Telephone interpreting

October 15, 2025

In this article, we explore how the right voice-over can make all the difference to your message – and why the voice means more than you think.

You’ll get an insight into how OnLine Translation works professionally to find exactly the voice that matches the client’s needs and creates credibility.

We explain what professional voice-over is, who uses it, and how the process from voice selection to final recording works.

1. Professional voice-over – when voice makes the difference

When we see an advertisement, hear an information video on the train or watch an instructional video online, we rarely think about who the voice behind it really is. But the right voice can make all the difference to how the message lands with the recipient.

Here at OnLine Translation, we work to find exactly the right voice for your project.

For us, voiceover is not just about technique – it’s about authenticity, credibility and emotion.

2. What is a professional voice-over?

A professional voice-over means that the recording is done in a professional recording studio and that the speaker is experienced in delivering a voice that can carry the message.

“We don’t always use trained actors,” Diane explains. “The most important thing is that the voice matches the client’s needs. Is it a female voice, a male voice, a child’s voice – or maybe a certain dialect?”

3. Who needs voice over?

We find that many different companies are asking for voice-over:

– Information videos for shipping or aviation

– Advertisements in train stations or shopping malls

– Instructional videos for new products or systems

In short: Any place where voice carries information or creates atmosphere.

4. The right voice for the right task

The choice of voice is rarely random. We have a database of diverse voices, but we also often reach out to our own network.

“If a commercial is about angling, it’s not credible if it’s narrated by an arch-Copenhagener,” says Erik. “Then we find a voice that knows the environment – maybe even someone who fishes himself. It gives a completely different authenticity and calm.”

For us, it’s crucial that the speaker not only has a good voice, but can also engage with the content. The more you know about the topic, the more genuine it sounds.

5. How much does it cost – and how fast does it go?

The price depends on which voice is chosen and the type of project. Celebrity voices are more expensive, and especially for sales and promotional videos, the fee is higher because the voice becomes part of the company brand.

The timeframe is usually flexible – and we can often get projects up and running quickly.

Sometimes the challenge is not the study time, but whether the child voice can get time off school, for example.

6. New opportunities – and AI on the way

We also use voice-over for our own projects, including instructional videos for our LoopWord tool.

LoopWord is a translation program with integrated memory and term base (dictionary) that we put a lot of effort into launching and optimizing, but that’s another story.

We’ve experimented with AI-generated voices, but as Diane emphasizes: “It can’t be too mechanical. There has to be life and personality in the voice.”

7. How the process works

A typical customer journey first starts with a chat about the project itself, including:

What type of voice are you looking for?
Should it be young, old, male, female, child?
Is a particular dialect important?

We often do a voice test so the customer can hear different options before the recording starts. That way, we make sure we get it right the first time.

8. When voice makes all the difference

For us, voice-over is about much more than technique and equipment. It’s about finding the voice that can bring authenticity, energy and presence to a message.

As Erik puts it:
“A good voice is one that speaks clearly and distinctly – and that fits the content. It has to feel genuine.”