VOICE CASTING AT VOICETRAX, SF – PROVIDING THE FINEST VOICE TALENT IN THE VOICE OVER INDUSTRY SINCE 1990

What makes you better than the other on-line casting sites?Back to top

• First and foremost, the vast majority of the voice actors on this site were trained at Voicetrax San Francisco, America’s premier voice-over training academy. Other voice actors featured on this site were referred by voice-over industry professionals we know and respect.
• These professional actors are the cream of the crop — only those current and former students who have consistently demonstrated the strongest acting skills and technique, as well as a total commitment to their craft, are selected for inclusion.
• Not one of the voice actors you’ll hear on this site has paid to be listed.
• And, Voicetrax Voice Casting does not receive any percentage of either the actor’s or agent’s fees when they are cast.

Do you accept unsolicited demos from voice actors?Back to top

In a word, NO. In order to honor our promise to our clients that "any talent they find on Voicetrax Voice Casting will be professional, prepared and directable," we can only consider non-Union voice talent we know who have actually auditioned or performed at Voicetrax on a regular basis.

How does the Voicetrax Voice Casting online service work?Back to top

We offer a variety of online casting services. Some clients like to browse through our listings themselves to find the right talent for their project. Others don't have enough time to listen to lots of different audio clips, so they prefer to have us narrow down the field for them. And yet others want to hear their script interpreted by several actors before making their final choice. Each of our services is detailed on our Services & Rates page, so you can determine which of our services best meets your specific needs.

How much should I expect to pay non-Union talent?Back to top

Just to be clear: the way our service works is that we help clients find the right actors for their projects; but since we don’t represent the actors ourselves, we don’t set their rates. Instead, we provide our clients with contact information for the actors or their agents; then the client calls them to discuss rates and availability.

To help you get a general idea of how much you should budget for voice talent, we asked several large talent agencies to provide us with a ballpark range of current rates charged by professional, non-Union voice actors:

• For TV and radio ads, rates vary depending on where the spots are broadcast and for how long. Rates can range from between a few hundred dollars for a radio spot that airs in a small market for a few weeks to several thousands of dollars for a nationally broadcast TV ad that runs for several months.
• For most other projects, including multimedia, podcasts, industrial narration and video games, professional non-Union actors are typically paid on an hourly basis, with a one-hour minimum fee:
  • Rates for the first hour typically range between $300 to $450. For sessions lasting longer than an hour, rates for each additional hour are normally between $200-350.
  • For sessions lasting more than four hours, or for projects requiring multiple recording sessions, agents and actors may be open to negotiating a reduced hourly rate.
  • Additionally, you'll need to budget an additional 20% — over and above the actor's hourly rate — for the talent agency's fee. (Please note that Voicetrax Voice Casting does not receive any part of any actor's or agent's fees.)
  • For audio books rates are typically in the range of $125-$225 per hour, depending on the length and complexity of the project.

Of course, as with anything else, there are always exceptions. On Voicetrax Voice Casting we've also included a few of the most renowned, experienced voice actors in the voiceover industry whose credits include animated TV series, blockbuster video games and national TV advertising campaigns. The hourly rates commanded by these actors may actually be one and a half to two times higher than the typical ranges noted above.

How many actors do I need to select from Voicetrax Voice Casting for my project?Back to top

For each role you need to cast, it's always advisable to have one or two alternate choices—especially if you're working on a tight schedule. Your first choice may be unavailable on the day that you're scheduled to record, so to avoid unnecessary headaches and disappointment, we recommend having a strong back-up choice or two.

If I use one of your on-line services, how long will it take to get the casting information I need?Back to top

The following response times apply only to orders received during our normal business hours. (Orders received on weekends and holidays will be processed the next business day):

• "You pick the talent" service — same day response for orders received by 4:00PM Pacific Time. 
• "We narrow it down for you" service — your selected audio will be delivered the next business day.
• "E-casting" service — your edited audition files will be avaible for listening within two business days. (A one business-day turnaround may be possible in some instances.).

If we anticipate any delays in fulfilling your order we will advise you immediately, so that you can evaluate your options. Additionally, if you have an urgent deadline to meet, let us know and we'll try to accommodate your request whenever possible.

