What app should I use for voice over?
Voice over apps have become increasingly popular in recent years for a variety of uses. According to Markets and Markets, the global voice assistant application market was valued at $2.8 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $11.2 billion by 2026. Voice overs allow users to add a human voice to various types of content, from audiobooks and educational materials to videos, podcasts, and more.
Some common uses of voice over apps include:
- Audiobook narration
- Voice-enabled training materials and eLearning courses
- Documentaries and explainer videos
- Voicemails, announcements, and phone systems
- GPS navigation voice instructions
- Audio description for media accessibility
- AI assistant voices (Siri, Alexa etc.)
- Podcast intros, ads, and narration
In this article, we will explore some of the top options for voice over apps and the key features to consider when selecting one.
Audio Quality
When considering which voice over app to use, audio quality is a top priority. You want an app that can capture clear, high-fidelity audio that accurately represents your voice. Key factors that influence audio quality include:
- Sampling rate – The number of times per second the app samples the audio signal. A higher sampling rate like 48kHz or 96kHz will capture more nuance and frequency range.
- Bit depth – The bit depth indicates the dynamic range that can be represented. 16-bit or 24-bit is preferred for voice over work.
- Noise reduction – Features like noise gates and de-essers help remove background noise and plosives for a cleaner vocal recording.
According to a recent voice quality benchmark report, leading smartphone apps can achieve excellent audio quality on par with professional microphones and audio interfaces. However, desktop apps like Pro Tools offer more advanced options to finely tune your audio settings.
To check your audio quality, record a sample and listen back on multiple speaker systems. An A/B comparison with another high-quality voice recording can also reveal how your setup stacks up.
Ease of Use
When choosing a voice over app, it’s important to consider how easy it will be to learn and use on a regular basis. The learning curve, user interface design, and recording options all impact the overall ease of use.
Some apps like GarageBand are designed specifically for beginners and have an intuitive, straightforward interface. They may have limited recording options, but make it very simple to get started quickly. Other apps like Pro Tools offer extensive capabilities for professionals, but have a steeper learning curve.
Look for voice over apps that allow you to easily record, edit, and export audio tracks. Features like onboard editing tools, custom presets, and one-click publishing can greatly improve ease of use. Considering how you plan to record – via phone, computer, studio setup – can help determine which interface and options suit your needs best.
Testing out free trials of a few top apps is wise to compare the learning curves firsthand. Prioritizing an intuitive, frictionless user experience will make consistent voice over work much simpler.
Editing Features
When selecting a voice over app, it’s important to consider the editing features available. Key capabilities for voice over work include trimming, applying effects, adjusting ambience, and normalization.
Trimming allows you to precisely cut the audio file to remove unwanted pauses, ums, chops, and errors (source). This helps improve the flow and polish of your final audio.
Effects like compression, equalization, pitch adjustment, and more allow you to enhance the audio quality and achieve the desired tone and style (source). Reverb, delay, and other ambience effects can situate the voice in a realistic space.
Normalization boosts quiet sections and controls loud peaks so the volume level remains consistent. This is key for balancing dialogue and music beds (source).
Sharing and Exporting
When you finish recording your voice over project, you’ll want to be able to easily share it or export the audio file. Many voice over apps allow you to export the audio file directly on your device in common formats like .mp3, .wav, or .m4a. For example, Voiceover on Mac lets you export audio in AIFF, WAV, and MP3 formats.
Some apps also make it easy to share directly to popular platforms. Speechify has a built-in integration to export audio files to Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive. Being able to easily export in common audio formats or share to cloud storage gives you flexibility on where and how to use the voice over audio.
Consider what platforms you need the voice audio for – will you be importing it into an editing program? Sharing on social media? Using it in a podcast? Look for a voice app that supports exporting or sharing to those destinations.
Pricing
When selecting a voice recording app, pricing is an important consideration. Most apps offer both free and paid subscription options. Here’s an overview of the pricing models:
Free tiers – Many apps like Anchor or Voice Recorder allow you to record, edit, and share without paying anything. The free versions are great for basic recording needs. However, they limit features like audio quality, storage, and editing tools.
