AI voice-over videos: how to make a narrated video with AI
An AI voice-over is narration read by a synthetic voice instead of a person in a recording booth. Modern AI voices sound natural enough for ads, explainers, training and social videos, and they save you from writing, recording, editing and syncing audio yourself.
Most AI voice-over tools stop at the audio file: you still have to build a video around it and line every scene up with the words. Animatid does the whole thing. Pick a voice (or let the AI pick), use your own script or let Animatid AI write one for your length, and get a finished video with every scene and caption timed to the narration and the music lowered under the voice. This guide covers choosing a voice, writing a script that sounds natural, script lengths, editing narration, using your own recording, and costs.
How AI voice-over works in Animatid
When you turn on an AI voice-over, a few things happen before the video is designed:
- The script. If you pasted one, it's read word for word. If not, Animatid AI writes a narration that fits your topic, your audience and your video's length.
- The voice. Your chosen voice, or the best match for the tone and audience when you leave it on "Best match".
- The timing. The narration is read with word-level timings, so Animatid knows exactly when each phrase starts and ends.
- The video. Scenes are planned around the phrases: a new idea in the narration gets a new scene, key words appear on screen as they're said, and scene cuts never land in the middle of a word.
- The mix. Your music (or a matching stock track) is lowered automatically whenever the voice speaks.
The result is a narrated video that feels edited by hand, without you touching a timeline.
How to make a narrated video, step by step
- 1Describe the video
In the form on this page, say what the video is about: the topic, the business and what viewers should do at the end.
- 2Pick a voice
Choose from 20 natural English voices, or leave it on "Best match" and the AI picks one that suits your message. You can preview every voice before you create.
- 3Add a script, or don't
Paste your own script to have it read word for word, or leave the field empty and Animatid AI writes one for your length.
- 4Choose format and length
A narrated video needs enough time for the words: about 70 words for 30 seconds. Pick vertical, square or landscape, from 15 seconds to 2 minutes.
- 5Create and listen
Animatid writes or reads the script, designs scenes timed to it and renders the video. Then change the voice, a line or a scene by chat.
- 6Download
Download the narrated MP4 and post it, or use it in your course, ad or presentation.
Choosing the right AI voice
Animatid has 20 voices in English, up to four per continent, with female and male voices in each region. Matching the accent to your audience makes a local business sound local and a global brand sound at home in each market.
| Region | Accents | Voices |
|---|---|---|
| North America | American | Ava, Maya, Ethan, Atlas |
| Europe | British, Irish, Scottish | Clara, Niamh, Oliver, Ewan |
| Africa | Nigerian, South African | Ada, Thandi, Tunde, Sipho |
| Asia | Indian, Singaporean, Filipino | Priya, Mei, Arjun, Paolo |
| Oceania | Australian, New Zealand | Chloe, Aroha, Kai, Ruben |
Match the voice to the job
- Explainers and training: a clear, calm voice at an even pace.
- Ads and launches: a confident, upbeat voice with energy.
- Premium brands: a smooth, warm voice and slower delivery.
- Local businesses: the accent your customers have.
Not sure? Leave it on "Best match". You can always switch voices from Design Studio later; the timing and scenes are redone for the new voice.
Writing a voice-over script that sounds natural
Scripts written for reading sound stiff when spoken. A few habits make narration sound human:
- Write like you talk. Short sentences, everyday words, contractions ("you're", "it's").
- One idea per sentence. Each sentence often becomes its own scene, so give each one a single point.
- Say numbers the way people say them. "Twice as fast" or "in under ten minutes" is easier to hear than a string of digits.
- Spell out tricky names phonetically if needed. If a brand name is often mispronounced, write it the way it sounds.
- End with the action. The last line should be exactly what you want viewers to do.
Every morning at five, the ovens at Rosa's Bakery are already warm. Our sourdough rises slowly, the way Rosa's grandmother taught her. On weekends, the cinnamon rolls sell out by ten. We've been part of this street since 1998, and we still know most of you by name. Come say hi, grab a loaf, and stay for a coffee. Rosa's Bakery, on Alberta Street.
How long should the script be?
Natural narration runs at about 2.5 words per second, plus a short pause at the end for the call to action:
| Video length | Script | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 15 seconds | About 35 words | A hook and a single message |
| 30 seconds | About 70 words | Social ads, local businesses, short promos |
| 60 seconds | About 140 words | Explainers, product overviews |
| 90 seconds | About 210 words | Walkthroughs, lessons |
| 2 minutes | About 280 words | Training and detailed explainers |
If your script is a little long, the voice reads slightly faster to fit. If it's far too long for the length you picked, you'll be asked to shorten it or choose a longer video.
