How To Create a Professional Voice Over Demo (Under $30)

An impressive voice over demo will lead casting directors to hire you for voice over projects and help launch your voice acting career. Sign Up: go.voices.com/getstarted
Almost every professional voice actor has a high-quality demo that shows off their strengths and works to establish their personal brand. Here, we’ll explore how to produce your first voice over demo and, as a result, how to strengthen your chances of getting hired for the best voice over jobs. It's easier than you may think.
Links:
www.voices.com/help/beginners...
Audacity: www.audacityteam.org/
Presonus Audiobox 96 (discontinued): www.presonus.com/products/Aud...
AKG P220 Condenser Mic: www.akg.com/Microphones/Conde...
Sample Scripts: www.voices.com/blog/voice-ove...
Free music: www.voices.com/blog/music_in_...
_________________________________________
Voices is the world's #1 voice marketplace with over 2 million members. Since 2005, the biggest and most beloved brands have trusted Voices to help them find professionals to bring their projects to life.
Sign Up: go.voices.com/getstarted
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TikTok: / voicesofficial
#voices #voiceover #voiceactor

[@voices]

Who wants ice cream? 🍦

[@VOTECHGURU]

If you guys have ice cream for only $2 I’m moving to Canada.

[@voices]

@@VOTECHGURU Hahah!! It was a little more :)

[@lewisedwards4058]

No dairy before recording!lol

[@Arthurian_Rabbit]

Me, always 🍧

[@josephl6727]

I'll rent the ice cream.

[@RoadVoices]

ALL of my demos were DIY; Primarily dry reads and simple narration, such as audio books, e-learning, explainers, etc., and I have a few PSA's and commercials with very simple music beds- All of my DIY demos have served me very well!

[@voices]

That's awesome to hear!!

[@hitz817]

That’s great!

[@CS-uc2oh]

Because people don't get that auditions using the scripts given are more important than demos. I hire for VO all the time and I care more about how the person sounds reading my scripts than what they sound like in demos.

[@mjisko]

This was really great. Starting from scratch, and this was encouraging.

[@voices]

That's awesome to hear. Best of luck with the demo! -Randy

[@ocoeepicture]

I'm just starting and feeling a bit uncertain how I'll have any success. Just the typical doubting of oneself. How has your first 7 months gone?

[@snowhoofer]

@@voices For real. I'm also just getting into it and this was extremely helpful and removed a lot of barriers many people think they have to surmount to break into VO work. The scripts, the impromtu "studio" and the music editing lesson were very helpful.

[@voices]

@@snowhoofer Thank you so much for the kind words! It means a lot to know these videos are helpful -Randy

[@calo313]

Hi , Randy..all I have is my mobile device...

[@davidvenhaus4114]

Good stuff. Love the grass root approach !

[@lilpandanesegirl]

thank you for this. I've always wanted to do voice overs, especially for anime, or video games or even animated films. this is perfect for 28$ thank you ❤️

[@804titan]

God i loved this.. you over delivered on this one.. thank you for the contentthis was exactly what i needed.. beginning my journey

[@voices]

Love to hear this! Thanks for watching!

[@AG_before]

I was practicing the _same_ copy a couple of nights ago! Thank you for the video. 👍Shame it was a rental. That's not possible everywhere in the world.

[@scottburns9350]

OK you had me with, 'How to Create a 'PROFESSIONAL' Voiceover Demo'...but this clearly would be a 'DIY Demo'! It's true that almost every professional voice actor has a high-quality demo that shows off their strengths and works to establish their personal brand...but I question if using rented gear, downloading Audacity and just getting acquainted with audio production would constitute what's considered a high-quality demo. (At least to the ears of agents and casting directors.) While I do believe you, "gotta start somewhere..." I'm totally on board with the informative steps and suggestions you've provided to help people get their toes dipped in the water. And for casting sites, absolutely...a DIY demo can get you on the platform for one to start receiving auditions right away. But please cautiously do your career a favor and refrain from submitting your DIY demo to agents and producers. They'll hear 'inexperienced' immediately...and boy is it hard to unring that bell!

[@voicetalent_ben]

Thaaaaaaaaaanks a TON - Randy you have always been a greeat help...thanks for being around...!

[@voices]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Glad to hear these videos are useful. -Randy

[@anthonychilaka]

thanks. I like the sound boot setup, cant wait for the kids to go to bed and start my demo recording. Awesome!

