I’d love the opportunity to work with you to get your sound sorted out so you can be brilliant behind the mic. I’ve been helping voice actors set up studios and improve their audio since 2009.
Without someone first hearing a sample of your recording, any suggestion or feedback you might receive is a guess.
Follow the steps below to receive a free review of your voiceover, podcast, audiobook or other home studio setup. Upload an audio sample with your voice and I’ll let you know what’s good & what needs to be addressed, so you can be brilliant behind the mic!
As a working voice actor, narrator, or storyteller, you need to submit competitive auditions and recordings. Though most VO artists continue to work from home-based VO studios, client and agent expectations continue to increase. Getting things set up right means you have a better opportunity to find and retain clients. It certainly will make it easier for listeners to understand and react to your recordings.
Whether you want to learn the fine details of tuning your audio setup, or simply want your voiceover studio to work reliably when you turn on your computer, I consult with hundreds of voice actors every year to refine workflow, learn recording and editing skills, fix your studio technical issues, and make your recordings sound better.
If you don’t know where to start in your journey to create a home voiceover recording setup, feel free to reach out for a free 15 minute consult, or register for my online “Recording At Home” class through Voice One. (And check out some of my most popular studio setup resources listed at the bottom of this page).
If you already have recording equipment, chances are it can sound better. I look forward to working with you directly to set up or refine your VO recording workflow. That starts with you sending a sample for a free audio review.
How to create better voiceover recordings
To make your VO studio recordings sound better… I need to know where you are now.
The quickest* way to do this is through a free review of your voiceover or narration audio quality. Your voiceover recording setup has many tiny variables. Each one contributes to the quality of your audio. I’ve spent many hours evaluating and improving audio quality from all kinds of voiceover and narration setups.
*please see note below about turnaround time.
A review of your VO recording lets me provide specific feedback, identifying any issues which could be keeping you from sounding your best.
Upload your audio sample below for a free review
I’ll review your audio recording and let you know how it sounds. Yep – it’s free! There is no charge for this review, but it is subject to time availability in my schedule.
RESPONSE TIMELINE – Fair warning – this has become a very popular service!
There is no charge for this service. But that means that I must prioritize the classes I’m teaching, ongoing projects, and sessions with existing clients. This review service will remain free for the immediate future, but could take up to two weeks before I can get to your audio.
NOTE: Please include your name and date on the sample file, as specified in the instructions below. I cannot respond to incorrectly named files.
If you need a quick response to a specific question or are on deadline for project, use my 15 Minute Quick-Connect Session through my scheduling calendar for an immediate review. (Or we can certainly cover this during a regular 1 Hour Remote Session).
The audio review of your raw recording lets me get a sense of your recording space and setup, as well as note any technical issues you may be having. And don’t worry! I’ll tell you if things are sounding good.
Just use the upload tool below.
Upload Your Audio Sample Here
Please take a moment to read these audio file guidelines:
- Please include your name and the date in your file name: FirstnameLastname_MMDDYY
– e.g – JenniferVoiceactor_010121
I cannot review any audio file which does not have your name and date in the file name! - Your audio should be “raw” – no processing, noise reduction, etc.
- Please provide an audio sample of the type of work you do (or want to do). e.g. – audiobook, commercial, narration, eLearning, etc.
- Set your normal Gain/input levels for your microphone
- Start recording
- Let the recording run without you saying anything for about 5 seconds so I can hear the sound of your recording space (room tone)
- Be Brilliant! and record your performance – your voice sample should go for somewhere between 30 and 90 seconds
- LET THE RECORDING CONTINUE for another 5-10 seconds so I can hear more room tone.
- Stop and save the file.
- Export the file as either a WAV or MP3.
- (Ideally WAV in 24 bit 48 or 44.1 kHz, or an MP3 in 48 or 44.1 kHz at 192 kbps – but if you don’t know what that means, don’t worry!)
- You can either drag and drop your file into the appropriate location or click there to upload from your desktop.
Note – using this service does not sign you up to receive my Tuesday Tech Tip emails. To receive those weekly emails, please use this form.
Do you need a faster response? Grab a free 15 minute session!
I can work directly with you on-site or remotely. It’s easy to set up a free 15 minute session for new clients, or reserve a time to work together.
Receive Tuesday Tech Tip emails each week – Let’s stay in touch!
Do you get my emails? I share “Tuesday Tech Tips” each week, as well as workflow resources and thoughts on how a voice actor might deal with unique challenges of balancing the creative and technical. These weekly emails also include tech info, upcoming workshops or other VO related topics. Sign up here
Popular Studio Setup Resources on JustAskJimVO.studio
Choosing a Microphone for your home voiceover studio
Shotgun Microphones for voiceover recording
Audio Interfaces for your home voiceover studio
The Voiceover Answerbase – ongoing resource with frequently asked home recording questions
Studio Computer replacement – what matters in your hardware?
Recording and Software
Setting the Right Levels for voiceover recording
The “Right” Settings for voiceover recording
EQ, Filters, and Equalization in the voiceover studio
Using a Limiter for voiceover audiobook narration and recording
The dreaded De-essing – Seeking Sibilance Solutions
Rumble in the voiceover studio – dealing with low frequencies
Reflecting upon reflections – dealing with echoes in your recordings
A Solid Noise Reduction Tool – Waves Clarity Vx
Studio General Help
Good Audio Guidelines – how do I rate my voiceover / podcast recording quality
VO Studio Basics – Numbers we might need
Position, Position, Position – get everything where you need it
