Noise Floor
A Noise Floor is a term used in voice acting and audio recording to describe the background noise level in a recording space. Think of it as the quietest possible sound level in a recording environment - like the hum of electronics, distant traffic, or room echo. When hiring voice actors, a low noise floor is important because it means their recordings will be clean and professional, without distracting background sounds. It's similar to wanting a quiet office for important phone calls, but for professional voice work.
Examples in Resumes
Maintained a professional home studio with Noise Floor below industry standard
Upgraded recording space to achieve Noise Floor of -60dB suitable for broadcast
Built custom vocal booth resulting in ultra-low Noise Floor for premium audiobook production
Typical job title: "Voice Actors"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Voice Actors
Voice Acting Communities
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Professional Level Questions
Q: How do you maintain a consistent noise floor in your recording space?
Expected Answer: An experienced voice actor should discuss their dedicated recording space setup, sound treatment methods, and regular maintenance of equipment to ensure consistent recording quality.
Q: What steps do you take when a client complains about background noise in your recordings?
Expected Answer: Should explain their troubleshooting process, including checking equipment, recording environment, and ability to identify and fix common noise issues.
Intermediate Level Questions
Q: What is an acceptable noise floor level for professional voice work?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of industry standards and explain in simple terms what makes a recording space suitable for professional voice work.
Q: How do you test your recording space's noise floor?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain their process for checking recording quality and ensuring their space meets client requirements.
Entry Level Questions
Q: What is a noise floor and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that it's the background noise level in recordings and why keeping it low is important for professional voice work.
Q: What are common sources of unwanted noise in recordings?
Expected Answer: Should identify basic noise sources like computer fans, air conditioning, outside traffic, and explain basic solutions for minimizing them.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of recording quality
- Home studio setup
- Basic noise reduction techniques
- Recording software familiarity
Mid (2-5 years)
- Professional home studio maintenance
- Advanced recording techniques
- Sound treatment knowledge
- Quality control practices
Senior (5+ years)
- Broadcast-quality studio setup
- Advanced troubleshooting abilities
- Equipment optimization expertise
- Professional recording environment design
Red Flags to Watch For
- No dedicated recording space
- Audible background noise in demo reels
- Lack of basic recording equipment knowledge
- No understanding of sound quality standards
- Unable to troubleshoot basic audio issues
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Silencing the Noise: How No-Meeting Days Supercharge Recruiter Productivity
Stop Chasing Unicorns: How to Finally Improve Candidate Quality Metrics (and Actually Enjoy Hiring)
Ghostbusting in Recruitment: How to Keep Candidates Engaged