[@voices]

Have a blast! -Randy

[@sutharmian]

thank you for making this one , creative and informative ! 🙏🙏🙌🙌❤❤

[@Tidune77]

Randy, This was AWESOME! I'm new to VO and have been doing a lot of research on KZbin to gain more knowledge. I can't believe this is the first time that I've stumbled upon your page! I really enjoyed this video... I will be binge-watching all of your videos this week for sure. BTW, can you please do a quick Demo recording on Adobe Audition? That's the DAW that I'm currently using and would love to learn your process on how to record, edit, add music, blend, etc. I'm an educator and your way of teaching and explaining is thorough, concise, and easy to understand.

[@voices]

Thanks so much for the kind words, and welcome to Voices! We actually have already done an Adobe Audition video :) You should be able to find it on our channel. Thanks again for the words of encouragement. Please keep us in the loop in you have any questions! -Randy

[@MissLadee1]

Oh my goodness thank you so much for doing this! This is so unbelievably helpful!

[@voices]

You're so welcome! -Randy

[@elissamayprizzops9508]

This was very helpful for starters! Thank you so much for making it so simple.

[@voices]

Glad it was helpful! -Randy

[@christinam9989]

THANK YOU!!! This is so helpful to see a bit of the real process.

[@voices]

Thanks for watching Christina!

[@seyiadelabu1331]

Now I’m gonna put this to work, thanks a lot

[@GNARLOUSE]

How did it pan out?

[@mariamcherry8252]

Wow this is incredibly helpful - thank you for the links too!

[@voices]

You're so welcome! -Randy

[@chunkin9799]

I'm going through this exact process now. This is very helpful, thank you!

[@voices]

You're so welcome! Good luck with the demo. -Randy

[@greasyxxrick9132]

Bro you sounded perfect! Good job thanks for the info

[@voices]

Appreciate it! -Randty

[@anthonylanius863]

This was really helpful and informative. Thank you for sharing how to do these things. It helps reduce some of the feeling of fear in starting to do these things.

[@voices]

Glad to hear this! Thanks for watching!

[@SoftNSweetG]

Omg, this video is a game changer for me. So informative. Thank you for my renewed hope.

[@voices]

Thanks so much for the kind words! Best of luck with your demo. -Randy

[@jmotg]

I'm looking to get into voice overs and this was a really helpful video. Thanks for making it easy to understand.

[@GNARLOUSE]

You still into it? If so how do you like it?

[@madisontb529]

Hard mode, 20 bucks in the bank, Samsung phone to record on, Audacity demo version, lets rock.

[@sonofgouken86]

Expert mode, 5 bucks, no microphone and my phone battery's on E. Let's do this!!

[@57jross]

very good information, I'll definitely try it.

[@57jross]

I just started using Audacity, its a great program, I'm surprised it is free.

[@kensamuel6457]

I really enjoyed the video and learned a lot. Thanks

[@voices]

Thank you for watching! -Randy

[@whyyousosalty7859]

This was incredibly helpful :) Thanks!

[@voices]

Glad to hear! Thanks for watching :)

[@DLBlair-zl9qq]

Wonderful information. Takes a lot of the fear away!

[@voices]

That's so great to hear! Thanks for sharing. -Randy

[@starlilyvanderhex]

this is so helpful! ⚡💯⚡ thank you so much ☺️🙌

[@voices]

Glad it was helpful!

[@danielmaxwell5856]

Hugely helpful. Thank you!

[@voices]

Thanks for watching Daniel!

[@olive0001]

Really helpful! Thanks a lot!

[@voices]

You're welcome! - Randy

[@elevateeducation5652]

wao such a great way to make us understand easily

[@voices]

So glad it was helpful! -Randy

[@sharonlarsen3642]

I don't have any stores where I can rent the microphone and other but I have purchased a Razer Seiren Mini - USB Condenser Microphone which I hope will do the job adequately for now. My first try with a USB headset was okay but could definitely be improved with a better microphone. Fingers crossed it sounds good.

[@mrmr1734]

GREAT INFO!

[@voices]

Glad it was helpful!

[@misterezra1]

This was so helpful! Just what I needed Voices!

[@voices]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching :)

[@calo313]

I need a coach

[@ViscondeTube]

Well done explanation🙂!

[@voices]

Thanks for watching!

[@bigonprivacy2708]

Very good video. Thank you! Question: I was looking at some of the music links you posted but most of them "seem", per the comments, to state that you can use them on your channel but you end up with a HAWK violation on KZbin?

[@mpsorr]

Thanks for the super helpful and encouraging video and links! However zero clue what those two last fancy audacity moves were...?