How do I make arrangements to book the actors I've selected?Back to top

It's normally a two-part process:

1. After we send you the contact information for the actors you've selected, you should call or email the actors or their agents to determine whether they will be available on the date(s) you plan to record your project, and what their rates are. When you call the actors or agents, you should let them know the following:
   1. You have been referred through the Voicetrax Online Voice Casting
   2. The intended use of the voiceover (e.g., industrial, video game, multimedia, radio commercial)
   3. Where it will be broadcast or played
   4. The date (or dates) you plan to record, and approximate time, if known
   5. The estimated length of the session
   6. Location of the recording studio. (Even if you don't know the exact location yet, let them know which city.)
2. Once you've made your final choice, and reserved a studio time, you should re-contact the actors you've picked (or their agents) to provide the date, time and place of recording, and work out payment details.

What if I want to hear selected actors perform my own script?Back to top

You have a couple of options:

• If you are really pressed for time, and only have one day or less to finalize your decision, you can use Voicetrax Voice Casting's "You pick the talent" service (see our Services & Rates page) to narrow down your choices to two or three. Then you can:
  • Contact the actors or their agents
  • Email them a copy of your script
  • Ask them to record it immediately
  • Have them email you an MP3 copy of their recording, so you can hear their interpretations before making your final choice.
• However, if you have a slightly longer time frame, you can simply have us do a customized "e-casting" for you. Please visit our Services & Rates page for a complete explanation.

Please note: If you are concerned about presenting your work in the best possible light to your client, you might also want to consider having us do a full-service, in-studio casting for you. Rates for a full casting start at $350, and include talent selection and scheduling, professional direction, broadcast quality recording, and assistance with availability checking. Visit voicetraxsf.com/voice_casting for more details.

If I pay for one of your services and subsequently decide that I need more selections, do I have to pay the full amount again?Back to top

If you contact us within 10 business days from the date we originally fulfilled your order, we'll charge you only the rates indicated for "each additional actor/selection" on our Services & Rates page for the casting service you selected. 

How do I find a high quality, reasonably priced recording facility?Back to top

Hourly rates for broadcast quality, professional studio recording services typically range between $150-$400/hour depending on geographic location, competitive climate, and how plush the studio furnishings are! It definitely pays to shop around, because in LA, for example, you may find that some studios charge $200/hour and others up to $400/hour for comparable quality services.

We are strong believers in the power of "word of mouth" advertising. Ask your colleagues and friends, and find out which studios they've worked with, the ones they recommend, and why.

Additionally, you may have a local multimedia resource guide or directory available for your geographic area that lists professional recording studios with descriptions of the services they provide.

Reel Directory is the most commonly used resource for Northern California, while in Southern California, Voiceover Resource Guide is the most widely used reference. Similar guides and directories are published for other parts of the country.

Should I stick with talent that is located in my same geographic area?Back to top

With modern digital recording technology so widely available, it makes little difference where your talent is physically located. You are free to choose the best talent for your project—regardless of where they are. Many studios now offer remote recording capabilities that allow you to easily set up a recording session with talent almost anywhere in the country, even internationally.

Via phone patch, you can participate in a recording session remotely at a cost that is marginally higher than the cost of a normal recording session. If you require an ISDN connection, however, you will need to budget for higher costs, i.e., studio rentals in two locations (the studio where you are located and the studio where the talent is located) plus the ISDN transmission fee. 

To find an ISDN-equipped studio in your area, contact any recording studio that advertises "digital patch" or "ISDN" capabilities for detailed information and rates. As we previously mentioned, when you're trying to locate a recording studio it really pays to check around. Studio rates for ISDN recording can vary between $150-$400/hour, and ISDN transmission fees can range between $75 to $250/hour. Incidentally, nowadays, it’s not uncommon to find professional voice actors—including some of the ones listed on Voicetrax Voice Casting—who provide their own ISDN connection at no or very minimal additional cost.

What if I don't find exactly what I'm looking for on Voicetrax Voice Casting online?Back to top

Contact us and tell us what you are looking for. We still may be able to help you find the talent you need through our extensive network of contacts and resources, or we may recommend that you use one of our custom casting services.

And if we're unable to help you find what you need, we'll do our best to refer you to another experienced, reputable casting service provider who might.

If my budget is extremely limited, is there somewhere else that I might be able to find decent voice talent on-line?Back to top

If you have a low or no budget, we recommend that you try posting an ad on your local Craigslist.com under "TV/Film/Video/Radio" or “gigs.” You might also try posting a casting notice on any popular websites or in publications for on-camera and theater actors in your area. (Most sites and publications will post your "casting notices" for free.) The submissions that you receive in response may not all be top quality—or appropriate for what you are looking for—but you’ll likely get back at least a few decent auditions from which to choose.