Hannah North VO

“I need to have a silent studio! I need the walls to cut out every sound from the outside world!!”

Hannah — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:50:50 +0000

Hannah North

Pro Voice Over British Scottish, English, RP & Character Actor

March 26, 2025

Well… thankfully not true. It is pretty much impossible to block out all sounds from the outside unless your room is within the middle of a completely silent and huge building! A bit like the panic room in the film Panic Room. And let’s all be thankful we don’t have to record for hours in there, although we would be pretty safe! More important is the quality of sound within your booth or studio. You don’t want the sound reflecting or echoing. I like to feel like my ears are going into a little bit of a sound vacum when I go into a well treated space. Even when recording in some professional studios you still must pause when a plane flies over, a huge loud truck goes by or a dreaded siren.

Thankfully my studio is in a very quiet area, or I should say our home is, and also very well sound treated. I love stepping in and feeling the warmth of no echoes and softened sound.

It can be difficult to know where to start though and what to do to sound treat your space when starting out. You are aiming to reduce reflections, echoes, and outside noise.

Here are a few ideas for you:

1. Choose the Right Space

Small, quiet rooms work best — avoid rooms with lots of hard surfaces or big windows.

Carpeted floors are a plus. If not, consider a rug.

2. Focus on Sound Treatment (Not Soundproofing)

You don’t need to make your space soundproof; you just need to control reflections.

Key areas to treat:

Behind the mic (so your voice doesn’t bounce off the wall and back into the mic)

Side walls (to reduce lateral reflections)

Ceiling above the mic (if possible)

Treatment materials:

Acoustic foam panels – for reducing high-frequency reflections

Mineral wool or fiberglass panels (like Rockwool or Owens Corning 703) – for a more professional touch, especially for mids and lows

Bass traps – for room corners to absorb low-end rumble

Heavy curtains, duvets, or moving blankets – budget-friendly and great for temporary setups

3. Reduce Floor Reflections

Use a rug or carpet under your mic stand.

Avoid bare wood or tile.

4. Control the Noise

Even if you’re treating the room, outside noise can still creep in.

Turn off fans, aircon, and electronics that hum.

Use a dynamic mic if your space isn’t super quiet — they can pick up less ambient noise.

Close windows and doors, and consider door seals or draft stoppers.

5. Mic Placement Matters

Keep the mic away from walls or corners.

Use the 45 degree rule and thumb to pinky.

Use a reflection filter behind the mic if needed.

Always use a pop filter to reduce plosives.

6. Test and Adjust

Record some dry voice tests and listen with good headphones.

Clap in the room: if you hear a harsh echo, you need more treatment.

Use free software like Room EQ Wizard (REW) to see your room’s frequency response if you want to get nerdy.

So get back into your booth or studio and test out that sound! And remember, try not to record inside a plane as it’s never going to be under -60 dB!

Hannah

If you would like a free sample of your script from my soft, sound treated studio then please send me your script and I will have it back with you asap, possibly within the hour!

For more samples visit www.HannahNorthVO.com

#warm #uk #british #professional #clear #english #voiceover #actor #sound

🚨 I need to sound “natural” and “conversational” in the next few minutes! Help me quick! 🚨

Hannah — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 03:55:52 +0000

When a voice-over brief asks for a natural or conversational tone, it usually means the client wants the read to sound like you’re talking to a friend, not performing or announcing something. Think of how you’d speak if you were casually explaining something to someone over coffee—not overly polished, not robotic, and definitely not pushy or like you are trying to sell something.

Here are a couple of helpful, & of course natural, hints:

Relaxed pacing – Not too fast or overly enunciated.

Everyday delivery – Like how you’d actually say the words in real life.

Varying rhythm and tone – Just like in a real conversation, your voice goes up and down naturally.

Warmth and authenticity – The listener should feel like you mean what you’re saying.

Light imperfection – Tiny pauses or breath sounds can help it feel real (within reason).