[@voices]

You're welcome! More on compression and normalizing in future videos! These steps are in no way essential, and you can certainly have a great sounding demo without. But we'll add some more resources for you shortly! -Randy

[@videosbynala7966]

Thanks a bunch for making this video! It's extremely helpful for someone like me who is beginner in this space. I'm wondering what software did you use to record your takes? Did you record them directly in Audacity or did you record them using another software then export the takes to Audacity? Thanks!

[@voices]

Glad to hear this helped out! The audio during the read was recorded directly in Audacity :)

[@BritonaBudget]

I’m an actor and I just started out on voice over. Thank you so much ❤ for the amazing help

[@voices]

Absolutely our pleasure! -Randy

[@GNARLOUSE]

How's it been going Britona?

[@namida21]

Thanks for the informative video! So helpful to see the steps taken. What exactly is the audio interface for?

[@voices]

The audio interface was under my desk. Sorry, I should've made that more clear. The audio interface connects an XLR microphone to your computer and allows you to plug in headphones. If you have a USB microphone, those have interfaces built right in! Hope this helps -Randy

[@calo313]

This is so helpful

[@voices]

Glad it's helpful for you. -Randy

[@calo313]

What should I do first...I did a recording yesterday on a script I found on voice..Jaguar cable 47

[@caitlinabeln8659]

Amazing

[@voices]

Thank you! -Randy

[@risaandjesus]

Thank u!!!!

[@voices]

You're welcome! -Randy

[@camandreas6376]

Great video! I did have one question and that was how/where did the audio interface come into play with this recording?

[@voices]

Good question and good eye! For the purpose of making the shot clean and not cluttered with cables, we had the audio interface under the table. Just wasn't visible in frame.

[@DonHutchison-vs3bn]

Would you mind sharing the link for the background sounds/music?

[@voices]

We use a provider called Epidemic Sound for our videos. It's not free, but it is a great service! There are some free music options, this blog covers some of those options - www.voices.com/blog/music_in_voice_over_demos/

[@savannahwalters4733]

This video is really helpful, thank you! Would you have to rent all this equipment again if you book a gig?

[@voices]

Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful! Yes, you would need to -which is kind of a drag. I think it's a good tool for getting a demo up and running, but if you really want to start competing in the VO space, you'll need a setup that makes this easy to replicate. -Randy

[@CaticaBeltran]

Hi Randy! Excellent video, thanks! I’m an actress and want to pull a Voiceover Demo Reel from the Video Demos I have. I’m absolutely new on this… 1- How can I save the audio without the video? I’ve worked my Video Demo Reels on iMovie. 2- If I have some mp3 files of some VO’s that I did for radio, how can use them in my Demo Reel? Thanks again!

[@calo313]

U amazing I'm new to this and have no experience or props ..I will try

[@voices]

You can do it! -Randy

[@calo313]

@@voices Thank you Randy

[@user-cq9bz5rc2f]

Thanks on the tech side. But how did you miss the intonation for a question in Takes 2 and especially 3 which you adopted as your final base take?

[@voices]

This is a demonstration, I'm not a voice actor -Randy

[@BrunaBastis]

@Voices what do I need to buy (cable, audio interface?) in order to connect it to my OMEN HP laptop? I am starting here, I would like to know what else I need to buy. Btw, the updated price of AKG P220 in Chile is around 230 USD.

[@voices]

You'll need an XLR cable and an interface which will likely come with it's own USB cable. Hope this helps -Randy

[@keenan6993]

Big up Randy.👊 I have a question.....can I use my iPhone for voiceover work? I just have an iPhone SE 2020 and a desktop so what apps can I download on my phone or desktop to improve my voice quality? Love from Cape Town, South Africa.

[@voices]

Hey Keenan, you sure can! You'll likely find that your booking rates are lower than average if you're using a cellphone as a microphone, but there are some microphone attachments that will help step up the quality. As far as apps go, just make sure that the app isn't adding any processing to the voice. Apple Voice Memos does this, and it drives me crazy. I'm not too familiar with other options though. Audacity for desktop is fantastic though. Lots of features and totally free. Best of luck! -Randy

[@VOTECHGURU]

You can use Twisted Wave on your iPhone. But acoustics and your mic will make the biggest difference. I think Randy thinks you’re talking about voicing into the mic on your iPhone. Don’t do that unless you have agents and the client already knows when you go to actually voice after your great audition, the recording for the actual job you do from your pro booth will sound beautiful.

