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With countless voice actors honing their skills at home, the vast number of vocal recording programs out there provide endless potential. Being able to record voice acting for casting auditions at home allows the performers to be comfortable in their own space, able to thus record auditions that sound more confident and high-quality. Additionally, vocal recording software for casting has increased in quantity as technology advances, becoming accessible to a wide range of voice actors with different needs. Recording casting auditions remotely from home also saves money and allows for more flexibility, especially for voice actors who may work other jobs.
With so much software available, all with differing features, tools, and interfaces, an actor doing VO work can easily become overwhelmed with the variety present. Not only that, but we’re sure there are plenty of voice actors out there who might not have used very many DAWs at all – necessitating a casting recording software with an easy-to-use interface.
Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned voice actor who’s been recording their casting auditions for years, or a brand new voice actor looking to make a mark, here are a few things to look for when selecting a casting recording app.
Now that you know what to look for in terms of usability, pricing, community, security, and more, continue reading to find the best audio recording software for casting.
Notetracks Pro is a comprehensive cloud-based audio web app that allows voice actors to record their auditions with ease. With its easy-to-use interface, recording your audition is made a breeze. With the simple press of the red record button, voice actors can record their casting auditions with a platform that is intuitive and innovative. Voice actors also have the ability to add several recordings at once, which can be useful if you’re practicing a scene with another talent.
Additionally, Notetracks has annotation features that allow voice actors to leave notes and analysis on their castings. For example, a voice actor can use Notetracks’ commenting feature to denote where improvements can be made, such as tone, diction, and pacing. Moreover, Notetracks is also fully collaborative, and easily shared with various options such as email, public link, or communication platforms such as Slack. This can be useful if you’re sharing auditions with a coach or manager to receive feedback and ideas, improving the overall quality of your casting auditions.
With recording, editing, and annotation tools all in one simple, visually appealing space, Notetracks is an excellent option for beginner voice actors or those who are looking to collaborate alongside other talent at an affordable price.
Pros: Condense your recording, editing, and annotation process all in one place; visual labelling and feedback along your waveform; Audition and Audacity integration; easy-to-use interface; affordable plans; and multiple sharing options.
Cons: Not as expansive as other audio recording software for casting, in terms of actual voice recording.
Notetracks Pro is available to use on Windows and macOS browsers, including Chrome, Safari, Brave, and Firefox; a mobile responsive app is currently in development.
Find out more about Notetracks here.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can utilize Notetracks in your acting, voice-over, and casting recordings, check out our help article.
Audacity is an accessible and affordable audio casting recorder that is completely 100% free. With an intuitive and relatively simple interface to use, voice actors can record their casting auditions with significant ease, saving time and stress. Audacity, like most of the casting recording software on our list, also has great editing and mixing features that’ll take your audition to the next level. Often a choice for beginner and advanced voice actors alike, Audacity is an excellent software option for anyone needing to record a great audition for casting.
Pros: 100% completely free and open source; wide cross-platform compatibility; easy-to-learn interface; has all the necessities for casting recording, editing, and mixing; and has plug-in support.
Cons: Not as comprehensive as more advanced recording apps for casting, like Adobe Audition or Pro Tools, which can feel limiting for professional voice actors.
Available on Windows, MacOS, Linux, and other operating systems.
Try out Audacity now.
Audition is a comprehensive audio recording software for casting that includes multitrack, waveform, and spectral displays, allowing voice actors to see the nitty-gritty of their projects, down to the smallest inflection. For those who are more well-versed with recording software for castings, Audition has advanced tools such as overdubbing, punch-ins during playback, and timed recording modes, allowing voice actors to further optimize their casting recording process. While Adobe Audition does have a monthly subscription fee, there is a free trial available to let you test out the application prior to purchase.
Pros: Multiple ways to record a voice acting audition; spectral, waveform, and multi-track recorders; excellent noise reduction; free trials; and a vast amount of tools in editing and mixing that contribute to a high-quality, great-sounding casting audition.
Cons: Steep learning curve for individuals who aren't seasoned audio creators; subscription is pricey when compared to other audio recording for casting software options; and an extensive array of features that might appear daunting and crowded for those seeking a more streamlined experience.
Available for download on macOS and Windows. Check Adobe’s site for specific system requirements.