If you imagine reading the script as if you’re giving advice, telling a story, or sharing info with someone you know, that usually gets you in the right zone.

If you have a script which you would like to hear read very naturally and conversationally then get in touch. I can send you a short sample of your script usually within the hour. Email your script to hannah@hannahnorthVO.com

Or to listen to a few samples click www.HannahNorthVO.com

If you need help relaxing so you can find that perfect conversational tone try ideas from this blog post here: https://hannahnorthvo.com/how-do-i-relax/

#neutral #upbeat #natural #conversational #british #uk #english #scottish #commercial #tv #radio

Why would I choose a human voice over an (often) cheaper AI alternative?

Hannah — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 02:15:30 +0000

Why would I choose a human voice over an (often) cheaper AI alternative?

Hannah North

Pro Voice Over British Scottish, English, RP & Character Actor

March 24, 2025

Good question! And one we are all wondering at the moment. The AI voices out there are steadily improving but there is still a way to go. I personally still just cannot fully connect with an AI voice.

My husband recently had a long e-learning training to watch and listen to for his work and he came to me complaining how difficult it was to concentrate and keep focus on the topic. As an renewable energy engineer he has many technical topics to learn about and respond to regularly and he found this very difficult with the AI alternative his company had chosen.

Below are a list of reasons why finding a human to voice your narration, e-learning, explainer will help not only your company and brand but also you employees. They will retain and truly learn from the information you are taking time to write and produce for them!

1. Emotional Connection Humans convey subtle emotions, nuance, and authenticity that AI still struggles to replicate. Whether it’s warmth, urgency, humour, or sincerity, a human voice builds trust and connection — key for keeping audiences engaged and invested.

2. Brand Personality Your brand has a unique tone, and a real voice actor can tailor delivery to match your brand identity — be it friendly, authoritative, quirky, or caring. AI often sounds generic, making it harder to stand out.

3. Contextual Intelligence Humans instinctively understand context — sarcasm, emphasis, pacing, and even how to subtly adjust tone based on the script’s meaning or audience. AI often gets tripped up by homonyms, complex phrasing, or shifts in mood.

4. Audience Perception Listeners can tell the difference. Even the best AI voices can feel “off” — slightly robotic or emotionally flat. If your audience perceives your content as low-effort or inauthentic, it can harm your credibility.

5. Flexibility & Direction Working with a human means you can give real-time feedback: “Can you make that line sound more empathetic?” or “Try a slower pace here.” With AI, revisions often require re-generating the whole piece and still might not get it right.

6. Cultural Sensitivity Human narrators understand nuance in local accents, dialects, slang, and cultural references. This helps avoid awkward phrasing or tone-deaf delivery that might alienate audiences.

7. Legal & Ethical Considerations Using a human voice ensures you’re not unknowingly using cloned voices or AI tools with unclear licensing or usage rights — a growing legal grey area.

Have a think about how you engage with naturally spoken podcasts, talk radio (my fave is BBC Radio 4) and face to face conversations. If you are a Voice Over keep your reads natural & engaging. For companies keep searching for real (human!) voice over actors to bring life and vitality to your projects!

Now get back into your studio and record your next script like the natural human wonder you are! Hannah

Fancy a human sample read of your script? Email it to me and I will send it back asap – hannah@hannahnorthvo.com

Some prerecorded voice over samples? www.HannahNorthVO.com

Hannah North

Pro Voice Over British Scottish, English, RP & Character Actor

The Glenlivet – Have a sip

Hannah — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:15:21 +0000

Slàinte & good health to you all!

Here’s one I sipped and recorded earlier for The Glenlivet’s 200 year anniversary commercial.

The Glenlivet

Click here to watch more…

#voiceover #warm #deep #dark #rich #Scottish #whisky

Do I need to prepare the script?! YES!

