A Narration Technique I Use Each Time I Record

When I first starting doing my own narration, I thought doing a great voiceover would be something I could learn fairly quickly. In reality, it can be as difficult as learning to create a good screencast. It can require quite a bit of practice to get as good as a professional.

I recall reading a voice over blog a few years back where the writer recommend that you smile while you narrate.  Smile

He said that  smiling while you read your script injects a touch of warmth and charisma in your voice.It can make the entire tone of your voice noticeably warmer.  So I tried it and then compared the before and after on the same script and it really made a difference. Here is a sample.

Normal tone

Narration with no smile

Smiling tone

Narration with smile

It’s a Fundamental Voice-Over Technique

It may be hard for you to do this at first, but smiling is at the heart of a voiceover actor’s art and is a technique recommended over and over by professionals.

Maintaining a smile while doing a voice-over changes the whole energy of your voice, and therefore the voiceover. It’s one of the fundamental voice-over techniques to producing a believable voiceover that’s enjoyable to listen to.  You can hear the smile—it sounds warm and inviting. In contrast, if you record the same script with your eyebrows scrunched down in anger, your voice sounds colder and harsher. Try it.

When you do your narration it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be laughing. There are all kinds of smiles.

“There are smiles that represent happiness. There are smiles that represent reflection, and kindness, and thoughtful things.”

The only way to make what you read sound as if you’re smiling, or to make it sound friendly, is for you to actually put a smile on your face. In other words, you don’t need a giant laughing grin.  You can even slightly turn up one of the corners of your mouth and still achieve some of the same effects of a fuller smile.

If you Don’t Use a Script

If you’re narrating somewhat freely as you record (without a script), it can be more difficult because your mind is occupied. The advice to smile sometimes falls by the wayside as you focus on the application and the words you’re forming in your mind.  However, like almost anything in life, the more you do it, the easier and more natural it gets. At some point, you’ll be able to unconsciously smile while your mind is completely focused on the screencast you’re recording.

Try it and let us know how it worked for you.

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Doug Greene Reply

Wow … great tip! Couldn’t believe the difference in the two samples above.

I’ll be trying this out in my next video. Thanks for the tip.

Pam blackman Reply

Huge difference! Huh!? Have you ever heard about the technique of how you position your head. Something about stretching your neck up a bit to open your throat more? Just curious. I’ve not ever tried it, but you do this all the time, so thought you might have.

Michelle Schoen Reply

I know. Sometimes I look kind of strange when someone comes into the room while I’m doing my narration but I’m glad I discovered this little technique.

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