Software for the Voiceover Artist or Voice Actor

You are going to need to be somewhat computer savvy, luckily, I’ll probably put up a video tutorial on the lower end of these programs to give you a hands on look at how to get your voice from the mic to the computer then on to the web.

Here are the paid software programs that you can use. If you already own them or are familiar with them, then there is no need to purchase any new software, these should suffice. If you don’t own them, don’t go buying them until you have read the FREE options.

PAID

1) Any Kind of Video Editing Software. If you already know how to edit video, the stretch into audio would be fine. Just make sure that you can EXPORT to an mp3, wav, or AIFF software. Of the top of my head, Vegas Video, Avid, Final Cut Pro, and Pinnacle’s video-editing equivalent would work as well.

2) Adobe Audition: This is the high quality application created by Adobe primarily for composers or musicians, however I’ve heard it works very well with voiceover as well.  Expensive but does the job and if you ever want to utilize various plugins on the sound engineering end, this may be a good choice, but to the beginner, not worth it.

3) Pro-Tools. The avid GOD of audio. Unfortunately, the investment is WAY too high compared to the fact that you could probably spend years in a private college learning the ins and outs of the program. If you have this and are familiar, then do it. There are things that this monster can do that no other program can do.  It’s kind of like using a hummer to go to the post office. It get’s the job done, but you wonder why exactly you bought it.

FREE (or combined)

1) Garage Band: Macs have an application that is very basic and I know a few voiceover peeps who use it. All you need is something that you can press record and the wav will move from your microphone to the computer. It works.  Though this was made for other things, and the bells and whistles may confuse you.

2) Pro-Tools SE: This is a program which I received along with my M-Audio Mobile Pre. The Mobile Pre is a PreAmp and a PreAmp is required to get an  XLR Microphone to the computer. Bundled with it was a version of pro-tools. It is terribly limited, but if you do end up buying the Mobile Pre, probably one of the cheapest options out there, why not check the software off your list.

3) Audacity: A free audio editing software that is FREE compact and does everything you need it to. Nothing fancy just a way to get from point A to point B. Best of all, free free free. Simple in design and gets it all done. I remember doing a webinar with a few voice actors and the teacher was explaining ProTools only to find that only 2 people owned pro-tools.  The rest were either Garage Band, Audacity or a slough of others.  Why go overboard?

In conclusion, just get audacity, unless your comfortable with some software you’ve used to edit before. I familiarized myself with Audacity while i was on vacation and had to do pickup voiceover with a friends computer. It did the job, worked fine with my Mobile Pre. No problems whatsoever.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Use this link and have it downloaded and ready to go before, god forbid, they stop giving it away for free.

Questions to Ask Yourself.

I’m gonna give a few key questions to all the beginner voice artists out there. Now keep in mind, there’s no set route to becoming successful. No one can tell you that you can or cannot do anything.  It’s entirely up to you. These questions are just letting you see the mountain ahead. It’s a challenge and that mountain is different than everyone elses. These questions are primarily for the beginners who know nothing about the voiceover industry.

1) Is this something you really want to do?

• Some people may think of this as an easy straight shot into big time money. In my experience, it’s an investment and if you have no training in acting or improvisation then the investment would start in getting training. There is also equipment costs, audition website costs, marketing costs.  Like any skill it takes time and money and if you’re willing the sky is the limit.

2) Do you like the sound of your own voice?

• Lol! That may not sound like a good question but it really is. Because you are going to be sitting in a room listening to yourself for hours and hours, might as well enjoy it. Personally, I couldn’t stand to look of myself on film and that was a major reason I never pursued film acting.
• When I say your OWN voice, it doesn’t really mean your everyday voice, it could be a character voice or imitation voice. In essence, do you have the confidence to give it a go, do you believe in yourself.

3) Money and Time, do you have it?

• Personally, I spend about 20 hours a week doing non-union voiceover auditions.  Last night I did a paid project that took me about 12 hours total to finish. Time is definitely an aspect you need to have. If you have an 40 hour a week job,  it’s gonna be tough.  Though I must say, if you are a theatre actor, it’s similar to that kind of commitment. If you’re willing to dedicate what little time you DO have to this, then GREAT. Go for it!
• Money! Ouch!!! The initial investment can gradually go up.  I’d say if you had about 3-5k that was spread out over about 6 months, you could get started.  Mind you, this is also if you don’t have a computer or internet connection. In the next post, I’ll go over exactly the equipment you need.

4) Are you excited?

• The more I got into voiceover the more excited I got about the possibility of voicing videogames and books and whatever, but it takes a constant drive.  The money you make is kind of a side bonus, in my mind, because I’m acting for a living. That in itself is my dream. Is this along the lines of your dream.

Things to Think about.

For more info about me personally:

My blog “Goal: Become a Voiceover Artist”

My Voiceover Website  Justindtorres.com

My Theatrical Website