A factual overview of Spanish Language versions produced in the US as seen through the eyes of one of the most recognized Spanish Voice-over voice over talents.

During 15 years since coming to The United States, I have had the honor to be recorded as the Spanish Voice-over 2.000 industrials, training, educational, documentary, CD-R, computer, radio and Television commercial productions.

In the vast majority of sessions, the most serious problem recurring in studio which substantially lower the quality of these productions are: poor translations, serious lack of script adaptation, and directors untrained in proper Spanish performance.

I want to point out that the true an actual word for the Spanish language is Castellano, not Español, as it is erroneously called.

Castellano as language is immensely rich in expression, dialect and spoken accents.

A Hispanic person born in The United States has diametrically different accent in word usage than a native of Mexico, Central America, Spain or South America and, in accordance where he or she was raised will have a strikingly characteristic vocal intonation.

The strongest more universal need is for "neutral" voice over talents which are acceptable across multi-country and multi-accent boundaries.

Narrators from Colombia, Peru and Costa Rica are potentially more neutral for western hemisphere or entire Latin world productions. Mexican accent maybe more neutral for North American/Caribbean productions.

In addition to the more applicable accent, the vocalization may have more clarity.

In order to become "neutral" an Argentinean, Spaniard, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Venezuelan or Chilean must undergo training in correction to ameliorate his or her accent and intonation which can be bothersome to other Hispanics.

Hispanic narrators used in the U.S. have often acquired their experience as disc-jockeys for local radio stations, having learned performance techniques as screeching or overblown character actor, in contrast to the smooth stereotypical narrator, needed for industrials or documentaries, which demands a delivery that induces confidence and it forms a bond of reliability with the listener.