Hannah — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:05:08 +0000

Preparation – Preparing a script for your next Voice Over

Hannah North

Pro Voice Over British Scottish, English, RP & Character Actor

March 17, 2025

Preparation – Preparing a script.

Do we need to? To some extent yes! This obviously depends on the genre your script is from. An Audiobook is going to need a lot of preparation and even more depending on how many characters are in the story. You might be highlighting 20 different characters and perfecting 20 different voices. However, a “Bumper” or “Tag Line” for a commercial may only be 6 words long. Therefor you might only need or want to read the words a couple of times as often magically your second read is the best and used by the producer or client.

Below are some general hints and tips so you can enter a session positively and confidently. Whether this is by yourself or with a producer, and maybe client, in a directed session. It is important to feel happy you have done any work needed beforehand, so you can spend time taking direction and listening to ideas or needs from the client.

1. Choose the Right Script Format

– Use a Large, Clear Font (12-14 pt, Arial or Times New Roman)

– Double-space or 1.5 spacing for easy reading

– Break up long sentences into shorter, natural phrases

– Use bold or italics to indicate emphasis

– Include pronunciation guides for tricky words

2. Mark Up the Script for Performance

– Add pauses (e.g., [pause] or “…”)

– Note any tone or mood shifts (e.g., [excited], [serious])

– If needed, indicate pace (e.g., [slowly], [fast and energetic])

– If doing multiple takes, highlight key variations you want to try

3. Time Your Script

– Standard pace: 130-160 words per minute

– Read it aloud and adjust for natural pacing

– Ensure it fits within any required time constraints

4. Print or Use a Tablet for Recording

– If using paper, print in large font and avoid glossy paper (reduces noise)

– If using a tablet, turn off notifications and use a scroll-friendly format

5. Warm Up & Rehearse Before Recording

– You might want to read my post on Warming up!

– Read the script a few times to find the right flow

– Practice difficult words or unfamiliar phrasing

– Experiment with tone and delivery to ensure it sounds natural

6. Keep a Clean Copy for Editing

– If making notes during the session, use a separate copy

– Avoid excessive markings that could distract you while reading

Hope these ideas can be of help when you next have an audition script, a book to read or a directed session!

Now get back into your booth and press record!

Hannah

How to Warm Up Your Voice post: https://hannahnorthvo.com/how-do-i-warm-my-voice-up/

www.HannahNorthVO.com

Warm, clear & professional voice overs

British English, Soft Scottish

Send me your script and I will send you back a short sample free of charge. If you need help with the writing or to brain storm I am here for you!

hannah@hannahnorthvo.com

Game or animation voice over audition tips!

Hannah — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 05:02:43 +0000

Wowzers! Just out of the cinema after watching the new Sonic film with the kids! We were in seats that threw us around as Sonic zipped across the screen—it was brilliant fun (if slightly nauseating! ).

While I was being tossed about, I was listening to the voices. I used to love playing Sonic, and guess what? I’m downloading it tonight!

Lately, I’ve had some fantastic gaming character auditions—heroes, villains, witches, warriors! I *love* voicing huge characters. There’s something magical about stepping into someone else’s skin behind the mic. But here’s the thing: the mic never lies. If you hesitate on “who” you are, the listener knows instantly.

So, here are a few quick-fire tips to help with your next game or animation audition:

Range is key– Experiment with pitch, tone, and accents. Push your voice further than you think!
Build unique characters– Give them quirks, backstories, and distinctive rhythms.
Bring the energy– Games demand high-intensity performances. Train for stamina!
Act, don’t just voice– Physicality and emotional depth make characters believable.
Play games! – Study different styles, listen to performances, and get inspired.

Now, get back in the booth and practice! What’s your favourite game character voice to perform?

