A Guide to AI Voice Consulting: Understanding Three Parts of Voice Technology
- Jim Kennelly
- Nov 7
- 3 min read
Voice AI Is Changing Everything. Understanding it is Important.
Technology has always moved audio production forward, and we've always been on board in a big way. From analog tape to digital workstations, each shift has opened up new ways to create and connect. That next major change is happening with Voice AI. This fast, complex space is full of promise and technological excitement, but is often misunderstood.
Here at Lotas Productions, we work with both brands and voice talent to help them make sense of it all. When people talk about Voice AI, they usually mean three very different technologies that get lumped together. Once you know how each part works, it’s much easier to make smart choices; whether you’re planning your next campaign or shaping your career.
“When we demand that these AI tools are explainable, we protect everyone. We get better creative results, we maintain compliance, and we ensure we can learn how to improve our systems for the future.”
Breaking it down: The Brain, the Voice, and the Ears of AI
Think of a complete Voice AI system as having a brain, a voice, and ears. Most companies that say they do it all really focus on just one of those areas. Breaking them apart helps clear up the confusion.
The Brain: Dialogue Technology
The brain is what decides what to say next. Dialogue technology looks at text from a conversation and figures out a logical or creative response. Large Language Models (LLMs) are a good example. Their role is to generate words and ideas, not sound.
The Voice: Vocalization Technology
Once the system knows what to say, it needs a voice to say it. This is called vocalization technology, or text-to-speech (TTS). It’s the part that takes text and turns it into spoken words. In the voiceover world, this is the piece everyone talks about because it’s what makes the voice sound real and believable.
The Ears: Listening Technology
Finally, the system needs to understand what’s being said to it. Listening technology captures and interprets speech. Speech-to-text (STT) tools are the most common, but newer systems can also pick up on emotions, background sounds, and even music.
Why It’s Smart to Keep the Parts Separate
You might see companies selling one system that claims to do all three parts at once. That might sound convenient, but it’s usually better to keep them separate. It comes down to two things: flexibility and transparency.
Flexibility to build the best system: When the parts are separate, you can mix and match. You can use one company’s dialogue tool, another’s voice generator, and a third’s listening system. That gives you the freedom to build something that fits your exact needs.
Transparency to understand why: If you use an all-in-one system, you lose visibility into what’s happening behind the scenes. You might not know why it made a certain choice or what data influenced it. Keeping things separate lets you understand and improve your process while staying compliant.
Get Clarity and Direction with Expert AI Voice Consulting
The future of Voice AI will likely involve systems that can listen, think, and speak on their own. Building those responsibly starts with understanding how each part works and where they should stay independent.
At Lotas Productions, we bring together years of experience and fresh creative energy. In our approach to AI Voice Consulting, we believe the key is to use technology with care while keeping creativity and transparency at the core.
Curious how Voice AI fits into your next project?
Voice AI is moving fast, and it’s changing the way we all work. Whether you’re a brand exploring how AI can improve your production or a voice actor figuring out what it means for your career, we’re here to help.
