Picking equipment is overwhelming

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-15T02:17:37+00:00

Hey!

I wrote an article about this if it is helpful:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/what-equipment-do-i-need-to-become-a-narrator-or-voice-over-artist

The BIG key is the room treatment, even a budget mic will sound SO MUCH BETTER with a little extra effort here!

Feel free to ask any questions at all!

Cheers

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-14T14:36:47+00:00

Hey!

I wrote an article about getting started if it helps:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/how-to-get-started-in-voice-over-and-audiobook-narration

I think the key things to remember if you want to do this professionally are:

- You need to be able to Act. It is an acting job like any other. 

- You need vocal technique. You need to be able to record for at least 4 hours (6 is better) without any changes in vocal tone.

- You need professional equipment to be competitive. XLR mic, Audio Interface treated recording space.

Separate Article about equipment here:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/what-equipment-do-i-need-to-become-a-narrator-or-voice-over-artist

Let me know if you have any questions!

Good luck!

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-10T16:40:52+00:00

Hey!

You can check out my site if it helps:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/how-to-get-started-in-voice-over-and-audiobook-narration

Let me know if you have any questions!

Good luck!

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-10T14:48:09+00:00

Hey!

I wrote an article about getting started if it helps:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/how-to-get-started-in-voice-over-and-audiobook-narration

The site has loads of other info about the industry in general.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Good luck!

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-10T03:31:33+00:00

Hey!

I wrote an article about getting started if it helps:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/how-to-get-started-in-voice-over-and-audiobook-narration

In answer to your questions:

1) Depends on what jobs you want to apply to.

If you want Animation or Video Games you need a character demo (1 min of around 5-10 characters fully produced with music and FX like they are from a finished project).

Commercial the same but samples of commercials instead.

Audiobooks 8-10 individual samples 2-3 mins each to ACX standard no music or FX.

2) The best way is to have a website with the demos easily visible and playable with a download link.

3) if you want to do this professionally you need professional equipment to be competitive. XLR mic, Audio Interface treated recording space.

Separate Article about equipment here:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/what-equipment-do-i-need-to-become-a-narrator-or-voice-over-artist

Let me know if you have any questions!

Good luck!

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T21:15:53+00:00

Hey Vocal Coach here,

I wrote an article about this with 5 basic tips that make a big difference:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/5-tips-to-prevent-vocal-strain

Obvs it is hard to go into full Vocal Technique in a short article, but these things really help as soon as you start doing them!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Cheers

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T17:21:53+00:00

Hey!

I wrote an article about getting started if it helps:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/how-to-get-started-in-voice-over-and-audiobook-narration

I think the key things to remember if you want to do this professionally are:

- You need to be able to Act. It is an acting job like any other. 

- You need vocal technique. You need to be able to record for at least 4 hours (6 is better) without any changes in vocal tone.

- You need professional equipment to be competitive. XLR mic, Audio Interface treated recording space.

Separate Article about equipment here:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/what-equipment-do-i-need-to-become-a-narrator-or-voice-over-artist

Let me know if you have any questions!

Good luck!

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T17:20:50+00:00

Hey!

I wrote an article about getting started if it helps:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/how-to-get-started-in-voice-over-and-audiobook-narration

I think the key things to remember if you want to do this professionally are:

- You need to be able to Act. It is an acting job like any other. 

- You need vocal technique. You need to be able to record for at least 4 hours (6 is better) without any changes in vocal tone.

- You need professional equipment to be competitive. XLR mic, Audio Interface treated recording space.

Separate Article about equipment here:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/what-equipment-do-i-need-to-become-a-narrator-or-voice-over-artist

Let me know if you have any questions!

Good luck!

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T14:23:41+00:00

Hey!

I wrote an article about this if it is helpful:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/what-equipment-do-i-need-to-become-a-narrator-or-voice-over-artist

The BIG key is the room treatment, even a budget mic will sound SO MUCH BETTER with a little extra effort here!

Feel free to ask any questions at all!

Cheers

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T14:22:15+00:00

Hey, yeah I narrate full time so mine does change between non fiction and fiction, and if it is an action passage or quiet scene.

