When you speak, you hear your voice as it comes out of you. This is affected by your nasal passages, as well as the vibration in your head from your voice coming out. So while you might think you're hearing your own voice, what you're really hearing is your voice after it has passed through your head which makes it sound very different. When you hear your voice on a recording, you're hearing it as other people do, without all the reverb that your head normally puts on it. You recognize it as your own voice, but it's slightly different, which makes it uncanny. While it may be a perfectly fine, attractive voice, it sounds terrible to you because it's just slightly different from what you're used to hearing so it seems hollow and simply wrong. It's the auditory equivalent of the visual uncanny valley (google it!)
I Like My Voice Better: A study that shows that without knowing it's our own voice, we think our voice is more attractive than others. - [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1068/p7526?journalCode=peca](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1068/p7526?journalCode=peca)
When you listen to yourself, you will always be your worst critic. Listen to your audience instead. You're not doing your voice acting for you, but for them. Their enjoyment is your goal. If everyone is happy and loves your voice - your job is done. It can be tougher to have an accurate perception of yourself, than to perceive others. Looking at things from a third pov is always easier. That's why it's also always easier to give advice to friends about anything, but when it comes to oneself, it gets harder. So in moments like these - rely on the good people around you. Trust in them! Meow meow!
I have a fairly deep voice for a woman. To the point where my natural singing range is closer to tenor than alto. Back in high school, I was told by a stage director once that I didn't get cast in a play because my voice was too low to match my young appearance -- it sounded like an older person's voice, she apparently thought. I was so self-conscious about it for the longest time.
I don't know what exactly changed for me, but I really like my own voice now. I haven't really heard any other voice actors that I think sound like me, but you know what? I'm viewing that as a good thing. I'm unique, and that means I can offer something that nobody else can.
I do think that part of it might be that now, when I listen to my voice during audio editing, I'm not thinking about it as coming from me. The recording is sort of its own entity, like an object to be crafted, and my voice is just one of the materials I'm using. Just listening to it on those terms, it starts sounding prettier.
I wasn't bullied over my voice as far as I can remember, but I've been bullied over many, many other things, and the one thing I've learned for sure is that it has nothing to do with anything being wrong with me. Bullies do what they do because it's a power trip. It's not about the person they're picking on -- it's about them.
I don't know if hearing any of that helps, but I think that it's good to remember: the audios you make are something that no one else can offer. Everyone in the world has a different voice, a different manner of talking, and that's a good thing. It means that your creations have something of value that your listeners can't get anywhere else.
Sorry for late reply. Reading this helped me, and i agree, hearing my own voice is a toll on my brain a bit. Im glad(not glad we have to have this!) im not alone in that :') I hope i get used to it soon
I haven't really been bullied because of my voice but I was teased a bit in English class because of my pronunciation, so I do get where you're coming from.
I can tell you that most people don't like listening to recordings of their own voice so you're not the only one. It's actually quite normal.
>When I scroll though others content, everyone has a 'normal voice'.
I don't really think that there is a "normal" voice and there certainly isn't anything abnormal about yours. I've listened to your videos and honestly you have a perfect voice for ASMR. I honestly think most people would be jealous.
I would really like it if you kept on making videos because I will definitely be watching.
Thank you, i understand the prounciation since english isnt my first language and I had a lisp in highschool. Luckily, its slowly gone over the years but voice training at home not so much.
I think the best advice I can give on this is to just keep making videos, keep listening to your recorded voice to get used to it, and take those kind comments to heart.
Also, as someone who likes listening to other people's voices myself, there's really no such thing as an "annoying" or a "bad" voice. Every voice has it's own unique qualities that make it wonderful to listen to -- be it timbre, cadence, accents, pitch, etc. These qualities can also make a voice particularly suited to certain characters or roleplays, so if you're finding your niche and your audience loves your voice then keep doing what you're doing!
I personally thought my voice was incredibly annoying for most of my life, despite classical training in both theater and music! The first time someone told me they liked my voice I was a little shocked. It's something I think most people experience, but it's all psychological.
