Now that we have our perfect Master Version locked in, we can move on to recording the individual lines that will make your ad dynamic. The goal here is simple: to make every new line we record sound like it was part of that original, perfect take.
Here’s how we ensure that happens:
- We keep the performance consistent: The voice artist will regularly listen back to the take from the Master Version to ensure their tone, pitch, and energy are a perfect match for every single line.
- We check pronunciations: For location-based lines, we take extra care to get the pronunciations of local towns or landmarks spot-on. It’s a small detail that shows respect and makes a big difference to the listener.
- We record your ‘safety net’: We’ll make sure to record a strong ‘default’ or ‘fallback’ line for every dynamic section. This ensures your ad always sounds great, even if data isn’t available.
Handling a Long List of Lines #
What if your script includes a list of 200 different towns? Recording these requires focus. To keep the quality high from the first line to the last, we:
- Work in small batches: We’ll record the list in manageable chunks of 10-20 lines at a time.
- Take regular breaks: This helps the voice artist stay fresh.
- Listen back to the take from the Master Version often: This is crucial for resetting their performance and keeping the energy consistent throughout the entire list.
The Final Checklist: What to Send Us #
Once the recording is complete and everyone is happy, the studio will send us the audio files so we can start building your ad. Here’s a simple checklist of what we’ll need:
1. The Full Master Mix
This is the complete, client-approved Master Version of the ad, mixed with all the music and sound effects. We use this as our definitive guide for timing and tone.
2. Each Line as a Separate File
These are the individual building blocks of your ad. We’ll need:
- Every single line of dialogue (both the static and dynamic parts) delivered as a separate audio file.
- Files that are cleanly edited, with no silence at the beginning or end.
- Files that are clearly labelled to match the numbering system in the script. This is essential!
3. Music and Sound Effects
All the other production elements, like the music bed and any sound effects, are also needed as separate, clearly labelled files.
A final tech check:
- Format: WAV files are best.
- Levels: All audio files should have consistent volume levels.
- Quality: All recordings should be clean and free of any clicks or background noise.
With these elements, our team has everything we need to assemble all the possible versions of your ad.
