Giving a thought over it, we can easily get to the conclusion that audio plays an essential part of our lives, and especially a fundamental part of the entertainment business, and therefore we need to make sure we keep a healthy voice at all times. Think over the following thing – how long will you be able to watch a mute movie? Even the best picture/ video clip/ movie sooner or later will become boring without the attention getting audio.
Years ago there was a limited range of TV and radio channels, each being performed in its original language. The limited number of shows required a limited number of languages when the shows needed to be translated.
Nowadays the picture is slightly different as there are countless numbers of shows and channels in each language. In addition, the world is globalised – one program can be translated into twenty or thirty languages apart from its original sounding. Moreover, the movie industry strongly influences the need for dubbing as all major movies and TV series are being dubbed in various foreign languages, reaching a bigger audience.
So what happens if you want to become part of this growing industry as a voice over artist? Of course, knowing the language, native or not, is great. But it`s not enough. What you need is clarity of your voice and diction, last but not least, emotion in your voice. These skills are really important in order to deliver a good artistic dialogue when dubbing. Additionally, it’s a big plus if you have some translation ability as it will allow you to more naturally articulate with the language and to make a good choice of words without losing the context of the dialogue.
Keep in mind that the dubbing industry has ample of voice over artists. So, in order to succeed, you need to make a difference. If you believe you can be a brilliant voice-over artist then find the strong areas in your voice. For example, if you have a good deep base voice, consider becoming a narrator.
Once you find your genre, it’s time to practice. Record your voice on tape or computer, listen to it, analyze, then again record and listen. Each time you make this exercise try to analyze what can be improved and try to improve it- that’s the way to reach the desired result and perfect your voice.
Finally, once you feel confident with your voice, visit a voice over recording studio or make a demo of your voice, including different scripts in order to better show the articulation of your voice. After a long practice, perfecting of your voice and consistency, you will eventually make your break-through in the dubbing and voice over industry.
The above article was written by Kimberley Thompson. Kimberley is a digital journalist for a link building outreach service agency collaborating with the holiday apartment rental specialist, Apartments in San Sebastian, who provides holiday homes in the Basque Country, the north of Spain. She also collaborates with a project for clÃnica dental Donostia. Follow Kim on Twitter in her profile @KimThompsonUK, and feel free to connect with Kim on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/pub/kimberley-thompson/85/406/743. Kimberley enjoys playing hockey, following the news, reading poems and sunbathing throughout the summer months.
