How to Become a Voice Actor?

Have you ever watched an anime, a video game narration, or a cartoon and thought, “I wonder whose voice that is?” 

With nothing but their voice, these talented actors add depth, emotion, and personality, bringing every iconic character to life. Voice acting isn’t just reading lines in a sound booth. It comprises storytelling, versatility, and performance.

Whether you're aiming to dub international shows, voice animated characters, or narrate audiobooks, voice acting is a dynamic and growing industry. In fact, some voice actors earn anywhere between $11,000 and $160,000 per year, depending on their experience, niche, and demand. But with that earning potential comes competition, making it essential to build strong vocal skills and industry knowledge.

If you’ve ever dreamt of becoming the voice behind a beloved character or a powerful narrator, this guide will walk you through the essential skills, qualifications, and steps to learn how to become a voice actor.

Understanding voice acting

Voice acting is when you use your voice to create characters or tell a story. In this work, you change your tone, pitch, and rhythm to give each character a clear identity. This skill is used in many areas, such as animated shows, audiobooks, and video games.

For example, in an animated series, a voice actor like Dan Castellaneta gives a distinct voice to a well-known cartoon character, Homer Simpson. In audiobooks, narrators such as Stephen Fry and Jim Dale adjust their voices to mark different characters, making it easier for listeners to follow the story. In video games, actors like Nolan North and Troy Baker provide voices that add life to the characters, making the gaming experience more engaging.

Clear speech is just one aspect of voice acting; it also involves expressing emotions and personality through sound. This is especially crucial when being a voice actor in anime, where performers must convey intense emotions to bring characters to life. A strong performance makes the characters and story feel more real, drawing the audience deeper into the experience

What skills & qualifications do you need to be a voice actor?

If you're wondering how to become a voice actor and what professional skills or qualifications are required, you're not alone.

Clarence Nash, one of the successful voice actors behind Donald Duck, spent many hours practicing to create a clear and distinct voice. His work in adjusting pitch, tone, and rhythm gave Donald Duck his well-known sound. If you want a career in voice acting, you need to develop similar skills and undergo proper training. You also should be able to dub your voiceovers in different languages. 

You don’t need any degree to become a voice actor, but there are a few key skills or qualifications you need to become a voice actor:

A strong voice with vocal range and control

With voice modulation tools like Voicemod, you can modify your voice. But you need to have a strong voice and the ability to change tone, pitch, and volume as per the character's needs. By doing certain exercises, you can develop a strong voice that you can modify on command, such as:

• Diaphragm exercise 
• Yawning exercise
• Humming 
• Breathing exercises 

You should also avoid smoking, over-straining your voice, whispering, and resting as much as possible between jobs. Also, keeping yourself hydrated and drinking hot water helps to avoid throat issues.

Pronunciation skills

Just a strong voice is not enough, you should also be able to pronounce those difficult words and in the dialect that your job demands. That is why strong enunciation and articulation skills are required from a voice talent. You can do a couple of exercises to build your pronunciation skills:

• Lip trills like “brrrr”, a motorboat exercise.
• Reciting tongue twisters like “Red leather, yellow leather.”
• Daily reading out practices
• Repeating a word in different pitches

Acting skills

Voice acting is a form of performance where your voice tells the story. Good acting skills help you convey feelings and emotions just by the way you speak.  For instance, when a character is sad, your tone might be soft and slow, while an excited character might have a quicker pace and a brighter tone. You can learn these skills from webinars and local community colleges. The acting classes will help you master skills like:

• Being able to create different characters with minimum visual clues 
• Portray character distinction with unique voices and their different way of communicating.
• Being consistent and confident in your delivery throughout the character portrayal.
• Expressing different emotions but without leaving the very essence of the character
• Mastering pacing and rhythm to align with the mood and intent of the script
• Quickly adjusting your performance based on directors’ feedback or changes in the script.
• Using intonation and emphasis to emphasize key moments in the script.

Know more about what dubbing means.

Self-assessment

When you are recording in a studio, you have the director to help you understand the character and improve your performance. But when you are recording in a remote setting for, let's say, a YouTube channel, you need to be able to assess your own performance. You need to not just judge your pronunciation but also other technical aspects of your voiceover that you have learned in your acting classes, including intonation and character portrayal. 

The best approach is to take a break after recording your session. Right after you finish, you're still energized by your performance, but stepping away gives you a fresh perspective to assess your work more objectively.

How to get into voice acting: Key steps for beginners

Many famous voice actors started from humble beginnings. For instance, Troy Baker, known for his roles in The Last of Us and Bioshock Infinite, began his career in radio commercials in Dallas before transitioning into video games. His journey showcases the importance of persistence, vocal training, and networking. These are a few steps you can use to get into voice acting.

Develop your skills

Taking acting classes and attending workshops will help you learn how to express emotions using your voice. Regular vocal exercises, such as tongue twisters and practicing different pitches, build control and clarity. Recording yourself while reading scripts or performing monologues lets you review your work and spot areas that need improvement. Data shows that voice actors who receive training earn about 13% more per job and secure 21% more bookings than those without formal training. 

Create a demo reel

A demo reel is your audio portfolio. It gives casting directors a taste of your vocal range, character styles, and delivery skills in about 60 to 90 seconds. Keep your demo around 1-2 minutes long, and include samples that show different tones, styles, and emotions. Use quality recording equipment and editing software to ensure the final product sounds clear and professional. You can add some of your audiobook demos on Spotify. As per a report published in 2020, voice actors who have 7 or more demos have:

• 290% increased hiring rate
• 300% times more favored by listers
• And 312% better earning

To ensure your demo reel is capturing enough, consider the following points

• Add a variety of styles like commercials, animation, narration, etc.
• Add short, snappy clips (10–15 seconds each)
• High-quality audio (no background noise, no echoes)
• Tailored reels for different genres (e.g., one for gaming, one for audiobooks)

Pro tip: Always lead with your strongest clip to grab attention.

