VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Yoda117 · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 4:27 pm Post subject:

Meh... some of the stuff I've gotten used to seeing wasn't listed (although that's not a bad sign).

Most of their stuff was 10-20% higher than the price for the same gear from my normal sources (that is a bad sign).

Guess I'll stick to calling my friends at the studio and going from there Smile

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Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

Jowillie · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:00 am Post subject:

Everyone asked about gear co's that understood VO speak...and MWAudio has built some of the industry standards.
I like your method of finding out what the successful studios doing VO are doing and matching the gear.
I firmly believe in the "try before you buy" proceedure because everyone will sound different on different equipment. There are some standards in the business and I appreciate the help from several experienced pros on this board that have "tried most all" of the various options. Edo's test in the Learn section provides a lot of insite. I've shared pm's with members that have been incredibly helpful. Yoda, your experience and observations are really helping, Thanks.
I'm thinking about setting up a studio trial with a gear company or two where we can go by and test fly some popular mic and preamp combos. Right now, it looks like somewhere like Myrtle Beach or Columbia, SC or Durham, NC may be the first session. Anyone inteseted?
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Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:12 am Post subject:

Okay... I'm going to be nice and share a tidbit that I normally keep to myself.

If you're in NC, check out SoundPure

They're not as flashy as Mercenary, but A) They're VERY knowledgable about gear. cool

VERY competitively priced (case in point, my Lil' FrEQ cost $1650 shipped, everywhere else was about $100 more expensive). C) While not VO-oriented, they are VERY keen on listening and playing with stuff for VO-oriented people; that is, they identified their VO customers and keep in regular contact to find out how stuff is working for them so as to offer better opinions to any other VO people who have questions.

about 90% of my high end gear (Trakkers, Lil FrEQ, Neumanns, etc.) came from there... and I'm a cheap bastard.
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

Jowillie · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:18 am Post subject:

Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:25 am Post subject:

Everyone I've talked to has had nothing but compliments.

I definitely give them a thumbs up.

My next "big purchase" (aside from the 2K on an Omnirax) is a preamp to suppliment the M-610 and Onyx I will be putting in my new room. The choices for me are the STT-1, HV-3B (both by Millennia) or a PEQ1-R.

Since I have a clean pre (Onyx) and a colored pre (M-610), the recommendation was to pick something in the middle, which would be the Wunder PEQ1-R. I'll probably end up with that, barring some major recommendations otherwise.
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

cackerman · Guest

Again, it's about about experience. I've been buying gear from Sweetwater for YEARS and I've always found them to be very knowledgable, helpful and experienced when it comes to ANY recording situation. They seem to have comparable pricing and they, too, check in from time to time to see how things are working. While they may not be a "voice-over specific" company...I have always found their solutions to v.o. recording problems quite enlightening. Perhaps if someone were to suggest to Sweetwater to have a well-trained "v.o. equipment" sales person...it's help us all out. I believe I'll call them. Maybe they'll give me something free...like a new Re-20.

Chris
AckermanAudio.com
208-230-8670

Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:37 am Post subject:

I've suggested that in the past... just got silence.

I like Sweetwater, but I still end up finding myself going to SoundPure more often then not when it comes to the higher end stuff.

and if you're playing with the RE-20, try the RE-27. I kinda like the sound better Smile

_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

cackerman · Guest

Yoda,

Tried one once...couldn't get it to sound right, somehow. A tad too bright and brittle for my pipes.

Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:00 am Post subject:

really...?

I've never heard "too bright" used with that mic before, but mics are weird like that (you just have to find the one that works for you).

I've used it on sold state and tube pres and despite doing most of my VO in the tenor range, I've never thought it to be bright.

Live and learn, I guess Smile

_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

cackerman · Guest

I'm not only a v.o., I also spent about 100 years as a disc jockey (remember RECORDS?). I think jocks have a tendency to "not use" equipment, especially mics, properly. You know the term "ham-handed"? I'm thinkin' "ham-tongued" would apply here. Perhaps I simply wasn't using the EV properly. I have become so used to the RE-20 that I've become reluctant to try others. That's a little closed-minded.[/i]

Yoda117 · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:30 am Post subject:

Records...?

I... think I've heard of those.

LOL! Actually I've refurbished more than my fare share of jukeboxes that ran 45s or 78s.

Sadly, what you say is true. I would never leave my LDCs anywhere near radio folks. That was one of the prime selling points of the RE-20, it was durable as hell and idiot simple to use.

It is for this reason that I often see them used in VO courses, and a reason that I am not fond of using them as a standalone mic for said purposes (it is very disheartening to hear someone who is used to not hearing certain imperfections in their voice suddenly hear them for the first time in a booking... which is an experience I have witnessed on more than one group session).
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

cackerman · Guest

Ah, yes. 'Tis sad, but true: old habits die the hardest. Keep your mics AND the womenfolk away from the radio people!

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

cackerman · Guest

And I love womenfoke who ARE radio people!