Paid subscriptions – For professional recording and editing, paid options like Descript and Hindenburg offer robust toolsets. Pricing ranges from $10-20 per month for individual plans to $40-60 per month for pro packages. Paid tiers offer high-quality audio, unlimited storage, advanced editing features, and more.
In-app purchases – Some free apps like Voice Record Pro offer in-app purchases to unlock additional features like audio filters and effects, expanded cloud storage, and premium support.
When deciding on pricing, consider how often you’ll record and your editing needs. Occasional users may find a free app sufficient, while frequent recorders will benefit from premium tools and storage a paid plan provides.
Desktop vs Mobile Voice Over Apps
When choosing a voice over app, consider whether you plan to use it primarily on desktop or mobile. Some apps are designed specifically for desktop use with more advanced editing features, while others are made for mobile recording and accessibility.
Desktop apps like Audacity, Adobe Audition, and Studio One offer more powerful audio editing tools for the precise polishing needed in professional voice work. However, they may require more processing power and have steeper learning curves.
Mobile apps provide quick and easy voice capture anytime, anywhere. Top choices for iOS include Speechify and Voice Record Pro, while common Android options are Easy Voice Recorder and Voice Recorder. The recording quality may not be as high, but mobile apps suffice for simple use cases.
Consider whether you need to edit complex multi-track audio or simply capture clear voice recordings. Desktop apps support more professional use for voice over artists, while mobile apps offer convenient recording on the go.
Top Choices
Based on ease of use, quality, and features, here are some of the top apps to consider for recording voice overs:
Adobe Audition (source) – A powerful audio editing software by Adobe that provides high-quality recording and editing tools. It has noise reduction features, audio restoration, and a user-friendly interface.
WavePad (source) – A professional voice over app by NCH Software with advanced editing capabilities like cut, copy, paste, delete, insert and auto-trim. It supports most audio formats and has a simple drag-and-drop interface.
descript – An AI-powered editing app that transcribes recordings and allows editing the text to manipulate the audio. Great for beginners to easily edit out filler words like “um” and fix mistakes.
Voice Record Pro – A top-rated Android app for recording, editing and sharing audio. It has built-in editing tools, background noise reduction, and 320+ audio formats supported.
Ferrite – A simple but powerful voice recording app for iOS. It makes it easy to record, edit, mix and share pro-level podcasts and music.
Use Cases
When looking for a voice recording app, it helps to think about your intended use case. Here are some of the most common uses for voice recording apps:
Podcasting
If you want to record a podcast, you’ll want an app that offers multi-track recording so you can capture audio from multiple mics and easily edit things like intro/outro music. You’ll also want great export options to publish your finished podcast episode. Some top choices for podcasting include Hindenburg Journalist, Descript, and Anchor.
Audiobooks
For recording audiobooks, you’ll want an app that lets you cleanly record each chapter as a separate file for easy editing and playback. The ability to insert chapter markers is also useful. Top audiobook recording options include ACX, Soundtrap, and Descript.
Tutorials
When recording how-to tutorials, an app with punch in/out editing features can be helpful for removing mistakes without rerecording full takes. The ability to easily insert introductions and conclusions is also useful. Great options for recording tutorials includeRiverside.fm, Squadcast, and Zoom.
Conclusion
In summary, when choosing a voice over app, the most important factors to consider are audio quality, ease of use, editing features, sharing capabilities, and pricing model. The top apps recommended based on these criteria are Audacity for desktop, Descript for quick editing, and Anchor or Voice Recorder for mobile recording.
For professional voice over work requiring studio quality audio, Audacity is the best free option. However, Descript makes it incredibly easy to edit audio by editing text transcripts. For quick mobile recording, Anchor and Voice Recorder apps allow you to record, edit, and share audio simply using your phone.
Overall, focus on choosing an app that fits your use case and budget. Audacity is great for polished results, while Descript optimizes editing efficiency. Anchor and Voice Recorder offer portability and convenience. Evaluate your needs and try out a few options to find the best voice over app for you. With the right tool, you can create clear and compelling voice recordings to elevate your content.