[@lathyrusloon]

I dont have a basement or a closet with a door. Where/how do i try this.

[@jkbaby101]

If I was going to have multiple commercial spots on my demo would i be able to record/save and then splice together or do I need to record them all in the same session on audacity?

[@voices]

Great question! If they are all separate files, you can combine them in Audacity or if you haven't recorded yet, you can record them all in the same session and edit them closer together. Both options will work just fine! -Randy

[@adamp7958]

New to this and had a question...for a DIY commercial demo, do you need to write your own script, or is it acceptable to use actual scripts from promotions you've either heard or find online? Is either one better?

[@voices]

Using public commercial scripts would technically fall under copyright infringement. Although it's unlikely to ever be a problem for an unpaid demo, we recommend that talent avoid using pubic material. We have dozens of royalty-free sample scripts on our site. Just google Voices Sample Scripts. You can also use ChatGPT to create your own custom script or put a twist on one of ours :) Hope this helps -Randy

[@Beowulf125]

quick question so when you make a reel do the companies like it better with music or just voice and no music

[@voices]

Great question. As a general rule of thumb, demos should sound finished (music and production). Auditions, on the other hand, should sound natural with no music and very light production. I hope this helps! -Randy

[@darmaggi]

I know you mentioned you're not a voice talent, and this little critique isn't about performance, so the only thing "I'm obsessed with" is the editing detail that you were okay with that unnatural lengthy lead in gap between words when you spliced in "acting now to double your order", and that you decided to leave that very audible breath on your track, otherwise I'd say your earned your ice cream treat.

[@voices]

Always open to the feedback! My background is mostly music and video editing, both of which, removing breaths can be a big overstep. I don't have a whole lot of commercial VO editing experience, so I'll take the feedback! Glad I can enjoy my ice cream :D

[@PaperAndNails]

How do you not have any static. Whatever I record there is always mic hiss despite me adjusting the gain on my frequency box.

[@voices]

This could be a jack or cable issue. Make sure it's sitting correctly and it's not loose.

[@the_apprentice96]

Hi, I'm late to the video but I had a few questions. 1) why is the microphone upside down when you record? 2) is there a specific distance from the microphone you should ve when speaking?

[@voices]

Hey Billy. No real reason for having it upside down other than to be out of the way. It doesn't make a difference assuming it's pointing the same way. Secondly, the best distance to start is around 4-8" from the capsule. You can play with that distance to tase. Closer means more bass in your sound, but more chances of plosives on the mic. You'll want to start around 4-8" and test from there. -Randy

[@the_apprentice96]

@@voices Thank you for the reply!

[@itsmyitme2022]

Hi Sir ،I'm from Pakistan 🙏 I just creat an account here from my Android phone for voice over .how can I post and share my voice with others.kindly guide me thanks you🙂

[@andrewcrippsvo]

Where's the best place to use DIY demos? Just uploading samples to make some currently, but dont know where to aim next.

[@CyreneHoudini]

In one of your last videos from 2020 Adobe Audition for Beginners you mention that this product is the best on the market and in this video 2022 your using Audacity which program do you feel is better now?

[@voices]

Both are really great for voice over especially for those starting out. Audacity is more accessible for many since it is a free software, whereas Adobe Audition requires you to pay a subscription. But at the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer for the right Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)!

[@chrish2960]

absolute legends!! in the beginners phase right now of getting my new (dream) side hustle started, and this has been so helpful! :D P.S. I don't believe Randy is "not a voice talent"... your voice is incredible my man! XD

[@voices]

So nice to hear this. Thanks, Chris! And Randy is totally not a voice talent 😉

[@VoiceActorMan]

Glad to hear you say this. It was a little discouraging to hear that's what "untalented" sounds like.

[@ifunanyaobiaga8776]

Hi. How did you set up your preamp

[@voices]

I had it plugged into another computer that was off screen to do the recording. I realized as I was filming that I didn't have a USB A to USB C adapter, so I had to improvise. It should be plugged into your computer and you can plug your microphone into it. Hope this helps -Randy

[@FittedMisfits1]

Anyone know if you can upload vids on fiver as your demo?

[@islamwithitsgreatness3727]

I'm beginner, help me how I get order without premium plan ... May I need to add demos continuously day over day

[@voices]

Welcome! You only need a couple of demos on our site to help you match with the right types of jobs to match your skills. However, without a Premium Membership, you'll be waiting for clients to reach out to you. If you'd like to take your career into your own hands and audition directly to our clients, a Premium Membership is the next step. -Randy

[@Jortyunofficial]

Is it legal to use a audio track that's likely copywritten, that you screen recorded from Spotify and put in the background of your demo if the demo is just a mockup of a script you made and isn't being used for income?

