Myth 2: A professional voice actor is unaffordable for smaller companies
The persistent idea exists that hiring a professional voice is only for the large budgets of multinationals. As a result, SMEs often turn to their own manager or a handy colleague to record the text.
What is actually true: The pricing structure for professional voices is very logical and transparent. For a commercial voice over, you pay a fixed base rate for the recording itself, supplemented by a buy-out for usage and rights. That buyout depends purely on the medium and the duration of your campaign. For non-commercial work, such as an internal corporate video or e-learning, we simply work with a rate per word or per project. This ensures that a professional voice remains accessible for every budget. For an exact price, it is best to request a custom quote.
Myth 3: Anyone with a nice voice can record a commercial
It is often thought that a pleasant chat and clear pronunciation are sufficient to handle a microphone. The assumption that the receptionist with her warm voice will do it quickly often leads to disappointment during editing.
What is actually true: Voice acting is a real craft. A professional voice actor knows exactly how to interpret a text, where the emphasis should lie, and how to convey the right emotion without sounding forced.
Here are three facts about the working method of a true professional:
They check the timing of the text beforehand so that the message fits perfectly within the thirty seconds. - They have perfect control over their breathing, ensuring you don't get distracting background noise or sudden volume jumps.
They can adjust their pitch and tempo on command to match the director's desired atmosphere.
Our voices, such as Johfrah or Kristien from Belgium, have years of experience doing this flawlessly. Client Mathias testifies about Johfrah: "Johfrah helped me with my final project without any problems. I was looking for a good voice-over for a short film, and Johfrah delivered it not only quickly but also clearly and perfectly."
Myth 4: You have to be physically present in the studio to direct the recording
The idea that you have to set aside a whole day to drink coffee in a recording studio while the voice actor repeats his lines is outdated. Some marketers fear they will lose control if they are not physically sitting next to the technician.
What is actually true: Modern voice actors work from high-quality home studios that meet the strictest acoustic standards. Communication is fast and digital. Our client Johannes noticed this during his project as well: "Very efficient, fast communication. From the request for a test voice to the final result, including adjustments, was completed within 24 hours."
A practical director's tip: As a director, I always advise giving the voice actor a clear briefing beforehand regarding the desired atmosphere and target audience. Do you want to hear a smile in the voice?Mention that explicitly. A voice actor who smiles while recording immediately sounds an octave warmer and more approachable, even without you physically standing next to them.
Myth 5: A voice actor can handle any language with a slight accent
Some companies try to save money by booking a single voice actor to record both the Flemish and the French or English versions of a commercial.
What is actually true: Consumers can spot a non-native speaker immediately. A subtle, off-key accent instantly breaks the listener's concentration. That is why we work exclusively with native speakers. Our platform features 92 professional voices that natively record languages such as Flemish, French (BE), German, Polish, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, and English.
Think of Mona with her young, warm Flemish voice for the Belgian market, or Estelle, who perfectly serves the French-speaking market with her French background. Or Darren for an authentic British English accent, and Bartek for Polish productions. Each country requires its own cultural nuance.
