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FAQ

Have a question about Edge Studio?  It’s possible someone else has already asked the same question! Read below for answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions at Edge.

Why train with Edge Studio?

Good question! As we mentioned before, Edge has the most comprehensive and robust voice over training program out there, and we are proud of the accomplishments of our graduates. There are certainly individuals and training programs out there who will take your money and give you a substandard education. Others are simply too inexperienced or inept to offer the quality of training that we have at Edge Studio. Here are a few of the reasons that you should consider Edge Studio for your voice over education: Firstly, we believe that the purpose of your education is to prepare you to enter into the highly competitive voice over market and to succeed in this industry. The way we do that is by giving you the adequate coaching and education to supply you with the tools and knowledge to prosper. Many other individuals or businesses will happily take your business and make you a demo today, but a demo without the substantial training, robust course offerings and one-on-one attention that Edge Studio provides will do you no favors. We don’t recommend our students move forward into recording their demos until we believe that they can replicate a high standard of voice over excellence in real-world VO situations. Our objective is to hone your skills to the point where you can operate at the apex of professionalism every single time you step into that booth. We employ a wide variety of highly accomplished coaches who are well respected in the voice over industry, with specialties covering the full spectrum of genres therein. At Edge Studio, you will have your own personal Education Advisor who guides you through every step of the process and can help you navigate through our program. No other facility offers this level of personal attention. Each class is taught live. We believe that everyone learns differently, and we want to give you as much personal attention as possible. Each of our students have a unique voice, a unique personality, and unique circumstances that require more personal attention that can be offered through prerecorded videos or YouTube tutorials. Edge Studio is the most trusted name in the voice over industry; we have been producing the best voice over demos for decades. Agents and acting schools routinely recommend their talent to Edge for our in-depth classes, superior coaching, and high-quality demos. Our students are consistently booking work! Sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the page or visit our Testimonials page and read about Student Success Stories  - new ones all time time!

People tell me I have a great voice. Should I do voice over?

Absolutely! A nice sound is a good start, but you will need training in order to be successful.

But if I already have a great voice, why do I need training?

Voice over, like any performing art such as dance or music, is a skill that requires years of training to master. Having a nice sound helps, but knowing what to do with your voice is much more important. Without training, you will never become proficient enough to launch a successful career. Even the pros still seek out continuing education and private training to polish their skills.

Why take Edge’s program over training with an individual coach?

Individual coaches will not be able to provide you all the skills and knowledge that Edge Studio can. We have the best coaches in the world, and coaching is only one part of the process of becoming a voice actor.  We believe in providing you with access to all of the resources - classes, coaching, demos, and continuing education and workshops - that will turn you into a well-rounded voice actor that has a real shot at success, rather than someone who has simply been coached well.

I want to become a voice actor, how do I get started?

Your first step is to take our Investigate Voice Over class. This class will give us an opportunity to get to know you and your voice. That way, we can make recommendations as to what areas of voice over we feel you would be most marketable in. From there, you can join our training program and start your voice over career.

I don’t want a group class – I prefer a personalized solo evaluation.

No problem! Sign up for a Private Evaluation. These are one-hour long sessions with Edge Studio instructors. In this session, they will get to know you, hear you read, and be able to make recommendations for your voice over career. To schedule a private evaluation, click here.

How much does Edge Studio’s training program cost?

We offer a number of different program options based on your budget and your voice over goals. Please look at our Training Program page for further details.

Do you offer any payment plans for the full program?

We have a variety of payment options to make our programming more accessible to students. You can purchase your program in full off our website and receive a discount on the cost of the training program.  Additionally, you can use PayPal Credit on our checkout page to pay for private coaching or program enrollments. If you qualify, you can pay off the cost of your programming interest free for the first 6 months, and start training right away! Lastly, we offer interest-free, in house financing. This will allow you to pay off your program over the course of several months. No credit checks required! Call our office at 212-868-3343 or email us at [email protected] for more information and to enroll in Edge Studio’s financing plan today!

How long does the program take?

Our program is based on your schedule- you can take as long as you need. We estimate that on average, our students get through their first demo in three to five months. However, we recommend that you take a full complement of additional courses that will further your voice over education. We also never advise our students to record a demo until the student and the coach agrees that they are ready for a professional quality demo.

How do I know which coach to train with?