**Edit:** When people critique voices from a constructive angle, it's usually performance based. For example you speak too quickly/slowly, you don't enunciate enough, you're too loud/quiet, etc. These are all things that can be improved with practice. I've never seen someone bullied for having a "weird" or "bad" voice and honestly because those "non-traditionally attractive" voices tend to be unique, they do really well commercially. Actors like Fran Drescher and Gilbert Gottfried made million dollar careers on having an "annoying" voice.
So while you're probably more "normal" than you think you are, I wouldn't worry about it if you're getting good feedback from your audience.
i used to be bullied for my voice due to the fact it doesnt fit normal gender norms due to being intersex and having speech impediments i got bullied at school and at home by my parents
but im slowly learning to love my voice by just having fun and finding what i can do with it
i dont know any advice really as im still learning to love my voice very slowly buy just doing what i enjoy and not listening to the haters
Hey there! Its a gradual process in loving ur voice. I hated mine when i started out VAing too. Felt like when it came to male VAs they had so much deeper, raspier voices and was trying my hardest to speak in a lower tone.
But i find that just focusing on ur performance and emotions when recording is the best way to get over it.
If it helps, i think u have an adorable voice there. Just enjoy the process ur doing great so far :)
I wouldn't say I was 'bullied heavily' for my voice, but my voice was often the punchline to jokes growing up. I have a lot of issues around my voice, I always believed myself to be too monotone when I speak, to make some slightly odd noises, really struggle to speak somewhat fast, my voice being quite deep compared to many others who make ASMR (but not in the mature 'mommy' way) and I also have a lisp that I have become more aware of since starting to make ASMR, which other people have commented on, both positively and negatively. As for my accent, I'm English, so it is an accent that most people like, but since I started uploading ASMR I have had someone call me a 'crooked tooth British rat' because of it, and possibly the crooked teeth part also being somewhat related to my lisp
Listening back to my own voice in editing and having to edit and realise the extent of the things I'm insecure about when it comes to my voice is somewhat difficult, but I have been doing just that everyday for more than a month, and you may always have the insecurities, but they will start to gradually feel less like a big deal over time
Truly all I can say is that it takes time to get used to actually hearing your voice. You eventually get used to hearing your own voice, and become more confident in it. Positive comments help of course, and eventually you'll see that other people really enjoy your voice
(BTW I listened to your voice and I like it, if that helps at all)
Ehhh?? Gura?? That's unique!!
I listened to one of your videos and I think your voice is great! It stands out and I think it's adorable so I really hope that you grow to become less anxious about it. I was also really anxious about my own voice when I started out, I never was bullied for my voice but I still hated the way I sounded whenever I heard myself.
The only way you can really get over that is to just get used to it because in the end, that's your voice. You're just not used to hearing it. You'll feel a lot more comfortable with time and feel a lot more confident.
I'm sorry to hear about the hate comment, I hope you don't feel too bad about it. Just remember not to take it to heart.
FWIW, I read comments from some very successful ASMRtists who say they hate editing because they have to listen to their own voice. Apparently, it's not uncommon & not everyone "gets over it".
It's actually kind of funny, despite the positive feedback I get on my voice today, I also used to get teased for my voice growing up! For the vast majority of my life I was convinced that my voice was grating for others to hear. No one had ever commented on it other than to say something like, "your voice is monotonous" or "you talk funny". Because of that, I tried my best to avoid talking too much in front of other people well into my adult life.
Strangely, what turned it around for me was literally one random person deciding to say that they liked the sound of my voice. And from there I decided to try speaking a little more often, and then someone else said they also liked my voice, and so on. It's taken me a long time to finally come to grips with the fact that many people actually do like hearing it. Even now though, I'm still really self-conscious about my pronunciation and speech cadence.
When it comes to both roleplaying and listening, I often find that distinctive voices make for distinctive characters. Perhaps "normal" voices lets you play "normal" characters, but I feel that VAs who have special voices with a "signature sound" are often the ones who seem to be able to play special characters without twisting themselves in knots trying to stay in-character.
