I specialize in meditations, voiceovers for relaxation, anxiety stress, and have been teaching it live in my classes since 1994. In my last article https://aslana.com/cinde-aslana-voiceover-blog/
I explain how to get started in meditation voiceovers. I use the term artist rather than actor here because it conveys the art of voiceover needed for meditation, you are not acting. If you are and can fake it, the casting might oversee it, but people listening will certainly not connect. You represent the company, and they should choose people who are experienced already in doing meditation first and voiceovers second. As you know in our craft, it doesn’t just take reading off a script, it takes real-life experience sometimes to draw off of, and fortunately, the experience you could get as your homework for method acting on researching an app is not only going to be pleasurable but also fun and beneficial. if you do not know what method acting is and your working on voiceovers, get yourself up to speed as we indeed are using our voice to convey, and that’s where realness comes in. No one wants to be bullshitted listening to a relaxation technique or a mindfulness meditation.
Let’s go into your vocal tone. Not every voice is suited for meditations, some are and some well, aren’t, simply because the pitch of the voice isn’t soothing to strangers. Too deep, and there’s a certain murder mystery aspect to it. That’s too scary going to bed at night, too high and crisp and senses are heightened because now the neighborly best friend is talking to you and it fires up the brain neurons. the acoustic patterns of your voice just don’t register well.
There is a great journalistic article aimed at companies hiring people here that talk about whether your voice is trustworthy or scary. Some interesting things to think about certainly. Therefore, the register of a voiceover meditation for relaxation and reducing anxiety should entice the listener to be soothed and comforted fairly between unstimulatingly (i know not an actual word,) bright, and too deep.
You can see that article here:
BLINDING YOU WITH SCIENCE: Since 440 Hz tuning has become the norm. The 432 Hz frequency resonates with the Schumann Resonance of 8 Hz and is known for its deeply calming and soothing effects. A recent double-blind study from Italy showed that music tuned to 432 Hz slows down the heart rate when compared to 440 Hz
And izotope has a compelling article here to understand more tuning standards https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/tuning-standards-explained.html
Speed of Sound = 345 m/s = 1130 ft/s = 770 miles/hr and if your like a science or math voiceover nerd like me who likes to apply science and voiceovers, you can go here,
Im speaking to the choir when I say that your voice is a music box, That’s why the tune of A4 hits the general spot. Google and im sure Apple has an app in the play store for vocal range.
For meditation voiceovers, Best to start practicing vocal range as a voiceover artist we are all working on our vocal range, but I am naturally at that range and have been told by coaches to stop it! just stop being low and sultry and meditative, yeah I get it, now it’s not appropriate for that script but it was overly natural and habitual for me. But it is for the COVID pandemic voiceover and the millennial voiceovers.
A4 tone evokes the heart energy, it is compassionate, and if the message is for something like a non-profit, a meditation, a narration to evoke empathy, compassion, sensuous, and luxury brands.
In fact, people respond more to deeper voices in general, take for instance the story of Elizabeth Holmes in the defunct company Thanos when a featured article came out in the magazine called Fast Company on Thanos being the world’s most innovative company. I nearly bought stock in them and a bazillion black turtle necks too, I still might though, it’s not out the question. Here are some interesting articles about Holmes’ fake deep voice. there’s also an HBO movie, The inventor: out for blood
Voiceover agents and voiceover and talent casting for meditation app voiceovers. Casting and agents understand who they are representing and take great care in who is on their roster, but a small business doesn’t know what to look for, they just made an app because they could and it sounded “fun”, so they should be hiring talent that is proficient in meditation voiceovers and voice-overs for relaxation, anxiety, stress relief, and voice-overs for that large app market. Overall this will bring a good end-result, especially for a consumer. Purchasing talent to be paid low wages for finding a quick voiceover for meditation and they just pick the most okay sounding voice, they do a disservice.
This is not new in the field of business of how voice is perceived for sales and selling and generating business.
I urge you again to practice with apps or wherever you can consume meditations or stress relief. Now you may indeed notice the vocal range isn’t as I described. Take note if you become distracted or feel uneasy. What was it about the voice in particular. Taking notes will help you become an expert at voiceovers for meditation and voiceovers that will help reduce stress and anxiety.
And start to practice your range and pitch. In the next article, we will be addressing a little of how to hit that range and pitch and the importance of breath.
As always Im here for questions or comments, or inquiries about creating a great voiceover, guided visualization, meditation, anxiety relief breathing meditation, or subliminal for your business or practice.