Send a Script With a Guide Voice or Scratch Track for Voice Over Recording

Send a Script With a Guide Voice or Scratch Track for Voice Over Recording

If your voice over project already has a temporary voice recording, guide track or scratch track, you can send it together with the script to professional British male voice over artist Spencer Cork.

A guide voice can provide useful context about how the script has been structured and how the production currently works. It may demonstrate approximate timing, intended pacing, pauses, emphasis, pronunciation or the relationship between the spoken words and the wider project.

The guide recording does not need to be professionally produced. It might be a temporary recording made by a producer, editor, director, client or member of the creative team purely to communicate how the script is expected to work.

I’m Spencer Cork, a professional British male voice over artist recording from a broadcast-quality studio in Kent, UK, for businesses, agencies, production companies and clients worldwide.

Send your script, provide the guide voice or scratch track and explain which aspects of the temporary recording should be treated as useful direction.

Send your script and guide voice through the Spencer Cork contact page.

What Is a Guide Voice?

A guide voice is a temporary spoken recording used during the development of a production.

It can help demonstrate:

• Approximate pacing

• Timing

• Pauses

• Emphasis

• Pronunciation

• Script structure

• Relationship with visuals

The guide is normally replaced by the final professional voice over.

What Is a Scratch Track?

A scratch track is a temporary audio recording created to help develop, edit or time a production before the final voice over is recorded.

The terms "scratch track", "guide voice", "guide track" and "temporary voice over" are sometimes used in similar ways.

The exact purpose depends on the production workflow.

Can I Send a Guide Voice With My Script?

Yes.

If you already have a temporary recording of the script, you can provide it alongside the written version.

Explain what the guide is intended to communicate.

For example, it might be provided primarily for:

• Timing

• Pacing

• Pronunciation

• Emphasis

• Creative direction

• Scene structure

This helps distinguish useful guidance from aspects of the temporary performance that do not need to be followed.

Does the Guide Voice Need to Be Professionally Recorded?

No.

A guide voice can be a simple temporary recording.

It might have been recorded using:

• A mobile phone

• A laptop

• Editing software

• A video production system

• A temporary studio setup

Audio quality is less important when the recording is being used only as a reference.

The final professional voice over is recorded separately.

Who Can Record the Guide Voice?

A guide track might be recorded by:

• A producer

• A director

• A video editor

• A copywriter

• A client

• A member of the creative team

The person recording the guide does not need to be a professional voice artist.

Its purpose is to communicate useful production information.

Can I Record the Guide Voice Myself?

Yes.

If speaking the script yourself is the easiest way to demonstrate the intended timing, pronunciation or emphasis, you can create a simple guide recording.

You do not need specialist recording equipment for a reference track.

Make sure the words can be heard clearly enough to understand the intended guidance.

Should the Final Voice Over Copy the Guide Voice Exactly?

Not necessarily.

A guide track can be used as a production reference without requiring the final professional performance to imitate every aspect of it.

Explain which elements are important.

For example:

"Please follow the timing but use a more natural delivery."

"The pronunciation is important, but the pace can be slower."

"Use the pauses as a guide rather than matching them exactly."

"The guide is only there to show where each section fits."

Clear instructions help establish the intended relationship between the guide and the final performance.

Can a Guide Voice Show the Required Timing?

Yes.

Timing is one of the most common reasons for providing a scratch track.

A temporary recording may help demonstrate:

• Overall duration

• Timing of individual sections

• Pauses

• Scene changes

• Cue points

If timing must be followed precisely, also provide written timing information where possible.

You can also send a timed or timecoded voice over script.

Can a Guide Voice Show the Intended Pace?

Yes.

A guide track can demonstrate approximately how quickly the script is expected to move.

However, the final performance may naturally differ depending on the required voice style.

For example, a warm and considered professional delivery may require more time than a quickly recorded temporary guide.

If both performance quality and timing are important, explain which has priority.

Can a Guide Voice Show Where to Pause?

Yes.

A temporary recording can demonstrate where pauses may be required.

Pauses might relate to:

• Visual transitions

• On-screen text

• Animation

• Dramatic emphasis

• Editing requirements

If a pause must have a specific duration, include that information separately.

Can I Use a Guide Voice to Explain Emphasis?

Yes.

A guide recording can demonstrate which words or phrases should receive particular emphasis.

You can also mark important words directly in the script.

Using both written and audio guidance can make important performance instructions clearer.

Can a Guide Voice Help With Pronunciation?

Yes.

A temporary recording can demonstrate how names, brands, places and specialist terminology should be pronounced.

If pronunciation accuracy is particularly important, also identify the relevant words in writing.

You can also send a script with pronunciation notes for voice over recording.

Can a Guide Voice Communicate Tone?

Yes.

A guide recording can provide some context about the intended tone.

However, if the person recording the guide is not a professional performer, it may be better to explain the desired tone separately rather than expecting the final performance to copy the temporary delivery.

