Radio casting sample script & guide — Create a professional radio audition (30–90 seconds)

Step-by-step guide and ready-to-use radio casting sample scripts (commercials, station IDs, promos) plus recording tips, technical specs, and demo-reel assembly advice to make a strong radio audition.

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How to create a strong radio casting (audition) sample

This guide walks you step-by-step through planning, writing, recording, and assembling radio casting samples (audition/demo). It includes multiple ready-to-use short scripts you can record and technical and performance tips so your sample sounds professional.

1. Understand what casting directors want

  • Clear, expressive delivery that matches the requested style (live DJ, commercial, promo, announcer, character).
  • Good audio quality and proper file formatting.
  • A short demo that showcases range: often 30–90 seconds for a single audition, 60–120 seconds for a demo reel covering several styles.

2. Technical specs (keep these standard)

  • File format: MP3 (192–320 kbps) or WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit) if requested.
  • Mono or stereo depending on station—mono is often acceptable for voice-only; many prefer stereo for full demos.
  • Length: For an audition insert, 30 seconds; for a demo, 60–120 seconds total. Don’t exceed what was requested.
  • File naming: LastName_FirstName_Role_Length.mp3 (e.g., Kaya_Ali_commercial_30s.mp3).

3. Equipment & recording chain (basic to pro)

  • Microphone: dynamic (Shure SM58/SM7B) or condenser (Audio-Technica AT2020) with pop filter.
  • Interface or preamp: low-noise USB interface or mixer with a good preamp.
  • Quiet space and acoustic treatment (blankets, foam) to reduce reflections.
  • Recording software: Audacity, Reaper, Adobe Audition, GarageBand.
  • Record at a healthy level (peaks around -6 dBFS). Avoid clipping.

4. Performance tips

  • Warm up your voice; do breathing and articulation exercises.
  • Read the copy first silently, then aloud, marking breaths and emphasis.
  • Match pace and energy to the script: commercial = conversational, promo = punchy, ID = crisp.
  • Use natural inflections; avoid monotone or exaggerated cartooning unless the role asks for it.
  • Record several takes and choose the best. Edit only to trim silence or remove mistakes—don’t over-process the performance.

5. How to assemble a short demo

  1. Begin with a short station ID or name so casting knows your voice immediately (3–5 seconds).
  2. Include 2–4 short clips (10–30 seconds each) showcasing different styles: commercial, promo, live-read, character if relevant.
  3. Keep total length tight: 60–90 seconds for most demos.
  4. Fade between clips smoothly; avoid long pauses.

6. Sample scripts (ready to record)

Below are short samples in common radio styles. Use them as-is or adapt to your local language and product.

30-second commercial (warm, conversational)

SFX: light acoustic guitar rhythm under voice
VOICE: (friendly, warm) Tired of paying too much for internet that slows down when everyone’s streaming? At NovaNet, we give you blazing-fast fiber for one low price — only 199 TL a month. No hidden fees, no throttling, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Switch today at novanet.com and get your first month free. NovaNet — speed you can count on.
SFX: music up and out

15-second station ID / jingle (punchy)

VOICE: (bright) 102.5 Radyo Deniz — Şehrin en iyi hitleri, 24 saat!

20–30 second promo (energetic)

VOICE: (energetic, fast) Bu Cumartesi dev davul gece! Sahnenin yıldızları saat 9'da Radyo Fest'te — canlı performanslar, sürpriz konuklar ve büyük ödüller. Kaçırmayın! Radyo Fest, sadece 107.3 FM.

60-second public service announcement (calm, serious)

VOICE: (calm, sincere) Kış aylarında evinizin düzgün havalandırıldığından emin olun. Donmuş borular, karbonmonoksit sızıntısı ve ısı kaybı risklerini azaltmak için radyatörlerin önünü açık bırakın, düzenli bakım yaptırın ve karbonmonoksit alarmınızı kontrol edin. Daha fazla bilgi için belediyenizin web sitesini ziyaret edin. Güvende kalın.

Character line (for animation/character callbacks)

VOICE: (quirky, childlike) Hey! Ben Misket — hızlı hareket et, daha çok puan al! Hadi, hadi! Zıpla ve yakala yıldızları!

7. Editing & finishing

  • Trim leading/trailing silence so clips start promptly.
  • Apply light compression if needed for consistency, but avoid pumping; de-esser only if sibilance is an issue.
  • Use a very light high-pass filter (80–120 Hz) to remove rumble if present.
  • Normalize to -3 to -1 dBFS max peak for MP3 delivery. For WAV, leave peaks lower (around -6 dBFS) and supply bit depth sample rate as requested.

8. Final checklist before sending

  • Did you follow the casting call's length and format requirements?
  • Is the file named correctly (Last_First_role_length)?
  • Are your contact details (email/phone) included in the submission or filename if required?
  • Did you listen on headphones and another speaker to confirm it sounds good?

9. Short example audition order (60 seconds)

  1. Station ID — 4 sec
  2. 30-sec commercial take (best take) — 30 sec
  3. 15-sec promo or live-read — 15 sec
  4. Quick character or line — 5–10 sec

10. Example script recordings you can practice

Record each sample 3–5 times with different tones: straightforward, enthusiastic, and conversational. Choose the best take for your final demo.

Need a personalized sample?

If you want, tell me: the role (DJ, commercial announcer, character), language (Turkish/English), desired length, and any brand/type. I can write a customized short script and give specific voice direction for recording.

Good luck — keep takes short, natural, and focused on the listener. A clean, confident read will get you noticed.

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