Voice Over Professional Certification — Questions and Answers

Question 1: In animation voice over, what is a 'scratch track'?

A temporary, rough voice recording used by animators as a timing guide before final audio is recorded (Correct answer)
A damaged take that needs to be re-recorded
Background music scratch-mixed under the dialogue
The first official take submitted to the director

Correct answer: A temporary, rough voice recording used by animators as a timing guide before final audio is recorded

A scratch track is a preliminary voice recording used to time the animation; it is later replaced by a polished final recording once the animation is locked.

Question 2: What should the script's copy in a video be?

Filled with jargon and technical terms
Complex and difficult to understand
Clear and easy to read (Correct answer)
Longwinded and complicated

Correct answer: Clear and easy to read

The copy in a voice-over script for a video must be clear and easy to read, both for the voice actor and for the audience. Straightforward language, free of unnecessary jargon or complex sentence structures, ensures the voice actor can interpret and deliver the lines naturally. This clarity ultimately allows the audience to effortlessly understand the message being conveyed.

Question 3: What is a 'hard sell' read in commercial voice over?

A slow, deliberate read emphasizing product specifications
A dry, informational delivery with no emotional coloring
An energetic, urgent, and high-pressure delivery style pushing the audience to act immediately (Correct answer)
A quiet, intimate tone used for luxury brand advertising

Correct answer: An energetic, urgent, and high-pressure delivery style pushing the audience to act immediately

Hard sell is a high-energy, persuasive delivery style with urgency and excitement, typically used for retail, clearance sales, or infomercials to drive immediate action.

Question 4: What vocal technique is used to make a human voice sound robotic or electronic?

Flat even pitch with clipped consonants and minimal inflection (Correct answer)
Loud projection with heavy chest resonance
Extreme upward inflection on every syllable
Adding a breathy quality to every vowel sound

Correct answer: Flat even pitch with clipped consonants and minimal inflection

Robotic voices are created by removing natural inflection, using even pitch with clipped precise consonants, often combined with electronic processing in post-production.

Question 5: What is 'sibilance' and how is it addressed in voice over audio post-production?

Low-frequency rumble fixed with a high-pass filter
Vocal fry on low notes corrected with pitch correction
Excessive room reverb removed with noise reduction software
Harsh 's' and 'sh' sounds controlled with a de-esser plugin (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Harsh 's' and 'sh' sounds controlled with a de-esser plugin

Sibilance is the harsh, hissing quality of 's' and 'sh' sounds in vocal recordings, typically reduced using a de-esser during post-production.

Question 6: What is 'Findaway Voices' in the audiobook industry?

An AI voice synthesis platform for automated audiobooks
A voice coaching program for aspiring audiobook narrators
A studio rental platform for professional recording sessions
A wide distribution service that delivers audiobooks to multiple retailers beyond Audible (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A wide distribution service that delivers audiobooks to multiple retailers beyond Audible

Findaway Voices is a distribution service that allows authors and publishers to distribute audiobooks to a broad network of retailers and library platforms beyond the Amazon/Audible ecosystem.

Question 7: What does 'room tone' mean in the context of audiobook narration?

The reverb setting used during audio mastering
The EQ applied to simulate studio acoustics
Background music mixed beneath the narration
A silent recording of the ambient sound in the recording space (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A silent recording of the ambient sound in the recording space

Room tone is a silent recording of the natural ambient sound in the recording environment, used in post-production to fill gaps seamlessly.

Question 8: What is important to know when delivering a voice over script?

Appropriate tone
Own voice (Correct answer)
Audience background
Detailed artistic direction

Correct answer: Own voice

When delivering a voice-over script, it's vital to use your 'own voice' to ensure authenticity and naturalness. Rather than trying to imitate someone else, embracing your unique vocal qualities allows your personality to shine through. This genuine delivery creates a more engaging and relatable performance that resonates effectively with the audience.

Question 9: What type of microphone polar pattern is most commonly used for solo voice over recording?

Omnidirectional
Figure-8
Hypercardioid
Cardioid (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Cardioid

Cardioid microphones capture sound primarily from the front and reject sound from the rear, isolating the voice and reducing room noise.

Question 10: What is the purpose of a 'pop filter' in a voice over setup?

To amplify the microphone signal
To eliminate background hum from electrical equipment
To reduce plosive sounds like 'p' and 'b' from hitting the mic (Correct answer)
To shape the frequency response of the recording

Correct answer: To reduce plosive sounds like 'p' and 'b' from hitting the mic

Pop filters are screens placed in front of microphones to diffuse bursts of air from plosive consonants that cause distortion.

