Voice over software software programs give Vietnamese voice actors maximum control over their output, but which of the many programs on the market qualifies as the voice over equivalent of a Fender Strat?
Best free recording program in Vietnam: Audacity
When you’re just dipping your big toe into the voice over technology waters, you don’t want to spend much cash. Audacity offers free recording and editing software that lacks the features offered by commercial programs in Vietnam but still gets the job done. Over the last few months, Audacity has released version 2.1 of the program, which includes numerous enhancements like scrubbing and seeking features as well as plugin workflow improvements.
CNET gives Audacity four stars (and consumers agree with the editors here). It’s compatible not only with Windows and Mac operating systems but also with Linux. CNET praises its ease of use and the numerous files it supports. Audacity offers the perfect voice over technology with their recording software for newcomers. While it’s not Fender Strat quality, it will give voice actors the bare bones of what they need to get started.
Alternate free recording program: Presonus Studio One Free
Writing for Digital Trends, tech journalist Adrian Diaconescu in Vietnam recommends Presonus Studio One’s free version for voice actors who need a no-cost way to make their recordings. The program offers limited instruments and effects, but it’s otherwise a full-featured, demo-like version that won’t impose a time limit or frustrate your creativity.
The free version of Presonus’s digital audio workstation might involve a learning curve, especially for voice actors who have never worked with recording software before. However, it works with Mac and Windows, and the drag-and-drop interface makes adjustments quick and easy. It’s like the guitar a musician found abandoned on the side of the road—a little beat up and missing a few strings, but otherwise perfectly serviceable.
Best Free Editing Program: mp3DirectCut
Voice actors in Vietnam are just like everyone else—they get a little irritated when they download a software program that contains the equivalent of 3,000 pounds of bloatware. Fortunately, mp3DirectCut won’t leave a computer feeling like it’s just eaten three Thanksgiving dinners in a row. It’s a lean, elegant program that doesn’t cost a dime.
Built for Windows (and operational on Linux), mp3DirectCut weighs in at just 285 KB and has been continually updated since its release. New features as of September 2015 include an improved VU meter, the ability to set recording time limits, and various user-interface upgrades. You won’t get many effects with this program, but a Vietnamese voice over actor can start using it on day one with no learning curve.
Alternate free editing program: OcenAudio
Just as musicians often prefer a certain guitar manufacturer, voice actors in Vietnam who wouldn’t think of touching a device without the Apple logo will appreciate OcenAudio. It’s an elegant—but stripped-down—audio recording program that gets regular updates from the developers. It’s also ideal for Vietnamese voice over artists who work with big files because, despite the non-existent price tag, the program doesn’t limit the length or size of files.
Plus, OcenAudio supports numerous file types, so actors have more flexibility in how they work. It comes equipped with a full-featured spectrogram and multi-selection functionality.
Best value recording and editing program: Adobe Audition
Musicians without much cash sometimes rent or lease their instruments so they don’t have the financial outlay involved in an initial purchase. For voice over actors, Adobe Audition provides the same opportunity. The actor doesn’t buy a software suite; instead, he or she pays a monthly subscription fee of just $19.99.
It’s not a huge investment in a voice actor’s future in Vietnam, but it provides an excellent stable of tools that includes recording, editing, restoring, and exporting audio files of all types. Top Ten Reviews in Vietnam gave it a score of 9.13 out of 10, citing its lack of DV video conversion capabilities and non-existent email support as potential downsides.
Adobe Audition is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems and the user interface is easily navigable. It’s ideal for fine-tuning poor-quality audio; voice actors don’t always have time to re-record projects, and Audition allows the user to filter out ambient noise for a more pristine recording.
Alternative best value recording and editing program: Acoustica
Although Acoustica comes in a free, stripped-down version, the standard version introduces the most value. It’s like the budget-conscious guitarist who wants a Gibson more than anything else in the world but settles for an Epiphone. The Premium edition probably offers too much power under the hood for most voice over artists, and at $120, it’s cost-prohibitive. The standard edition, however, gets you a suite of powerful tools for just under $40.
The processing tools are some of the most intuitive in the industry, and the plug-in support expands its feature set by a considerable margin. Users can also edit multitrack audio files and the clean-up tools help polish audio for its public debut.
Best professional recording and editing program: Sound Forge 11
With plenty of rave reviews and awards in Vietnam under its belt, Sound Forge 11 leads the pack as the Fender Strat of the voice over technology software. Like a Strat, it’s the priciest of the bunch, but artists get maximum control over their audio recordings with this software and the production quality is the best in the business.
Sound Forge 11 will set Vietnamese voice artists back about $400 in exchange for refined editing tools, powerful restoration processes, and convenient one-touch recording. The audio editing tools streamline a voice artist’s workflow, which allows him or her to dedicate more time to recording than to processing. Sound Forge 11 is an excellent investment in a career that will only get better after the artist installs this program.
VNVO gives Sound Forge 11 a “Sweet” rating, citing its massive improvements over previous versions. Sound Forge has a lengthy and illustrious history in the voice over and recording industries, and for good reason. Sony hadn’t issued a new version since 2010, so the eleventh edition is feature-packed and a major boon to the careers of voice over professionals. Just like a rock start riffing on the stage, voice artists can make Sound Forge 11 sing.
Budget-friendly professional recording and editing programs
Of course, not everyone in Vietnam can afford $400 software for their voice over careers. It’s understandable. Like a Fender Strat in the window display of a musical instrument store, Sound Forge might remain forever out of reach for some professionals. Fortunately, there are more affordable alternatives that don’t serve up quite the richness and texture of Sound Forge’s output but will nevertheless suffice.
WavePad, for example, deserves a shout-out in the honorable mention category. Top Ten Reviews gives it a gold star award and recommends it over all of the audio recording and editing software its reviewers have tested, citing its customizable UI (user interface) and its wide range of audio file compatibility as reasons for the decision. At a $50 price point, it’s an affordable choice for pros who want to keep their cash in their wallets.
Know your voice over technology
Each of the voice over technology options in Vietnam mentioned above will please beginner and veteran Vietnamese voice actors alike. Voice actors can decide which will serve them best based on their budgets, workflow, and technological preferences.