A voice over brief template is a one-page checklist that tells a voice actor, or you, exactly how a recording should sound: who listens, where it plays, how long it runs, the tone and the pronunciations. Fill in the 11 fields below, then copy a ready brief for a human voice or an AI voice.
Key Takeaways
- A good brief fits on one page and answers 5 questions: who is listening, where it plays, how long it runs, how it should sound, and what to deliver.
- Describe tone with 3 words and one example of what you don’t want. “Warm, clear, not salesy” beats “professional”.
- Give the length in seconds and in words. A 60-second read is about 150 words at a typical pace.
- List names, brands and numbers up front, with how to say them. Mispronounced names are the most common fix.
- The same brief works for a human voice actor or an AI voice. Choose the tab, copy it, and send or use it.
Fill in your brief once
- Type your details in the boxes below. Nothing is sent or saved.
- Pick a brief in the "Voice over brief templates" section. Your details are already inside each one.
- Press Copy, then send it to your voice actor or keep it beside your script when you choose a voice in Kveeky.
Voice over brief templates
Choose who the brief is for. Each one includes your details and is ready to copy.
Brief for choosing and directing an AI voice
Use this when you or a teammate will pick the voice in Kveeky. It turns your brief into settings you can test: voice, speed, emotion preset and custom pronunciations.
AI voice brief One page
Listener: [who is listening]
Plays on: [where it plays]
Length: [length in seconds and words]
Language and accent: [language and accent]
Tone: [3 tone words]
Avoid: [what to avoid]
Say it like this: [names and how to say them]
Deliver: [file type]
Due: [due date]
Contact: [contact]
How to test: shortlist 3 voices that match the accent and tone. Generate the first 2 sentences of the script with each one, and listen on the device your audience will use. Pick one voice, then set the speed and an emotion preset (Neutral, Happy, Love, Angry, Calm or Sad). Add a custom pronunciation for every name above, and listen again before you download.
Brief to send to a human voice actor
Use this when you want a human performance, such as a character, a drama read or a broadcast campaign. Add your budget and usage terms before you send it.
Voice actor brief Add budget and usage
Who is listening: [who is listening]
Where it plays: [where it plays]
Length: [length in seconds and words]
Language and accent: [language and accent]
Tone: [3 tone words]
Please avoid: [what to avoid]
Pronunciations: [names and how to say them]
Deliverable: [file type], one clean take with no music or effects, plus a second take with a slightly different read if you can.
Deadline: [due date]
Usage: [media, territory and how long it will run]
Budget: [fee or range]
Please send a short audition of the first 2 sentences of the script, attached. Thank you, [contact].
5-line quick brief
Use this for a fast internal request or a short social video, when a full page is too much.
Quick brief 5 lines
2. Listener: [who is listening].
3. Length: [length in seconds and words].
4. Sound: [language and accent], [3 tone words], not [what to avoid].
5. Deliver: [file type] by [due date] to [contact].
Brief ready? Paste your script into Kveeky, test 3 voices against your brief, and download the one that fits.
Test your brief in Kveeky freeWhat each field in a voice over brief decides
| Field | What it decides | Strong example |
|---|---|---|
| Project and listener | Vocabulary, pace and warmth | ”Onboarding video for new bookkeeping clients, many new to the software” |
| Where it plays | Energy and clarity needed (phone speaker, headphones, loud shop) | “Autoplay on mobile, often muted first” |
| Length | Pace and how much script you can fit | ”45 seconds, about 110 words” |
| Language and accent | Which voices make the shortlist | ”British English, neutral southern accent” |
| Tone in 3 words | The performance or the voice setting | ”Calm, reassuring, plain” |
| What to avoid | Stops the most likely wrong read | ”Not salesy, no big pauses” |
| Names to pronounce | Fewer retakes or re-generations | ”Siobhan (shuh-VAWN), Kveeky (KWEE-kee)“ |
| File type | Whether the audio is ready for your editor or player | ”WAV to edit in video, MP3 for the website” |
| Due date | Time for a second pass | ”Friday, with one round of changes” |
How to describe a voice in words
“Friendly” means different things to different people, so pair every tone word with a clear instruction. Use the table as a starting point, then test it against real voices.
