Voices for Animated Characters: Recording Dialogue at Home

Pick a quiet room. Sound is picked up from everywhere, so turn off fans, close the windows and ask everyone at home to be still for a few minutes. A small room full of soft things, like a bedroom with a bed and curtains, usually sounds better than a big empty kitchen.

Make a soft nest. Hard walls make voices sound echoey. Hang a blanket behind the speaker, pile up cushions around the microphone, or even record inside a closet full of coats. It looks silly, and it works beautifully.

Keep the microphone close, but not too close. A hand's width away is a good place to begin. Getting too close makes breathy, popping sounds on letters like p and b. A simple sock or soft cloth over the microphone can help, as long as you can still hear the voice clearly.

Warm up and play. Before you record, stretch your face, hum and say a few tongue twisters. Then try your character in a few different ways. Is the voice high or low? Fast or slow? Cheerful or grumpy? Find the voice that fits the character, and keep it the same each time.

Record each line more than once. Say every line a few times, and leave a little silence before and after. Later you can pick your favourite. Take a sip of water between lines, and rest your voice if it feels tired.

Match the voice to the picture. Watch your animation while you speak, so the words land when the mouth moves. Label each recording clearly, and keep everything in one folder so nothing goes missing.