How to Work With a Loop Group as a Voice Actor

A loop group, otherwise known as a walla group, is a small assemblage of voiceover actors who record audio for edited video during post-production. Typically consisting of five to eight members, these troupes provide the background noise and small bits of audio that fills out a soundscape in films, television shows, video games, and commercials—pretty much anything that has a visual component.

Loop groups include actors—both voice specialists and on-camera performers—of all ages and backgrounds so as to provide the widest range of audio for clients. Group leaders might have a versatile core troupe or a large roster depending on the specific needs of a project.

Loop groups bring video-based projects to life by creating atmosphere and lending a sense of authenticity. They’re necessary because the sound recorded on film sets excludes background conversation. In order to optimize sound quality on sets, only the principal actors are allowed to speak; all the extras you see are miming. Without loop groups adding “efforts” (non-dialogue vocal sounds) and occasional automated dialog replacement (ADR)—essentially conversation for extras—the scenes you see in busy restaurants, hospitals, subways, sports arenas, police stations, and city streets would be eerily quiet.

Loop groups also fill in bits of dialogue that were missed or purposefully omitted. If, for example, local actors were used in an overseas production, a loop group might be called in to provide accurate accents.

Whereas voice-over is often done in a small, enclosed recording booth with a microphone near the actor’s face, a loop group records inside a large soundstage room with a microphone positioned high above them. This allows the actors to move around, creating variance in the background sound.

For instance, a loop group can give the illusion of movement by performing a “pass-by” (where actors talk while walking across the mic’s pick-up area) or a “donut” (where they form a circle in front of the mic and speak while rotating as a group). Loop groups may also form lines and record stationarily in front of the mic, performing occasional “callouts” (shouts) to break up the “walla bed” (the continuous layer of background dialogue).

To faithfully match audio to video, the recording space has a video monitor. The sound editor and director play a scene and point out all the moving mouths that need vocalization. Occasionally there is scripted dialogue to record, but typically loop group actors improvise the chatter.

In today’s entertainment industry, joining a loop group can be a practical way to find consistent work as a voice actor. To stand out from the competition, focus on a few key strategies.

1. 1. Network. Whether you want to join an existing group or form your own, networking is essential. So be social. Connect with loop group directors, film and television directors, producers and agents. If you already have an agent, ask them for looping connections. If you don’t, try cold-calling or emailing groups that intrigue you; you might be surprised at how often you luck out and hear back. Strive to make a positive impression while selling yourself. Show people why they absolutely must hire you for looping—if you speak multiple languages and can do regional dialects or know the jargon of certain professions, don’t shy away from highlighting your assets.
2. 2. Build up versatility. To ensure that your skill set is attractive, be a voracious learner. Study languages, read up on a variety of subjects, and take improv classes, on-camera classes, commercial classes, voice-over classes, and looping classes. Learn how to read copy as if you’re a news anchor, a subway conductor, a department store manager. Study the voices of onscreen actors and practice replicating them so you’ll be a perfect fit should a director need to voice match them. Master the vocabulary of looping—terms like “effort,” “pass-by,” “donut,” “callout,” and “walla bed”—to comfortably communicate with others in a professional setting.
3. 3. Practice your craft constantly. Study scenes where looping was used in shows and movies, locate someone whose voice you could fill in, and try to speak dialogue for the duration of the scene in multiple ways. Try it across a variety of genres, challenging yourself to solidly deliver whatever each scene requires, whether that’s water-cooler chatter in a sitcom or the vocal sounds of a soldier in combat in an action flick. Mute your TV and record yourself for further critique, or invite other actors to join and practice as a loop group.
4. 4. Create a demo. When you feel confident in your abilities, record an animation demo, which is an important tool for landing a loop group membership and gigs. Think of it as your headshot—a quick way for directors, producers, and casting directors to assess if you’re right for a session. Also be prepared to audition on the spot. It could be a language, a style of singing, even a funny gag—you never know when a call might come or what may be asked of you, so always stay ready. If somebody asks about your abilities without actually auditioning you, never oversell what you can do. Wasting the time of colleagues is a quick way to ruin your reputation.
5. 5. Exhibit professional behavior. Whenever you get an offer to join a loop group, be a consummate pro and deliver. Make sure that you’ve thoroughly researched the gig and have prepared whatever your client needs. Leave the group with a positive memory of working with you. If you do, they won’t hesitate to call you again in the future.
6. 6. Study your characters. As a loop group member, you’re expected to educate yourself on the finer points of any voice required. This may include the character’s physical location, the accent of a particular time period, the tone of the scene as written, a regional dialect, common slang the character might use, and vocabulary used in a specific profession.

All you need is a MasterClass Annual Membership and our exclusive video lessons from Nancy Cartwright, the Emmy-winning voice actor responsible for bringing beloved animated characters—like Bart Simpson and Chuckie Finster—to life. With Nancy’s help, you’ll be ready to use your voice as an instrument in all kinds of weird and wonderful ways.