Hannah

hashtag#VoiceOverTips hashtag#CharacterVoices hashtag#GamingVO hashtag#Acting hashtag#Voiceover hashtag#fun hashtag#games hashtag#characters hashtag#voiceover

Character Voice Acting – Bring a character to life which is different to your usual self

Hannah — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 04:58:01 +0000

Character voice acting is a fascinating and a great skill when it comes to animation, video games, and audiobooks. It’s an art that goes beyond reading lines; it’s about creating a unique persona with just your voice, making it believable and emotionally engaging. Whether you are bringing a beloved animated character to life, embodying a villain in a video game, or narrating a dramatic audiobook, the techniques of character voice acting are key to immersing the audience into a completely new world.

1. The Role of Emotion in Character Voice Acting

At the heart of great character voice acting is emotion. A character’s voice should reflect their personality, motivations, and inner world. The actor’s ability to convey these emotions through vocal tone, pitch, and pacing is crucial.

– Understanding the Character : Before jumping into the booth, a voice actor must fully understand the character. This involves studying the character’s backstory, goals, relationships, and flaws. The more you understand your character, the more real they will feel to the audience.

– Emotional Range : Great voice actors can express a wide range of emotions—happiness, fear, anger, excitement, sadness—using just their voice. Vocal techniques like altering pitch or pacing can be used to convey these emotions effectively. For instance, a higher pitch might convey excitement, while a slower pace with a deeper tone might suggest sadness or contemplation.

– Authenticity : The key to an authentic character voice is consistency. Whether the character is in a calm or high-stakes situation, the actor’s voice must stay true to the essence of that character. The best character voice actors make their performances feel natural, even if the character is extraordinary or fantastical.

2. Finding the Right Voice: Techniques for Creating Distinctive Characters

One of the challenges in character voice acting is creating a voice that stands out and feels distinctive, even if it’s an exaggerated or fantastical creation.

– Vocal Variety : Changing the pitch, speed, or texture of your voice can help craft unique characters. For example, a deep, gravelly voice can evoke strength or villainy, while a high-pitched, rapid-fire delivery can convey energy or anxiety.

– Character Archetypes and Tropes : Often, characters are based on familiar archetypes (the hero, the villain, the sidekick, etc.), but it’s the voice actor’s job to put their own unique twist on it. For instance, a “wise old sage” might have a slow, measured tone, but adding a quirky, unpredictable delivery can make it more memorable.

– Physicality and Movement : Though voice acting is done without a physical presence, how you move your body can influence the voice you create. Experimenting with different stances or gestures can help you find the right voice that fits the character’s personality and behavior. This method is often used by professionals to enhance the vocal delivery and make it more believable.

3. The Art of Impressions and Accents

Many character voice actors excel at impressions and accents, which can add depth and authenticity to their characters.

– Impressions : Recreating famous voices or celebrities can be part of voiceover work, especially in comedic roles. However, successful impressionists don’t just mimic sounds—they study the nuances, inflections, and emotional depth of the person’s speech patterns.

– Accents and Dialects : Playing characters with regional or international accents requires both vocal control and cultural sensitivity. It’s important to get the accent right without resorting to stereotypes, and to respect the authenticity of the character’s background.

4. Voice Acting in Different Mediums: Animation, Video Games, and Audiobooks

While the basic principles of character voice acting apply across mediums, each field has its own set of challenges and techniques.

– Animation : Animated characters often have exaggerated expressions and personalities, so the voice needs to match that energy. Animation voice actors may also need to sync their performance to the character’s movements, adding another layer of complexity. This requires a great deal of timing and precision.

– Video Games : Voice acting in video games involves a unique level of interaction, where characters may be responding to player actions or living in dynamic, non-linear worlds. The voice actor must remain consistent through various choices and outcomes, and their performance often includes a range of vocal reactions—combat shouts, battle cries, emotional moments, etc.

– Audiobooks : Audiobook narration requires voice actors to not only bring individual characters to life but also maintain a consistent voice throughout the entire story. The challenge here is to balance character distinction with narrative flow. The narrator must use subtle shifts in tone, pacing, and volume to keep listeners engaged over the course of several hours.

