During the month of April, people in the voice acting and dubbing industry celebrate World Voiceover Day on April 16. This year, we were inspired to dig deeper into the origin of the human voice and explore how voice acting plays an integral role in today’s society. 

How and Why Did People Begin Using Their Voices?

Language is a uniquely human trait that sets us apart from all other animals. It enables us to communicate complex thoughts and emotions and to collaborate on tasks that would be impossible without it. But how did language evolve? 

Truth be told, the origin of human speech is a long-standing mystery that has yet to be fully understood. We do know that the ability to produce and comprehend speech requires the coordination of many different brain regions.

Some scientists believe that speech began as a way for humans to communicate emotions. Our early ancestors may have started making noises to show excitement, happiness, or anger. This would explain why we still use body language and tone of voice to communicate with one another today.

Another widely accepted theory is the vocal-tract theory, which suggests that the ability to speak evolved from our ancestors’ ability to produce and control sounds with their vocal cords. Over time, these sounds became more complex and eventually evolved into the speech that we use today.

There are also supporters of the gestural theory of speech origins, who argue that spoken language originated from our ancestors’ use of hand gestures to communicate. They say that the physical act of making gestures helped our ancestors to develop the necessary neural pathways for speech.

 The list of theories goes on and on. And while no one knows for sure how humans began speaking, we can all agree on one thing: that words were born of necessity. They are the tools we use to create, build, and connect with others.

 

The Art of Voice Acting

Fast forward to the present day. In order to create effective and powerful content, you first need to understand the role that spoken words play in our lives. They’re more than just tools for communication. They are also a form of expression. They can be used to entertain, educate, and inspire. And when used correctly, they can help you achieve your business goals.

As leaders in English and foreign language voice acting services, we work with all types of voices. While they each have their own unique talents, they all have one common goal: to get the message across. Whether it’s a commercial for a new product or an emergency announcement, voice actors have the ability to change the tone and make the message more personal.

This is exactly why we feel that voice acting is an art. It takes a great deal of talent and skill to become a professional voice actor. 

The biggest misconception about voice acting is that it’s about a person’s voice. You may be surprised to hear this… but it’s not about the voice at all! Just because someone has a good voice or can do great impressions doesn’t mean they were made for voice acting. Voice acting is all about how someone uses their voice to deliver a message, emotion, or attitude.

For example, when we look for professional voice talents to join our team at Metro Audio and Video, we look for individuals who have a passion for the industry. We’re not looking to hire someone who views voice acting as a stepping stone to becoming an on-screen actor. Our clients demand the best quality voice over work possible, and we only hire voice actors who have perfected their craft and love being in the business.

What else makes or breaks a voiceover audition with us? Well, we want to be sure that all of our voice actors are just that… actors! You may think of acting as something that people only do on-screen, but this isn’t the case. 

Voice actors need to be able to play the parts they are given. This is why many of our professional voice actors have backgrounds as seasoned stage actors. A number of them have extensive Broadway experience and are pros at projecting their voices and clearly enunciating their delivered words. Why not take a “listen” to some of the featured members of our voice acting team, and hear for yourself? 

 

Chances Are, You’ve Heard a Voice Over Today!

When most people think of voice acting, they think of commercials. You know – the ones with the deep, booming narrator’s voice telling you about a product in a way that makes you want to buy it, regardless of whether you need it or not. But voiceovers are used in a lot more places than just commercials. In fact, they’re used in virtually every type of media.

Public transportation is a great place to start. Ever heard the announcements on the subway or bus? That’s a voiceover.

And how about those automated phone menus when you call customer service? Yep, those are voiceovers, too. In fact, just about any time you hear a voice speaking without actually being on-screen, that’s a voiceover.

Voiceovers have been used in movies and TV shows for as long as they’ve been around. And while you might not think of video games as being particularly reliant on voiceovers, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Almost every major video game these days has at least some voice acting in it.

From self-checkouts at grocery stores, interactive museum tours, and e-learning courses to your favorite podcasts and e-books – voiceovers are everywhere.

 

The Right Voice Can Help Businesses and Organizations Succeed.

There are many things that go into making a business or organization successful, but one often overlooked factor is the voice of the brand. Because voiceovers are everywhere, they can really make the difference between failure and success! For example…

Voiceovers can convey instructions or safety information clearly and concisely.

In educational and business settings, e-learning is a great example of how voiceovers can help students or employees learn new concepts or skills.

Voiceovers also play a key role in the transportation industry, where they provide important safety messages. For example, an airline might use a voiceover to announce the exit locations for passengers in the event of an emergency. And, of course, voiceovers are used in all navigation systems. 

Voiceovers can add credibility and trust to a message or advertisement.

When people hear a voice that they trust, they’re more likely to take the time to listen to what is being said. They’re even more likely to make a purchase based on it. Voice acting can help to create this trust and connect with an audience on a deeper level.

Voiceovers can create an emotional connection with viewers. 

Voiceovers can be used to make the listener feel happy, sad, scared, or any other emotion. Some commercials or public service announcements use voiceovers to make the audience feel a certain way so that they’re more likely to take action. For example, a commercial for a charity may make listeners feel sad about the situation in order to encourage them to donate.

Voiceovers can help to keep the viewer’s attention engaged.

The human voice is incredibly powerful and can hold someone’s attention far better than text on a screen. In fact, research shows that people retain 65% of the information when it’s spoken to them, as opposed to just 10-20 percent when it’s read. This is why voiceovers are so important for video content.

 

In Conclusion

As you can see, voice acting plays such an important role in our everyday lives. Voice actors help to create an immersive experience for listeners and truly bring stories to life. In a world where so much content is consumed visually, it’s important to have quality audio to accompany it.

So don’t just wait for World Voiceover Day… Take some time once in a while to appreciate your voice, voiceovers, and all that voices do for us!