Before You Order a Voice-Over
A strong voice-over starts with a script written to be heard and clear directions on tone, timing, pronunciation, and delivery.
By the Hylance editorial team · Updated
Key takeaways
- Write for the ear: keep sentences short, lead with the benefit, and spell out numbers the way they should be said.
- Time the script before ordering by reading it at a calm, natural pace. If it runs long, cut full sentences instead of asking for a faster read.
- Describe the tone with clear points: male or female voice, overall feel, accent or dialect, and a reference example.
- Send the script, target length, tone, tricky words, and file format in one message inside the order.
You order a voice-over for your ad or explainer video, and the recording comes back far too fast, or with a tone that does not match your brand, or the voice actor stumbles over your product name. In most cases, the problem is not the quality of the voice. It is a script written to be read with the eyes, not heard with the ears, plus an order with no real direction. This guide will help you prepare your order in less than an hour, whether you choose a human voice or an AI-generated one.
Write for the ear, not the eye
A listener cannot go back one line. What works in a written post can get lost when it is only heard once. So review your script using these rules:
- Keep sentences short: one idea per sentence, and use a full stop instead of stacking commas.
- Lead with the benefit before the details: start with what the listener gains, then explain how.
- Write numbers the way they should be spoken if there could be confusion, such as “ninety-nine riyals” instead of “99 SAR.”
- Avoid abbreviations, symbols, and long links. Use a short name that is easy to remember.
- Read the script out loud at least once: any place where you stumble, your listener will too.
Set the length before you order
The most common issue in voice-over orders is that the script is longer than the available time, so the voice actor has to rush and the tone gets lost. The fix is simple: read the script at a calm, natural pace and time yourself on your phone. If it goes over the required length, cut full sentences instead of asking for a faster read. And leave two or three seconds at the end of the ad for the logo or music.
If the voice-over will be matched to a finished video, send the video itself or a timing sheet for each scene, and note beside each line which scene it should sync with.
Define the tone in clear words
Saying “professional voice” is not enough, because every voice actor understands that differently. Describe what you want with clear points:
- A male or female voice, and the age group you are speaking to.
- The overall feel: warm and approachable, formal and confident, upbeat and fast, or calm and reassuring.
- The accent or dialect: clear Modern Standard Arabic, or a Gulf, Egyptian, or Levantine dialect, depending on your audience.
- A reference example: an ad you heard and liked, and exactly what you liked about its tone.
Help the voice actor with pronunciation
Brand names, product names, city names, and foreign words are the things most often re-recorded. Add vowel marks to them, and if there is a foreign name, write it in Arabic letters the way you want it pronounced. If pronunciation is especially important, record the word in your own voice on your phone and attach the file to the order. Also point out the words you want emphasized, such as the offer name or the call to action.
What should you send with the order?
Put everything into one message inside the order on the platform, so the freelancer can start without back-and-forth questions:
- The final script in a Word file or plain text, after proofreading it.
- The required length in seconds, and where it will be published: a social media ad, a video on your website, or a phone message.
- The tone, dialect, and reference example.
- A list of difficult words with the correct pronunciation.
- The file format you need, such as MP3 or WAV, and whether you want the voice only or mixed with music.
Human voice or AI voice?
AI-generated voices are now suitable for many everyday uses: short repeated ads, audio versions of articles, and phone hold messages, and they are faster and less expensive. But an ad that depends on emotion, acting, or a precise local dialect may need a human voice actor. In both cases, ask the freelancer about the commercial usage license for the voice or music, and make sure the license covers the platforms where you plan to publish it.
When you receive it, review it in this order
- Listen once all the way through without looking at the script, the way your customer will hear it.
- Listen a second time with the script to make sure no word was dropped and no name was said incorrectly.
- Test the file on your phone speaker, not only on good headphones, because that is how most of your audience will hear it.
- Collect all your notes in one message and mention the timestamp in seconds for each note.
A clear script and specific directions cut down revision rounds and make the first recording you receive very close to what you imagined.
Common mistakes when ordering a voice-over
- Sending a script that has not been read out loud even once before placing the order.
- Asking for an “energetic voice” without an example that shows what you mean.
- Changing the script after recording, which means a new recording, not an edit.
- Forgetting to mention where the recording will be used, even though that changes the tone and length.
- Leaving names, numbers, and foreign words without vowel marks or pronunciation guidance.
Review this checklist before sending your order. Most re-record requests happen because of one of these points.
Audio services available on Hylance
Arabic AI Voiceover for your ad up to 60 seconds
- Music & Audio
- New service
Welcome message and hold tone for your company
- Music & Audio
- New service
Licensed Background Music Selection and Audio Mixing for Your Video
- Music & Audio
- New service
Clean your audio recording from noise and echo up to 10 minutes
- Music & Audio
- New service
Frequently asked questions
What should I send with a voice-over order?
Send the final script after proofreading, the required length in seconds and where it will be published, a description of the tone and dialect with a reference example, a list of difficult words with their pronunciation, and the file format you need.
Human voice or AI voice?
Generated voices work well for short repeated ads, audio versions of articles, and phone hold messages. They are faster and cost less. But an ad that depends on emotion, acting, or a precise local dialect may need a human voice actor.
How do I know if my script fits the ad length?
Read it at a calm, natural pace and time yourself on your phone. Leave two or three seconds at the end for the logo or music. If it runs over, cut full sentences.
Ready to put this into practice?
Browse Music & Audio services on Hylance and order what your business needs, with escrow that protects both sides. Or create an account and list your first service in minutes.