Question 11: What does a 'character bible' provide to voice actors in an animation project?

Detailed descriptions of each character's personality, backstory, and vocal characteristics (Correct answer)
Technical recording specifications for the project
The animation team's visual reference art only
A list of all lines the character speaks in the entire series

Correct answer: Detailed descriptions of each character's personality, backstory, and vocal characteristics

A character bible describes personality traits, history, and often vocal notes for each character, giving voice actors the context they need to build a consistent performance.

Question 12: What type of headphones are preferred for voice over monitoring during recording?

Open-back headphones
Earbuds with noise cancellation
Closed-back headphones (Correct answer)
Bluetooth wireless headphones

Correct answer: Closed-back headphones

Closed-back headphones prevent audio bleed from the headphones being picked up by the microphone during recording.

Question 13: What is 'self-noise' in a condenser microphone?

The hum from power cables near the recording setup
Feedback caused by the microphone being too close to speakers
The sound of the user's breathing picked up by the mic
The inherent electronic noise the microphone produces internally (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The inherent electronic noise the microphone produces internally

Self-noise is the electrical noise generated by the microphone's own components, measured in dB(A), and lower is better for clean recordings.

Question 14: What is 'ACX Check' and what is it used for in audiobook production?

The final editorial review conducted by an Audible engineer
A quality score assigned by the ACX editorial team after submission
A payment verification system for narrator invoices
A free online tool that analyzes audio files to confirm they meet ACX technical specifications (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A free online tool that analyzes audio files to confirm they meet ACX technical specifications

ACX Check is a free browser-based tool that lets narrators and producers test their audio files for compliance with ACX's RMS, peak, and noise floor requirements before submission.

Question 15: What does 'SNR' stand for when evaluating a microphone for voice over?

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Correct answer)
Sampling Noise Reduction
Studio Noise Rating
Sound Normalization Range

Correct answer: Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) measures how much louder your voice signal is compared to the microphone's self-noise floor.

Question 16: What is 'eLearning' voice over characterized by?

Highly dramatic character performance with emotional peaks
Very fast delivery to cover large amounts of content quickly
Clear, neutral, instructional delivery with steady pacing and accessible language (Correct answer)
Regional accents chosen to match the course subject matter

Correct answer: Clear, neutral, instructional delivery with steady pacing and accessible language

eLearning voice over requires a clear, friendly, professional tone that keeps learners engaged and supports comprehension without distraction.

Question 17: What is the ACX-required RMS (root mean square) loudness range for audiobook audio files?

-23 to -18 dB RMS (Correct answer)
-12 to -6 dB RMS
-30 to -25 dB RMS
-40 to -35 dB RMS

Correct answer: -23 to -18 dB RMS

ACX specifies that the overall RMS loudness of each audio file must fall between -23 dB and -18 dB RMS.

Question 18: What does 'balanced cable' mean in audio recording?

A cable with equal lengths of copper wire
A cable rated for both microphone and line-level signals
A cable that evenly distributes audio to left and right channels
A cable with three conductors that cancels out electrical interference via common-mode rejection (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A cable with three conductors that cancels out electrical interference via common-mode rejection

A balanced cable uses three conductors (positive, negative, ground) to cancel noise picked up along the cable run through phase-inversion.

Question 19: What acting principle from stage and screen also applies to character voice over performance?

Projection technique — speaking as loud as possible to fill a theater
Improvisation — never rehearsing scripts before performance
Stanislavski's method — finding emotional truth and motivation for the character (Correct answer)
Blocking — physically positioning yourself in the recording booth

Correct answer: Stanislavski's method — finding emotional truth and motivation for the character

Method-based emotional truth is just as vital in voice over as in on-camera acting; understanding a character's motivation produces a more authentic, compelling performance.

Question 20: What technique do voice actors use to portray a character significantly younger than themselves?

Lowering the pitch and slowing the delivery
Adding a regional accent to the performance
Speaking with more deliberate consonant emphasis
Raising pitch, brightening tone, and using shorter breath patterns (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Raising pitch, brightening tone, and using shorter breath patterns

Playing younger requires a higher, lighter pitch, more energetic pacing, and brighter resonance placement to suggest youth and innocence.

Question 21: What is 'mouth noise' in audiobook narration, and what is the most common way to reduce it?

