By Ryann Ferguson

We pooled our resources here in the office, as well as your votes from online to put together our top 10 most memorable, most inspirational Voice Over Performances. Ever. Now this is for an iconic single performance. We’ll get to actors with an all around amazing track record next week. From newer performances iconic to younger generations, to unexpected performances from actors we thought we knew, there is no shortage of innovation in voice over performances. Without further delay, we present these memorable performances to you now.

Richard Epcar

Richard Epcar has voiced more than 300 characters, in games, cartoons, and anime, so he’s no stranger to juggling multiple roles. He recently worked on an audiobook where he played the entire cast, and we were curious to know what it was like to have to go back and forth between so many characters. Here’s what Richard had to say:

Remember when we were limited by the physical nature of recording? Film, tape, vinyl? Yeah, me neither. Many of those forms of technology didn’t die out all that long ago (after all, the first voice overs are still less than 100 years old) and yet, we quickly repressed those memories in favor of the newest, most convenient technology.

From Logic to ProTools to the stuff we carry around in our pockets, advances in technology have increased our ability to create great products, to do so cost-effectively, and to cast the projects efficiently.

Katie Crown gives voice acting audition advice.

Here is the latest installment of videos around the voice over production process and industry. Check back regularly for updates right here on our blog and soon, on iTunes and other platforms, from individuals we have had the pleasure of working with on projects.

These two videos feature actors we have had in the studio, giving their audition advice for aspiring voice actors. Katie Crown shares that you must always know the tone of the project you are working on and how that can lead to success in the booth! In addition, Charlie Bodin gives his audition advice. His tip: take risks. He stresses the importance of reaching above and beyond your comfort zones and not going with the most obvious choice.

Voice Over audition advice from Pat Fraley.

Aside from being an incredibly in-demand actor, Pat Fraley is one of the most sought after voice over teachers in the country. Whether it’s acting, microphone technique, or text analysis, he brings nearly forty years of performance and teaching experience to every masterclass and recording session he runs.

Pat truly loves teaching and sharing his tips and advice with other voice actors, so we were excited to sit down with him and hear some of his advice for aspiring voice actors. Here is his response:

Voice actor, author and audio engineer Dan Friedman shares his list of 10 important tips for getting the best efforts and best results from your voiceover sessions.

1. Choose Wisely – Who you choose to deliver your message is the first and possibly most critical decision you’ll make. The voice should personify the attitude and style of your company, product or character and should relate to your target demographic. Keep in mind that the talent should be able to communicate your message quickly and efficiently. Choose a voice talent who can deliver your copy with few mistakes or pickups. Just because audio editing is easier and faster than ever, doesn’t mean extensive editing should be required to get the result you want.

Paula Rhodes gives voice acting audition advice.

We are excited to announce we are kicking off a new series of videos around the voice over production process and industry. From individuals we have had the pleasure of working with on projects, you’ll find regular updates right here on our blog and soon, on iTunes and other platforms.

We’ll be covering topics like voice matching, the voice over recording process, handling multiple characters, voice over directing and much more.

To start, here are four videos from actors we have had in the studio, giving their audition advice for aspiring voice actors. First, Sean Hankinson reminds us that this whole process should be fun. Paula Rhodes then gives a couple of tips, including how you can get close to voice over casting specialists and voice over directing experts. Next, Nakia Burise shares that you should always be yourself and have faith in your success. And finally, Laura Gerow tells why you should let yourself be nervous.

What are the roles of a Voice Over Producer and Director?  A producer is someone who takes a kernel of an idea and out of that kernel, creates an actual event. In the world of Voice Over Production, they are responsible assembling all the principals needed to fulfill the ultimate vision of the project. If we use the analogy of The Wizard Of Oz, the producer would ultimately have to be The Wizard, that being said s/he can be the Wicked Witch as well.

The voice over director has a myriad of responsibilities. They include, but are not limited to: The breaking down of the script by character, by scenes, beats within each scene and determining the flow of the voice actor’s performance as well as the correct edit and cut. Organizational and communication skills are paramount to the success of the director, as s/he is liaison between actors and the engineers, writers and producers, and must be as loved as the Scarecrow by all.

The Engineer is the person responsible for all the machines used in the voice over recording session working perfectly; their job is to capture all the vocal magic. While they could easily be regarded as ‘button pushers’ or machine-focused; the fact is, that the Engineer put his/her heart and soul into each project and their performance cannot be understated or overlooked. One could argue that they are our Tin Man – seemingly machine, but truly much heart.

It is the Engineer’s attention to the detail and their knowledge of each component that allows the other members of the team, namely the writers, directors and voice actors, to focus on their creative responsibilities.

By Debbie Munro

What?! I thought I was getting into a fun industry?!

If you have ventured into the world of animation and video games, you know exactly what I’m referring to. The wonderful thing about make believe, is that anything can happen. I’ll never forget my time on DragonBall – I played a character named ‘Mai’ and she died in what seemed like 50% of the episodes. You have to get very creative in your death scenes. You can only die so many times and in the world of video games, you can die over and over again. The interesting thing about a death scene is that this isnt something we can truly relate to ourselves. And the way we die in animations isn’t realistic to most deaths we know. So we have to become very creative and think outside the box.