Becoming an audiobook reader may seem easy. We can see how well a female or male voiceover conveys information to the audience. However, it's not as easy as you might think. In fact, the job is almost identical to that of a radio announcer. Broadcasters must have excellent reading skills. Have you ever dreamed of becoming a voice-over artist? If you have a good voice, you can develop it through this job. There are jobs that require you to move from commercial voiceover to audio books. In addition to being able to develop speaking skills, you can also contribute to a larger vision. Here are five essential keys to pay attention to when it comes to making the switch from commercial voiceover to audiobooks.
Casting Process
The first step usually taken by the recipient of a voice recording is the casting process. Of course, this is not easy because you have to determine criteria. You don't have to have a golden voice to be a voiceover artist. Female and male voiceovers have the same chances. The most important thing is that you can deliver what the client wants. Whether it's for advertising or knowledge, you need to be able to do it well. You can look for references on a website or video platform to learn about the casting process. It is very easy to do.
Prepare the right equipment
To move on to more technical matters, you need to have a particular room for recording. Whether it's a mini studio or a more proper studio, this type of space is essential to optimize the transition from commercial voiceover to audiobooks. You don't want to get preliminary results, do you? So be careful where you perform this transfer process. In addition, you also need to set up the right equipment. There will be a microphone stand, a USB microphone or an audio interface to support this process. Start plugging it into your computer and record the voice.
Don't forget the audio recording software to get good results. Make sure you don't record at a high level. This method will ruin the products you have made. It is better to use a low level because it can be changed in terms of volume. However, if you only do it with a recording app, you can also do it via your smartphone. Using this method is not a problem as long as the results are clean and without other sound distractions.
Scripts to read
In addition to the studio and equipment, there is also a script. There will be a wide selection of scripts with genres ranging from fiction to horror, motivational and even horror. However, there are two types of scripts, informal and formal. If you are going to do a demonstration, you need to be prepared with a good script. If you still don't know which script is excellent and correct, make sure that the sentences are in order and easy to read. In addition, pay attention to the spelling as well. Don't make the sentence too short, as this is not a fast messaging service.
If you are still struggling to create a demo, there are many useful resources. You can even download it and store it on your laptop or smartphone. You will learn where to pause words and where not to. Another thing you should pay attention to in the script is the language used. If English is not the main language, you need to pay attention to how it is pronounced. Proper preparation of the script will become your portfolio. If you want to apply for a quick commercial voiceover for an audio book, it will be an added value. To have a better chance, do three or four demos with different characters. The agency that needs your job will consider you more. Are you ready?
The length of time the voice is recorded
In line with the scenario above, duration also affects the transition from commercial voiceover to audiobook. This aspect has to do with the speed of the voiceover. You surely want the timing to match, and the objective to be conveyed. It's not easy to convince the audience of what you have to say. You have to be smarter about adjusting the timing; too fast is not right, nor is too slow. We can take the example of the voiceover that was done in 80 minutes. This is too short to insert a lot of information. We can only read about 120 to 130 words. The voice-over artist also has to match the order of the sentences in the script or on the screen.
Offer a story instead of reading a book
The next thing to remember is to tell a story instead of reading a book. First of all, pay attention to the target audience that will be listening to the audiobook. If your target audience is 30 years old or older, you can choose a female or male voiceover of that age. On the other hand, if your target audience is teenagers, you can also adjust the age of the voice to the artist.
The second thing to note is the intonation of the voice. You can give instructions regarding the tone of voice you want. Whether it's happy, serious or something else, the voiceover should know. Be sure to choose them with a precise and, of course, professional intonation. Imagine you are reading a novel with an exciting plot. You can feel that you are there in the story you are reading. It would be good to offer this kind of storytelling to the audience. However, if you need to give a stern atmosphere, use a stern feeling as well. Don't let your intonation be too childish.
After knowing the above keys, we can conclude that this craft can still be learned. In this day and age, the need for audio books becomes a great potential for you. You don't have to worry about the place and equipment. You can even do it at home with simple recording devices. So, are you interested in trying this profession? Challenge yourself with the different scripts and turn them into great audio books.