How important are the first few seconds of an audio message?

The first two seconds determine whether a listener keeps listening or switches off. The intonation and calm in the voice must immediately convince them.

Which voice best suits my brand?

That depends on the medium and the target audience. A Flemish voice actor works best for a local Belgian campaign. For international spots, you choose native speakers from the specific target country.### How quickly can a commercial be voiced? Many professional voice artists deliver a recording within a few hours. Customers like Davy tell us that an order is sometimes ready and fully completed within just 1 hour. [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.

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.

Why the First Two Seconds of a Commercial Voice-over Determine Everything

Why the First Two Seconds of a Commercial Voice-over Determine Everything | Voices

Guiding this tone requires clear direction. A small adjustment to your posture behind the microphone completely changes the timbre of the first sentences.

Too much pressure: The message immediately sounds pushy or forced.
Too little energy: The voice fades into the background music.
The right balance: The voice grabs attention without shouting.

3. Craft and experience make the difference in the studio

A trained voice knows exactly how those first two seconds should sound. Our agency works with 94 professional voices who master this craft thoroughly. Think of experienced voice actors like Patrick for the French market or Alex for Spanish recordings.

Director's practical tip: Just before recording starts, ask the voice actor to breathe out calmly. Then have them begin the first sentence with a relaxed jaw. This small physical relaxation prevents a 'hard' first sound. It helps the listener feel immediately addressed.

4. Choosing the right voice prevents re-records

Selecting a voice based on a long demonstration is not always necessary. Listen especially to the first sentence of the demo. Does the start sound natural and suitable for your brand? If so, the rest of the script is usually fine too.

Always research the correct region and variant before you make your choice. You should not simply use a voice from the Netherlands for a specific Belgian campaign. The local accent and intonation will immediately come across differently to the listener.

5. Clear pricing structure

Beyond the right sound, a clear pricing structure is essential for quick decisions. The costs for a commercial voice-over project are clearly structured into two fixed components:

The basic rate: This covers studio time, direction, and the voice actor's performance.
The buy-out: This is the fee for broadcast rights. It's based on your chosen medium (such as radio, TV, or online) and the desired duration.

For non-commercial projects, such as an internal corporate film, we simply charge per word or per project. This way, you know exactly what to expect upfront.

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.