This month’s big question in Learning Circuits “Effective voice-over in eLearning?” Let’s see how we can utilize voice-over to make eLearning courses more effective.

1. Effective Voice-Over In ELearning!
This month’s big question in Learning Circuits “Effective voice-over in eLearning?” Let’s see how we can
utilize voice-over to make eLearning courses more effective.
Here are my suggestions:
Text-To-Speech Software
When To Use
• When the content is very dry.
• To save time & money by not having to pre-record information.
• When non human/ machine voice is required.
• When using the best quality of voice it is not needed.
• When speaking at a steady pace is required.
When NOT To Use
• Not to be used with abbreviations. For example – GPS as “G-P-S”, rather than “jeepy-ess”
• When pronouncing complex words which are not in the database of the text-to-speech software.
For instance, a company’s name.
• When you need to create an emotional connect with the learner.
• When the same word needs to be pronounced differently in a sentence, such as the word ‘project’.
• When conveying a mature voice such as that of an older person.
• When the pace of the voice needs to be changed in the middle of the audio.
• When the learner is a disabled person.
CommLab Experience
We have experienced that this voice-over is:
• Best used only for software courses.
• Ideal when a machine voice is required.
Home-Grown Human Voice-Over
When To Use
• When the project is not very cost-intensive.
• To make a real honest connection with the listener.
• To establish an emotional connect with learners.
• To make speech believable and interesting.
• When changing the pace of the voice.
When NOT To Use
• When the project is very costly.
• When there is a need to pronounce and interpret words very accurately.
• When there is a need to use the best quality of audio.
• When no background distractions in the audio are permissible.
• When studio recording is needed.
No.30, II Floor, Sarvasukhi Colony, West Marredpally, Secunderabad – 500 026 INDIA
Telephone: 0091–40–27803080 & Fax: 0091–40–27716308
URL: http://www.commlabindia.com Email: info@commlabindia.com

2. CommLab Experience
Till now, we haven’t used this type of voice-over as our employees though highly comfortable with
English, being Indians, have an Indian accent, and most of our clients are foreigners. However, we can
use this option for Indian clients.
Professional Voice-Over
When To Use
• When the best quality of audio is needed.
• When the pronunciation of words needs to be very clear & accurate.
• When the project is of very high priority.
• When no background disturbance can be allowed.
• When the voice needs to be very clear.
When NOT To Use
• When there is no requirement that the voice should be very clear.
• When the project is not of very high priority.
• When perfection is not necessary in audio.
• When the script needs to be very well-written.
• When the project is not very cost-intensive.
CommLab Experience
We have experienced that this voice-over is used to:
• Make courses more valuable and successful.
• Help the learner to engage emotionally with the courses.
Studio Recording
When To Use
• When no background disturbance can be allowed.
• When a suitable microphone for the recording is needed.
• When there is a need to deliver the best possible audio.
• When there is a need to monitor the audio while recording.
• When there is a specific requirement for a particular type of narrator.
• When there is a need for a professional narrator.
When NOT To Use
• When there is no strict requirement about lack of background noise.
• When audio is not very cost-intensive.
• When a home grown narrator can serve the recording purpose.
• When there is no restriction that the voice needs to be very clear.
• When there is no need for a specific microphone for recording.
CommLab Experience
We have experienced that this type of recording is used to:
• Enhance courses.
No.30, II Floor, Sarvasukhi Colony, West Marredpally, Secunderabad – 500 026 INDIA
Telephone: 0091–40–27803080 & Fax: 0091–40–27716308
URL: http://www.commlabindia.com Email: info@commlabindia.com

3. • Help in making courses successful.
• Create recordings without any background disturbances.
Full Narration
When To Use
• When the learner is visually impaired.
• When the subject is very boring.
• To gain the full attention of learner.
• To get learners involved with the subject till the end.
• When learners are very busy people.
When NOT To Use
• When the content is very interesting.
• When learners are not visually impaired.
• When learners do not prefer full narration.
• When learners want to read on their own.
• When the audio of the full text is not required by the client.
CommLab Experience
We have experienced that full narration is:
• Quite boring.
• Is a tedious option for most learners.
• Not necessary in most cases.
To read more such articles, visit http://blog.commlabindia.com/
No.30, II Floor, Sarvasukhi Colony, West Marredpally, Secunderabad – 500 026 INDIA
Telephone: 0091–40–27803080 & Fax: 0091–40–27716308
URL: http://www.commlabindia.com Email: info@commlabindia.com