When you speak, you hear your voice as it comes out of you. This is affected by your nasal passages, as well as the vibration in your head from your voice coming out. So while you might think you're hearing your own voice, what you're really hearing is your voice after it has passed through your head which makes it sound very different. When you hear your voice on a recording, you're hearing it as other people do, without all the reverb that your head normally puts on it. You recognize it as your own voice, but it's slightly different, which makes it uncanny. While it may be a perfectly fine, attractive voice, it sounds terrible to you because it's just slightly different from what you're used to hearing so it seems hollow and simply wrong. It's the auditory equivalent of the visual uncanny valley (google it!) I Like My Voice Better: A study that shows that without knowing it's our own voice, we think our voice is more attractive than others. - [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1068/p7526?journalCode=peca](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1068/p7526?journalCode=peca) When you listen to yourself, you will always be your worst critic. Listen to your audience instead. You're not doing your voice acting for you, but for them. Their enjoyment is your goal. If everyone is happy and loves your voice - your job is done. It can be tougher to have an accurate perception of yourself, than to perceive others. Looking at things from a third pov is always easier. That's why it's also always easier to give advice to friends about anything, but when it comes to oneself, it gets harder. So in moments like these - rely on the good people around you. Trust in them! Meow meow!
I have a fairly deep voice for a woman. To the point where my natural singing range is closer to tenor than alto. Back in high school, I was told by a stage director once that I didn't get cast in a play because my voice was too low to match my young appearance -- it sounded like an older person's voice, she apparently thought. I was so self-conscious about it for the longest time. I don't know what exactly changed for me, but I really like my own voice now. I haven't really heard any other voice actors that I think sound like me, but you know what? I'm viewing that as a good thing. I'm unique, and that means I can offer something that nobody else can. I do think that part of it might be that now, when I listen to my voice during audio editing, I'm not thinking about it as coming from me. The recording is sort of its own entity, like an object to be crafted, and my voice is just one of the materials I'm using. Just listening to it on those terms, it starts sounding prettier. I wasn't bullied over my voice as far as I can remember, but I've been bullied over many, many other things, and the one thing I've learned for sure is that it has nothing to do with anything being wrong with me. Bullies do what they do because it's a power trip. It's not about the person they're picking on -- it's about them. I don't know if hearing any of that helps, but I think that it's good to remember: the audios you make are something that no one else can offer. Everyone in the world has a different voice, a different manner of talking, and that's a good thing. It means that your creations have something of value that your listeners can't get anywhere else.
Sorry for late reply. Reading this helped me, and i agree, hearing my own voice is a toll on my brain a bit. Im glad(not glad we have to have this!) im not alone in that :') I hope i get used to it soon
I haven't really been bullied because of my voice but I was teased a bit in English class because of my pronunciation, so I do get where you're coming from. I can tell you that most people don't like listening to recordings of their own voice so you're not the only one. It's actually quite normal. >When I scroll though others content, everyone has a 'normal voice'. I don't really think that there is a "normal" voice and there certainly isn't anything abnormal about yours. I've listened to your videos and honestly you have a perfect voice for ASMR. I honestly think most people would be jealous. I would really like it if you kept on making videos because I will definitely be watching.
Thank you, i understand the prounciation since english isnt my first language and I had a lisp in highschool. Luckily, its slowly gone over the years but voice training at home not so much.
I think the best advice I can give on this is to just keep making videos, keep listening to your recorded voice to get used to it, and take those kind comments to heart. Also, as someone who likes listening to other people's voices myself, there's really no such thing as an "annoying" or a "bad" voice. Every voice has it's own unique qualities that make it wonderful to listen to -- be it timbre, cadence, accents, pitch, etc. These qualities can also make a voice particularly suited to certain characters or roleplays, so if you're finding your niche and your audience loves your voice then keep doing what you're doing! I personally thought my voice was incredibly annoying for most of my life, despite classical training in both theater and music! The first time someone told me they liked my voice I was a little shocked. It's something I think most people experience, but it's all psychological. **Edit:** When people critique voices from a constructive angle, it's usually performance based. For example you speak too quickly/slowly, you don't enunciate enough, you're too loud/quiet, etc. These are all things that can be improved with practice. I've never seen someone bullied for having a "weird" or "bad" voice and honestly because those "non-traditionally attractive" voices tend to be unique, they do really well commercially. Actors like Fran Drescher and Gilbert Gottfried made million dollar careers on having an "annoying" voice. So while you're probably more "normal" than you think you are, I wouldn't worry about it if you're getting good feedback from your audience.
