Customer Reviews

Voice-Over Voice Actor: What It's Like Behind the Mic

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I was asked to teach a voiceover acting class and came to Amazon to look for a good book. I bought three of the top rated ones on the topic. Luckily I read this one first -- which made it impossible to get very far reading the others. This is far and away the most well-written, informative, organized and thorough book on just about every aspect of the voiceover business. The authors write with a lot of humor, but also with a lot of information, presented in a step-by-step way that made pursuing a career in voiceovers sound not only do-able, but a lot of fun. They give brilliant advice on everything from keeping your voice healthy, to what the audition process is like, how to present yourself as a professional, to such minor but important details as "don't touch the mike - the engineer will do it." Hats off to these writers -- don't waste your time with the other books -- once you read this one they will look poorly written and full of bad information.

This was a pleasure to read as well as incredibly informative. The book is written in a lighthearted tone, but makes its points clearly and thoroughly. I'm just starting out as a voice-over hopeful, and reading this book has made it clear to me how much work is ahead for me as well as keeping the joy for my career choice alive.

There are artistic as well as technical aspects that Platt & Lowenthal tackle and I walked away feeling much better versed in both. I'm eager to employ these tips and tricks!

I've recently gotten my hands on this amazing book and it is everything I had hoped and more! Yuri and Tara have gotten out of their way to make this the best reading experience possible for anyone interested int he most underrated craft in all of entertainment. I'm an amateur Voice-Over artist and I was deeply impressed by the level of detail presented here, novices and experts will enjoy the book and as it's subtitle indicates they'll learn "what it's like behind the mic". All types of Voice-Over (Pre-lay, Dubbing, Commercials, Narration, etc.) Mic control, studio & audition tips and an easy guide on "how-to" maximize your potential if he or she decides they are cut out for such an awesome craft.

The book itself is well written and often times charming and witty in an easy to read format. It's neither too short or too long. The content feels fresh with multiple reads (a must). The only problem with the book is that once you finish, you crave more... but then again, that's what's intended right? I mean, if you are reading the book or reviews about it, you are probably a VO fanatic and aspire to be Voice-Actor (like myself), so after you are done It's "back to work" on that road to success!

Instead of dreaming about voice acting as an impossible quest, read this book. Yuri and Tara are renowned in the voice acting field, with tens of credits. They open up their books of experience and enlighten their fans with humor and excellent advice. Not only useful for acting, this has been wonderful for my oral advocacy for law class.

"Voice-Over Voice Actor" is an easy fun read -- no pretensions, just lots of helpful information from insiders who know how the voice over world works. It's current -- Lowenthal and Platt are very successful voice actors in the middle of successful careers now -- they're not looking back at the way things used to be. You can read the book cover to cover, or use it as a reference, reading about the things you need to know as they come up. It's also funny and gives you a good feel for the world of voice over acting. I've read several books on this subject and this is the best.

Tara Platt and Yuri Lowenthal are very successful voice actors with a well-earned respect in the industry, as well as a considerable fan base. Full disclosure: I have worked with the two of them professionally on numerous occasions and count them as some of my closest friends.

What they set out to do in this book was to answer all of the questions they regularly receive from actors and fans alike on how to break in to voiceover and what the life of a voiceover actor is like. What they created covers not just how to break in to the business, but also how to be a successful voice actor in this day and age.

The best aspect of the book, for me, is Tara and Yuri's personalities are present throughout: they genuinely like helping people and want to give you all the information you need. The book is written in their friendly conversational style -- getting technical without talking over people's heads, keeping it simple without talking down to anyone.

Whether you're already an actor wanting to supplement your income with VO, or have a son/daughter/niece/nephew who love cartoons and dream of breaking into voicing the characters, this book will quickly put the reader on the road with the tools they need to succeed.

If you're interested in voice acting AT ALL, this book should be at the top of your list.
Written by Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, two voice actors at the top of their careers, VOVA is an excellent resource for those beginning their VO journey, while including enough helpful resources to also aid more experienced performers.
VOVA chronicles Tara & Yuri's entrance into the craft, while at the same time providing practical advice for not only the art of voice over, but the business of VO as well.

The book is a fairly comprehensive introduction including sections on styles of VO, auditioning, home recording, demo preparation, and advice for scoring an agent/manager. They of course are not promising you a career in VO by reading their book, but you get a really in depth look at the industry as it stands TODAY.

That's one of my favorite things about VOVA. There is a lot of very good literature out there on VO, but this is easily one of the savviest books written on the subject in this modern era of digital recording. It's one of the most up to date accounts of what it's like working in this field right now. Yuri & Tara are both working talent at the top of their game (each with an incredible list of credits), and every chapter is augmented by other working professionals including directors, engineers, producers, agents, and other talent.
The book has a really fun voice, with information cleverly and intelligently delivered to readers of all skill levels. Voice-Over Voice Actor is a really easy book to recommend to those interested in trying the craft, and those already working in it.

People who purchase will also get access to online resources including practice copy, warm ups, and additional content not found in the current edition. I'm already quite impressed with Yuri & Tara's commitment to keeping the information available on VO as current as possible.

You can also follow them on Twitter as @VOVoiceActor.

Voice-Over Voice Actor reads easily and quickly and that is good. Its conversational tone keeps you interested and learning without being didactic or dogmatic. This book makes the material fun, yet crams copious amounts of information into a mere 230 pages. A reader can finish this book within a few hours and then spend many years following its advice and building a career instead of squandering months trying to wade through verbose text and redundancy.

Yuri and Tara intend this book for aspiring Voice Actors, but I think it is useful to anyone who intends to work in animation, video games, or other areas of entertainment requiring voice work. I only occasionally do voice work (primarily when necessary or when doing puppetry), but I do often direct or work directly with voice actors. After reading this book, I feel like I better understand the industry and can work more efficiently with voice actors. I also find the advice for building a career as a VO is germane to many areas of entertainment outside of voice acting.

If you want to be a voice actor or work with voice actors, it would be irresponsible not to read this book.

Yuri and Tara have made it simple for the younger generation (and older) to catch a glimpse of how the voice over world works. With tips, tricks, hints, and tools, this book gives you a first hand look at behind the mic of some of the best voice over work in the industry. Novice or Expert, you will enjoy the through and easy to understand explainations and defined terminology in the industry today. The cute cartoon panels keep you always smiling too. For anyone interested in Voice Over work, as a hobby, or to know the inside scoop, this book is a must buy!

This book provided entertainment as well as information. Through the use of personalized comic strips, and straightforward writing, the instruction comes straight from the mouth's of masters to the reader's eyes. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone contemplating a voyage into voice acting.