F.A.Q.s
"How much do you charge for recording voiceover?"
Every project is unique and voiceover rates can vary depending on the length, audience, and duration of the project as well as if it’s for broadcast or non-broadcast use. Contact me today with details for a free personalized quote for your project and budget whether you’re a professional studio or an indie game developer, I’d love to negotiate with you. My standard rates are based off of fair, market non-union rates cited by the Global Voice Acting Academy which you can find here: https://globalvoiceacademy.com/gvaa-rate-guide-2/ .
"What is your turnaround time for a voiceover recording?"
Exact turnaround time depends on the type and specifics of a project. However, most projects can be completed and delivered between 24-48 hours.
"Can I hire you for character voice impressions?"
Yes! It is possible to hire me for character impressions as long as it doesn’t conflict with my business relationships or business interests and as long as it is NOT used for commercial purposes. In the United States Court of Appeals decisions of Midler v. Ford (9th Circuit, 1988) and Waits v. Frito-Lay, Inc. (9th Circuit, 1992), a voice is a non-copyrightable identity unique to a person (or character). Therefore, a voice can be imitated but it can’t be used for commercial purposes without prior consent of its owner (or character IP owner) due to “right of publicity”. I do character impressions for hire non-commercially and only license an audio recording of me doing these impressions only. I do not claim any liability for legal damages caused by any unauthorized use of copyrighted material or characters by the client.
"Do you offer live directed sessions?"
Yes, absolutely! Currently, I can do live directed sessions over the following platforms:
- Zoom
- Skype
- Discord
- FaceTime
"Can I choose which microphone you use?"
Of course! I’m always willing to work to my client’s specific audio needs for their project. If you have a specific microphone preference, I have 3 microphones you can choose from:
- Neumann U87 Ai
- Neumann TLM-103
- Sennheiser MKH 416
"Which file types do you offer?"
I can send audio files in .wav, .mp3, .aiff, .caf, .m4a, & .aac. according to client specifications.
"How do you transfer the audio files for delivery to me?"
I will send you an email with an invoice and the audio file either attached to the email directly, through an FTP link on my website, or through a file sharing platform such as DropBox and Google Drive. Whichever method you prefer, I’ll be happy to deliver it that way for your convenience.
What is a raw voiceover vs. a dry voiceover vs. a finished voiceover? Which one will I receive?
A Raw Voiceover Recording is a recording that is unedited and unaltered from its recorded state. A Dry Voiceover Recording is a recording that has been edited but not processed (eg. compression, e.q., etc.). A Finished Voiceover Recording is a recording that has been edited and processed, ready for publication or broadcast.
Depending on the type of project and specific requests, you may generally receive a Dry Voiceover Recording so your in-house audio engineer can process it accordingly or a Finished Voiceover Recording that’s been edited and processed by me, the talent. Please note that some voiceover recordings (such as those for Corporate/Industrial & Explainer Videos) are Raw Voiceover Recordings only.
Policies & Terms of Use
General Use
Use of voiceover and/or vocal services from Cody J. Scarlett constitutes a legal binding contract in which the client is assigned (by way of present assignment of future and existing rights) a license with full title guarantee the entire copyright and all other rights in the project audio recordings for the agreed fee, usage, and usage term. Licensing for Broadcast Usage for TV, Radio, & Digital Media is limited to the platform and time period specified. A Perpetual License is granted to the client in perpetuity under non-broadcast terms and conditions. TALENT RETAINS ALL LEGAL RIGHTS TO AUDIO RECORDINGS UNTIL PAID IN FULL. TALENT DOES NOT GRANT ANY UNAUTHORIZED USE OF ANY AUDIO RECORDINGS CREATED.
Payments & Returns Policy
By using voiceover and/or vocal services from Cody J. Scarlett, the client must agree to payment terms and conditions. These conditions include the following:
- First Time Clients must pay 50% of the total project quote as a non-refundable session lock-in deposit. The remaining 50% of payment is due prior to delivery of the audio file(s) to the client.
- Returning Clients must pay within 30 days after the delivery of the audio file(s).
- Payment not received after 30 days will incur a $20 or 2% (whichever is greater) Late Fee.
Pickups Policy
FREE pickups are offered up to 48 Hours after delivery and must be 20% or less of the script. If pickups are requested after 48 Hours from delivery or are more than 20%, a pickup fee of $50 will be charged. Pickups are from errors made by the voiceover talent (e.g. mispronunciation, background noise in recording, etc.). Script changes and rewrites do not qualify as pickups.
Regarding the Use of AI & Voice Cloning
I, CODY J. SCARLETT, DO NOT GIVE ANY CONSENT TO THE USE OF MY VOICE THROUGH AI OR VOICE CLONING. This is considered theft of services, it is unethical, and will not be tolerated. It is also a violation of United States Tennessee State Code Ann. Title 39 § 47-25-1102 (4) and 47-25-1103 which prohibits the unauthorized use of an individual’s voice or likeness using AI or deepfake technology. I proudly stand in unity with SAG-AFTRA for the preservation of the performance arts and the protection of voiceover talents and musicians around the globe.