I'm Damien Hartmann, a French voice actor based in Paris with 20 years in the booth. You've likely heard me without knowing it — TV campaigns for Nintendo and Coca-Cola, the French voice of Scott Eastwood on screen, AAA games like Call of Duty and Star Wars, plus prime-time TV, corporate and narration for the French market. This guide covers what international producers ask most: which French variant they actually need, what a professional French VO delivery looks like, how pricing works in France, and how remote directed sessions run from the US or the UK.
01The quick answer: 4 things to check before you book
Before hiring a French voice-over, check four things: that the talent is a native French speaker, that they speak the right variant of French for your market (European vs Canadian), that they record in a broadcast-ready studio, and that they can be directed live during the session.
- Native, not fluent — French audiences hear a non-native accent within one sentence.
- The right French — European French for France, Belgium, Switzerland and French-speaking Europe/Africa broadly; Canadian French for Québec.
- Broadcast-ready source audio — a treated booth and a proper mic chain save your post team hours.
- Live direction capability — Source-Connect Pro or equivalent, so your director keeps creative control.
The rest of this guide unpacks each point — and shows you what they sound like in practice.
02European French vs Canadian French: which one does your project need?
The costliest mix-up on international projects is booking the wrong French. Both are correct — but they don't sound interchangeable to the audience, any more than British and American English do.
| Variant | Where it plays naturally | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| European French (what I speak) | France, Belgium, Switzerland, and widely understood across French-speaking Europe and Africa | Campaigns for the French/EU market, corporate films, e-learning, games and dubbing for France |
| Canadian French (Québécois) | Québec and French-speaking Canada | Campaigns specifically targeting the Canadian market |
Rule of thumb: if your media plan says France or Europe, you need European French — ideally the neutral, Paris-standard kind broadcasters use. If it says Québec, book a Québécois talent. And if it says both: budget two voices, not one compromise.
03Native vs fluent: why accent authenticity matters
A fluent non-native speaker can be perfectly understood — and still lose your French audience. Within a sentence, listeners notice misplaced liaisons, flattened vowels, anglicized rhythm. It doesn't read as "international"; it reads as "not for me." For advertising especially, that first impression is the whole game.
Native also means cultural instinct: knowing which register a French bank ad expects versus a mobile game trailer, catching the pun the copywriter hid in the script, flagging a line that translates correctly but sounds wrong out loud — before it costs you a re-record.
04What a professional French VO setup delivers
When you book remotely, my studio becomes your studio. Here is what's on my side of the glass:
- Keoda Studio Plus II booth — sound-isolated, acoustically treated for voice: clean, neutral takes.
- Neumann U87Ai and TLM 127 through Avalon Vt 737sp and Neve 1073 SPX preamps — a broadcast-grade chain.
- RME Fireface UCX II conversion with low latency for directed sessions.
- In-booth camera — you see me during the take, not just hear me.
- Delivery in 12–24 h for most projects: cleaned, mix-ready files in whatever format your post team wants.
05How a remote directed session works from the US or UK
A remote directed session runs exactly like a local booking — minus the cab ride. You connect through Source-Connect Pro, Session Link Pro or Listento, you hear me at master quality, and you direct take by take. With the in-booth camera you also see the performance as it happens.
Time zones work in your favor: Paris runs 6 hours ahead of New York and 9 ahead of Los Angeles — your morning is my afternoon, so same-day directed sessions are easy to schedule. A script approved in your morning meeting can be recorded and directed live in the session — with the final files right after, not a day later.
Invoicing a US or UK company is straightforward on my end — brief me through the contact form and you'll get a clear quote covering usage and delivery.
06What drives a French VO quote
French VO pricing is usage-based: the quote reflects the medium, the reach and duration of the broadcast license, the length of the script, and the session type (self-directed or live-directed). A national TV spot and an internal training module are not priced alike — by design.
If you're used to US-style rate cards, the French model will feel familiar in structure but different in details — especially on usage renewals and territory. The practical takeaway: send the media plan with the script, and the quote comes back fast and precise.
07About the voice behind this guide
Twenty years of French voice work, from national TV spots to AAA games. A few things you may have heard me in — with the demos to match:
Cartoon dubbing — Rabbids Invasion and the VIPR puppet series.
The French voice of Nate in Big Nate (I also sang the French theme song).
In-game: Imperial trooper, Star Wars Battlefront II multiplayer.
Will Braxton in Formula One (French version).
And one for the road: in 2008, launching Goom Radio, we broke the world record for the longest broadcast — over 42 hours on air. Endurance is not a problem.
Browse all 113 demos by category08FAQ — hiring a French voice-over
How much does a French voice-over cost?
It depends on four factors: the medium and type of project, the reach and duration of the broadcast license, the script length, and the session type. A national TV campaign and an internal module are priced differently by design. Send your script and media plan via the contact form — quotes are free and fast.
Do I need European French or Canadian French?
If your campaign targets France, Belgium, Switzerland or Europe broadly, you need European French. Canadian French is for campaigns targeting Québec. They are not interchangeable to the audience's ear — if you target both markets, plan two voices.
Can you record during US business hours?
Yes — Paris is 6 hours ahead of New York and 9 ahead of Los Angeles, so your morning is my afternoon. Same-day directed sessions via Source-Connect Pro, Session Link Pro or Listento are easy to schedule.
Can we direct the session live?
Absolutely — that's standard practice for my international sessions. You hear the takes at master quality and direct in real time, and the in-booth camera lets you see the performance as well.
What files do you deliver?
Cleaned, mix-ready audio in the format your post team needs (high-resolution WAV, MP3…), typically within 12–24 hours for most projects.
Do you voice video games and characters?
Yes — character and multiplayer work including Star Wars Battlefront II (Imperial trooper, French version), Will Braxton in Formula One, and Brandon in Sunset Overdrive. There are 23 video game demos on the demos page.
Are you a native French speaker?
Born and raised in France, based in Paris, working in French national media for 20 years — as native as it gets. I deliver the neutral, broadcast-standard European French that French networks use.
Need a French voice?
A two-line brief is enough — free quote, fast reply, delivery within 12–24 h.