voice actor

Why I always say #HireHuman

December 30, 2025 by Rich Summers

Human Voice Actor vs AI Voice: Why Real Voices Still Matter

I often get asked why I comment on projects posted online that use AI-generated voices with nothing more than #HireHuman.

The answer is simple: I am a human voice actor.

Why I Always Say #HireHuman

In an era where artificial intelligence can generate voices at the click of a button, many creators and brands feel tempted to treat AI voiceovers as a replacement for human performers. AI advocates promote speed, cost savings, and convenience. But when a project truly needs impact, authenticity, and emotional connection, a human voice actor remains the superior choice. The difference isn’t technical alone. It’s human. It’s emotional. And it shapes how audiences connect with spoken language.

At the heart of voice acting lies emotional intelligence. Human voice actors instinctively understand tone, pacing, emphasis, and subtext in ways AI simply cannot replicate. We read between the lines. We sense when to pause for impact, soften a phrase for sincerity, or add grit for authority. These choices don’t happen by accident. They come from lived experience, empathy, and intuition.

AI voices may sound polished and consistent, but they lack emotional depth. That absence makes dialogue feel manufactured instead of authentic. Watch a few YouTube videos that rely on AI narration and the pattern becomes obvious. The voices quickly reveal themselves as artificial.

Authenticity Builds Audience Trust

Authenticity matters most in projects built on trust and connection—commercials, documentaries, corporate messaging, video games, and narration. Audiences are perceptive. Even when they can’t immediately identify an AI voice, they sense when something feels off. A human voice carries breath, texture, and nuance. These qualities signal presence and honesty. They aren’t flaws; they’re what make a voice believable.

When listeners hear a real person, they hear intention, conviction, and personality. Those qualities drive engagement and credibility.

Adaptability and Creative Collaboration Set Humans Apart

Adaptability also separates human voice actors from AI. Scripts evolve. Direction changes. Creative visions shift mid-session. Human voice actors respond in real time. We take feedback, reinterpret lines, explore alternate reads, and collaborate with directors and producers to serve the story.

AI voices, including those generated by platforms like Eleven Labs, operate within predefined parameters. They can produce variations, but they don’t understand why a change matters or how it serves the narrative. Human voice actors actively solve creative problems and often elevate a script beyond what appears on the page.

Storytelling Requires More Than Sound

Storytelling further highlights the difference. Whether we portray a character, sell a product, or narrate complex ideas, we shape performances around narrative intent. We understand arc, tension, and rhythm. We sustain emotional continuity across long-form projects.

AI-generated voices may maintain consistency in sound, but they struggle to maintain consistency in feeling. Over time, that emotional flatness weakens immersion and dulls the message.

Supporting Ethical and Artistic Values

Choosing human voice actors also reflects ethical and artistic values. It supports a profession grounded in skill, training, and experience. It ensures voices are used with consent and accountability. For brands and creators, that choice signals a commitment to quality, originality, and respect for the audience.

In the end, voiceover isn’t just about speaking words. It’s about communicating meaning.

AI-generated voices can work for placeholders, scratch tracks, or low-stakes applications. But any project that demands authenticity, emotional connection, and creative depth benefits from a human voice. A real voice doesn’t just deliver lines—it brings them to life.

That’s why I always say: #HireHuman.

The Case for #HireHuman

Please check out my demos. If you’d like a custom read, let me know. I’m always happy to show you that the voice you’re looking for is just an email away

CONTACT ME

Find out more about AI and what the National Association of Voice Actors is doing to keep human voice actors working and protected. CLICK HERE

What’s it like living in the mountains of Idaho and being a voice actor? CLICK HERE

You’ve Got A Great Voice – You Should Do Voice Overs!

July 12, 2022 by Rich Summers

You’ve Got a Great Voice — But Should You Really Do Voiceovers?

People say it all the time: “You’ve got a great voice — you should do voiceovers!”
If you’ve ever heard that and wondered whether voice acting is your next big move, you’re not alone. As a professional voice actor based near Boise, Idaho, I’ve heard that line more times than I can count. And years ago, I even believed it myself.
But here’s the truth: having a great voice is not the same as having a voiceover career.

The Myth of the “Great Voice”

There’s a standard running story in the VO world:
Someone hears you talk, tells you your voice is amazing, and insists you should be doing commercials, narrations, or animation. What they don’t realize is that voiceover is a craft, not a compliment. When I transitioned from a long career in broadcast radio into voice acting, I thought my polished delivery and on‑air experience would give me a head start. Instead, it nearly sank me. Casting directors didn’t want “announcers.” Agencies didn’t want “DJs.”
They wanted real, grounded, conversational performances — and I had to unlearn years of radio habits to get there.

The Hard Reality of Starting a Voiceover Career

My wake‑up call came when I booked a major national beverage spot early on. I thought I’d made it. But when it came time to record the final script, I couldn’t recreate the audition read. I lost the job — and it stung. But it also changed everything. That failure forced me to face the truth: A great voice means nothing without training, coaching, and practice.

