Medical Voice Overs

Life Science writers, researchers, and project managers spend countless hours on the creation of training and development programs. When it gets to the final step of recording the audio portion of a project, it is important to choose a voice over talent with the expertise needed to narrate scientific scripts. It is essential to use a voice that can convey authority, intelligence and confidence in a relatable and trustworthy tone. Your audience will be more motivated and responsive to a voice that keeps them engaged and interested in the subject.

The correct pronunciation of scientific terminology can take years of practice and experience for a voice over talent. Once in the booth, it becomes immediately apparent when you are working with a professional. Complex terms and complicated drug names are fluidly pronounced in a conversational manner…adding a clear and comprehensible quality to your program.

The following scenario is, unfortunately, very common with inexperienced talent.

“The final scripts were approved, the recording studio was booked, and the voice over talent had been selected. Based on the recommendation of the audio engineer, a session of three hours was reserved to record the modules. As an additional three hours would be needed for editing, the costs involved for the production would not be insignificant. 30 minutes into the first hour of recording, it became clear that three hours would not be enough. The voice over talent was not familiar with much of the scientific terminology and struggled to pronounce even the most basic drug names and medical conditions. The audio engineer tried his best to guide and support the narrator but had no success. The talent was simply in over his head and could not get through the material in the allotted time. Another session was booked, the audio engineer needed hours of extra editing time, and the budget for the session was blown.”

This is familiar to many who are involved in medical audio/video production and highlights the importance of hiring an experienced medical voice over talent/narrator for training, education and marketing programs. Staying within your budget is important, however, there are many other reasons to hire a professional, seasoned talent for your next session.

What should you look for when hiring a medical voice over talent/narrator? Here are some general guidelines.Experience…it takes years of experience to be able to read medical, pharmaceutical, and general scientific scripts with precision, fluidity, and expression.

Stamina…an expert narrator can record long form scripts without taking many breaks which can save money in studio time and talent fees.

Confidence…a confident narrator conveys that quality to your audience. It is essential that they believe the voice of your project.

Voice quality…an authoritative and intelligent voice can convey a command of the subject. The right voice keeps your listeners engaged, interested and curious.

Consistency…medical scripts can take multiple days, weeks, or even months to complete. A professional narrator must be able to record with the same tone, pace, and emotion for every session.

Expertise…the talent you choose must be able to quickly and efficiently record complex scientific terminology without stumbling.

Recording the audio for your training programs is much simpler and quicker than it used to be. While nothing can replace the creativity and camaraderie that comes with in person studio sessions, it is not easy for all parties to be in one place at the same time. Home studios have made it possible to have your programs recorded and sent back in as little as one day. Most professional voice over talents now have the equipment and capabilities needed to produce a high quality audio product. Your voice over talent will be able to record while you and your colleagues listen…enabling you to conduct the session, give direction, and make corrections in real time.