Record voice over before or after editing: how to decide.

01Three questions that decide it

Answer these in order. The first “yes” usually settles it.

Does the voice carry the story?

If the film is built around the narration, record first and cut the picture to the read.

Is the picture already locked?

If the cut is fixed, or tied to music or live action, edit first and record to the cut.

Will it be translated?

Other languages change the length, so plan the timing in each language and leave room in the picture.

02Voice first: how it runs

This is the faster route for narration-led films, because the actor reads at a natural pace and the editor builds on a finished track.

1. Lock the script

   Changes after recording need a pickup each, so approve the text first.

2. Record the full read

   The actor reads at natural pace, with alternate takes for key lines.

3. Cut to the voice

   The editor places the picture on the read, adding pauses where the picture needs room.

4. Pickups for what changed

   Any line that changed after the cut is re-recorded and matched to the original.

03Picture first: how it runs

This route is for work that is cut to music, to live action or to a fixed length, such as a thirty-second spot.

1. Share the cut

   Send the locked or near-locked picture with line timings marked.

2. Record to picture

   The actor reads to the cut, and the director works on pace and the last word of each line.

3. Check the fit

   Lines that run long are trimmed in the script, not sped up in the edit.

04Edit in parallel with a guide voice

If the schedule does not allow waiting, record a rough read first, called a guide or scratch track, and cut to it. The final voice then replaces it.

• Use the real script, not placeholder text, so the timing is honest.
• Keep the guide in a separate track, named so it cannot go out by mistake.
• Replace line by line, and listen for lines that now run longer or shorter.
• Tell the actor which lines changed since the guide, so the final read matches the cut.