The written word is used to convey ideas and meaning to the reader. The precise selection and sequence of words in a written work are tools of the trade. Words can move us to laughter, tears, joy. Words move mountains and cause major social change. However, the written word is a limited form of communication - visual for most of us; tactile for the visually impaired. While written words have power, the writer relies on the reader to place the desired emphasis within each phrase or sentence. Sometimes that emphasis can be misplaced or misconstrued resulting in miscommunication. Today's technology provides a potential solution: the author voice-over.
Definition of voice-over:
1A : the voice of an unseen narrator speaking (as in a motion picture or television commercial)
1B : the voice of a visible character (as in a motion picture) expressing unspoken thoughts
2 : a recording of a voice-over
“Voice-over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voice-over. Accessed 11 Aug. 2024.
The Substack.com writing platform provides authors with a very easy process for including voice-overs to accompany their written works. Voice-overs can contain anything the author desires: an introduction to the work, one or more excerpts of the work, even a full reading of the work (most desirable for the visually impaired). All that is required is uploading an audio file of the work into a post and Substack makes that available to the reader when published.
Why would an author include a voice-over with their work? Several reasons come to mind, such as reading aloud an entire work as accommodation for the visually impaired or as a podcast to be downloaded and listened at the convenience of the consumer; for listening while driving; creating "teasers" to entice readers to devote time to read their works; adding an extra dimension of voice tone for enhanced communication for the reader/listener.
Accommodating the visually impaired by providing voice-over recordings enables an author to expand their audiences. While there are Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools available to assist those in need, synthetic AI voices typically lack the human intonations, timbre, and intensity, also known as non-verbal communication, which provide important meaning. Voice-overs give an author an opportunity to provide more depth of meaning to reader/listeners and enable access to the work when visual/tactile reading is not an option.
I enjoy listening to podcasts while running errands around town and especially on day trips out of town. Podcasts allow me to listen with fewer commercial interruptions than radio, as I can fast-forward through them, and get back to listening to the topic at hand. A podcast is nothing more than a recorded audio file uploaded to a service that one either streams directly or downloads and listens to later. I also listen to podcasts or audio book recordings while doing household chores or other projects.
One of my recent favorite podcasts include captivating stories of how much our current turbulent political climate has previously occurred: Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra. Humans are hard-wired for learning by the spoken word and Rachel's storytelling connects the recent past to today's world in a way that make the word "Wow!" fall out of my mouth. I sometimes park the car and keep listening and hoping for a good break point so I can continue my errands, but I just can't stop the podcast! Gripping audio!
What makes Rachel Maddow's audio so compelling? Her voice tone, pacing, pauses, and emphasis all contribute to keep me glued to her story. Rachel is a masterful storyteller who skillfully uses the triad of "Tell them what your gonna tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you just told them." She uses primary source historical research (actual documents and recordings of the time), and analysis from expert historians weaved together in such a way that the listener gains new insights from the past connecting how we may be able to make sense of today's current events. Her voice tone and pacing leave the listener time to absorb and process the information. Repetition of key concepts gracefully implant understanding and meaning. Rachel Maddow's storytelling is a model for voice-over authors to learn from and aspire to in their own recordings.
Recording voice-overs are not for every author. Hearing one's voice in a recorded format rarely matches what we hear inside our own heads due to the acoustics and physics of the liquid-filled human body. It takes time to realize what we sound like to others, and we may decide, for whatever reason, not to pursue voice-overs as an option. This is an entirely valid and reasonable choice! If an author wants to include voice-overs but not use their own voice, ACX.com offers a wealth of talented voices-for-hire from which to choose.
In the event an author chooses to record voice-overs of their work, there are a myriad of options to consider: room treatment for ambient sound reduction, types of microphones to use (professional vs. consumer), microphone placement during recording, audio interfaces between the microphone and computer, recording software, audio recording formats (WAV vs. MP3), audio post-production processing and editing, file size limitations and storage, streaming services to engage.
Authors should provide their listeners the highest quality listening experience possible without distractions of critter serenades, fans running, garbage trucks trundling down the street, neighbors chatting while strolling by, leaf blowers whining. While those sounds may be present in the listener’s environment, the author's recordings must be pristine, without anything to distract from the work.
In conclusion, audio voiceovers provide an opportunity for authors to expand their audiences by tapping into the human hard wiring for the art of the spoken word. Humans have verbally transmitted knowledge about their world for millennia and today's technology makes that accessible to virtually everyone on a massive scale with a few tools and publishing platforms. The Internet is full of resources on tools and techniques for voice-over production. In my coming articles, I'll cover the basics of selecting recoding tools and software, setting up your own voice-over system, and audio post-processing & editing so you can get your message out to the world in a whole new way.
As an author, here are some questions to ponder: Is voice-over a way to enhance your works? Would voicing your own work be appropriate for you or would you be better served by hiring a voice professional? How do you want to expand your audience? What will that do for them and for you?
I’d like to restack your comments with my post to encourage authors to start using voiceovers. I’d that ok with you?
@Paul Caloca I found this post from a restack that @Lori K had done. I haven’t listened to it yet, but I have saved it to my inbox.
I’m a little more than half-deaf. So, I live with hearing aides on all the time. It’s inconvenient and I do wish I had full hearing, but it’s also a blessing in that I have a persistent bluetooth speaker in my ear.
I can’t tell you how many podcasts and audio voiceovers on Substack I listen to on an almost daily basis. My day job is one where I am able to listen to audio as I work and I’ll frequently go through 15-20 articles depending on length throughout the day. So, I’m entirely in favor of any evangelistic work you or others do to encourage more actual voiceovers. I’ll listen to the AI voice if I have to, but would much prefer an actual human.