When you join Edge Studio, you will have an Education Advisor assigned to you who will take you through every step of the process. They will work with you to find a coach that fits your learning style, specializes in the areas of voice over you want to conquer, and one whose schedule works well with yours.

I am interested in a particular genre of voice over, do you offer instruction for it?

A directory of our coaches, including the genres they specialize in, can be found on this page. Edge Studio specializes in all areas of voice over.

What do I need in order to start a voice over career?

In order to be successful, you will need training, a professionally produced demo, and adequate home studio.

What is a demo?

A voice over demo is a recording that compiles several short clips representative of a talent’s vocal performance in a given genre (examples: narration, commercial, animation, audiobooks, etc.). It is, for all intents and purposes, a voice actor’s “resume.”

Why do I need a demo?

In order to succeed in voice over, you will need an industry standard demo. Casting directors, agents, and producers will not take you seriously if you do not have one. This is a competitive industry; a demo from Edge Studio will put you ahead of the rest of the pack, and start your career off on the right foot.

Do I need a home studio to be successful?

Absolutely! Most voice over is done from a home studio these days, and without one you will keep yourself from being truly competitive in this industry.

Can Edge Studio help me with learning how the technology and software works?

We sure can! We offer a number of classes designed to show you how these components work, from editing software to home studio equipment. In addition, we offer home studio consultations with knowledgeable Edge Studio coaches.

Do I have to have a computer to be a voiceover artist?

Having a relatively up-to-date computer (made within the last five years) is strongly recommended. Most Macs and PCs made in that time frame are sufficient to handle any voiceover related tasks. Voiceover is a technology heavy business, and it’s important to invest in the necessary equipment.

Do I need any special equipment to take the web-based classes?

All you need is a computer or a mobile device or tablet that can connect to the internet and has built-in speakers and a built-in mic. If you need some professional home studio help, we have a number of continuing education opportunities that will show you the specialized voice over equipment you will need once you are ready to start your voice over career. Check out our class schedule!

Does Edge offer any free resources for the voice over community?

We do! Those resources can be found in our VO Resource Center.

I am looking for scripts for my demo; can I use pieces from Edge’s Script Library?

The primary purpose of that collection is for students to practice their performance technique. We STRONGLY advise against using any pieces for demo scripts, because it is very likely that any given piece is already on someone else’s demo, due to the popularity of Edge’s Script Library. It is important to have unique pieces on your demo to give it the best chance of standing out and getting your voice noticed. That is why any student who makes a demo with Edge Studio will receive custom demo scripts created by our coaches and copywriters.

I have booked a voice over job, but am not sure how much I should charge, or if I am being paid a fair rate by a client.

Our rate card can be found in the VO Resource Center on this page. Please note that while this is a guide to common industry rates, there still may be some variance depending on the client, job, market, or other factors. We recommend using it as a starting point to help you determine whether you are being paid a fair rate, and then you should negotiate with your client from there.

Where is Edge located?

A list of all of our locations, as well as directions and contact info, can be found on our Our Locations page. Our headquarters is located in New York City.

I do not live near any of Edge’s locations, can I still participate in the program?

Yes you can! Almost all of Edge’s courses are offered as webinars, as well as private coaching sessions via Skype or Zoom. We can record demos in our headquarters in New York, or in one of our partner studios in Los Angeles. For students living outside those areas who want a demo, we can help you find a studio that meets our standards of excellence, but the cost of the studio time won’t be included in your program. You will have to pay for a 90 minute recording session with that studio in order to record your demos.

Does Edge offer any kind of scholarships or financial assistance for its educational programs?

Unfortunately, we do not offer financial assistance, but we do have a number of ways that you can pay for your program, including interest-free financing and PayPal Credit.

Will Edge Studio actively help me find work?

It’s important to understand your relationship with Edge Studio. We are a training institution.  We will teach you, make you the best demos in the industry, and give you all the knowledge you need to be successful in voice over, but we are not an agency. We are not working on behalf of our students to actively find voice over gigs for them. It is up to you to audition, book work, develop relationships with clients, and when you are ready and if it makes sense, land an agent.  All of these concepts and more will be covered in our available classes and coaching sessions.  And Edge Studio will always be there for you to help you stay sharp, work on additional demos, update your existing demos, or engage in continuing education.  Once you've trained with us, we consider you a part of the greater Edge Studio Community.