At Wonderstory, we usually recommend using a professional voice actor for the best results — clear tone, polished delivery, and consistency that really lifts an animation. However, there are times when you may want to record a voiceover yourself. The good news is that with a bit of preparation, it’s entirely possible to get a clean, professional-sounding recording using just your phone.
Preparation Tips
Download the Voice Memos app on iPhone, or a good voice recorder app on Android if not already installed.
Record at a quiet time of day where you’re unlikely to be interrupted by family, deliveries or calls.
Choose a small room with soft furnishings such as carpet, curtains, or a sofa. If you’re away from busy roads, recording inside your car can also work. Avoid bathrooms and kitchens as they create lots of echo.
Close windows and doors to reduce outside noise.
Turn off noisy appliances such as fans or air conditioners.
Close the curtains to absorb sound.
Put your phone on airplane mode or do not disturb to stop notifications breaking the flow.
Open your script on a digital device that you can scroll silently. If you must use paper, pause before turning the page.
Place a thick cloth or sheet on your desk or table to reduce echo. Place your phone on top and avoid holding it while recording.
Recording Your Voiceover
Ask family or housemates not to disturb you while recording.
Stand up or sit upright with good posture.
Keep your mouth about 10–30 cm away from the phone’s microphone — not too close, not too far.
Pause if a car or plane passes outside, then continue.
Speak steadily and at a consistent volume.
If you make a mistake, go back to the previous sentence and start again — no need to restart the whole recording.
After you’re done, listen back with headphones to make sure you’re happy with the sound.
Post-Recording Cleanup
Use Adobe Podcast Enhance to reduce background noise.
Use Descript to quickly remove pauses, filler words, and gaps.
Recording a voiceover yourself takes a bit of preparation, but with these tips you can achieve strong results even without professional equipment.
👉 If you’d like support with your project — from professional voice actors to full animated explainers — get in touch with us at Wonderstory.