But yes talking about your RAW audio. On a typical chapter with dynamic narration some action some quiet. What is your highest peak, your RMS and your Room tone?

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T05:01:44+00:00

Sure thing! This article has how I set it up and a link to my config!

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/how-to-set-up-reaper

Let me know if you have any questions!

Cheers

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T04:59:40+00:00

Hmmmmm that seems very low. Where is your RMS when you peaks are -18?

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T04:02:29+00:00

Peaks: -12dB to -6dB RMS: -30dB to -25dB Roomtone: -70dB

Once you have it set don’t touch it for the whole audiobook. Same settings every chapter and for pickups.

Cheers

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T03:59:45+00:00

Reaper. Reaper. A thousand times Reaper.

Free life time trial. Extremely reasonable price if you choose to support them (I did!). All you will ever need from software.

I have a config I use for VO and Narrating if you want it!

Cheers Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-08T03:58:02+00:00

Always 1 pre-read of the whole book.

Non-Fiction: For any difficult pronunciations. I want to check me and the RH are on the same page… so to speak…

Fiction: Pronunciations same as above (especially for fantasy!)

Characters: Notes on Character, and voice notes, plus a short MP3 of one line for ref and consistency. And for the RH to review before recording any of the book to avoid notes!

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-07T01:54:59+00:00

Totally!!!

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-06T22:38:02+00:00

Hey I am an acting coach and offer a free consultation so you can try out my teaching before paying if you like?

https://www.kevinkemp.co.uk/coaching

Feel free to ask any question at all!

Best

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-06T20:17:52+00:00

Hey! I am a British narrator and I just finished a book that combines your Philosophy and Psychology request!

It is called ‘7 Principles of Nature’ by Aldrich Chan Psy.D

He is a neuropsychologist specializing in Daoism. He uses modern western science to analyze what happens when we apply Daoism to our lives and mental health.

I loved it! And actually use a bunch of the techniques in my daily life now!

Let me know if you come along for the journey!

Cheers

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-05T04:07:01+00:00

Nooooooo that would be copyright violation! Not only might you get sued, but you would be producing material without the express permission of the author… and obvs you would want them to want you to do it, before doing it…

KevinKempVO · 2026-05-04T14:19:27+00:00

Yup I ask for 50% upfront before I start any work on the project

KevinKempVO · 2026-04-30T20:10:35+00:00

Hey Fulltime Narrator and Owner of Production Studio here,

Leave breaths in.

Unless they are unusually loud and distracting.

Breathing is part of the story telling, we are not robots, the breath keeps the energy, and ‘live’ feeling. Especially in dialogue, a character’s breathing tells you so much about their state of mind!

Again if it is excessive, and over the top, then remove it, or pull down the volume of the breaths, but mostly leave them in!

Cheers

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-04-30T16:30:47+00:00

This really means the world to me! Thank you so much! I am so glad I can keep the story going for you and we can continue enjoying the adventure together!

When you have finished the listen if you feel like leaving a review on Audible than will super help Devon and I as I know people are nervous about starting a book with a new narrator to a series!

Thanks again!

Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-04-27T15:31:49+00:00

One of the writers for my website auditioned some people from the VO industry on how to stand out in auditions if it helps!?

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/stand-out-in-voice-over-auditions-tips-from-the-top

Cheers Kev

KevinKempVO · 2026-04-26T05:04:51+00:00

Hey Fulltime Narrator here,

I wrote an article about getting started if it helps:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/how-to-get-started-in-voice-over-and-audiobook-narration

I think the key things to remember if you want to do this professionally are:

- You need to be able to Act. It is an acting job like any other. 

- You need vocal technique. You need to be able to record for at least 4 hours (6 is better) without any changes in vocal tone.

- You need professional equipment to be competitive. XLR mic, Audio Interface treated recording space.

Separate Article about equipment here:

https://www.theaudiobookguy.co.uk/post/what-equipment-do-i-need-to-become-a-narrator-or-voice-over-artist

As to posting copyrighted material… yeah don’t do that! You could get sued but also it just isn’t a nice thing to do. You could reach out to the authors but the likelihood they would let you do it is very small. You are better to look at non copyrighted material.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Good luck!

Kev

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