So I humbled myself, invested in coaching, watched everything I could, practiced relentlessly, and rebuilt my entire approach to performance. Eventually, I earned representation, booked more work, and started building a real, sustainable VO career.

What You Actually Need to Succeed in Voiceovers

If you’ve been told you should “do voiceovers,” here’s what you really need to know:

1. Coaching Is Non‑Negotiable

Even top actors and athletes work with coaches. Voiceover is no different. Good coaching helps you develop technique, range, authenticity, and consistency.

2. Practice Is Everything

You can’t rely on natural talent. You need to practice scripts, genres, pacing, emotional nuance, and mic technique — constantly.

3. Professional Demos Matter

Once you’re ready, professionally produced demos are your calling card. They’re how agents and clients decide whether to hire you. They’re not cheap, but it’s an investment into your business, and you.

4. You’re Building a Business, Not Just a Skill

Voiceover requires marketing, networking, auditioning, and ongoing training. It’s a craft and a business.

Is Voiceover Worth It?

Absolutely — if you’re willing to put in the work. Today, I book regional and international projects, continue to train, and keep pushing toward that elusive national brand campaign. I’m miles ahead of where I started, and I love what I do. But it’s not easy, and it’s not instant. If you’re serious about becoming a voice actor, commit to the process.
If you’re not, enjoy the compliment — and keep your day job.

Final Thoughts

If people tell you that you’ve “got a great voice,” take it as a starting point, not a guarantee. Voiceover is a rewarding career, but it demands dedication, humility, and constant growth.
If you ever want guidance, insight, or a nudge in the right direction, feel free to reach out. Many people helped me along the way, and I’m always happy to pay it forward.

Some great coaching resources (There are a lot of great VO coaches. These are some of the coaches I’ve worked with. When choosing a coach, make sure you are compatible with them and they are able to coach you in the genres you’re looking to explore).

Tina Morasco
David Alden
Marc Cashman
Mary Lynn Wissner
J. Michael Collins
Bruce Kronenberg

CHECK OUT MY DEMOS CONTACT ME

Voice Overs From Idaho: Remote Mountain Voice Actor with a Broadcast‑Quality Studio

July 6, 2022 by Rich Summers

Voice Overs From Idaho: What It’s Really Like Recording From the Mountains

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can build a successful voiceover career from the mountains of Idaho, the short answer is yes, absolutely. As an Idaho voice over artist working from a home studio deep in the wilderness, I’ve learned firsthand that great audio doesn’t require a big city. It requires craftsmanship, the right tools, and a quiet place to create. And up here, quiet is one thing we have in abundance.

From Boise Broadcasting to Mountain‑Built Voice Acting

My journey started in Eagle, Idaho, a suburb of Boise, where I spent years in broadcasting before transitioning into full‑time voice acting in 2018. What I didn’t expect was that my wife and I would eventually sell our home and move 60 miles north into the Idaho mountains. The big question was obvious:
Can you really do professional voiceover work from the wilderness?
Would the internet be fast enough?
Will Source Connect work?
Are agencies still going to represent me if I wasn’t minutes from a studio?
Turns out, the answer to all of it was yes.

Building a Broadcast‑Quality Studio in the Idaho Mountains

My wife, a talented residential designer, created our new home, complete with a fully soundproofed, acoustically treated voiceover booth. Once the booth was finished, I set up my workstation, optimized the space, and put our internet connection to the test.
Source Connect worked flawlessly! What a relief THAT was!
And that was the moment I knew this crazy idea was going to work.

Why the Mountains Are a Voice Actor’s Dream Studio

Working as a remote Idaho voice actor has been one of the most unexpectedly perfect setups for recording. Unlike city studios, where traffic, sirens, and construction constantly threaten your noise floor, my booth sits in near‑total silence.
No cars or traffic noise. Leaf blowers? Lawn mowers or landscape crews? Nope! No urban chaos.
Just clean, crisp audio, and the occasional airplane or helicopter overhead, but those moments pass quickly.
Outside my studio window, the “neighbors” include elk, deer, foxes, bobcats, sandhill cranes, geese, grouse, and a bear who wanders by from time to time. We’ve learned to live with nature, respect it, and let it inspire the work.

A View That Never Stays the Same

One of the unexpected joys of living and recording up here is the view. It’s the same landscape every day, but it’s never the same scene. The light shifts. The seasons transform. The mountains breathe and change with the weather.
And every time we drive back into Boise for errands or to see friends, we can’t wait to return to the quiet, to the sanctuary that fuels both creativity and focus.
So… Can You Really Do Voice Overs From Idaho?
Yes. Absolutely you can. With the right studio setup, a reliable internet connection, and a commitment to the craft, you can build a thriving voiceover career from the mountains, the desert, the plains or anywhere your heart desires.
I’m living proof.

If you’d like to hear what Idaho‑forged audio sounds like, check out my demos below.

Scenic Idaho mountain landscape outside voiceover studio — Our view is amazing!

🎧 Listen to My Voiceover Demos

🎨 Explore My Artwork
When I’m not behind the mic, I paint — and trust me, the mountains provide endless inspiration.

📬 Want to Work Together?
Reach out anytime. I’d love to collaborate.