Whether you’re aiming to teach healthcare professionals how to use a new medical device, clients how to use your cloud services, or students how to excel in mathematics, e-learning can be the ideal way to do it. Voice over narration in E-learning, instructional and tutorial videos can be extremely effective as an educational tool, provided you choose a narrator who is supremely suited for the task. You’re likely to find a good match if you find a narration voice over artist who possess the following seven qualities.
Voice Quality
It’s tough to listen to and learn from a recording if you can’t stand a person’s voice. E-learning voice over typically involves extensive listening, which means you want a voice that is pleasant, likable and free of breathiness, crackles and twangs. The voice over narration quality should be crisp, clear and agreeable to the ear.
Female voices are often better received than male voices for e-learning projects, as our culture has a history of women teachers. Female voices are also viewed as softer, more easygoing and more trustworthy, as we note in our article about Male vs. Female Voice-Over Talent, but even more important than gender is the overall like-ability of the voice.
Pristine Audio Quality
It’s likewise tough to listen and learn if a recording is full of pops, white noise and other distractions, making it essential to look for pristine audio quality. This is especially important since many e-learning recordings are listened to using headphones. Good, solid recording equipment is a must, as is a narration voice-over actor who is highly adept at using it.
Fast Turnaround Times
E-learning projects tend to be fairly lengthy, and they often require a massive amount of editing. That means not only does the initial recording have to be completed in a timely manner, but you also need a way to efficiently and quickly edit the project. Whether you outsource the editing to a competent and skilled editor, or the voice-over artist has the skills and ability to edit the recording herself, speed and efficiency are critical.
Ability to Handle Audio Technical Specs
The audio format for e-learning files can vary greatly, depending on different preferences and programs used. The ideal e-learning voice-over narration talent will know how to handle them all. Your narrator should have the ability to save the audio in the format needed at the levels needed in the specs required. Even the most pleasant and pristine voice recording won’t do you any good if you don’t have a way to access or incorporate it into your finished project.
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Common Types of Audio Files (wav, aiff, mp3)
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Common Sample Rates Used (44.1 kHz, 48kHz, mono or stereo)
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Common Ways to Deliver Audio Files (via Hightail, Dropbox or similar file delivery service, Filezilla, FTP file server, etc)
Proficiency with the English Language
A strong command of the English language is another essential component for e-learning narrators. Look for a voice-over actor who has exceptional pronunciation and enunciation abilities and skills. Voice-over actors who are well-versed in the English language can not only ensure your script is read immaculately, but they may also be able to help with troubleshooting any grammatical or other errors within it.
Experience with Voice Over Narration Projects
Choosing a voice-over narration talent who has experience with e-learning projects can help immensely on multiple levels. Since they’re experienced in this type of work, they’ll know the ins and outs, including common issues that may tend to crop up and the type of finished product that needs to be delivered.
Network of Connections
A voice-over artist who is well-connected within the industry helps in two major ways. One is automatically letting you know the person has history and experience in the field. The other is having the ability to offer resources and referrals.
Perhaps your script calls for more than one voice-over artist, with role-playing scenarios, the need for another actor of a different age group, sound or gender. A well-connected voice-over artist will be able to tap into her network to find you additional voices or resources as needed or desired.
Find a voice talent with these seven qualities, and chances are you’ve found a pro who can deliver exactly what you need for your e-learning projects. Can you think of any other voice over narration qualities that are essential for highest quality e-learning projects? Please share in the comments section.
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