Promotional videos can be real production marvels; often, their production requires cinematographic techniques such as voice-over. Today, Osko clarifies the utility of a voice-over, a frequently used technique for an effective narration.

The voice-over: what is it for?

The voice-over is a narrative technique which consists of an invisible character’s voice overlaying a sequence or a scene. Spectators may have seen this character previously in the story, or it could be an external narrator, guiding them through the decisive moments of the video.

The voice-over is often used for trailers, documentaries or even advertising.

It can be used to explain a feeling, to catch the attention spectators, or to help them step back from the content.

Writing and production

The voice-over usually opens and encloses a sequence by talking directly to the spectator.

It is important that it does not take over the image of the video; voice-over must be a complement to the overall production, not its epicenter. As a matter of fact, most consumers keep visual elements in mind better than voices.

Therefore, it is essential to target the keywords you want to transmit and strategically dispose them with the right timing to better catch the attention of the viewer.

Same, rhythm and intonation are two important elements for preventing the boredom of the spectator.

Voice-over specialists don’t have the same qualifications as other voice actors, so you have to define your needs beforehand.

Here are the 3 categories of voice-over specialists:

• Voice-over speakers use their natural voice. They work for serious or corporate advertising, audio-books, e-learning, documentaries, etc.
• Voice-over comedians have a background in theatre or cinema. They work for video games, cartoons or funny advertising campaigns. They adapt their voices to any situation.
• “Chameleons” are able to do everything: imitator, comedian, speaker,… They are familiar with all types of acting. A rare gem!

if you want to make the right choice, you can trust a specialized agency which will guide you towards qualified people.

Everybody can do a voice-over with the Internet, but pay careful attention to the quality of such productions!

Compare these two examples and see the quality difference between a professional and an amateur voice-over:

Here is an example of a monotonous voice-over