Do corporate videos need voice over?

I’ve noticed that some on-line corporate videos now do not have voice overs.  Perhaps on some occasions the lack of voice over is because the company or organisation in question is working in a global market and they perhaps feel the pictures will explain everything you need to know.  Also they may not have the budget to localise the voice over content for every market and so choose to avoid VO altogether.  While I further pondered the question I happened upon a blog by Adam Snelleksz director of CMA Video in Birmingham.  I’ve not worled with Adam – despite his company being based relatively close to my studio in Leamington – but I liked his blog “Should you use a voice over in your video“?

Chris Radley Voice Over Studio imageIt’s probably no surpise that I agree with his general conclusion that yes you do need a VO in a corporate video.  Of course the voice you hear could be someone from the company itself which, as Adam says, can give a more authentic feel to the project. He particularly favours professional VO for animated videos introducing new products or services.  He also points out that the use of a voice over is to some extent a question of personal taste.  Personally I think it gives more professionalism but by the same token I’ve recently had conversations with a potential client who – after hearing my demo – wondered if it sounded “too professional” and might put people off: I have to admit that was a new argument to me.

dvoicebox mixing deskIn the end I think the most important thing that Adam has to say about voice overs and their use is not to do with your subjective taste but rather it is whether it works for your potential clients.   You have to think about the intended audience and how you want them to respond. A call to action is likely to work more effectively coming from a human voice than from an on-screen textual instruction.   Really great vision can be a treat for the eye but with a voice over you can add extra focus and weight to the key elements to which you want to draw the viewers attention.

So the conclusion is that you do need a voice over in corporate videos – but then I’m a voice over artist – what would you expect me to say?

Chris Radley – Voice Over

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