5. Final Thoughts: The Future of Character Voice Acting

As technology advances, voice actors are embracing new tools and techniques to push the boundaries of their craft. Artificial intelligence is becoming more prevalent in generating voices for digital avatars and characters, but there will always be a need for human actors (thank goodness!) to provide the emotional depth and nuance that machines cannot replicate. The future of character voice acting lies in versatility—being able to transition from animated characters to serious video game roles to narrating audiobooks with ease.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newcomer, embracing the art of character voice acting means constantly experimenting with your vocal abilities, understanding the depth of your characters, and delivering performances that make the audience feel like they are truly living in the world you’ve created.

If you have any of your own tips on creating truthful character voices we would all love to hear them!

Now get back into your studio and record some voices of people, animals or characters you wouldn’t usually! And, of course, have fun!

Hannah

I have lost my voice!

Hannah — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 01:38:39 +0000

Your #agent has called/emailed. They have a brilliant #job for you & it’s needed #asap. They want to schedule a directed session #tomorrow #morning. BUT you have a #cold, a bad one, possibly #covid but you ran out of tests months ago and you won’t physically see anyone apart from #mic anyway . Your #voice has gone, it’s low and breaks mid words. A #voiceover #actors worst #nightmare.

This happened to me recently and I had to re-record nearly every job from that week, either part of or in full. My voice completely went for about 4 days. #Clients were understanding thankfully & I re-recorded or did pick ups as soon as I was less gravely & back to normal. Nearly all are regular clients who know this is a very #unusual occurrence.

But what if clients are new or not quite so understanding? Is there anything you can do when this happens to gently get the voce #working again and ready to read later in the day or next?

Rest…

If you have the time and space #rest your voice. This means silence. Not whispering loudly – this can harm your voice long term. No shouting. No pretending not to speak while actually straining your voice. #Silence. Email past clients, have a bath, go for a walk… #Silently.

Obviously silence is not always golden & often not enough time before having to record. What are the next options?

Sirening, humming & steaming

Say the word “sing” and then extend the “ing” slowly up your range & back down.

Do this #gently & #slowly. It opens & warms up the voice. Glide through your range to any areas which devoice or don’t make a sound. Circle round these areas until the voice comes back.

Sirening can turn into humming up and down through your range once you have evened out any sticky areas with no voice.

#Steaming is a brilliant option for long term vocal health but also short term fixing. If you can get your hands on a Dr Nelson’s Inhaler do, however if you don’t have a Victorian inhaler of course do not worry. Put your head over bowl of hot water with a towel over your head to keep the steam in and breath slowly through your mouth. Please note it is sometimes not recommended to steam just before using your voice as it can leave the vocal chords sensitive straight after.

It’s still gone!! I need more!

Vocal Zones are #magical little red pastilles which revive a stolen voice. Glycerin pastilles, Manuka #honey & the #chinese #herbal #medicine syrup Nih Jiom Pei Pa Koa (pronounced Peh Pi Kwa).

And if still gone after all that you will have to call your agent and let them hear your #sore, #stolen voice. #Apologise & hope they can wait to do it in a few days after you have gone through the list above, again.

Now get back to your booth and stop shouting!

Hannah

How do I relax…?

Hannah — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 01:35:58 +0000

How do I calm my nerves before a voice over recording?

Performing can more than highlight a problem with nerves. Nerves can affect your whole body & mind.

In live Theatre this can lead to stage fright and a very quick, awkward exit! In voice overs the nerves go straight through the mic. What you feel the listener hears straight away.

Thankfully I have never experienced complete stage fright but I have certainly had my share of nervous times with first nights, first days of rehearsals, cover actors on when an actor is off ill or when someone else on stage unexpectedly gets nervous and forgets their lines mid scene! Usually even if you are extremely nervous on stage you are far enough away from the eager audience to cover up funny mannerisms nerves bring out. You can breath deeper and move around, character allowing, to relax yourself while “in the moment”.