You can provide written voice direction alongside the guide.

You can also send a script and voice direction for recording.

Can I Send a Scratch Track Inside a Video?

Yes.

A guide voice may already be included in a rough cut, animatic or temporary video edit.

In that case, send the video and explain whether the temporary voice is being provided for:

• Timing

• Pacing

• Pronunciation

• Direction

• General context

You can also send a script with a reference video.

Can I Send the Guide Voice as a Separate Audio File?

Yes.

The temporary voice can be provided separately from the video.

Useful audio formats may include commonly accessible file types such as WAV or MP3.

The exact format is less important than ensuring the reference can be accessed and understood.

Can I Send Several Guide Recordings?

Yes.

If different sections have separate guide tracks, clearly label each file so it can be matched with the relevant part of the script.

For larger projects, consistent file naming can make the workflow easier to manage.

Can I Send Alternative Guide Performances?

Yes.

If the creative team is considering different approaches, you can provide more than one reference.

Explain what each version represents.

For example:

• Version A — slower and more considered

• Version B — faster and more energetic

The final direction should ideally be agreed before the complete recording begins.

Can I Send a Guide Voice With a Draft Script?

Yes.

Guide tracks are often created while scripts and edits are still being developed.

Clearly identify whether:

• The script is final

• The guide matches the latest script

• Sections are expected to change

• Timing is provisional

You can also send a draft script for voice over review.

What If the Guide Voice and Written Script Are Different?

Identify which version should be treated as correct.

The final approved written script should normally provide the definitive wording unless otherwise agreed.

If the guide contains older wording, make this clear.

Version control is particularly important when several script drafts and temporary recordings exist.

Can I Send a Guide Voice for a Commercial?

Yes.

A scratch track can be useful for commercials where the final recording needs to fit a defined duration.

Provide:

• Final script

• Target duration

• Guide track

• Creative direction

• Intended usage

If the guide has been recorded very quickly simply to fit the copy into the available time, explain this.

Can I Send a Guide Voice for a Corporate Video?

Yes.

Corporate video producers may use temporary narration while editing the initial production.

The guide can help communicate the relationship between the script and visuals before the final professional voice over is recorded.

Can I Send a Guide Voice for an Explainer Video?

Yes.

Guide tracks are commonly useful for explainer videos and animation.

They can help establish:

• Scene timing

• Narration length

• Animation cues

• Pauses

• Overall structure

If an animatic or rough cut exists, this can also be supplied.

Can I Send a Guide Voice for eLearning or Training?

Yes.

Temporary voice tracks may be used during the development of training videos, eLearning modules and instructional content.

For larger projects, make sure the guide files and scripts use consistent naming so the correct material can be matched.

Can Agencies and Production Companies Send Scratch Tracks?

Yes.

Agencies, video producers, editors, animators and production companies can provide scratch tracks as part of the voice over brief.

Useful project materials might include:

• Final script

• Guide voice

• Reference video

• Timecodes

• Pronunciation notes

• Creative brief

Clearly identify which instructions have priority if the reference materials contain different information.

Can I Send an AI-Generated Temporary Voice as a Guide?

A temporary synthetic voice track can be supplied as a timing or structural reference if it has already been used during production.

Explain what information should be taken from it.

For example, the synthetic track may be useful for:

• Approximate timing

• Scene placement

• Script structure

It should not automatically be assumed that its rhythm, pronunciation or performance style represents the desired final human voice over.

Can I Request a Demo Using My Guide Track?

You can provide a guide track when enquiring about a custom demo read.

This may help communicate the intended timing, pacing or project structure.

You can also send a voice over script for a demo read.

What Should I Send With a Guide Voice?

Ideally provide:

• The current script

• The guide voice or scratch track

• Voice direction

• Timing requirements

• Pronunciation notes

• Reference video where available

• Required deadline

• Intended usage

Explain exactly which aspects of the guide recording should influence the final performance.

What Happens After I Send a Script and Guide Voice?

The typical process is:

1. You send the current script.

2. You provide the guide voice or scratch track.

3. The purpose of the temporary recording is established.

4. Timing, pacing, pronunciation and creative requirements are considered.

5. Any differences between the guide and final script are clarified.

6. The final recording approach is confirmed.

7. The script is professionally recorded.

8. The completed audio is prepared and delivered.

The exact workflow depends on the project.

Send Your Script and Guide Voice for Professional Recording

If your production already contains a temporary voice recording, send it together with the current script.

Your guide might be used to demonstrate:

• Timing

• Pacing

• Pauses

• Emphasis

• Pronunciation

• Scene structure

Explain which aspects should be followed closely and which are provided only as general reference.

Send your script and guide voice through the Spencer Cork contact page.

You can also send a timed or timecoded script, send a script with a reference video, send a script and voice direction, send a script with pronunciation notes, send a voice over script for a demo read, or visit the Spencer Cork Voice Over homepage.