Voice Acting

Voice acting requires you to use your voice in a range of different ways. Reading an ad for radio is very different to reading a script for video explaining how to do something, or narrating a half hour TV show, making voices for characters, or reading audiobooks present different opportunities to play again, but working out the right voice for the project and sustaining it is the joy and the challenge!

On this page I talk about the different types of voices I’ve discovered over the years. Click here to find plenty more.

The commercial voice

Happy, bright, ‘selly’, characters or casual and conversational everyday person, voices required for TV and radio commercials can be any of these things. 

I’ve seen styles of voices come and go and see the ‘everyday person’ that doesn’t sound like an ad here to stay for now. 

Some of my recent commercial jobs have included ads for  Baskin Robbins and Heinnekin, The Victorian Government, Chemist Warehouse, Lumo Energy, Cadbury, Grand Designs LIVE, Bunnings, Wolf Blass Wines, Underworks underwear, plus a campaign for Sir Paul McCartney's 2023 tour (signed off by the man himself!)

The corporate narration/ E-learning voice

This is a voice of clarity which conveys the professionalism of a company in their promotional videos, conveying a message internally or as the voice on their phone system when clients contact them. The E learning voice needs to be engaging over a period of time, to keep the audience interested, and to make the content (even if it’s a bit heavy) engaging.

Over the years I’ve recorded these for many clients including Origin Energy, Red Cross Lifeblood, Bayer, MYOB, ABB Robotics, Endota, Medical One, E-Leaning for Canterbury Bankstown council and many more.

The character voice

audio dramas, podcasts & games I’ve created dozens of voices for mice, cats, dogs, aliens, fleas, cranky old ladies, monsters, fancy ladies,  a PA voice, a robot voice, even a girl who dress as boy superheros! You never know what a client might need, and being ready to create is key! Here’s a sample of animated character voices I’ve created.

As a voice actor you can be asked to create characters that pop up in the strangest places, like the planetarium!

My latest animation work is playing Nia in the Crayola Scribble Scrubbies Youtube kids series. They're super cute 2.30 minute animations for little kids. Working with a director, producer and engineer in different parts of the US and cast from around the world this is a hoot!

The audio book narration voice

Narrating a book that runs for 11 hours is a very different prospect to whipping out a 15 second ad (although the 15 second ad has it’s own set of challenges!) 

So choosing a voice that is easy for the listener to follow over a long time, that suits the text and creating voices for the characters within the story is the key in reading audio books.

The other big challenge is that audio books often have a variety of characters, men, women, old and young, animals, robots, monsters, you name it!

 If it’s in the story, it needs a voice!

Kids' books offer so many chances to play with your voice as the narrator. Take a listen:

The TV show narration voice

Reading exotic foreign names of wrestlers, F1 drivers, tennis players, gymnasts, sports men and women from around the globe has been one of the biggest challenges of being the narrator of the many sports shows I’ve worked on over the years. But oh the things I have learned about sport!

Listen to Gold 104 in Melbourne? Or WSFM in Sydney? Maybe you’re a 89.9 the light listener, or have tuned into Broad Radio? If you’re old enough to be a Hamish and Andy listener, or a Triple M lover, you’ve heard me!

Over my career I’ve worked as the voice of many many Radio stations Australia Wide and it never gets old.  

As you can see, versatility and looking at each and every voice script as a chance to explore and create for the client is the joy of my job!        Drop me a line and let's work together! .