The right accent: from Antwerp to West Flemish
In Belgium, we’re blessed with a rich variety of accents and dialects. Although a neutral, standardised Belgian Dutch is usually the safest choice, a subtle local accent can add just that little bit of extra character and authenticity. Just think of a warm, soft Limburg voice for a local family business, or a lively Ghent accent for a trendy start-up.
The most important thing is that the voice comes across as natural and suits the region where your target audience is based. Ask yourself: does this voice speak the language of my customers? A professional voice-over artist knows exactly how to adjust their intonation to strike the right chord with the listener, without sounding forced.
The right tone: what do you want the listener to feel?
A voice does much more than simply read out a script; it conveys a feeling. Before you start listening to samples, it’s a good idea to decide what emotion you want to evoke. Do you want to convey reliability and authority, or perhaps enthusiasm, humour and creativity?
When listening to demos, pay attention to the following elements:
- Pace: Is the text delivered calmly and clearly, or is there a lot of momentum and energy?
- Pitch: A lower voice often conveys calm and expertise, whilst a higher voice is more readily perceived as cheerful and approachable.
- Warmth: Does the voice sound as if a good friend is talking to you, or is the tone more businesslike and informative?
Experience and the technical quality of the recording
Having a lovely voice is one thing, but being a professional voice-over artist is a real craft. Experienced voice-over artists not only have perfect control over their voices, but they often also have their own professionally equipped studio. This ensures that the sound quality is impeccable, without any distracting background noise, annoying echoes or plosive sounds.
When you work with a professional, you can also count on the timing being spot on. They know exactly how to breathe between sentences and how to emphasise the right words. This saves you a great deal of editing work afterwards and a lot of frustration when finalising your video or advert.
Flexibility and smooth collaboration
Recording a voice-over is rarely a one-off task without any feedback. Sometimes the emphasis needs to be adjusted slightly, or a line in the script changes at the last minute. It is therefore incredibly important to choose a voice-over artist who is flexible and open to direction.
Clear agreements make for good working relationships. Find out in advance about the options for a possible re-recording and how quickly the voice actor can deliver. Prompt and open communication ensures that your project is completed on time and to the required quality standards.