How to Get the Best Out of Voice Talent in the Booth

Written By Kim Manunui

The right voice-over performance can elevate your creative work from good to unforgettable. Whether you're directing a commercial, a brand video, or an explainer animation, the way you guide your voice talent in the booth will make all the difference.

After working in advertising for over 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand how a great voice artist can bring a script to life—but only when they’re given the right direction. Here’s how to get the best out of your voice talent so they make your work shine.

1. Start with the Right Casting

The best direction in the world won’t help if you haven’t cast the right voice for the job. Before the talent even steps into the booth, make sure you’ve considered:

  • Tone & Personality – Does the voice match the brand’s identity and message?

  • Pace & Delivery – Some scripts need a slow, deliberate read; others require an energetic punch.

  • Clarity & Authenticity – The best voice actors sound natural, not forced.

🔍 Pro Tip: Work with a professional agency like Piranha Talent Agency to ensure you get the right fit from the start.

2. Set Clear Expectations Before the Session

No matter how talented your voice artist is, they’re not mind-readers. Give them context before recording:

  • What is the brand’s tone (friendly, authoritative, playful)?

  • Who is the target audience?

  • What’s the emotion behind the script—should they sound excited, empathetic, or trustworthy?

  • How will this piece be used—radio, TV, online, internal?

Sending the talent a brief and sample references ahead of time can help them prepare and get into character before they even enter the booth.

3. Warm Up & Create a Comfortable Environment

A relaxed voice actor delivers a better performance. Set a positive tone when they arrive:

  • Break the ice with casual conversation before jumping into recording.

  • Provide water and breaks—a hydrated voice is a happy voice.

  • If possible, let them rehearse off-mic before the official take.

🎤 Pro Tip: A quick warm-up exercise (humming, tongue twisters) can improve clarity and energy.

4. Direct with Precision—Not Overload

When directing voice talent, avoid giving too many instructions at once. Instead:

  • Start broad, then fine-tune. (“Let’s do one take natural, then one more upbeat.”)

  • Use visual and emotional cues rather than technical jargon. (“Smile as you say this” works better than “increase pitch.”)

  • Encourage multiple takes to give yourself options in post-production.

🚀 What Works Best: ✅ “Imagine you’re talking to a friend over coffee.” (Conversational tone) ✅ “This line should feel like a big reveal—surprise us!” (Emotional direction) ✅ “Think of this as a coach motivating a team.”(Energy cue)

❌ Avoid vague feedback like: “Make it better” or “Sound more exciting.”

5. Use Playback to Guide Adjustments

Sometimes, a voice actor needs to hear themselves to make adjustments. If a take isn’t working:

  • Play back their best take and highlight what worked.

  • Compare it to a reference take to fine-tune the tone or pacing.

  • Encourage them to self-assess (“How did that feel to you?”) for a more natural adjustment.

6. Leave Room for Improvisation

Some of the best voice-over moments happen when the talent is given freedom to explore. Once you’ve nailed the scripted read, encourage:

  • A natural take—allowing slight word changes for authenticity.

  • Ad-libs or alternative phrasings—they might give you “added gold” that you hadn’t considered.

  • Play with pacing or delivery styles—sometimes, a pause in the right place makes all the difference.

7. Collaborate with Post-Production for Final Polish

The best voice-over performances don’t just end in the booth—they get even better in post-production. Work closely with sound engineers to:

  • Enhance clarity & balance levels

  • Remove unwanted breaths or noise

  • Add the right background mix to complement the read

🎧 Bonus Tip: Our sister company, Post Production Sound, specializes in polishing voice-over recordings for a flawless final result.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Work Shine

A great voice-over can transform your project—but only if the talent is set up for success. By casting the right voice, giving clear direction, and fostering a collaborative booth environment, you’ll ensure their performance enhances your creative vision.

🔹 Looking for expert voice talent? Check out our curated selection at Piranha Talent—or contact us to discuss your next project!

🎤 Find the Perfect Voice Here https://www.piranhatalent.com/talent-portfolio

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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