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

• If not already installed, download either the Voice Memos app on iPhone, or a good voice recorder app on Android.

• 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.

Optional 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.