| If you want it to sound… | Say this in the brief | Try this in Kveeky |
|---|---|---|
| Warm and friendly | ”Smiling, conversational, like talking to one person” | Happy or Neutral preset, speed at 1×. Compare 2 voices |
| Calm and reassuring | ”Steady, unhurried, soft landings at the end of sentences” | Calm preset, speed a little below 1× |
| Clear and instructional | ”Even pace, every word clear, short pauses between steps” | Neutral preset, add pauses with punctuation |
| Upbeat and energetic | ”Bright, quick, but never shouting” | Happy preset, speed a little above 1× |
| Serious or sensitive | ”Low-key, respectful, no sales energy” | Neutral or Sad preset. Listen closely before you use it |
Treat the settings as a first test, not a rule. Voices differ, so always listen to your own first 2 sentences. For more on pauses and emphasis, see the AI voice pacing, emphasis and breath guide.
Human voice actor or AI voice: which should you brief?
The brief is the same, but the best choice depends on the job.
| Your project | A good fit |
|---|---|
| Character, drama or a broadcast campaign needing a unique performance | Human voice actor |
| Explainers, tutorials, training and product demos | AI voice |
| Scripts that change often or need several versions or languages | AI voice |
| One-off hero ad where the voice is the brand | Human voice actor, or test both |
Not sure about cost? The voiceover cost calculator compares typical human rates with a Kveeky plan. If you plan to publish the audio, check the platform’s rules in the AI voice disclosure generator.
How Kveeky helps you act on your brief
Try your brief on a real voice, free
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How to write a voice over brief in 5 steps
- Fix the length first. Paste your script into the words to minutes calculator and write the result in the brief.
- Name the listener and the place. A phone speaker, a loud shop and headphones each need a different read.
- Choose 3 tone words and one thing to avoid.
- List every name, brand and number with how to say it.
- State the deliverable. File type, due date, number of changes and who signs off.
For ideas on the script itself, see the explainer video script template and the voiceover for business page. Training teams can start from the e-learning voiceover page.
Brief checklist before you send it
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Length in seconds and in words | Keeps the read on time with no rushed lines |
| Listener and place of play named | Sets the pace and clarity |
| 3 tone words and one thing to avoid | Gives a clear target and a clear “no” |
| All names and numbers spelled out | Prevents the most common retake |
| File type and due date | Avoids late conversions |
| Usage and budget added (human voices) | A fair quote needs the media, territory and term |
| Disclosure rules checked | Some platforms ask you to label AI audio |
| Script attached or pasted | The actor or the voice needs the exact words |
Frequently asked questions
What should a voice over brief include?
A voice over brief should include the project, listener, where it plays, length, language and accent, tone, what to avoid, names to pronounce, file type and due date. For a human voice actor, add budget and usage terms. One page is enough.
How long should a voice over brief be?
One page, or about 150–250 words. Short briefs get read, and they leave less room for guesswork.
How do I describe the voice I want?
Use 3 tone words and one example of what to avoid, such as “warm, clear, confident, not salesy”. Add a reference if you have one, such as a podcast or video with the right feel. Then test 3 voices on your own script.
Can I use the same brief for an AI voice and a human voice actor?
Yes. The fields are the same. For a human voice actor, add budget, usage and an audition request. For an AI voice, use the brief to shortlist voices, then set the speed, emotion preset and pronunciations.
How many voices should I audition?
Three is a good number. Generate the first 2 sentences of your script with each one, listen on the device your audience will use, and pick the one that matches your tone words.
Is this voice over brief template free?
Yes. Fill in the form, copy the brief and use it anywhere. To try voices, the Kveeky free plan includes standard voices and needs no credit card.
Sources
- Spoken lengths are estimated at 150 words a minute, the same rate as the words to minutes calculator.
- Kveeky plans, free plan, voices and commercial usage rights: Kveeky pricing, retrieved 29 October 2026.
- Kveeky controls (speed, emotion presets, custom pronunciations) and file types (MP3 and WAV): Kveeky app, product facts checked 29 October 2026.
- The brief fields are Kveeky’s own checklist, written for creators and small teams. It is not a legal or contract template: for usage terms and fees with a human voice actor, agree them in writing.