Your demo reel is often the first impression you’ll make, which is why it is important to keep it updated, polished, and ready to send for every opportunity.

Set up a home studio

A quiet space with proper tools, such as equipment for a music studio, makes a big difference. As a voice actor, your studio is very important as this is where you will be doing your work. It doesn’t have to be fancy or break the bank to get started.

Start with your space. A walk-in closet or any small, non-square room can make an ideal recording booth. Why? 

Small, irregularly shaped rooms help reduce echoes. Just make sure it’s not sharing a wall with a noisy room (think kitchens, laundry areas, or bathrooms), and turn off any loud appliances nearby. You want your voice to be recorded with any noise around. Invest in the following tools to get started:

• A good noise cancelation microphone like Rode Nt1 (your most important tool!)
• A preamp to boost your mic signal
• A USB audio interface to connect your mic to your computer
• A sturdy mic stand
• A pop screen to block harsh “P” and “T” sounds
•  Closed-back headphones for clear playback without audio bleed.

Build a portfolio

Start by creating profiles on platforms such as Voices.com, Voice123, or Casting Call Club. Upload your demo reel and include details about your training and experience. Connecting with other voice actors, producers, and directors through industry events or online communities can also help you find opportunities.

Audition for roles

Keep an eye on casting calls on job boards and voice-acting platforms. Before each audition, study the script and practice your lines to fit the role. Regular participation in auditions, even for small projects, helps you gain experience and build confidence. As per voices.com, voice actors who audition more than 7 times a day earn approx $20,000 more per year than actors who don’t.

Gain experience

Begin with smaller projects like local theater recording sessions, indie games, or fan dubs. Volunteering for non-profit projects or student films is another way to gain practical experience and add to your portfolio. Each project helps you improve your skills and build a reputation.

Use AI tools

Dubbing AI tools like MurfDub let you dub your voiceovers in many languages while keeping your unique sound. These tools help you modify your voiceovers in different styles and adjust accents and pitches without requiring a full studio-level recording setup. 

Finding Work and Networking

Finding work in voice acting means being active on multiple fronts to find potential clients. You can use online freelance and voice acting job board platforms to create a profile, upload your demo reel, and audition for projects. To find your first job, you can explore these platforms:

• Voices.com 
• Voice123 
• Fiverr 
• Upwork 
• Freelancer 
• Voice Bunny 
• Bodalgo 

Breaking into the voice acting industry takes more than just talent. You require visibility, connections, and a strong personal brand. One of the most effective ways to start is by signing up with talent agencies that specialize in voice-over work. These agencies not only help you land auditions but also handle contracts and negotiations on your behalf.

But don’t stop there!

Your online presence matters just as much. Social platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter are excellent places to showcase your voice work, share behind-the-scenes content, and engage with fellow voice actors, producers, and casting directors. A professional website or an updated LinkedIn profile featuring your voice reel and previous work can go a long way in building credibility.

You should also consider joining online voice-acting communities, forums, and social groups. These spaces offer learning resources, feedback on your work, and leads on paid gigs or auditions. Plus, being part of these communities helps you stay updated on industry trends and improve your voice work.

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of in-person networking. Attend industry workshops, webinars, and events to meet professionals face-to-face and build relationships that could open doors down the line.

How Murf AI’s dubbing tool can help you become a voice talent

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to voice acting is dubbing the recorded voiceovers in different languages. Re-recording the entire script in different languages takes a lot of time. Murf's video dubbing AI tool allows you to dub the audio as well as customize it as needed. The platform offers several plans, including a free option that lets you try out the features without a credit card.

MurfDub offers flexible plans to suit different levels of voiceover needs:

1. Creator Plan:  $19 per month with limited voice generation time and 5-project access.
2. Growth plan: $66 per month (billed annually), make 50 projects.
3. Business plan: $199 per month, make 200 projects

Under all the plans, you can access 200+ voices for your voiceover video and dubbing needs.

Murf AI’s voice cloning feature lets you record your voice once and then generate multiple versions of the same recording. This means you can adjust pitch, tone, and speed to create different emotions or character styles without repeating the recording process. The tool also supports audio dubbing in over 20 languages. 

You can record in your native voice and then use Murf Dub to produce voiceovers in other languages, maintaining your unique sound while reaching a wider audience.

We also offer a Discord community, which you can use to communicate with other voice over artists, learn more, and probably find your first job.

Career Growth and Opportunities

Voiceover acting can lead to rewarding work and increased earnings. Featured roles in video games and films can cost around $200 or more per hour. Many voice actors enjoy the flexibility of the work. For instance, L.A.-based actor Jon Root, who has worked in commercials, animation, audiobooks, and video games, says that working in the recording booth allows him to experiment and make strong choices that even affect the final production. 

Murf AI supports your voice acting career growth with its pay-to-play voice and video dubbing platform. With its pay-to-play model, you can access advanced voice editing features and work on more projects. When you invest in the platform, you gain access to tools like an emphasis feature to highlight key parts of voiceovers, a variability tool to express different emotions and styles, and a "say it my way" feature for precise audio matching or fine-tuning recordings and AI-generated voiceovers.

This setup not only helps you build a polished portfolio by keeping your unique sound intact but also pushes you to refine your skills and stand out in the competitive voice-acting market.

Using Murf, along with practice and training, can help you learn how to become a voice talent builder. With persistence and the right resources, you can take on diverse roles and grow your opportunities in this field.

‍