Part 1: Finding the Balance – The Two Sides of Voice Acting
Professional voice actors are capable of incredible multitasking, blending practiced, physical training with a sharp and quick mind. Now, it’s time to take YOUR reads to those new heights.
Welcome to Finding the Balance – The Two Sides of Voice Acting: a practical, eye-opening class designed to help you understand what professionals actually do behind the mic, and how you can begin applying those techniques yourself.
Built on years of vocal and acting training, and brought to you by pro voice actor and Edge Studio’s own Joshua Wise, this class explores the two essential forces every successful voice actor must learn to balance:
the Mechanical (technique, control, repeatability) and the Imaginative (storytelling, emotion, intention, play).
What You’ll Learn in This Class
1. The details of the Mechanical and Imaginative approaches (and why you need both)
We clearly define and demonstrate each side, including:
- Vocal awareness and control through exercise
- Mic awareness and techniques for various genres
- Full body and f****l involvement in all genres
- Performing with intention and believability
- Expertly achieving emotional truth & tone
- Character point of view & storytelling
You’ll see how leaning too far into either side can limit a performance—and how finding balance creates work that sounds natural, compelling, and bookable.
2. Explore real-world case studies from professional voice over sessions
- You’ll examine real examples drawn from professional VO work, showing how actors adjust performances based on direction, genre, and client needs. These case studies make the abstract concepts concrete and show how decisions are made in actual sessions.
3. Participate in open discussion and student questions- This is an interactive class. Students are encouraged to ask questions, share observations, and discuss what they’re hearing. Often, the biggest breakthroughs come from understanding why a read works—not just hearing that it does.
Why This Class Matters
Finding the Balance is perfect for:
- Beginners who want to understand what voice acting really requires
- Actors who feel “stuck” between sounding technical and sounding natural
- Students who want a clearer mental framework for taking direction
You’ll start developing the ability to listen like a director, think like a storyteller, and perform with both confidence and flexibility.
Benefits of the Class
- A realistic look at how professional voice actors are coached and directed
- Improved listening skills by analyzing different approaches to performance
- A deeper understanding of how technique supports creativity—not replaces it
- Practical insight you can apply immediately to scripts, classes, and auditions
- Voice acting isn’t just about having a good voice—it’s about knowing when to control it and when to let it play.
This class gives you the awareness to start doing both.
This course is available for "remote" learning and will be available to anyone with access to an internet device with a microphone (this includes most models of computers, tablets). Classes will take place with a "Live" instructor at the date/times listed below.
Upon registration, the instructor will send along additional information about how to log-on and participate in the class.
