VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Darren Altman

You know the old saying "if it ain't broke..."

My recording set up is basic to say the least: I have an M-Audio Luna Condensor Mic Going into an M-Audio Audio Interface (preamp) which goes into my Macbook Pro laptop, I use Senheiser headphones to record and listen back to edit and that's it! This works fine, I can hear every detail in my cans and control the level fine. As for compression, my software (Adobe Sounbooth) has two good presets: Voiceover, which I use almost exclusively and another called Vocal Thickener, which I add if I record jingles or voice of God announcements, so I don't have any outboard compressors.

When I check out other voiceover artists studios, I see they have their mics going into a desk and monitor speakers to listen back they also have compressors in their rack. Am I missing something? Should I invest in a little mixing desk and speakers? What difference will this make? What am I unable to do with my current set-up? Why get a desk when I'm dealing with a single mic and my little audio interface allows me to control the gain volume of my mic and output level to my cans?

If this is a stupid question I aplologise! I have never received a single critisism on the quality of a voiceover I send out, but I've been wondering if my set up should match what other artists have and if I will notice a marked difference in the quality of my voiceovers and also if it will improve the way I work.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.
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Frank F · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:06 pm Post subject:

The only stupid question is the one which is not asked.

Headphones are great to monitor when you are recording. They give you a chance to hear yourself and hear mistakes and clicks and pos which you might not hear otherwise. Here is the caveat: Using headphones to edit usually results in a person being to close to the source.

What this means in simple terms is one becomes very anal about their sound. Hearing things up close and "in your ears" results in your hearing things which are not audible on monitors.

I suggest using simple speakers/monitors to edit and for playback. One can spend a lot of money or a little money on audio monitors - it's your choice. Find a pair of speakers which sound natural - not bassy or tinney. Listen to the speakers you wish to purchase at a level which is normal for your ears - not too soft and not too loud.

Good luck.

Frank F
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Darren Altman · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 3:06 am Post subject:

You're right! Recently I have found myelf taking out every single lip smack (that shows up as a straight line) as they annoy me. I've bcome very anal in my editing!
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samowry · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:40 am Post subject:

Frank usually is.

Chris Ratliff · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:21 am Post subject:

Hi Darren,
Thanks for the personal note and the compliments on the studio. It's been cobbled together over the last 10 years. As for your questions... I come from a broadcasting background, 20years worth, and I hung around radio engineers ALOT. I also had several opportunities to watch studios (broadcast and production booths) being built. So when I set out to build my own studio, I took whatever knowledge I learned from my engineers... and a lot of trying this and that. It was all I knew. I started with an EV RE20 microphone and a Valley 401 processor because it was what I used everyday in the broadcast and production booths, and I liked the way it made me sound. I still use pretty much the same stuff. I have moved up to an RE27ND mic and a Symetrix 528 processor. I occasionally will use a really old Senheiser 421 and sometimes a Shure SM7B. These are well known mics in the broadcast industry. They benefit from the bit of tweaking that the processor provides.
The processor? I mainly use it to quiet the room sounds. Compression. I add very little eq.
Now that I've bored you with all that info, let me just add this. Should you invest in more equipment that you may or may not need? That's up to you. If you just love buying gear like I do then go for it and try it out! But be aware the more gadgets you buy the more opportunity you have to muddy your audio. You say you haven't had any complaints, so I would assume that what you are doing is just fine. I wouldn't worry too much about what you can't do. It sound to me like you've got just what you need. Sometimes less is more!
I supposed I've rambled enough. I hope I have in some way helped!
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Darren Altman · Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 3:57 pm Post subject:

Thanks Chris,

well I guess you've made up my mind then! I'll be happy with my remedial set and leave it for the moment. No mixing desk, no monitors, no compressors, just a mic and an audio interface and I'll use the compression on my software. Nice!

Ho Ho Ho!! Smile

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ronharpervoice · Club 300 Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 347 Location: Ohio

Just saw some nice computer speakers at BOSE for about $100. Think I'll get them next year for my laptop.
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Frank F · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:19 pm Post subject:

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject:

First of all, Good on you, Darren for having a simple setup. I do too. Mic > pre-amp > 'puter. No mixer, no other boxes. Makes chain problems less likely and easier to troubleshoot when they do.

Frank - As for headphones, I try to record without any (I do mostly audiobooks and want to focus on the storytelling and not the sound of my voice) and edit with headphones. While this may make me too close, won't it also make it better? In other words, being my own worst critic is going to yield superior results for the client. Is that not a correct assumption?
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Frank F · Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject:

Jeffery,

Headphones are great for monitoring your sound and your presentation when recording. The key is not to go "radio" and turn the headphones up WAY loud. Try turning the headphones down to where they are just audible when you RECORD.

As for making it better when editing with headphones - there all kinds of nuances you may edit OUT of your file when listening through headphones while editing. The "closeness" is NOT going to make your sound better, it will make the audio file sound highly edited.

Monitor speakers allow the editor to hear the sound in a more natural relaxed environment with all the room sounds and openness which is how most listeners will hear the production.

In my humble opinion the best sound for an audio book story teller is to sound natural yet still be able to create real emotion and a solid connection with the listener. Much of this comes from being able to relate the story being read with the readers own experiences through the audio medium only.

The physical and visual movements a reader makes with his/her hands or arms are translated into how one sounds and tells the story.

I was in a car crash prior to reading a narration at a local studio a few years ago and injured my arm and shoulder. In the studio as I was reading the script, the Producer stated I sounded different than usual. I replied "Well, what do you expect? I am talking in MONO today I can only use one hand".

When I work with new talent or someone who is way too enamored with their own voice I ask them to record without headphones. This gives them a sense of spaciousness and they will be less cognizant of their own voice. I often use this technique with vocalists (singers) and let them hear only the supporting audio tracks with the "cans" off their head or placed slightly behind the ears on their head.

Remember this is MY opinion only and no one was harmed while writing this post.

Frank F
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:16 am Post subject:

interesting perspective, Frank. Thanks for sharing. My experience recording audiobooks is similar: Focus on the storytelling, not the sound of the voice. That's why I try to record without headphones. I like to edit with them because I know that half of my audience will be using them to listen, so i want to make sure there are no obvious noises that they would hear, but the monitors might not pick up.
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Deirdre · Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2009 9:27 am Post subject:

Hooray for Jeff!!!

I listen to nearly all my audio books "privately" and appreciate all the work that you are talking about.
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