Meet Rob Sogomonian: The Engineer Turned Sherlock Holmes Narrator

A Career of Many Chapters

Rob Sogomonian, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has had more careers than most people have jobs. Before becoming a full-time voice actor, he worked in the family home inspection business, spent years as a software engineer, and built his own real estate practice. Each stop added something critical to his toolkit.

"The family business brought an attention to detail to everything I do," Rob explains. "Software engineering instilled a problem-solving mindset. Real estate brought customer service and effective communication skills into the fold."

He had also been acting in theater since elementary school and producing video and training content since the early 2000s. When he decided to start promoting his services as a voice talent, all of those threads came together.

Genuine, Energetic, Versatile

Rob describes his voice in three words: genuine, energetic, and versatile. His range spans educational content like e-learning and explainer videos, character acting for fiction audiobooks, animation, and video games, and a knowledgeable conversational style that works well for commercials.

His preparation process is methodical. "I read through the script to get the overall vibe," he says, "then I ask myself, who am I when speaking these words? I usually come up with two or three solid choices. After that I ask, who am I speaking to? Then I record two to five takes, pick the best two, and send them."

The Sherlock Holmes Challenge

Rob's most challenging project was also his first major voice work: a Sherlock Holmes audiobook. He auditioned in a neutral American accent because the prologue was narrated by an American college student. After booking the project, he realized the rest of the book was written from Watson's perspective, requiring the entire performance in a British accent.

"I would have to do multiple characters in a British accent, both male and female, along with other various European accents, including Russian, French, Irish, Scottish, and sub-dialects of British such as cockney," he recalls. "And it was a seven-and-a-half hour audiobook for my first long-form narration project."

He delivered it almost a year late, but it earned great reviews on Audible. The experience taught him the depth of preparation that professional voice acting demands.

Britannica, Bon Jovi, and FailArmy

Rob's client list reflects his versatility. He has voiced content for Britannica, Jon Bon Jovi's Soul Kitchen, and FailArmy, each requiring a completely different approach and energy. That range is what keeps clients coming back.

Correcting the Misconceptions

Rob sees three common myths about voice acting that need correcting: "That it is a quick path to riches, that it's just needing a good voice, and that high-end equipment is the place to start." The reality involves years of skill development, business acumen, and a community of professionals learning together.

The weirdest project he has tackled? "A medical narration audiobook about mucusless diets." Voice acting takes you places you never expected.

Life Beyond the Microphone

When he steps away from the studio, Rob enjoys cooking, gardening, video games, and flying planes. That last hobby might explain his comfort with taking on ambitious projects that would intimidate most people.

The Case for Human Voice

On the question of why human voice acting cannot be replaced by AI, Rob's answer is precise: "Nuance. AI can only do one type of read." A human performer brings interpretation, adaptability, and emotional intelligence that no algorithm can match.

Working with Rob

His advice for clients is simple and encouraging: "Go with what feels right for the project!" And he wants people to know that the voice acting community is one of its greatest strengths. "The community of professionals that are available to support and assist is vast and incredible."

Hear Rob's demos and explore his full profile at RealVOTalent.com. Ready to bring his versatile voice to your project? Hire Rob today.