[@voices]

It's a bit of a grey area. We strongly recommend avoiding copyrighted music for this reason. It likely wouldn't ever cause a problem, but better safe than sorry. -Randy

[@bazzfromthebackground3696]

I have used Audacity since HS. It has only changed aesthetically, the functions remain relatively unchanged. If it ain't broke...

[@voices]

One hundred percent! -Randy

[@dashat2041]

Voices ; Whats the Best and Easiest (Free ) Platform to Upload all Voice Over Demos to ? (Preferrably approved by Acting Agencies Worldwide ?) Thanks !

[@voices]

Hey there, sorry for the late reply, I was away on some much needed summer holidays. I would recommend adding your demos to your Voices profile! Voices.com is used by acting agencies to identify promising talent and advertising agencies who actually hire the talent. It's a really great place to start. -Randy

[@OzMills]

The most encouraging part is when you needed to do the third take multiple times. I always worry that's me.

[@voices]

I'm glad to hear! I debated deleting all of that part, but I'm glad that it was relatable! -Randy

[@OzMills]

My recorded video and audio is scattered with the dead husks of half-faltered sentences.@@voices

[@tinaspinks5402]

Do you coach voiceover ? I would to do one for a book by another author

[@voices]

I don't personally, but you can check out our coaches page at www.voices.com/coaches. Hope this helps! -Randy

[@C_a_m_i_2024]

Hi...Is it possible to use Voices Samples on my demo??

[@voices]

Absolutely! -Randy

[@C_a_m_i_2024]

@voices ok. Ty. I wanted to clarify this. I had heard that the samples couldn't be used on demo reels.

[@fayhaakashef9637]

Can I use my i phone 📱 instead of all that setup 😢?

[@voices]

Unfortunately, our clients tend to have higher expectations for the audio quality they're after. It would be extremely hard to book using a cell-phone mic. Hope this makes sense -Randy

[@shirleyasare4114]

Great video, could you please provide alternative microphone options as I’m struggling to find the suggested one in the video?

[@voices]

Sure thing, I would recommend checking out the Rode NT1, Audio Technica AT2020, or the AKG P220. Hope this helps! -Randy

[@bassman251000]

Is it possible to show how to do this on GarageBand?

[@voices]

We have a video on our channel covering that, "GarageBand For Voice Over | Is It Good Enough?" Hope this helps! -Randy

[@bassman251000]

@@voices I saw that one. I was asking more specifically how to effectively use the effects on GaragBand the same way used on Audacity.

[@VOTECHGURU]

@@bassman251000 Record your peaks (loudest parts) around -6 to -12 while voicing. A little over or under on your peaks is ok. Set your threshold to -12, Ratio to around 2 to 1, 10 ms of attack, 100 ms of release and no makeup gain. Then normalize to -3dB if Garage Band has the option. Hope that helps.

[@hopefulreptile2573]

Does a demo reel always need music?

[@voices]

Music is optional for the most part. It also depends on your production skills and the type of demo. Audiobook? Probably not. A commercial? Probably, yes.

[@hopefulreptile2573]

@@voices thank you!

[@user-ls7xl6rr7r]

Hey did you ever play overwatch? I think we used to play together

[@voices]

Not me, unfortunately! I've never played -Randy

[@sabin2384]

Une application fabuleuse

[@voices]

Merci beaucoup - Randy

[@palomaalhambra2453]

Voices ahoy there, you have sent me an email asking me to audition BUT the damned audition button goes nowhere. Is it a scam????

[@voices]

There's a chance the job has already closed. I'd recommend reaching out to [e-mail]

[@AlThePal78]

The acting now sounded fake but it is awesome music and great

[@voices]

I'm not a voice actor. This is just a demo -Randy

[@rayprod8571]

But... $28 with tax makes it $30.80... so no $ left for ice cream... lol😅 but maybe ice cream is not good for the vocal chords anyway... true or false?

[@voices]

Lol it's probably not recommended. But I mean.. It's ice cream so . . Im gonna do it anyways lol! -Randy

[@rayprod8571]

@voices yes, hard to turn down good 🍦 🍨 icecream... but maybe needs to get a bday free one instead, or a treat... or get a good tax refund... 😀

[@JF-rz3rh]

Under $30??😂Is the editing under 30 hrs?😂