Voice Settings
Choose how your AI assistant sounds on phone calls. Different voices can match your brand personality and customer expectations.
Accessing Voice Settings
You can set voice options when configuring:
- A phone number (Settings → Phone Numbers → select number)
- A phone deployment for an agent (Agents → select agent → Phone Deployments)
Available Voices
Theo offers a variety of voices to match your brand:
Female Voices
| Voice | Accent | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Aria | American (General) | Professional, friendly businesses |
| Jenny | American (Midwest) | Warm, approachable service |
| Jane | American (Southern) | Regional businesses |
| Sara | American (West Coast) | Modern, casual brands |
| Luna | British | Sophisticated, international |
| Freya | British | Professional services |
Male Voices
| Voice | Accent | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Eric | American (General) | Professional, trustworthy |
| Brian | American (Midwest) | Friendly, everyman |
| Adam | American | Confident, business-like |
| Daniel | British | Refined, professional |
International Voices
| Voice | Language/Accent |
|---|---|
| Isabella | Spanish |
| Pierre | French |
| Hans | German |
| Lucia | Italian |
| Yuki | Japanese |
| Priya | Hindi |
| Sofia | Portuguese (Brazilian) |
| Olga | Russian |
| Emma | Dutch |
Choosing the Right Voice
Consider Your Brand
- Traditional/Professional: Deeper, measured voices (Eric, Daniel)
- Friendly/Approachable: Warm, energetic voices (Jenny, Aria)
- Modern/Casual: Relaxed, contemporary voices (Sara)
- Sophisticated: British accents (Luna, Freya)
Consider Your Customers
- Local business: Match regional accent if possible
- International: Neutral American or multilingual
- Specific language community: Use native-language voice
Consider Your Industry
- Medical/Legal: Professional, clear voices
- Restaurants/Retail: Friendly, upbeat voices
- Home services: Trustworthy, relatable voices
- Salons/Spas: Warm, welcoming voices
Previewing Voices
Before selecting a voice:
- Go to voice settings
- Look for a play button or preview option
- Listen to a sample
- Try a few different options
- Select your favorite
Tip: Have a colleague listen too — get a second opinion!
Language Settings
Single Language Mode
Theo speaks one language (usually English):
- Simpler setup
- Consistent experience
- Best for local businesses
Multilingual Mode
Theo can respond in the caller's language:
- Detects spoken language
- Responds in same language
- Great for diverse customer bases
Supported languages in multilingual mode:
- English
- Spanish
- French
- German
- Portuguese
- Italian
- Dutch
- And others
Note: Multilingual mode works best with language-specific voices.
Welcome Message
The welcome message is what Theo says immediately when answering a call.
Good Welcome Messages
Keep it short (under 10 seconds):
"Thanks for calling Sunshine Plumbing, this is Sarah. How can I help?"
Include your business name:
"Hello, you've reached Dr. Martinez Family Dentistry."
End with a prompt:
"...How may I assist you today?"
Welcome Message Examples
Plumber:
"Thanks for calling Johnson Plumbing. This is your virtual assistant. How can I help you today?"
Salon:
"Hi, thanks for calling Bella Hair Studio! Would you like to book an appointment?"
Restaurant:
"Hello and thanks for calling Tony's Italian Kitchen. Are you looking to make a reservation or place an order?"
Medical Office:
"Thank you for calling Dr. Smith's office. This is an automated assistant. How may I direct your call?"
Real Estate:
"Hi there! Thanks for calling ABC Realty. Are you interested in buying, selling, or renting?"
Voice Quality Tips
Speak Speed
All voices speak at natural speed. If callers seem confused:
- Check your welcome message for clarity
- Simplify complex information
- Add pauses with punctuation
Background Information
Theo's tone comes from your business profile and prompts. Professional writing leads to professional speaking.
Consistency
Use the same voice across all your phone numbers for brand consistency (unless you have specific reasons not to).
Testing Your Voice Settings
After making changes:
- Call your Theo number from a different phone
- Listen to the greeting — does it sound right?
- Have a conversation — is the voice appropriate?
- Check the transcript — was understanding accurate?
What to Listen For
- Natural pacing and intonation
- Correct pronunciation of your business name
- Appropriate energy level
- Professional quality
Troubleshooting Voice Issues
"The voice mispronounces my business name"
Some unique names may be mispronounced. Try:
- Spelling it phonetically in your greeting
- Using a simpler business name variation
- Contact support for assistance
"The voice sounds robotic"
All voices use modern speech synthesis. If it sounds off:
- Check your internet connection
- Try a different voice
- Make sure your prompts are natural language
"Callers can't understand Theo"
- Check if callers might prefer a different language
- Try a clearer accent voice
- Simplify the information being shared
"The voice doesn't match my brand"
- Review the voice options and preview each
- Consider customer expectations
- Test with actual calls before deciding
Common Questions
Can I change voices later?
Yes! You can change your voice settings at any time. Changes take effect immediately for new calls.
Can I use different voices for different purposes?
Yes. If you have multiple phone numbers or agents, each can have its own voice.
Do voices sound natural?
Theo uses advanced speech technology that sounds natural and conversational. Most callers don't realize they're speaking to AI.
Can I customize how specific words are pronounced?
Not directly, but rephrasing content in your knowledge base can help with pronunciation issues.
Are new voices added regularly?
Voice options may expand over time. Check back periodically for new additions.
Need Help?
- Check our Troubleshooting Guide
- Email support@needtheo.com