However a funny thing about voice acting is just how much it gives away. If you are sad, happy, upset or nervous it comes through the mic clear as day. There is almost no hiding at all. A wobbly voice, being higher in pitch than your normal resonant self, a dry clicky mouth, loud breaths between every sentence and even between words?! Argh! It all comes straight through to the listener.

So what can we do to help cool off a nervous streak? These techniques will help many life situations – new job, big speech or announcement, first night of theatre job, directed voice over session, in studio recording (not at home?!) or even settling down to record a voice over in your own home studio.

Breathing techniques –

– Dont stop!

– Breathing in while counting up to three and then breathing out counting down from three. If this is too easy, extend the counts. Keep it slow. When three feels too short try up to five or even 10.

– Focus on lengthening your exhale. The inhale will automatically take care of its self. Concentrate on really lengthening the exhale. Try to make it at least twice as long as the inhale.

– Blow lips out slowly. Inhale and slowly let the air release through slightly together lips to make a brrrrrr sound. Not only will this relax your breathing but it relaxes your vocal chords.

– Diaphragm darts! Hold an imaginary dart in front of your lips. Imagine throwing and blowing the dart to wall opposite with a strong blow of air from the diaphragm. You can also add consonants to this to help with your vocal warm up.

Let me know if these help you or add your own favourite cooling off tips below. Can never have too many!

Now off back to recording you go!

Hannah

#recording #voiceover #actor #nerves #stage #theatre #acting #help! #Breathing #technique #performing #warmup
#votips #vo #hints

How do I warm my voice up?

Hannah — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 01:27:15 +0000

How do I warm my voice up?

One of the positives of the Covid-19 pandemic and increased push to work from home were the amount of new voice talents who decided to properly give voice overs a go, rather than just a dream.

However many haven’t had professional training. Not a bad thing especially when a producer wants a very natural sound. But if you are new you might be missing a few important parts to the tool box which can really help your sound and your confidence. A good warm up supports your voice through a long session and grounds it to help add character, depth and resonance. Try following the steps below to warm up for your next voice over!

There are many options which are easily accessible and can be done alone, or with friends if you happen to be working together! We are in a socially distanced job, so need to learn to do all these things by ourselves. An easy one to do on your way to studio, driving home to record or while wandering around your home is over annunciating all the words you can see or read around you. Road signs, shop names, book titles, whatever you can see. Overdo the consonants, repeat them, leave them out and lengthen the vowels to warm up vocal chords, tongue and lips. Originally, I started doing this in the theatre on stage, looking out at a beautiful (usually!) auditorium during warm up before the show began. A fun and varied exercise while on tour in one theatre for only a few days or weeks. Possibly not quite so interesting in a long running show in London’s West End but you certainly get to know all the auditorium signs and features over a year! Similarly getting into your home studio will have all the same things around you to over exaggerate every day. To mix it up! Keep yourself interested by picking a page from a favourite book, recite a poem and find some brilliant tongue twisters!

“A proper cup of coffee in a proper copper coffee pot”

Sirening:

Another fabulously helpful warm up is Sirening. Great for singing and speaking work. Also incredibly helpful for doing a general check up of the voice. Do you sound like a 60 a day smoker or a 16 year old soprano? Are there any patches which are bit sticky or gravely? Gently sirening over them will help relax and warm these areas up.

– Say the word sing and when you get to the “ing” sound start sliding up and down your vocal scale.

– If gravely areas are there gently focus on them by sirening or humming in a circling motion.

– Imagine you are singing in a circle around these sticky areas – until the voice soothes and opens.

How do you warm up before singing or voice overs? Do you have a favourite tongue twister you would like to share? Pop it in the comments below!

Now get sirening and back into your booth!

Hannah

#training #covid #job #workfromhome #coffee #stage #london #like #share #help #work #voiceover #voice #warmup #singing #actor #actress #performer