Creating IVR Recordings Is Easy: Here Are 4 Places to Start

An IVR recording is a recorded message that helps callers navigate your Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. The IVR system guides callers and routes their calls to specific departments or specialists using menu options and prompts.

A well-crafted IVR recording creates a positive atmosphere for the entire customer interaction. And by providing clear guidance, it helps callers reach the right destination without requiring any manual assistance.

In this article, you will find all the information you need to create IVR recordings for your business.

Can you create your own IVR recording?

Yes, but you don’t want to do the whole hack thing.

Although we’re happy to show you how to do it yourself, we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least shed some light on the reasons people pay for professional IVR recording.

First of all, the audio is going to be better. Clear and crisp audio enhances the professionalism of your brand and makes a positive first impression on callers.

High-quality audio ensures that instructions are easily understood, reducing the potential for customer frustration and confusion. For example, if you want to add a self-service IVR payment option, the prompts need to be crystal clear as any error can result in serious problems.

Professional services also bring a level of expertise and convenience that can be challenging to achieve independently. Here are some aspects where professionals shine:

• Multilingual Support: Have you ever wondered how IVR prompts can sound so seamless in multiple languages? This is the magic of professional services. They can make multiple language signals with accuracy and cultural nuances.
• Expert Voice Talent: The selection of a professional voice actor ensures a brilliant and engaging delivery. The tone, pace, and tone of voice deeply shape the perception of your brand.
• Efficiency and turnaround time: Professionals deliver high-quality recordings quickly, which is a distinct advantage over DIY.

On the other hand, choosing a low-quality IVR recording has its disadvantages. This can adversely impact customer experience and important call center metrics. This way:

• Customer Disappointment: Poor audio quality can lead to misunderstanding and frustration, potentially leading customers to turn off the phone or seek alternative solutions.
• Perceived lack of professionalism: Using low-quality recordings can create an adverse effect, affecting how customers view your brand and the quality of your service, even if the service that follows the IVR message is top notch.
• Negative impact on metrics: An unsatisfactory IVR experience can lead to long call durations, low customer satisfaction and high frequency of call transfers. which can have harmful effects on all containment rate and other key call center metrics.

Just keep these things in mind while leaving. If you feel that some of the steps of creating an IVR recording are too challenging to get right, or you’re not happy with the finished product, there’s no shame in seeking help from professionals.

Four IVR Recording Methods

1. Use free text-to-speech services

Free text to speech services (TTS) Converts written text to spoken audio. Using this service for your IVR recording is a budget-friendly option.

Here’s how the process works.

1. Choose Free TTS Service: Popular options include Google Text-to-Speech, Amazon Polly, and Microsoft Azure Text-to-Speech.
2. Prepare your script: Create clear, concise and easy-to-understand IVR prompts, ensuring accurate pronunciation of specific words or jargon.
3. Input text in TTS platform: Paste your script into the text input field of the TTS platform.
4. Select sound and output format: Select the desired voice from the available options and select the appropriate output format (for example, MP3, WAV).
5. Generate audio file: Finally, simply click Generate or Create to convert your text to audio file.

If you’re a small business or a startup working with a limited budget, a free TTS can be a good option for creating IVR recordings. This friendly and simple IVR is perfect for greetings or prompts.

And what about its limitations? These are some of the disadvantages of TTS.

• Limited voice options: Free TTS services generally provide fewer voices than paid services.
• Restricted Customization: You may be restricted from making personalized adjustments. There may be some limitations on things like variation in pitch, speed, or emphasis.
• Possible audio quality issues: Keep an eye out for potential audio quirks. Free TTS output can sometimes produce some robotic pronunciations or unnatural pauses.
• Pronunciation: TTS may not be able to provide the correct pronunciation required for your IVR recording.

If you decide to choose this method, here are some tips you can follow.

• Edit your script: Refine the script so that words are simple and punctuation is used strategically. remember to follow IVR Design Best Practices,
• Practice first: Read your script out loud before recording to identify any unnatural phrasing or pronunciation issues and then edit the script accordingly.
• shop around: Try a few different services to find the one that best matches the finished product you want.

2. Hire voice actors

If you’re looking for a sophisticated and distinct human touch to your IVR system, hiring voice talent is the best way to go. Platforms like Voices.com or Fiverr serve as virtual marketplaces that connect companies with professional voice actors who can bring personality, emotion, and authenticity.

Hiring voice talent is ideal for companies that want to develop a personalized and authentic brand image. With this method, emotion becomes a tangible element, as skilled voice actors add a subtle and expressive quality to every interaction.

Furthermore, the inherent flexibility of the process allows companies to choose from a diverse and versatile pool of talent, ensuring a perfect match to the desired tone, style and resonance with the brand identity. This gives your company a high level of control over recording quality and direction.

What’s the deal here? It’s mainly about cost. These services are more expensive than their alternatives.

Some tips to keep in mind:

• Choose the right platform: Choose a reputable voice talent platform that meets your needs and budget.
• Provide detailed instructions: Clearly communicate your brand voice, accent preferences, and any specific requirements to the voice actor.
• Check out reviews and samples: Review the voice actor’s previous work and client feedback before finalizing any agreement.

3. Use a professional recording service

With a professional recording service, you are guaranteed to get a really high quality IVR recording. These channels specialize in offering top-tier audio production that exceeds industry standards, whether it’s a local recording studio or an online service.

This is a good option for larger organizations with extensive IVR systems. But really, it’s a solid option for any business that wants to promote a professional image, as long as you can fit it into your budget.

The primary challenge is the associated cost. To get the most out of professional recording services:

• Reasonable Budget: Considering the size and importance of your IVR system, allocate a budget for high-quality recording.
• Communicate clearly: Explain your needs to the recording service, making sure they understand the desired tone and style.
• plan ahead: Schedule the recording in advance to accommodate any necessary modifications.

4. AI IVR Voiceover Solution

Artificial intelligence is gaining popularity in every field and IVR recording is no exception. AI-powered voiceovers, powered by platforms like Descript or Replika Studios, offer a sophisticated approach to IVR recording. Murph AI And Play.ht also provide high quality services.

This approach is gaining popularity among organizations that value innovation and adaptability in their IVR systems. AI voiceovers offer unique benefits, providing dynamic responses that seamlessly adapt to different scenarios. This customizability is especially valuable for companies with evolving IVR needs.

AI voiceover has its drawbacks:

• Limited pronunciation: AI voices usually have very standard pronunciation without much variation.
• Very robotic: AI voices are not as natural and expressive as professional recordings.
• Lack of specifics: The service enables limited control over emotional tone and human-like nuances.

Some useful tips when using AI voiceover solutions:

• Make sure you are not infringing copyright: Don’t choose a voice that sounds like a replica of the voice of a famous person or well-known character.
• Explore customization options: Choose platforms that can afford customization of AI voices. This customization allows you to fine-tune the voice to more closely align with your brand personality.
• Combine AI and human recording: Consider using AI voices for basic prompts and hiring a voice actor for more complex information.

Explore Your IVR Recording Options

There have never been more options for people wanting to create their own IVR recordings. AI tools are getting much better and cheaper. While hiring a professional service is certainly the easiest of all the options, administrators now have several easy ways to make adjustments to their IVR prompts themselves.