Step 1) Do a warmup. (Vocal Warm-ups)
Step 2) Analyze the photo. (every style choice and accessory choice should effect the voice you choose)
Step 3) Read the full character description. (there could be less obvious attributes in the writing)
Step 4) Unfamiliar words. (ask how to pronouce them before you start recording)
Step 5) Which words will you emphasize/point to? (these choices can change the entire meaning of what you are saying)
Step 6) Find a clear other/focal point. (the more specific, the stronger your acting and choices will be)
Step 7) Decide on the moment before and the goal. Every line is a reaction requested of the character with a goal in mind. (again, be specific) Speak your thoughts before out loud and use music to put yourself in that place emotionally. (I have a cheat sheet of what songs make me feel certain emotions that I also use for on screen. For Instance: One Day “Pirates of the Carribean” always makes me ugly cry! LOL)
Step 8) Vary your pitch entry. People tend to start every line on the same pitch. (this will add variance and depth to the character and set your audition apart)
Step 9) (For dubbing) Each syllable is a mouth flap so hit each one clearly and individually. (otherwise they will foresee having to do rewrites)

Recording:

-Make sure you are recording in the requested format, if there is one .wav vs .mp3, Peak Volume -3 vs -5 Db, Bit depth 24 vs 32-float, and Sampling Rate 44,100Hz vs 48,000Hz.

-Be sure to get 10 seconds of silence to select to remove room noise in Adobe Audition, ProTools, or free Audacity. (In Audition: The function is called “Capture Noise Print” and “Remove Noise Print” I set mine to 85% in Audition since above that can remove some natural audio that effects the lines. In ProTools: you’ll want to use EQ or a gate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnuZpyNvdN0 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9wK5AxM2Qc. And in Audacity: you can use the same tool as Audition or ProTools, but it is a little more finnicky and requires adjusting each time you record. It feels more inconsistent to me than the other 2, BUT it’s free! https://support.audacityteam.org/repairing-audio/noise-reduction-removal)

-Keep levels between -3 and -18 Db, unless a lower Db ceiling is requested. (Below -18 may be hard to hear and above -3 may peak on most equipment. It is also important to record as close to the final gain as possible so that you aren’t inadvertently turning up little background sounds.)

-Remove any abrasive clicks and/or pops that may distract from your performance. (No need to edit breathing or any overt editing that may misrepresent your performance and skill. They can usually tell and it can remove you from consideration.) Audition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxZB8s3X7Ms ProTools: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIYNVtCbQK4 Audacity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDHJcO6C9Ho

All information inspired by or derived from coaches.