How do you choose the right voice artist for a commercial?

Primarily, listen to the character and naturalness of the voice on the demos, rather than the exact text they record there. An experienced speaker will readily adapt to the tone of your specific brand.

Why does the fee for a commercial differ from that of a corporate film?

For a commercial, in addition to the recording time, you also pay for the campaign's reach via the buy-out. The larger the audience and wider the distribution, the more heavily the usage is weighted in the rights.

Can I monitor the recording session and provide direction myself?

Yes, during recordings, it's possible to listen in live and provide direction. This ensures that emphases and pronunciation are precisely spot-on from the outset. [FAQ_BLOCK]

How do I order a phone message?

Pick a voice you like for your phone system. Enter your texts. You can also use our simple text generator. Add hold music if you want. Within 3 days at most, you receive the finished audio files.

How does ordering work?

Here is how it works: 1. Listen to the demos and pick a voice for your phone system. 2. Enter your texts. You can also use our simple text generator. 3. Add hold music if you want. 4. Pay securely with Bancontact, iDEAL or credit card. Within 3 days at most, you receive the finished audio files by email.

What does a professional phone message cost?

The price depends on how long your text is and which message you need (welcome, menu or hold). As soon as you pick a voice, you see what it costs. Hold music is optional.

What does a professional telephone message cost?

A welcome message or phone menu from a professional voice is surprisingly affordable. The price depends on the length of your text and the type of message (welcome message, phone menu, on-hold message). At Voices, you can see the price instantly for your chosen voice. On-hold music from our library can be added separately. Most clients receive their audio within 1 to 2 working days.

Can I provide my own music?

Yes, you can! You can add your own audio file using the upload button. Please ensure you have the correct broadcasting rights for any music you provide.

How much does it cost to add music on hold?

Adding a track from our library costs a one-off fee of €59. This gives you unlimited usage rights for your project.

Are the tracks optimised for telephony?

Absolutely. All our on-hold music is specially mixed and optimised for the frequency range of telephone systems (300Hz - 3400Hz), so it always sounds clear.

Behind the Scenes: Recording a Commercial Voice

Behind the Scenes: Recording a Commercial Voice | Voices

Dissecting the Script and Setting the Tone

Before we enter the sound booth, we thoroughly go through the script. A good piece of copy doesn't read like an advertising leaflet, but like a real conversation. In a commercial, a speaker shouldn't hard-sell, but rather persuade by sounding credible.

We look for the balance between the brand's essence and the message. The voice should be like a trusted neighbour offering a useful tip over the garden hedge, not someone shouting on the pavement with a megaphone. Only when that intonation is spot-on does it make sense to hit the record button.

Studio Direction and the Search for Authenticity

In the studio, we work on the specific cadence. It always strikes me how minor the adjustments are that change the feel of the copy. Shifting a single emphasis can transform a sentence from a cold announcement into a warm invitation.

Here's my go-to director's tip from experience: have the speaker deliberately record the very first sentence of the script either very dryly or, conversely, with a broad smile, without paying attention to pitch. This immediately strips away any embellished 'presentation tone' and reveals the natural rhythm of the voice. From that starting point, we build up the desired nuance.

Working with Professional Voices and International Variants

Not every voice suits every project. Sometimes a Belgian brand seeks a very familiar Flemish sound, whereas an international campaign might require a specific regional variant.

Within our database of 94 professional voices, we always carefully pinpoint the perfect match for the brand:

For French-speaking projects, for example, we collaborate with Thomas, a French voice artist with a youthful and very natural sound.
If you're looking for a Polish voice with plenty of warmth and credibility, Aleksander is often the go-to choice for ads and videos.
For English-language productions, Sean, with his spontaneous British tone, can strike precisely the right chord.
And for the Spanish market, Marina brings over six years of experience in recording commercial voiceovers.

Technical Post-Production and Fee Structure

After the recording, post-production follows. Breaths are subtly refined, distracting sounds are removed, and the audio is mixed to the correct sound level for radio, television, or online channels.

Regarding the budget, it's also helpful to understand how a recording is priced. For a commercial voiceover project, the fee always comprises two fixed components:

The base rate for studio time and the voice artist's performance.
The buy-out for usage rights, which depends on the medium (such as TV, radio, or social media) and the period during which the commercial is broadcast.

For non-commercial work, such as a corporate film or e-learning, however, pricing is usually based on a per-word or per-project rate.

Frequently asked questions

Short and to the point. Click to see the answer.

How do I order a phone message?: Pick a voice you like for your phone system. Enter your texts. You can also use our simple text generator. Add hold music if you want. Within 3 days at most, you receive the finished audio files.
How does ordering work?: Here is how it works: 1. Listen to the demos and pick a voice for your phone system. 2. Enter your texts. You can also use our simple text generator. 3. Add hold music if you want. 4. Pay securely with Bancontact, iDEAL or credit card. Within 3 days at most, you receive the finished audio files by email.
What does a professional phone message cost?: The price depends on how long your text is and which message you need (welcome, menu or hold). As soon as you pick a voice, you see what it costs. Hold music is optional.
What does a professional telephone message cost?: A welcome message or phone menu from a professional voice is surprisingly affordable. The price depends on the length of your text and the type of message (welcome message, phone menu, on-hold message).
At Voices, you can see the price instantly for your chosen voice. On-hold music from our library can be added separately. Most clients receive their audio within 1 to 2 working days.
Can I provide my own music?: Yes, you can! You can add your own audio file using the upload button. Please ensure you have the correct broadcasting rights for any music you provide.
How much does it cost to add music on hold?: Adding a track from our library costs a one-off fee of €59. This gives you unlimited usage rights for your project.
Are the tracks optimised for telephony?: Absolutely. All our on-hold music is specially mixed and optimised for the frequency range of telephone systems (300Hz - 3400Hz), so it always sounds clear.
Do you also record voice prompts for IVR and phone systems?: Yes, we can record complete phone menus (IVR) for your telephone system. You provide the options you need, and we will ensure that everything is recorded clearly and professionally. This is ideal for businesses with multiple departments.
How long should my telephone message be?: Keep it short and concise. A welcome message is ideally between 10 and 15 seconds. A phone menu should guide the caller to the correct department within 30 seconds. Think from the caller's perspective: they want to be helped as quickly as possible.