Distortion from speaking too loudly, reduced by lowering gain
Background breath noise, reduced by using a noise gate
Echo from the microphone, reduced by adding reverb
Clicks and smacking sounds from dry lips or saliva, reduced by staying hydrated and careful editing (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Clicks and smacking sounds from dry lips or saliva, reduced by staying hydrated and careful editing

Mouth noise refers to clicks, smacks, and saliva sounds caused by dry mouth; staying well-hydrated before and during sessions and editing out these sounds are the standard remedies.

Question 22: What is 'improvisation' valued for in animation character voice over auditions?

Showing that the actor doesn't need a script to perform
Proving the actor can record without any preparation
Demonstrating the ability to add personality, comedy, and character depth beyond the written script (Correct answer)
Replacing scripted lines when the writer is unavailable

Correct answer: Demonstrating the ability to add personality, comedy, and character depth beyond the written script

Improvisational ability shows casting directors that the actor can bring unexpected charm or humor to a character and collaborate creatively during sessions.

Question 23: Which skill is most critical for audiobook narrators working on long multi-character fiction titles?

Maintaining consistent character voices across many hours and multiple recording sessions (Correct answer)
Fluency in multiple languages
Advanced expertise in audio engineering and mixing
Ability to sing on pitch

Correct answer: Maintaining consistent character voices across many hours and multiple recording sessions

Consistency in character voice is paramount in fiction narration because listeners will notice if a character sounds different in chapter 20 versus chapter 1.

Question 24: What does 'non-human character' voice over involve?

Using only electronic voice processors without any natural voice
Creating voices for robots, aliens, and monsters using specialized techniques (Correct answer)
Recording dialogue entirely underwater for unique acoustics
Performing exclusively in languages other than English

Correct answer: Creating voices for robots, aliens, and monsters using specialized techniques

Non-human characters require voice actors to develop unique vocal qualities — unusual resonance, mechanized speech patterns, or extreme pitch manipulation — to suggest an alien or artificial being.

Question 25: What is a 'reflection filter' or 'portable vocal shield' used for in voice over?

Filtering out specific frequency reflections from studio monitors
Blocking visual distractions from the performer during recording
Protecting the microphone from physical damage during transport
Absorbing sound reflections from behind and around the microphone to reduce room sound (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Absorbing sound reflections from behind and around the microphone to reduce room sound

A portable reflection filter wraps around the back of the microphone to absorb reflections from the room, giving a drier sound without a full treated booth.

Question 26: Which of the following best describes why audiobook narrators are encouraged to record in a treated acoustic space rather than a standard room?

Standard rooms introduce too much bass, which treated spaces add back digitally
Acoustic treatment absorbs reflections and reduces room reverb, resulting in a clean, dry recording required by platforms like ACX (Correct answer)
Treated spaces improve internet connectivity for remote directed sessions
Treated rooms produce louder recordings that require less amplification

Correct answer: Acoustic treatment absorbs reflections and reduces room reverb, resulting in a clean, dry recording required by platforms like ACX

Acoustic treatment — using panels, foam, or soft materials — absorbs sound reflections so the recording is dry and clean, meeting the noise floor and clarity standards required by ACX and other distributors.

Question 27: What is essential to a good voice-over?

Memorization of a script
Audio clarity, pacing, vocal tone and inflection, and proper pronunciation (Correct answer)
Visual aids
Animated Acting

Correct answer: Audio clarity, pacing, vocal tone and inflection, and proper pronunciation

A good voice-over hinges on several critical elements working in harmony. Audio clarity ensures the message is perfectly audible, while appropriate pacing, vocal tone, and inflection convey the intended emotion and meaning. Proper pronunciation is fundamental for credibility and understanding, making all these aspects essential for an effective and professional delivery.

Question 28: What is 'normalization' in audio post-production for voice over?

Adjusting the audio file's peak level to a target maximum without changing dynamics (Correct answer)
Converting a stereo file into mono
Removing all noise from a recording
Adding room reverb to sound more natural

Correct answer: Adjusting the audio file's peak level to a target maximum without changing dynamics

Normalization raises or lowers the entire audio file so the loudest peak reaches a specified level, ensuring consistent playback volume.

Voice Over Professional Certification

A comprehensive assessment of voice over industry knowledge and skills, covering commercial and corporate narration, audiobook performance, character and animation voice work, and home studio setup and equipment for aspiring and working voice over professionals.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

70%

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