetic spelling of the word or pointing out a term that rhymes with it.

The best method, however, is to provide the voice artist with an mp3 file in which you repeat the word or words several times. As long as they can clearly understand what you’re saying, an audio recording created using your phone will suffice.

Provide the pronunciation guide with your voice over script, which should also be included with your project brief.

We have a brilliant article on how to write a voice over script, so be sure to check it out.

(6) Live-Directed Recording Sessions

Some clients prefer to discuss all of the above directly with the voice artist — many voice artists on our database are more than willing to accommodate this — and a live-directed session allows you to ‘dial in’ and direct a voice artist in real-time.

This can be a fantastic tool, as it allows the client and the voice artist to discuss their thoughts and ideals on the script’s tone, style and delivery with ease.

“We’ve often found that live directed sessions rarely result in the need for any audio pick-ups, as the client is able to explain to the voice artist exactly what it is that they require from the voiceover”, explains Tom. 

Dialling into a session could not be easier with the variety of free platforms available. We regularly use Source Nexus, Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Conference call.

What Not to Include in Your Project Brief

So, if that’s what you should include in your project brief, what shouldn’t you include? 

While it might seem like you want to provide as many details as possible, it’s important not to overload your voice artist with too much information, as this can hinder the process, result in too much back-and-forth communication, and potentially delay the project.

Here are some things that you should avoid including in your brief:

• Too many directional notes — While providing the tone and style you require is helpful, giving too many specific directions can lead to confusion for the voice artist. Remember, they’re experts in their craft and will know how to deliver the script most effectively. Trust their expertise!
• Vague or ambiguous notes — Make sure to be clear and specific in your brief. We won’t share any confidential information about your project with anyone other than the selected voice artist, so don’t be afraid to share any important details that will help them understand the project better.
• Too many revisions — While it’s understandable to want your project to be perfect, requesting too many revisions can be time-consuming for both you and the artist. Try to provide as much relevant information and direction as possible in your initial brief so that the project stays on track and avoids unnecessary revisions.
• Personal opinions without context — Rather than saying things like “It should have a fun vibe.” or “I want it to sound like a movie trailer.”, explain the context behind these opinions. Subjective phrases can be interpreted in many different ways, so it’s important to provide context and examples of what you mean.

Why is a Well-Rounded Voice Over Brief Important?

A well-rounded voice over brief is important because it sets the foundation for a successful project. By providing clear, concise information, you’re ensuring that the voice artist has all the necessary tools to deliver a high-quality recording that meets your expectations.

While a detailed and accurate brief is important, also bear in mind our notes on what not to include in order to keep the process efficient and effective.

Remember, communication is key when it comes to any creative project, and a well-written brief will help ensure everyone involved is on the same page from the very beginning.

It helps build a good working relationship between you and the voice artist, too, leading to a smoother, more efficient process. It also lessens the likelihood of needing re-records, as you’re setting out exactly what you need and expect from the start.

Remember, Communication is Key

The most important aspect of any voice over project is effective communication. From providing a detailed brief to being open to feedback and revisions, good communication ensures everyone involved is working towards the same goal: creating a fantastic voice over recording that fits and enhances your content.

Choose Matinée for Your Own Voice Over Project

Here at Matinée Multilingual, we have a huge database of talented and experienced voice artists who specialise in a wealth of industries and project types. Whichever language you require a voiceover in (we offer over 80) and whatever your next project is, let us help you bring it to life with our expert voiceover services.

We’ll help you connect and engage with your audience with the perfect voice over, all the way from offering a selection of hand-picked voice demos, to recording and editing the final audio file.

Our account managers and project managers are dedicated to helping you find the perfect voice talent to fit your project. We help to establish clear communication between you and the voice artist so that your project runs smoothly from start to finish.

Why not get in touch with us today and find out more about how we can help you?

Fill out a Quick Quote form, detailing as much of the above as you can and we’ll get back to you within an hour with a tailored quote.

FAQs

What are the Steps of Writing a Voice Over Brief? + –

The exact process of writing a voice over brief will depend on where you are sourcing your voice artist from and their specific requirements. Our process is really simple: just fill out a Quick Quote form on our website, which has prompts for the information we need, and we’ll get back to you with a tailored quote and await your confirmation.

Do I Need to Provide My Script With the Voice Over Brief? + –

If you do have your script written, then you should certainly provide this with your brief. The more information you provide in the first instance, the quicker you’ll be able to get started.

If you don’t have a script yet, read our guide on how to write a voice over script for tips and advice.

Can You Provide Support in Crafting My Voice Over Brief? + –

If you’d like additional support or advice in how to shape your voice over brief, our team is always happy to help! Give us a call, and we’ll ask you key questions regarding your project so that we get all the details we need. 

From there, we can pass this information onto one of our account managers, who will work with our talent coordinator to find the perfect voice for you.

Do I Need to Specify the Accent or Dialect in My Brief? + –

Yes, providing information on the language, accent, and dialect in your brief is key. However, if you’re not sure which accent will be the best fit for your content, we can give our professional advice and provide a selection of demos for you to choose from.