Changing the narration after the video is made
In Design Studio, you change the narration the same way you change anything else: by chat. Each message makes a new version and keeps the earlier ones.
- "Use a British female voice instead."
- "Change the last line to 'Book your free consultation today'."
- "Make the narration a bit warmer and less salesy."
- "Remove the voice-over and put the key words on screen instead."
When the script or the voice changes, the scenes are re-timed to the new narration. When neither changes, the existing voice-over is reused, so small visual edits don't re-read anything.
Using your own recording instead
Some videos are better in your own voice: a founder's message, a coach's lesson, a personal thank-you. Upload a recording (an audio file) as the voice-over and Animatid transcribes it, cleans up the levels, and times the scenes and on-screen words to what you say. You get the same timing as with an AI voice, with your voice.
Have a video of yourself talking instead? The AI B-roll generator keeps your talking-head video and adds matching cutaway clips over it.
What people narrate with AI voices
A calm narrator walks viewers through each step. Pair it with the explainer video maker.
A confident voice that sells the offer, for YouTube and social ads.
A friendly voice in your customers' accent, for a bakery, salon, clinic or gym.
Narrated lessons and how-tos without recording yourself.
A narrated walk-through of a listing with the real estate video maker.
Regular narrated posts on a topic without appearing on camera.
AI voice-over tools compared
| Kind of tool | What you get | What's left to do |
|---|---|---|
| Text-to-speech generators | An audio file of your script | Build the video, then line up every scene with the words |
| Video editors with TTS (CapCut, Canva) | A voice track on your timeline | Design the scenes and sync them by hand |
| Animatid | A finished, designed video with the narration, music and timing | Review it and change anything by chat |
Voice-over script templates by video type
Start from one of these and fill in the brackets. Each line is about one scene; the word counts fit a 30-second video.
[Question that names the viewer's problem]? [Product] [does the main thing], so you can [result]. [Second benefit]. [Proof: number of customers, rating or a short quote]. Right now, [offer] until [deadline]. [Call to action] at [URL].
[Audience], [the problem]? Here's how [product] fixes that. First, [step one]. Then, [step two]. Finally, [step three]. That's [the result], in [time or effort]. Try it free at [URL].
[A sensory detail about the place]. At [business], we [what you do and what makes it special]. [A detail regulars love]. We've been [how long, or part of which neighborhood]. [Invitation: come by, book, call]. [Business name], [where to find you].
AI voice, your own recording or a voice actor?
| AI voice-over | Your own recording | Voice actor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Minutes, included in the video | Record, then upload | Casting, booking and revisions |
| Cost | 1.5x the video's credits | No extra credits | A separate fee per script |
| Changes | Edit a line by chat | Re-record | Book another session |
| Best for | Ads, explainers, training, regular posts | Founder messages, personal content | Flagship campaigns and brand voices |
Many teams use all three: AI voices for everyday content and quick tests, their own voice for personal messages, and a voice actor for the flagship campaign. Animatid works with the first two directly; a recording from a voice actor can be uploaded like any other voice-over.
Voice-over mistakes to avoid
- Too many words for the length. A 30-second video holds about 70 words. More than that sounds rushed.
- Reading the screen aloud. The on-screen text should highlight the key words, not repeat the whole narration.
- Long, written-style sentences. Break them up; they're hard to follow when heard once.
- The wrong energy for the brand. A hype voice on a calm, premium brand feels off. Match the voice to the tone.
- Music fighting the voice. Animatid lowers the music under the voice automatically; if you bring your own track, choose one without vocals.
- No call to action in the narration. Say what to do next, as well as showing it.
How much does an AI voice-over video cost?
A video with an AI voice-over costs 1.5 times the usual credits, rounded up. The script, the voice and the timing are all included:
| Length | Without voice-over | With AI voice-over |
|---|---|---|
| 15 or 20 seconds | 1 credit | 2 credits |
| 30 seconds | 2 credits | 3 credits |
| 60 seconds | 3 credits | 5 credits |
| 2 minutes | 6 credits | 9 credits |
Changes that switch the voice or edit the script count as a change, and your first change on each video is free. There's no subscription and credits never expire. Current prices are on the pricing section.