Ultimate Guide In Choosing Your Voiceover Recording Software
Editing your voice over recordings is the final stop of the process before you publish or deliver it to your client. It involves the polishing of the raw files, adding up music effects, and engineering the overall quality of the sound. Hence, recording software is an important consideration if you want to produce a superb voice over. We crafted a guide for you in selecting which voice over software you plump for.
What is the perfect voice over recording software for me?
There are scores of claimed as best audio recording software in the market but our preference does not just fall on the popular claims alone. Some software are free of charge and some are for purchase, and this is where the deciding factor usually gauge on.
Some voice actors opt in investing for a recording software for believing that they have premium capabilities that free software don’t have. However, free options on recording software can actually be just as effective and competent as paid ones.
Besides, the preference of recording software is relative to the voice actor. There can be many combination of factors to weigh in. Below are the factors that voice actors look at before settling upon their voice over software.
Factors to consider in choosing your voice over recording software
Free or Paid?
The cost is usually the utmost determinant on what recording software to consider. You have to do your research on the pricing of premium editors to assert whether the features justify its cost. Many open-source recording software are also competitive with their features.
A good rule of the thumb is to first set your budget. Then, create a check list of the tools that you will be needing for your voice overs and and check which 3 top software best fit your demo or project needs. Then the elimination will depend on aligning your budget to their pricing. Now it is totally up to you on what features are the most valuable to you to decide on which to prioritize. By then, you will have your final choice of software.
Is it professional grade?
If you and your clients identify yourself as a professional voice actor, professional-grade recording equipment and software are expected. Research on what the ‘pros’ use and see if the software is generally available for free, or if it tends to be a cost of business. According to The Voice Over Herald, Adobe Audition is the most popular software used as of 2019.
Ability to make your voice sound the best
Just like microphones, it’s not about how expensive your audio recording software. What matters is if the tools it offers can produce the best of your voice. Target those software that offers tools that can eliminate your background noise, enhance your voice quality, and add more life to your recordings through built-in filters and relevant special sound effects.
System Compatibility
It is no-brainer important to consider if the recording software of your choice is compatible with your computer’s operating system and other recording devices. Otherwise, the software is useless.
Compatibility with client
There are clients who want to take part in engineering the voice over recordings. Prior to your voice over project on-boarding, ask your client if they are going to be involved in editing the audio. Ask them what software they are using and check if it is compatible with that you have in your studio. It is a plus if the software you will choose is the popular claim of many clients.
User-friendliness
Is the software easy to use? Or does it require you to watch some extensive tutorial videos? Go for the ones that are user-friendly and optimize your user experience. No heavy task can compare to the job of using a digital software seamlessly.
Online Reviews
What do other voice actors say online? No advertisement or promotion can tell a more accurate claim than reviews of users who have experience the product. So surf the net and browse through online reviews of popular recording software. Collate their opinion and gauge the likeliness of choosing a software based on the sum of reviews plus the aforementioned factors.
Put simply, the software that is best for enhancing your voice over recordings depends ultimately on how you intend to use it. The rest are just the secondary factors to help you weigh better to come up with a choice.