Voice-Over Definitions

By Darryl Green

  • Test your knowledge in Voice-Over and acting with our collection of important voice acting definitions!

    AFTRA
    AFTRA is on of the largest union for actors. It stands for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

    Billboarding
    The act of choosing selected words from a script so as to give them special attention or emphasis.

    Cans
    Cans are the earphones an actor uses to hear his or her own voice, background music or special effects while recording.

    CD-ROM
    Widely used term that stands for Compact Disc-Read Only Memory

    Digital audio Tape (DAT)
    A DAT is an audiotape of high-quality.

    Demo
    The equivalent to a screen-actor’s headshot. It is an audio resume containing samples of the voice actor’s work.

    Improv (short for Improvisation)
    Improv is when the voice actor performs copy that is not on his or her script.

    ISO booth (short for Isolation)
    The soundproof room inside the recording studio designed to isolate the artist’s sound from other noises.

    J-card
    Slip (usually filled with text or images) that covers the front of a CD case

    Jewel case
    A CD’s case

    Mixing
    Act of recording special effects, music and other sound with the actor’s voice

    Off-mic
    Area of a microphone where the actor can speak into with his or her words not being picked up as well

    Resonance
    Quality of the voice as represented by vocal tone intensity
    Special Effects (SFX)
    Added visual and sound effects

    Slate
    The act of stating one’s name and/or agency of representation, as well as take number at the beginning of a take.

    Take
    The number give to the recording, like Take 1

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