The Gift of Gab: What is SFX in VO?

Today, we’re talking about three letters: SFX.

There are a lot of terms that float around the VO industry, sometimes they make sense, and sometimes not so much. Let's talk about what SFX acutally means.

What is SFX in voiceover? -2:47

Hey guys, it’s Gabby! Thanks for joining me on another edition of The Gift of Gab. Today, in the What Is series, I’ll be once again picking a topic from the glossary in my book VO101, and we’ll be discussing exactly what it is. Today, we’re talking about three letters: SFX.

Okay, so what does it stand for? Well, hmm, maybe I should show you.

First, SFX stands for Sound Effects. It’s a long-used term in the production world—audio, film, radio, video. It’s been around for so long that most people just take it for granted. And it’s always kind of adorable when I work with a relatively new talent, and they see it written on a script and forget that they don’t necessarily know what it means, because for them, it’s new information.

So, yeah, it’s simply short for sound effects. And here’s the really important part: when you see it inside of your copy, you don’t have to do anything. Nothing. You are not a human sound effects machine. Now, I know that as an aspiring voice actor, you might like to be, and most of us would love that, trust me. I make some weird noises—like, a lot. It’s not uncommon for me to just walk into a room and make dinosaur sounds. [Plays dinosaur noises] Yeah, so here’s the thing, right?

We all do it. Lots of us enjoy making those noises—it’s fun! But when you’re dealing with a multimedia production of some kind, there was a writer. The writer wrote what they want for the sound effect. The production team is going to pull that sound effect. You, as the voice actor, your only job is to know: Are you interacting with that sound effect at all?

That’s why it’s critical for you to know, because that sound is going to appear in the final production. So yes, it might be something you’re reacting to or interacting with. They want to make you aware of it, but it doesn’t mean you have to perform it.

So there you go: SFX—Sound Effects in voiceover. Thanks so much for watching The What Is Series! More to come!

Want more tips and tricks about studio technology and voiceover tools? Make sure to check out this video for more insights!

Thanks so much for watching, and I’ll see you next time on The Gift of Gab!

704-674-8294 / GabrielleNistico.com / gabby@voiceovervixen.com

Gabrielle Nistico, Gabby Nistico, The Voiceover Vixen, The Business First VO Coach, #VoiceoverVixen #VoiceOnFire #BusinessFirstVOCoach Voiceover, Charlotte, North Carolina, source connect, ISDN, directed sessions, audio quality, directing, actor, live sessions