Script Timer Features
The VOWordCounter Script Timer converts your word count into a realistic recording time estimate, so you know how long a script actually runs before you hit record. Enter a word count, set your speaking pace, and the estimated runtime updates instantly.
Speaking Pace
Speaking pace is set in words per minute (WPM) using a slider that spans 70 to 220 WPM. Drag it to dial in an exact pace, or click one of the six genre presets to jump straight to a pace that matches the work. The default is 130 WPM, a middle-of-the-road narration pace. Faster genres like hard-sell commercials push higher, while measured formats like IVR prompts and e-learning sit lower.
Genre Presets
| Preset | WPM | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| IVR / Telephony | 110 | Phone menus and on-hold prompts, where clarity beats speed and every word has to land. |
| E-learning | 115 | Training and instructional modules that give the listener time to absorb and follow along. |
| Audiobook | 120 | Long-form narration paced for sustained, comfortable listening. |
| Documentary | 130 | Authoritative narration over picture, the balanced default pace. |
| Soft Sell | 145 | Warm, conversational commercial reads that move without rushing. |
| Hard Sell | 170 | High-energy retail and promo spots that pack copy into a tight window. |
Time Calculation
The estimate uses a single formula: words divided by your WPM, multiplied by 60, gives the length in seconds. The result is rounded to the nearest second and shown as MM:SS, rolling over to H:MM:SS once it passes an hour. The page also displays the exact formula it used, for example "600 words ÷ 130 wpm", so the math is never hidden.
Worked Examples
| Written | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| 500 words at 130 wpm | → | 3:51 |
| 150 words at 170 wpm | → | 0:53 |
| 900 words at 145 wpm | → | 6:12 |
| 7,200 words at 120 wpm | → | 1:00:00 |
Spot-Length Context
Below the timecode, the Timer adds a plain-language note that maps your runtime onto standard broadcast spot lengths and finished-audio milestones. Short reads are checked against :15, :30, :60, and :90 windows, with a cue for whether you have room to breathe or the copy is tight. Longer reads report finished minutes, and the longest report finished hours.
Annotation Examples
| Estimated Time | Annotation | |
|---|---|---|
0:10 | → | Fits a :15 spot with room to breathe |
0:14 | → | Fits a :15 spot, tight, but it fits |
0:24 | → | Fits a :30 spot with room to breathe |
0:29 | → | Fits a :30 spot, tight, but it fits |
0:50 | → | Fits a :60 spot with room to breathe |
1:15 | → | Fits a :90 spot. |
10:00 | → | About 10 minutes of finished audio, before pickups and pauses. |
2:20:00 | → | Roughly 2.3 finished hours. Pace yourself, and hydrate. |
Saved Preferences
Your WPM setting is remembered automatically in your browser, so the pace you use most is already dialed in the next time you open the Timer. There is nothing to sign into and nothing to save by hand. Change the slider or pick a different preset any time, and the new value is what carries over.
The Fine Print
The estimate reflects a steady reading pace. Natural pauses, emphasis, character voices, and other artistic choices all affect the length of your final audio, so treat the number as a reliable starting point rather than a stopwatch. For the most accurate result, get your true spoken word count from the Script Counter first, then plug it into the Timer.