VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

annaclaire

Hello, I've been lurking here for ages and am coming out of my shell to ask your sage advice. (This forum has helped me immensely over the years!)

When my agent here in Austin books me, I go record at whichever studio she sends me to. I've been doing that here since 1995. The problem is that things are not being done that way as much anymore and I want to catch up with everybody else.
I currently only record auditions from my little closet/booth setup and would like to branch out to be my own engineer. I'd like to be able to produce reliable, good quality audio.

Here's my current setup:
Avantone CK7 Mic
Tascam FireOne w/ phantom pwr Firewire Interface
Audacity
Macbook Pro running OS 10.7.5 Lion

There have been a couple of instances where I had recorded a video game and the producer needed a couple of pick up lines. They were happy enough with the quality I sent them, but I'm pretty sure they still had to "massage" the recording to make it work.

I think the Tascam is really designed for PC and not Mac. I have to turn the gain up all the way and be really close to the mic. Even then, I usually have to go in afterward and use the "amplify" effect. And this is just for auditions.

I've been using pretty much this setup since 2006.
-What should my next step be?
-Should I add something to my chain?
-Get a new interface?
-Other equipment?
-Is there some kind of tutorial or class I should be taking so I understand what the hell I am doing a bit better?
-What exactly are the criteria for broadcast quality sound and what do I need to do to get there from here?

The answers to any or all of these questions will CHANGE MY LIFE. Smile

Thanks,
Claire in Austin

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

1.) Get out of the closet/booth and into a larger, treated space.

2.) Get a nice preamp. Doesn't have to be too pricey. Maybe something with a transformer would compliment that mic.

3.) Get Adobe Audition.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:39 pm Post subject:

Advice given to me when I started by a man (then) 30 years experience, who built had a recognised qualification as an electronics (audio) engineer, built pro recording studios and the studios for national radio stations

1 - Room is vital.
2 - Buy the best microphone you CAN'T afford
3 - Buy the rest

Set a budget to buy a machine that will print you money because, in effect, that is what your home studio is designed to do.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:09 am Post subject:

Working in a closet might not be very elegant (depending upon your wardrobe Wink

) but if the stuff you record in there sounds good -- if your clients haven't complained, perhaps it does -- you can probably move it down the priority list behind the equipment upgrades. Same with Audacity. It may not be the most sophisticated recording software out there, but it works, and anything you buy may be easier to use and have some more bells and whistles, but the audio quality won't be any better.

So I agree with Philip. Get the best mic you can -- that works with your voice. And, as Lance has suggested, a good pre-amp to go with it.
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FinMac · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:32 am Post subject: a few thoughts

So far you have received some great advice from Lance, Philip and Lee.

If you are thinking about upgrading your interface I would like to suggest the Audient iD22. Love mine.

Great converters, works with the Mac, excellent headphone amplifier, and outstanding built in micpres. (I do not get paid by Audient - but I did write them about how happy I am with the unit and they wrote a blog about my work).

Paul Strikwerda wrote an interesting and detailed blog about it.

http://www.nethervoice.com/2013/12/18/review-audient-id22-interface/

He thinks the built in micpres are the same quality level as his Grace Design M101. That is saying a lot.

Adobe Audition was my software for years, and it is excellent. But since changing to a Mac I have been using TwistedWave. It is much less expensive than Audition and the more I use it the more I like it.

So if you decide to upgrade here are some options to check out.

Just my 2 cents.

Mac
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Scott's right, there are excellent interfaces out there with very nice preamps. Just get one of those.

I just got my cheap and cheerful Focusrite Scarlett and I'm impressed with the preamps that come in that little box. I even did a few gigs last week straight into the box and the clients liked it. "Sounds great!" and all that. I'm still going to use my external preamp because I like what it does.

I wouldn't buy the most expensive microphone you can unless you first upgrade your closet arrangement. There's no point - it will only pick up the deficiencies of your acoustics even more.
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Kristin Lennox · Flight Attendant Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 858

annaclaire · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 10:26 am Post subject:

Thank you so much for answering my questions!

As to the room: it is a 5x4ft closet in the center of my house and it's lined with clothing, blankets and foam. It is pretty dang dead in there. (I do have a long-term plan to put in a little booth in my guest room, but that is probably over a year away.) Still, I would love to find some sort empirical way to test my closet to see if it is actually as quiet and dead as I think it is.

