The Challenge with a Local Video Project
A Belgian SME commissioned a corporate video to launch a new service. They were looking for a warm, reliable Flemish voice. To save costs, they initially only considered the lowest entry price on a foreign platform.
The result was disappointing: the audio contained distracting background noise and the voice sounded like a cold newsreader, while the video was intended to convey warmth and accessibility. When the company later wanted to use the video as a paid advertisement on social media and regional TV channels, it also became clear there was no agreement for commercial broadcast rights. The entire schedule was delayed and the final costs increased due to necessary re-recordings.
Our Approach to a Clear Pricing Structure
To get the project back on track, they opted for a professional voice-over agency with a clear pricing structure. For commercial voice-over work, the price consists of two clear components:
- The Base Fee: This covers the recording in a professional studio, script preparation and audio post-production.
- The Buy-Out: These are the usage rights for the voice. This fee depends on the chosen media (such as online, TV, or radio), the geographical reach, and the campaign duration.
- Non-Commercial Work: For internal corporate videos or e-learning, a fixed rate per word or per project applies, as broadcast rights are not required.
By choosing an experienced voice actor like Johfrah, a male Flemish voice from Belgium known for his warm and credible sound, the recording was perfect first time.
The Director's Tip for a Smooth Result
In the sound studio, I often see it happen: projects are delayed because the brief for the voice actor contains overly vague terms. An instruction such as "it needs to sound businesslike yet enthusiastic" quickly leads to misunderstandings.
Director's Tip: Give the voice actor a concrete situation and a specific person to whom they are speaking. Don't just say "address the viewer," but provide the instruction "explain this to a colleague at the coffee machine." This simple approach immediately ensures the correct intonation and prevents unnecessary rounds of corrections.