Johannes Steck Voice artist

SMEs: Companies with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than 50 million euros per annum (according to the EU definition for small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs).

Large Enterprises: Companies/groups with a turnover of up to 50 billion euros per year worldwide. Prices for larger companies (global players) on request. Cf, e.g. Haribo vs. Apple.

Also known as audio-to-video synchronization  - this refers to the precisely timed recording of the voice artist analogous to the lip movements of the person visible in the film and is associated with increased effort. The delivery of an appropriate script (dubbing book/dialogue book) is required.

Exactly timed recording on image content (e.g. with time codes) increases the recording effort. This may also apply to lip sync dubbing.

e.g. as a purchase app or behind payment barrier (password-protected area)

All rates apply per end customer and per language. For continuous texts (complete sentences), no distinction is made between waiting loops, answering machine or voice dialog announcements or announcements for IVR systems (Interactive Voice Response).

Germany, Austria, Switzerland & East Belgium

Campaign prices always pertain to the same brand/(advertising) customer.

A campaign is a series of spots or image films that refer either to the same product or to a limited-time promotion for a (advertising) customer (e.g. "The new spring collection at ..."/"Christmas sale at ..."). Campaign prices are only granted if the voice recording for all motifs takes place at one time.

Factors are calculated in addition to the main spot or film (first full motif). The—>Cut-Downs for each campaign are added together.

If the individual motifs have different lengths, the respective individual prices (according to the specific length and the associated tariff level) are added, and an average value is used as the basis for the calculation.

Example: Let’s say we have a 5-minute image film, from which two additional edits – both under 2 minutes – are to be created. The calculation would be as follows: 
I) Add up each film: 1x IMAGE complete up to 5 mins. + 2x IMAGE complete up to 2 mins.
II) Divide the sum by 3 (films) = mean value
III) Multiply the mean value by a factor of 1.5x (for up to 3 cut-downs).

Should any changes be made to the spot or film (new pictures or footage, superimposing different images or information, etc.), this is referred to as an image change. An image change is a new version of the spot or film and entails additional exploitation fees. Subtitling does not count as image changes.

Advertising: The exploitation period is derived from the underlying price. 
If an unlimited number of motifs is booked in connection with a —>Media bundle (advertising) which contains the Archive option (= IMAGE complete), additional image films may only be released during the term of use. The term of use corresponds with the term of the underlying price.

IMAGE complete: The exploitation period is always unlimited temporally. Only when booking an unlimited number of motifs (factor 20x) is the publication of new works with the brand voice, audio logo or claim limited to one year (the exploitation period remains temporally unlimited). 

Factor 50 applies if new works are to be published indefinitely (i.e. not just for one year).
Example: Index B, IMAGE complete, Brand: 20x €450. The customer may release as many image films with the audio logo/claim as he likes within one year. These may be used for an unlimited period of time. Should new temporally unlimited works be created, a factor of 50x applies (instead of a factor of 20x).

The basis for all factors (multiplicators) is the talent fee for the tariff: up to 2 minutes —>IMAGE complete (even if the actual film is longer). This does not apply to advertising. The price does not include the right to Exclusivity.

The text to be recorded contains a variety of usable elements, from which modular motifs can be created, e.g. if there is an advertising spot which has one or more variables. This use is mainly found in (micro)targeting in online advertising, when users are to be reached specifically according to their interests.

Example: "Fly with Brian Air to Munich/Düsseldorf/Mallorca - starting at 29 €/ 39 €/ 49 €."

The factor in each case refers to the price of the medium, that is, the media used as well as to the affiliated desired duration plus —>Session fee for the recording script (kind of like a basic fee).

The number of motifs means how many motifs are theoretically possible. If, for example, there are three different places in a commercial spot where 3 variables are recorded, up to 27 possible motifs are conceivable. The actual number of motifs used may vary.

Editorial podcasts are defined by content with, for example, informative and/or entertaining content, which, however, may not explicitly promote sales.

For —>Branded Entertainment the →IMAGE complete prices apply.
Use of podcast content: for downloading/streaming on the Internet. Applies only to editorial content.

e.g. video podcasts

Billing is based on the length of the program. The number of net broadcast minutes applies, i.e. the broadcast without commercial breaks. The minimum price is charged for each recording, program or episode.

Applies to editorial/non-promotional content. Usage worldwide in all media.
No for use as advertising (in TV, radio, cinema, stadium, POS or as PreRoll/AutoPlay/upstream or embedded advertising on the Internet).

TV Audio Descriptions: The price depends, inter alia, on the length of the film, feature or program, the frequency or regularity of bookings, the language and the planned exploitation. A long TV program with no additional theatrical use that is recorded daily is less expensive than a feature film that is first exploited in movie theatres and later on TV.

For commercial audio descriptions, see —>Internal. The term, 'commercial audio description' stands for the handicapped accessible conversion of film content of commercial brands (e.g., for image films on one’s own homepage) for people with visual impairments and the blind.

