Martin Warnas – Dutch/English voice-over

For Mastervolt I recorded this video, to explain their remote control systems for onboard electronics. We didn’t shoot it on board my own yacht, because… well, I don’t have one. Yet. But I do have the right accent to go with such high-class, quality services, don’t I? 😉

I recorded the audio at home, music was added by the editor. No retakes were needed, but I’d have been happy to do them.

(Note: voice-over starts at 66 seconds.)

The video was produced by Kristel van der Velde, whom I can recommend to anyone who needs to have a video produced. We’ve also worked together for many Kverneland videos.

For PConTV I’ve voiced a series of brief instruction movies on setup and operation for their fantastic device. I’ve done both the English and the Dutch version, so now you have a chance to compare them.

You’ll find that my Dutch has no accent whatsoever, but in English I do sound rather ‘posh’. In fact, the accent is ‘Home Counties’ and it is actually the preferred accent for BBC newsreaders.

Here is an instruction video for setting up the PConTV box:

And here is the Dutch version, also voiced by me:

For my part, the recording process was very easy. The movies had already been scripted and recorded. I was merely given a few scripts, which I recorded in my home studio. I uploaded the files to my webserver, where the customer could download them. As I recall, only a few minor changes were needed for timing purposes. Also, we debated whether ‘Wifi’ should be pronounced as ‘wai-fai’ or ‘wee-fee’. I lost that particular discussion, so in these movies it’s ‘wee-fee’ now 😉

My rate was based on the total number of words for all scripts, with a nice discount because if you give me several movies to do it’s unfair if I charge my startup fee for every one of them, right? Also, those fixes were included in the price. And when a small section was added later on, I did that for free too. The buy-out was for unlimited use on the internet. (I can’t even recall the last time I put a cap on a buy-out for non-broadcast: when I quote a price, it’s ALL-IN.)

Download free audiofiles to include in your software application. Don’t use a synthesized voice, use a REAL one! Help blind and visually impaired users to use your software, but don’t make them suffer with fake voices!

Listen to a preview (low quality) of the voice recording.

Get the cuesheet (all the texts) here: download PDF.

Recordings in this file are:

– Copy
– Paste
– Edit
– Print
– Send to printer
– Save as PDF file
– Open file
– Save
– Save as
– Error
– Server not ready
– Printer not ready
– Please enter your first name
– Please enter your last name
– Please enter your email
– Please enter the serial number
– Please enter your login name
– Please enter your password
– Click here
– Please choose from these options
– Please read the message on screen
– Please contact support
– Please consult the manual
– Please consult the helpsection of our website
– Unknown input
– Unknown variable
– Unknown command
– Unknown setting
– Unknown filetype
– Fi le not found
– Directory not found
– Record not found
– Your file has not been saved. Are you sure you want to quit?
– Operation successful
– Correct
– Confirmed
– Acknowledged
– Update complete
– Download complete

Click here to download the high quality version of this file.

Download free general usage audio messages here. Anything from evacuation alerts and warnings to a friendly request to switch off cellphones.

Listen to a preview (low quality) of the voice recording

Get the cuesheet (all the texts) here: download PDF.

Recordings in this file are:

– Stand by
– Remain seated
– Help is on the way
– Do not panic
– Please exit in an orderly fashion
– Please remain calm and exit now
– Evacuate this area now / Leave this area now
– Mind the gap
– Mind your step
– Mind your head
– Please follow the safety instructions
– Please switch off all mobile devices now
– Please turn of your phone now
– Ladies and Gentlemen: we are about to begin. Please make your way to your seat and remember to switch off your phone. Thank you!

Click here to download the high quality version of this file.

Download free voice response messages for your answering machine or voice response system here.

Listen to a preview (low quality) of the UK accent

Listen to a preview (low quality) of the US accent

Get the cuesheet (all the texts) here: download PDF.

Recordings in this file are:

– Thank you for calling. All our lines are busy at the moment. Please hold.
– All our lines are busy at the moment. Please hold or send us an email via the contact form on our website.
– You are being held in a queue. There are more than 5 people ahead of you. As we try to give every customer our full attention, please hold or try later, so we can do the same for you.
– You are 4th in the queue
– You are 3rd in the queue
– You are 2nd in the queue
– The next available operator will take your call
– Welcome. Press 1 for …
– Please select the department you wish to reach
– Press 1 for / Press 2 for / etc / Press 9 for
– End with ‘hash’ / and press ‘hash’
– End with ‘star’ / and press ‘star’
– Sales
– Customer service
– The accounts department
– The warehouse
– Any other business
– Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening / Hello

Click here to download the high quality version of this file.

Download your free radio station continuity messages here.

Listen to a preview (low quality) of the UK accent

Listen to a preview (low quality) of the US accent

Get the cuesheet (all the texts) here: download PDF.

Recordings in this file are:

– This concludes the end of our broadcast today. Please visit our website for more information.
– Coming up… the news / local news / world news / sports news /
weathernews / the weather / traffic updates /
– … in your area
– You can also find us on Twitter:
– Coming up…
– Your favorite music station
– Your favorite station
– Your favorite local station
– Your favorite sports station

Click here to download the high quality version of this file.

Download free radio station time messages here. Also suitable for software.

Listen to a preview (low quality) of the UK accent

Listen to a preview (low quality) of the US accent

Get the cuesheet (all the texts) here: download PDF.

Recordings in this file are:

– The time is
– It’s coming up to / it’s nearly / it’s almost
– One AM Two AM … Twelve AM
– One PM Two PM … Twelve PM
– One Two … Twelve (hours, add am/pm or o’clock to these)
– Quarter past / Half past / Quarter to
– o’clock / AM / PM
– Up next / coming up / which means it’s time for …

Click here to download the high quality version of this file.