Interesting that you should mention Paul Strickwerda, Mac. I was just reading an article by him about the CAC Equitek E100S microphone. He was lovin' all over that thing and has almost convinced me to order one sight-unseen (voice-unheard?). One thing that really stood out to me in his review was that this mic won't pick up the deficiencies of the room, "Off-axis sound spills are kept to a minimum, and yet this mic never sounds one-dimensional. Like a fine Bordeaux, it has a nice open and full body to it." Since I'm already used to crowding my Avantone, I might be able to get something good out of this one.

It appears people often try out the mic/preamp combo. Perhaps since Mr S loves that E100S so much, I could assume it will sound good with the Audient iD22 you mention he recommended?

I had been looking at the Focusrite 2i2 and the Onyx Blackjack as discussed in another thread here recently. I have to say I really like the price of those, but I probably give affordability much more weight than I should.

It is reassuring to hear that you guys don't all hate Audacity. For auditions, it has been a real peach. I was thinking it might be a long while before my ability to do engineer-y stuff advances past Audacity's capabilities.

Speaking of engineer-y stuff: when I have had a problem in the past, I would go find a few tutorials, pick the one that seemed the smartest and simplest, follow it along like a recipe, and accomplish my task. I often did this without necessarily learning and understanding all the principles behind what I was doing. There are definitely some best practices basics that I need to learn. Any suggestions here? Do I need to find a local community college class? A primer? Is there some online series that I could subscribe to and work my way through?
I have worked with audio engineers since the late 80s and I guess I am a bit intimidated to think I have so much to learn. I need to start small, but I don't want to miss anything.

Man, Phillip, I love what you said, "set a budget to buy a machine that will print you money." Having the right gear and knowing how to use it well--that's fully 25% of my career now.
I am an excellent voice actor (25%), however I am a crappy engineer (25%), salesperson (25%), and office admin (25%). That vital 75% of my business--the part that I am terrible at--all used to be taken care of for me by other people (agent, studio engineers). As I become a better salesperson and admin, I still need to know how build and operate that money printing machine.

Man, you guys are awesome. Thankyouthankyou!

-Claire
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Happy E100s user here, that mic is a great balance of quality sound and a supercardioid pattern that doesn't pick up as much of the room. The very low noise floor makes it great to work with too.
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todd ellis · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:33 am Post subject:

i would say 1st step would be to post a sample of your audio here so the guru's of gear can listen - that would help a lot.
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georgethetech · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:15 pm Post subject:

+1 what Todd said... if it SOUNDS good it IS GOOD.
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SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 3:19 pm Post subject:

Great advice from everyone.

These guys have the lowest price on the CAD I've seen....
http://www.zenproaudio.com/cad-e100s.aspx
I just ordered one last night.
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annaclaire · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 3:53 pm Post subject:

Oooh, I will def send a sample.
[runs off to look around for format people use to upload sound files here]

That is the best price I had seen on the CAD mic, as well. Front End Audio has it for that, however I know nothing about either company. Seems like everywhere else it was $50-150 more.

-c
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Frank F · Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 8:00 pm Post subject:

I have been watching this thread with amusement for the past few days. It seems many have forgotten the list of "to do's" for a good quote - sound - end quote.

Start with the second most important part of your system if you really need a change. The environment in which you intend to work - a.k.a.: your closet/studio.

I read where you intend to change the environment within a year or so. I suggest you do not wait. Dead is not the pre-requisite here; quiet, not boomy, and non-reflective IS.

Is you current "closet" comfortable? Are you happy with the sound? Do you need a change for aesthetic reasons or for sound quality?

The other equipment you currently own are good products and will work well. Do not get "gear-itis" or "GAS" (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) until you are ready to pay the price..

The Avantone CK7 is multi-pattern microphone... try using the figure of 8 pattern instead of cardioid, to cut down boominess and reject side transients if necessary. This a good quality microphone, although it can be enhanced with some minor modifications (if you have the skill set).

Become fluent in your current editor before moving to another. If you really need a new pre-amp, consider the 2i2 as has been discussed.

Now all of that said, listen to everyone who has a suggestion and throw them out of your mind.. Begin with what you NEED, not what you want.

(Oh, and that includes my ideas and suggestions as well).

If you don't know you need it, you probably don't.

Frank F
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heyguido · Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:47 am Post subject:

I'll say it again.

Luvs me some Frank.

Right on.
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