Try out Adobe Audition today.
Optimized and created for radio broadcasters, voice actors, and podcasters, Hindenburg Journalist’s recording capabilities are painstakingly designed and enhanced to make audio recording for casting comprehensive and deep. Hindenburg has automated vocal processes, such as auto-levelling and noise-reduction, making your casting auditions sound crisp, professional, and clear with little effort. It also has great sharing options, allowing you to distribute the same file to multiple recipients simultaneously, in different formats and loudness levels too! Additionally, there’s a feature where you can transcribe and edit your recordings just as you would a text document, without having to always be connected to the internet. This can be useful for voice-acting auditions that require a script transcribed.
Hindenburg is not currently offered for free, but they do offer a 30-day trial to determine if the program works for you.
Pros: Vocal automation makes recording castings high-quality with little effort; transcription tool is handy for scripting; easy-to-use interface; month-long trial offer; and excellent sharing and distribution options to your agents, managers, directors, and other actors.
Cons: Not as expansive in terms of tools and features of other DAWs; if you’re looking to get deep and gritty with your casting auditions by adding effects and advanced edits, Hindenburg may be lacking some capability in that department.
Available for download on macOS and Windows.
Visit their website today to learn more about Hindenburg Journalist.
GarageBand is well-known and well-loved, all for good reason! With an incredibly user-friendly interface that can be used on computer and mobile, GarageBand is a versatile audio recording software for casting that you should be taking advantage of. With it being free for all macOS users, GarageBand is also an accessible audio casting recorder that voice actors of any budget can enjoy. GarageBand has powerful recording features, ensuring studio-quality signals and mixing that’ll make your casting recording sound high calibre. GarageBand is easy to use but doesn’t skimp on advanced settings and features, allowing those who do advanced VO work to create a more professional-sounding audition.
Moreover, for those looking to produce their own voice-over work, GarageBand is also a capable audio editing program with a plethora of tools, user libraries, and plug-ins to try out.
Pros: 100% free for macOS users; high-quality audio input and output; easy-to-use interface; advanced features, tools, and settings for other audio tasks, such as editing
Cons: Unavailable on other operating systems; since it’s free, it won’t be as comprehensive as a paid, professional program such as Audition or Pro Tools
GarageBand is currently only available on macOS and the App Store.
Pro Tools is an exceptional choice for voice actors seeking a professional-grade audio recording app for casting. With comprehensive recording capabilities, Pro Tools allows for precise and high-fidelity voice capture, crucial for voice actors who require top-notch quality. Pro Tools offers an extensive collection of audio processing tools, plugins, and effects, enabling voice actors to meticulously refine their recordings, remove background noise, and enhance their performances. Additionally, with its session management and collaboration features, sharing with agents and managers has never been as detailed as with Pro Tools.
Pro Tools supports ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) workflows that are commonly used in film and TV, making it a go-to recording program for audio casting for VO work in those industries. While it may have a steeper learning curve than some other software, its power and versatility make it a staple for professionals seeking top-tier voice recordings.
Pros: Professional, studio-grade quality, features, tools, and options to record, refine, and review voice-over castings; advanced features such as Automated Dialogue Replacement; sharing and collaboration ability; and advanced editing, mixing, and mastering features.
Cons: Free version may not be as broad as required; if you need a paid version of Pro Tools, after the free trial, the minimum monthly cost is $99 USD/month, which can be a really steep cost.
Pro Tools is available on recent versions Windows and macOS. See compatibility eligibility here.
Learn more about Pro Tools today.
Voice actors are tirelessly trying to get out there to perform, contributing a new sound to a show, film, or documentary. With script reading, a focus on emotion and tone, among getting into a recording headspace, voice actors shouldn’t have to add the tumultuous task of finding a versatile audio recording software for casting, too. With many choices out there, picking the right tools for your casting recording might feel daunting, but with our article, you now are clued into the know-how of what to look for, allowing you to focus on further fostering your talent.
To narrow your search for an audio recording app for casting down, some questions to ask as you’re trying a new program include:
Once you’ve answered these questions as you compare, deciding on an audio recording software for casting should be easy and accurate to your VO needs.
Do you use any of the audio recordings for casting programs on our list? Or do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments!
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