Voice Over Book

‘How I wish this book had been available to me when I started my voiceover career!’ Miriam Margolyes

A concise handbook outlining the skills, the know-how and the business of voiceovers, with a particular focus on the UK industry. Stephen Kemble, a voiceover artist and voice coach, and David Hodge, who has worked as a sound engineer, voice director and as Company Manager at a voice agency, offer specialist advice on all areas of voiceover work, including commercials, narration, audio books, animation and dubbing.

Knowing your voice

Understanding and acquiring the skills of a voiceover

How to prepare for recording sessions

Technical aspects and protocol of working in a studio

Knowing your personal strengths, making the all-important showreel and finding an agent

Looking after your voice

Dealing with dyslexia

Tips from agents, producers, engineers and voiceovers

Terminology

An ideal guide for anyone who has a curiosity about voiceovers and what’s involved. Of particular interest to drama school students preparing to enter the industry, and professional actors who want to tap into the voiceover business.

David Hodge began as a sound engineer at the outset of commercial radio in the UK, recording voiceovers for radio and TV commercials, as well as documentaries, animation series, corporate programs, audio books and foreign language versions. He became a founding Director of Silk Sound studios in London where he also produced and directed a number of award-winning radio commercials. He spent six years as Studio Manager for Saunders & Gordon, an audio post-production facility. David was subsequently voice director on Maisy, a BAFTA award-winning animation series for the under-fives and was then heavily involved in the running of Hobsons International, a prominent voiceover and artists’ agency.

Stephen Kemble comes from an acting background including extensive work as voiceover. He has worked across a broad range of media; commercial campaigns, narration for documentary programs and current affairs series, corporate work, TV promotions and audio books. He has an MA Voice Studies with distinction from The Central School of Speech and Drama. Since 2006 he has worked with actors in production, teaching ‘practical voice’ to actors in training and developing his teaching of voice for microphone. In 2011 he became a designated Linklater teacher. Currently he’s a text and voice coach at The Royal Shakespeare Company.