Timed Voice Overs - TV and Radio Spots

Nikki Saco

Earlier this week I finished a 30 sec TV spot in Spanish. The initial script was long and sounded ridiculous in that time span. The client shortened the script. I was happy to get the additional fee but mostly because my attempt at the first script took me so long.

Timed readings can be tricky, so my question is how do you determine a script length is doable for a specific time span? In Spanish many words have more syllables than their English counterparts, so word counts are less accurate on shorter clips if esimates are made before the translation. That's the problem I ran into with this spot. After the project was done, I estimated at a reasonably fast (but not exaggerated) tempo, I can read 60 syllables in 10 seconds. It covers a lot of information but some clients want that.

Any tips you all can provide on how you manage timed voice overs would be great. I realize it may just be a matter of practice and experience.

Brad Venable · Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006, 20:20 (GMT) Post subject:

That is a great skill to have, but in my experience, time compressing in the computer is a good way to do it, and in fact, several of my clients have encouraged it to get that "twenty-nine point five second" :30.

*shrug*

I would, of course, check with the clients if this is OK with them beforehand, though.

Gary Johnston · Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006, 00:52 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Nikki,

Here's a tip I learned years ago as a copywriter. An easy paced, expressive 30 second read is about 85 to 95 words long. A lot more than that and you'll have to pick up the pace, a lot less than that and you'd better slow down and pause frequently. As with every guide it has it's flaws but it's worked well for me over the years. You'll have to tell me whether or not it works for Spanish as well. If you've been reading out loud it should be 30 right about...now!

Paxton Greene · Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006, 00:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Hey Nikki!

I work as a Writer/Producer for Cartoon Network Latin America. Many times what we'll do with our :30 scripts is keep them simple. So no problem when it goes through final Audio Spanish or Portuguese. Now when we have a promo that is wordy many times we do what you're client did, and just cut it down because of timing, overlaps of vo on video etc...I know it's not an exact science, but that's how we have been doing it for years.

Pax

Dennis Pompa · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006, 22:49 (GMT) Post subject:

Hi Nikki,

I write commercial copy for the radio station at which I'm employed..A good rule of thumb for 30 second script is it's usually about eight lines ....16 lines for a 60.

Dennis Pompa

Scott Pollak · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006, 23:13 (GMT) Post subject:

I also write and produce (and voice) copy for radio spots. The accepted standard, at least for English is:

:15 spot: no more than 45 words of copy
:30 spot: 90 words
:60 spot: 180 words

Less is better.