I know what you’re probably thinking – only voice actors and those with super smooth sounding voices can make money from speaking right? WRONG! Before we start, this is not a get rich quick side-hustle, however with some initial work, you can be bringing in an extra $200+ a month passively with AI Voice Clones.
ElevenLabs is an AI voice database. Typically those who want realistic AI sounding voices for narration, youtube videos and other projects will go onto ElevenLabs to browse through the hundreds of different sounding voiceovers they can use for their videos and projects. Despite ElevenLabs being hugely popular, it is lesser known that you can actually get paid for creating your own Professional Voice Clone and listing it on their open Community Library.
Through this Library, your voice will be used across the world to fulfil voiceover projects. The cool part? You get paid $x per 1000 characters that are generated from your voice clone. For example, since I joined the platform roughly 2 months ago, I have made ~ $347. Once the initial clone is created, this then becomes completely passive income.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, we’ll go through the steps below of what you need to do to start earning.
Step 1: Record High-Quality Audio with Your Voice
The first step on this exciting journey is to record clean, high-quality voice clips. Don’t worry if you don’t have fancy equipment; a cheap microphone and free recording software like Audacity will do the job just fine.
How long do I need my voice recording(s)?
For the Professional Voice Clone, around 2 hours of voice recording is recommended. The longer and higher quality of the recording, the better clone the AI will create.
Feeling like 2 hours recording is too much? Here’s the easy way I did it:
- Set up Audacity
Download and install Audacity, a free, user-friendly audio recording tool. Plug in your microphone and make sure it’s positioned close enough to your mouth for clear sound, but not so close that it picks up harsh breathing sounds. - Find a Quiet Space
Background noise is the enemy of professional recordings. Find a quiet spot in your home and consider using a towel or blanket to muffle unwanted echoes. - Record 2 Hours of Audio
This does not need to be 2 hours straight of you talking into a mic. Over the space of 2 days, I would randomly record myself in intervals of 20 minutes reading a book or news articles online – separate this 2 hours into chunks over a few days and it will be far easier / less boring. You can read from books, google movie scripts, or even narrate text articles. The key is consistency in tone and clarity in your recordings. Take breaks if needed, so your voice doesn’t sound strained. - Export Your Files in High Quality
Save your recordings as high-quality audio files (such as WAV or MP3). Once you have enough material, you’re ready to move to the next step.
Step 2: Purchase the ElevenLabs Creator Tier
With your recordings in hand, it’s time to head over to ElevenLabs and purchase the Creator tier subscription, which includes the tools you need to create your professional voice clone. The link below is an affiliate link, so please only use if comfortable to do so and find this blog helpful.
Affiliate Link: https://try.elevenlabs.io/e0hh4f6o8odf
Again, I know what you’re thinking. ‘YOU DIDN’T MENTION SUBSCRIPTION FEES!‘.
The Creator Subscription is required for 1 month only to make the Professional Voice Clone. This is discounted by 50% if you use this link. After the clone is created, you can then downgrade to their cheapest tier which is $5 monthly. You will easily be making more than this so that’s not to worry about.
Get the Creator Tier at a Discount
ElevenLabs offers a 50% discount on their Creator tier, which means you’ll only pay $11. This is a one-time fee as you can downgrade to the Basic tier ($5 per month) after completing your voice clone.
Step 3: Generate Your Professional AI Voice Clone
On the left side bar hover over ‘Voices’ and click the + button to bring up the below screen.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you create a Professional Voice Clone and not an Instant Voice Clone. You only get paid for the professional clones.
Once you’ve uploaded your recordings, ElevenLabs AI gets to work. The system uses your voice data to create an AI clone with a natural and realistic tone. This clone can produce text-to-speech output that sounds just like you.
You’ll have full control over your voice clone’s settings, allowing you to fine-tune it according to your preferences. Whether you want it to sound calm and soothing or energetic and enthusiastic, the platform has customisation options to fit your style.
Step 4: Share Your Voice Clone in the Community Library & Start Earning $$$
Now comes the fun part. ElevenLabs gives you the option to share your voice clone in its community library, where other users can access it. This is where monetisation kicks in.
Every time someone uses your voice to generate text-to-speech audio, you get paid for it. You’ll earn money for every 1,000 characters generated with your voice clone. The exact rate will depend on various options you choose.
And BAM, that is literally it. Once your AI Professional Voice Clone has been shared to the Community Library, you will start earning. Remember to setup a payout option in your account settings
Tips for Success
- Be Consistent
Make sure your recordings are clear and free of background noise. A consistent tone and pronunciation will result in a more accurate voice clone. - Don’t Overthink It
You don’t need special training or a “perfect” voice. Whether your voice is smooth, deep, or even quirky, there’s a demand for a wide variety of tones. - Keep Improving
You can only create 1 Professional Voice Clone per account however it’s within the ElevenLabs terms that you can open multiple accounts. Consider creating more accounts with different tones or accents. This opens up more creative opportunities and increases your earning potential. That $200 a month can easily multiply.
Can my voice be used for literally ANYTHING?
With sharing your AI voice to the public you must be happy that it will be used for various projects. There is a live moderation mode you can enable that ensures that nothing illegal or too dodgy is being said with your clone. I perfectly understand this might not be some peoples cup of tea and break some boundaries, so please do your own research into the topic if you’re sceptical.
Start Monetising Your AI Voice Today
Whether you’re looking to make a side income or explore the world of AI in a simple way, creating and sharing your voice clone is a great place to start. Follow these steps, and you’ll be well on your way to turning your voice into some extra side income. Your voice has value, and now is the perfect time to unlock its earning potential!
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