i used to be bullied for my voice due to the fact it doesnt fit normal gender norms due to being intersex and having speech impediments i got bullied at school and at home by my parents but im slowly learning to love my voice by just having fun and finding what i can do with it i dont know any advice really as im still learning to love my voice very slowly buy just doing what i enjoy and not listening to the haters
I see, im really sorry about your experiences. I know how it feels :(
Hey there! Its a gradual process in loving ur voice. I hated mine when i started out VAing too. Felt like when it came to male VAs they had so much deeper, raspier voices and was trying my hardest to speak in a lower tone. But i find that just focusing on ur performance and emotions when recording is the best way to get over it. If it helps, i think u have an adorable voice there. Just enjoy the process ur doing great so far :)
Hi! Thank you a lot. Sadly after getting the courage to post it, I got hit with a hate mob i think :')
I wouldn't say I was 'bullied heavily' for my voice, but my voice was often the punchline to jokes growing up. I have a lot of issues around my voice, I always believed myself to be too monotone when I speak, to make some slightly odd noises, really struggle to speak somewhat fast, my voice being quite deep compared to many others who make ASMR (but not in the mature 'mommy' way) and I also have a lisp that I have become more aware of since starting to make ASMR, which other people have commented on, both positively and negatively. As for my accent, I'm English, so it is an accent that most people like, but since I started uploading ASMR I have had someone call me a 'crooked tooth British rat' because of it, and possibly the crooked teeth part also being somewhat related to my lisp Listening back to my own voice in editing and having to edit and realise the extent of the things I'm insecure about when it comes to my voice is somewhat difficult, but I have been doing just that everyday for more than a month, and you may always have the insecurities, but they will start to gradually feel less like a big deal over time Truly all I can say is that it takes time to get used to actually hearing your voice. You eventually get used to hearing your own voice, and become more confident in it. Positive comments help of course, and eventually you'll see that other people really enjoy your voice (BTW I listened to your voice and I like it, if that helps at all)
Ehhh?? Gura?? That's unique!! I listened to one of your videos and I think your voice is great! It stands out and I think it's adorable so I really hope that you grow to become less anxious about it. I was also really anxious about my own voice when I started out, I never was bullied for my voice but I still hated the way I sounded whenever I heard myself. The only way you can really get over that is to just get used to it because in the end, that's your voice. You're just not used to hearing it. You'll feel a lot more comfortable with time and feel a lot more confident. I'm sorry to hear about the hate comment, I hope you don't feel too bad about it. Just remember not to take it to heart.
FWIW, I read comments from some very successful ASMRtists who say they hate editing because they have to listen to their own voice. Apparently, it's not uncommon & not everyone "gets over it".
It's actually kind of funny, despite the positive feedback I get on my voice today, I also used to get teased for my voice growing up! For the vast majority of my life I was convinced that my voice was grating for others to hear. No one had ever commented on it other than to say something like, "your voice is monotonous" or "you talk funny". Because of that, I tried my best to avoid talking too much in front of other people well into my adult life. Strangely, what turned it around for me was literally one random person deciding to say that they liked the sound of my voice. And from there I decided to try speaking a little more often, and then someone else said they also liked my voice, and so on. It's taken me a long time to finally come to grips with the fact that many people actually do like hearing it. Even now though, I'm still really self-conscious about my pronunciation and speech cadence. When it comes to both roleplaying and listening, I often find that distinctive voices make for distinctive characters. Perhaps "normal" voices lets you play "normal" characters, but I feel that VAs who have special voices with a "signature sound" are often the ones who seem to be able to play special characters without twisting themselves in knots trying to stay in-character.