Depending on the voice artist and topic, one audio hour corresponds to approx. 54,000 characters including spaces.

The price per audio hour does not include 2% revenue sharing. In the event of CD release or the like, a 2% share of the retail price (HAP) applies.

Fees for direction, studio and production will be charged additionally.

This special price for the studio is only valid in connection with a talent booking, i.e. it does not include the voice artist's e-learning fee (see —>Internal).

Applies exclusively to selected Brilliant Voice® partner studios and can be reconfirmed after text submission. The text supplied must meet the requirements (see —>Text delivery). The studio deal includes the recording, the rough cut in individual files and the upload of the files. On average a maximum of 5 files per minute.

Booking a layout entitles the use of voice recordings for internal preliminary presentations such as pitches and market tests. Any publications or broadcasts, as well as other internal uses (such as on the intranet or at company presentations) are excluded. If another use is booked subsequently, the difference between the layout fee and the voice artist fee will be charged. If the fee is lower than the layout fee, no refund shall be issued. A layout fee can only be credited once. For mood films/tv animatic/tv narrative see —>Internal.

For the layout a script must be available in its final form. In the case of open text variations, an additional layout fee is due for each variant. The exception is when words are merely rearranged, a word is omitted for timing reasons, or a word is replaced without changing the meaning. Such variations are free of charge.

Examples of chargeable variants:
"Pineapple from Costa Rica - this is how exotic tastes."
"Pineapple from Costa Rica - exotic to enjoy."
"Pineapple from Costa Rica - a touch of the exotic."

Examples of free variants:
"Pineapple from Costa Rica - purely exotic."
"Pineapple from Costa Rica – exotic pure."

As an alternative to individual layouts, a flat-rate session fee can be booked in advance. In this case, the talent is made available to the studio, creatives and clients for a booked timeframe in order to resolve any creative issues in the script including wordings and formulations. During this time, copy adjustments and text variations of a campaign or product can be worked on. Related texts for internal use (e.g. case films, making ofs, board presentations, etc.) can also be recorded within this framework. After the first full hour of recording, we then bill on a half-hour basis. The price is independent of the number of spoken variations.

The exploitation of individual spots from a session fee is regulated as follows:

For the broadcast of the 1st spot, a classic layout is credited (i.e. deducted).

From the 2nd broadcasted spot on, the full exploitation/fee per spot and per medium applies.

This fee shall be charged if the text supplied requires significant revision and/or formatting on the voice artist’s part. A short proof-read/revision of about 15 minutes is generally included free of charge.

Should the revision require more time, we will inform you in advance. Such text editing could be necessary if only a (rough) translation is available, or if it is incorrect, text lengths do not fit picture timing, the text is stylistically or linguistically unsuitable for voiceover or simply does not meet the requirements of appropriate script preparation (e.g. due to misleading or incorrect formatting —>Text delivery).

Changes are always subject to studio costs. The fees for changes are calculated based on the amount of text to be changed and are applicable up to a maximum of 30 days after the original recording date. 
Please note the —>Minimum price per booking. 
Example for flow texts: If a text length of 10 minutes was originally booked, but only 5 minutes were subsequently changed, half of the 5-minute price will be charged.
Example for adverts: A change exists if, for example, a (minor) error must be changed. The spot may not have run yet or only have run for a very short time (1-2 days).

Alternatively to —>Changes, a correction loop can be booked in advance. Instead of 50%, the surcharge is only 40% (= factor 1.4 times the booked voice artist fee). In addition, an extended deadline of 90 days instead of just 30 days from the original recording date applies.

So that the change can be implemented on time, the client must notify Brilliant Voice® no later than two weeks prior to the end of the 90-day period. During the recording session, either the whole text or parts thereof - including possible text changes - can be re-recorded. No reimbursement or refund shall be granted if the correction loop is not used. The studio fee will be charged separately. Only one of the two may be used; otherwise, an additional exploitation fee shall be charged. The text length of the correction loop may not exceed the length of the underlying tariff.

Applies to recordings outside the voice artist’s home city/immediate vicinity. Unless otherwise agreed, these conditions apply to distances of 100 km or greater from where the voice artist resides. Flights should be avoided if possible (for the sake of the environment).

Overnight accommodation is to be borne by the client if more than 8 hours are required per day for services rendered, that is, for work activities commencing before 10 a.m. or ending after 7 p.m. for which a departure from/arrival to the voice artist’s residence would have to take place before 7 a.m. or after 11 p.m. respectively.

Should a version be used beyond the original agreement, e.g.

• in an additional medium
• in an additional edited form
• beyond the usage period, outside the broadcast area
• or exceeding the agreed distribution and/or media budget,

without the client notifying Brilliant Voice® within twelve days of the additional use, this constitutes a contractual penalty, for which the client shall be held liable in the amount of four times the exploitation fee originally agreed upon in addition to the new exploitation fee for each case of infringement and without recourse to denial of continuation of offence. See also our General Terms and Conditions.