What is the Difference Between Raw and Broadcast-Ready Audio?

Ever download a voice actor's audio and it sounds completely different from what you expected?

Not on a performance level, but on an audio quality level.

When you hire a voice actor, you need to know exactly what you need so you can can communicate said needs effectively.  

Let's break down what it actually means to get broadcast-ready audio for your project so you can save time, protect your budget, and keep your audio engineers happy.

Why audio terminology creates a gap in your production timeline

Most voice seekers just want the audio to sound "good" and fit into their video timeline. But there's a big difference between a file that is fresh off the microphone and one that is fully polished.  

If you do not specify the type of audio delivery you need, you might end up with extra production work you did not budget for. To make sure you get exactly what you need, it helps to understand the three tiers of audio delivery.

The Three Tiers of Voice Over Audio Delivery

To keep your production moving smoothly, many professional voice actors typically offer three main types of audio files.  

1. Uncut audio

This is completely untouched audio, warts and all. If the voice talent stumbles, coughs, or retakes a line, every single bit of it is left in the file. This option is ideal if you have a dedicated audio editor on your team who wants absolute control over the pacing and editing process from scratch.  

2. Raw or Dry audio

This is the clean, edited industry standard. For this tier, the voice actor does the grunt work of "cleaning up" the audio files. They remove the big breaths, boo-boos, burps, and curses. You get a seamless, clean read of the script, but without any special mastering tools applied. It is perfect if your video editors want a clean vocal track to mix with background music and sound effects on their own.  

3. Processed or Wet audio aka Broadcast-Ready Audio

This is what professionals mean by broadcast-ready audio. In addition to cleaning up the files like the Raw tier, a custom audio processing rack is applied to the track. This typically includes a combination of tools like an FFT Filter, Automatic Click Remover, Dynamics Processing, a Compressor, a Parametric Equalizer, and a Hard Limiter.

The result is a loud, punchy, professionally mastered sound that you can drop straight into your mix.  

What Technical Specs Should You Expect by Default?

You should not have to guess at the technical details when working with a professional.

Unless a voice seeker requests something different, standard high-quality default settings are 48000 Hz, 24-bit mono WAV files. This format provides the cleanest, uncompressed file type for modern video editing software.  

If your project requires specific outputs or a different format, just let your talent know before recording begins.

Additionally, if your project requires split up sound files, such as individual files for an e-learning module or phone system prompt, expect a small file-splitting fee (typically around $1 per file) to handle that extra bit of work.

If you ever need advanced post-production like music scoring or complex sound effects, if they can't do it themselves, the voice actor can usually connect you with an audio engineer or sounds & music library like Audio Jungle.

Want to eliminate the audio guesswork on your very next project? 

Before I hit record, I send all of my voice seekers a comprehensive Service Guarantee. It details exactly what you will get, how my audio processing works, and my transparent retake policies so your production workflow is completely protected.  

If you want to see how a professional voice actor safeguards your production timeline, leave a comment below or send me a direct message to request a copy of my Service Guarantee.

From my village to yours, this is Tom Dheere, the H is Silent, but I'm Not.

Thanks For Reading!

To learn more about me, hear some samples, or download my demos, just go to www.tomdheere.com.

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Tom Dheere is a 30-year veteran voice actor specializing in corporate narration and commercials. Known as a "street-smart professor," he blends his theater-based training and guy-next-door performance style with mastery over voice over project management .

When he isn’t in the booth, he provides strategic business consulting at VOStrategist.com and produces the comic book Agent 1.22.