2 Person Technique Hey Reader, Ever read a commercial script that feels stiff, corporate, or just kinda unnatural? When we sit in front of the mic, it's easy to accidentally slip into "announcer mode." We project, we enunciate perfectly, and suddenly... we sound like "Voice-Over Announcer Man/Woman". A good trick to break out of that habit is The Two-Person Dialogue Technique. How It Works Before you record your next audition, look at the copy and invent a specific person you are talking to....
8 days ago • 1 min read
Cleaning up Low-End Mud Hey Reader, When you're listening back to a voice-over recording, you want it to sound clean, clear, and present. But a lot of times—especially if you're recording in a home studio—you might notice a heavy, boomy, or muffled quality in the lower frequencies. In the audio world, we sometimes call this "mud." Low-end mud usually builds up in the 20 Hz to 250 Hz range. It can be caused by a lot of things: the natural resonance of your recording space, being a little too...
15 days ago • 2 min read
Ignoring the Punctuation Hey Reader, When you open up a new script for an audition or a gig, your natural instinct is probably to follow the punctuation exactly as it's written. You see a comma, you pause. You see a period, you drop your pitch and come to a full stop. But here’s the thing: copywriters don't always write for the ear. They write for the page. Oftentimes, the grammatical punctuation on a script will completely stiffen up your delivery, making you sound like you're reading a...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Intimate Reads Hey Reader, The "conversational" read is still the reigning king of the VO industry. Clients constantly want a delivery that sounds like a natural, continuous thought rather than a rigid script read. But sometimes a script calls for an ultra-intimate, authentic, "leaned-in" vibe. A good way to get yourself in that zone? Change your physical relationship with the microphone. For a standard commercial read, you’re probably standing a comfortable 6 to 8 inches away from your...
29 days ago • 1 min read
De-Ess'ing Hey Reader, When you're editing voice-over, it is incredibly tempting to just throw a de-esser onto your track, dial in a preset, and call it a day. After all, harsh sibilance—those piercing "S" sounds—can ruin an otherwise perfect read. But relying too heavily on an automated de-esser can sometimes backfire, turning your clean performance into a lispy, muffled mess. Treat de-essing as a targeted correction, not a set-it-and-forget-it background tool. Before you let a plugin do all...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Reaching Out Hey Reader, We all know how crucial it is to stay in touch with past clients and warm leads. But let’s be honest—nobody actually likes sending or receiving the generic, "Hey, just checking in to see if you have any upcoming voice-over needs!" email. It feels a little transactional, and it rarely gets a response. So let’s flip the script with a marketing strategy that focuses entirely on them. Instead of emailing a client to share your own updates, reach out to celebrate theirs....
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Auditing your Demos Hey Reader, When was the last time you actually listened to your own demos? Not just a quick skim to make sure the file works, but a deep, critical listen from start to finish? It’s easy to treat a demo like a "finished product," but in reality, your demo is a living document. As you grow as a talent—and as the industry trends shift—a demo that sounded "pro" two years ago might be holding you back today. Here is the pro tip: Schedule a Demo Audit every six months to ensure...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Mobile Recording Kit Hey Reader, It never fails. You step away from the booth for a long weekend or a vacation, and suddenly your inbox is hit with a "must-have" audition or a quick pickup request from your best client. In the past, being away from your studio meant saying "no" or frantically searching for a local pro studio. But today, technology allows us to be mobile without sacrificing the professional quality our clients expect, should you so choose to make yourself available in that...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
The Final Line Hey Reader, Have you ever listened back to a take and felt like the energy just... evaporated at the end? It’s a common habit: we put all our focus into a strong hook and a solid body, but as we reach the final sentence, our brains subconsciously go, "Almost done!" The result is a last line that trails off, drops in volume, or sounds like we're just checking a box. However, the last line is often the most important part of the script—it’s where the brand name or the...
2 months ago • 1 min read