Podcast Launch: Host Voice Guide

Everyone’s voice is different. The purpose of this guide is to identify key components of your voice, to help better the recording and post-production process.

What factors determine how a voice sounds?

For a more scientific deep dive about speech intelligibility, check out FACTS ABOUT SPEECH INTELLIGIBILITY.

Fundamental Frequency:

Humans have a hearing range from about 20Hz - 20,000 Hz. But our fundamental frequency (f0) is in the range of 80-180 Hz for men, 100 - 200Hz  for women, and 300 Hz for children (variations occur). 

Range: 

The lowest to highest frequency you can speak.

Tessiture (Texture):

Somewhere in the middle of your range. The lowest to highest frequency you can speak COMFORTABLY.

Dynamics:

How loud does your voice get at each of these stages: Whisper, Quiet, normal, Loud, Shouting

Intensity: 

If you could measure the drama in your voice on a scale of 1 to 10, where would you place it? How ‘big’ is your voice when you really get going?

Pace:

How quickly do you jump into a thought? Does your voice stay even or jump from slow to fast? How do you end your thoughts? (Ex: Slow, abrupt, build up, even)

Timbre:

Quality or texture of your voice. (Ex: Raspy, golden, bubbly, monotone)

Example Voice Profile

Once you have an understanding of all of the above factors, we recommend putting together a simple voice profile for each host on your podcast. This helps the editor make decisions that suit each unique voice best.

Max Jones - Host of The Movie Secrets Podcast

• Male Voice (85 - 180Hz fundamental frequency)

• Soft to Medium Volume

• Gentle voice, does not get big ever.

• Steady pacing. Tends to speed up when introducing guests. Takes their time when responding to the guest.

• Voice is raspy with a little Southern American twang.

• Recorded in Studio

• Audio Plug-ins

  • Equalizer

    • Low Frequency roll-off at 180 Hz

    • 2 dB bump at 200 Hz

    • 2 dB reduction at 700 Hz

    • 1 dB reduction at 2 kHz

    • 2 dB bump at 4 kHz

    • High Frequency roll-off at 5 kHz

  • De-Ess

  • Compressor

  • Maximizer

  • Limiter

Need Professional Help? Check out our Podcast Launch Service.