VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[Tom Test]

This post is not about a specific piece of equipment, so I thought it would be appropriate to put it here.

So... does using high-end name gear (e.g., Neumann TLM-103 or U-87 microphones, boutique preamps like Avalon, John Hardy, etc) help a talent make more money than using mid-level gear that doesn’t have the same reputation? I know lots of folks such as myself using mid-level gear (in my case, a Rode NTK > Mackie 1202VLZ Pro mixer > Echo Mia; I do have a sound booth) who make good money and have happy clients. But if I spend a few thousand bucks to upgrade to high-end gear, will my sound be THAT much better that I will win more auditions and make more money? Does listing such Big Name gear on my website and on my listings at V123 and Voices.com give me more credibility that will actually translate in the real world to more clients?

I am quite willing to spend the bucks if I’m fairly certain that it will pay off. I’m just not sure that it would. I’ll probably upgrade my mixer to a Mackie Onyx, which has notably better preamps, but beyond that…?

One other factor: the vast majority of my work is not broadcast. I'm narrating lots of web-based programs, or VO that ends up on a DVD played on a computer or TV at a convention. I have one client whom I do VO for regional TV spots, and he's quite satisfied with my sound. What application for VO even needs absolutely high-end sound anyways? The vast majority of our work, IMHO, ends up being listened to in much-less-than-ideal circumstances (compressed radio, crummy PC speakers, etc).

I appreciate any and all opinions!
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Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

[Frank F]

I am loathe to answer this because there are those who will diss me and those who will praise me... and I don't like being diss'd. Oh well.

Do "brand name" jeans make your tail-end look any better than the lower priced alternative? Probably not, what you have in the low-cost jeans are a pair of pants which work as designed. These low cost jeans cover your behind. The expensive "brand name" jeans do the same thing, they just cost more... but not in every instance.

Some audio equipment does work in unique way to create very specialized sound... or in other words: you cannot replace a Neuman U-87 with $ 20.00 Behringer dynamic microphone and expect the same results.

So when shopping for audio equipment, but what you can afford and sounds right for YOU, not the salesman, and not anyone else.

If you choose a microphone that sounds good and it happens to be the $20.00 Behringer dynamic microphone, then so be it. If you feel you sound better on the Neuman (not a noo-man) and can afford that microphone -- then, so be it. Brand names won't always make you sound better, although they will make you feel lighter (in the pocketbook or wallet).

There is no difference in quality when it comes to what a VoiceOver Artist should provide for broadcast or for non-broadcast. The QUALITY should always be there... and quality equipment does not need to be expensive to own.

Toodles

Frank F
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Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

[mcm]

I doubt it. If you're having audible quality problems like noise that is coming from a cheap component, then upgrading will obviously help. The names might help if you have clients who won't work with you unless they hear certain words when they ask you about your equipment.

You could try an experiment - list all those names on your website - a list doesn't imply that you actually have that equipment - and see if you get more business.

Okay, kidding. If your clients are happy, if nobody complains about your sound, ever, then you're probably fine. If somebody hears your demos and likes your voice-talkin', but doesn't like what the equipment is doing to your voice, they would probably ask you what you're using. Otherwise my advice is to save your money until you just don't know what to do with all of it.

[Philip Banks]

"Philip, we need you in London tomorrow for a commercial."

"Why? I'd be delighted to come down but do I really need to?"

"We're using WowExpensive Post in Soho, it's a quality thing."

"Ok. By the way, my home studio is equipped to the same standard as WowExpensive Post."

"Fair enough. Stay at home and we'll do an ISDN session. Would you like a large sum of money?"

"(HEAVY SIGH) If you insist!"

The truth is that it may not matter but it does make a difference.

[Edo]

I have been known to be a bit of an a** when people ask me questions like "What microphone do you use?" or "You have to have this and that plug-in... make sure will you?"

I'll always reply with the simple phrase "we use industry standard stuff ofcourse, when do you require me to do the session?". If they insist on me telling the whole list of my stuff I ask them a question myself. Ïf I look better than I sound will you hire me? Or something I've used for a number of times: "Does it matter?... sound requires a good set of EARS, eyes aren't all that important in our line of work and you wouldn't disagree on that with me now would you? "

All that matters is smiling faces after they HEARD what they ordered. They come to you for the way you SOUND, not for the way you LOOK. I do use a lot of the big name stuff, but only because I've tried dozens of different tools and compiled a heap of what best suits my needs and ears. There's no way in the world how one can argue about TASTE... these things are extremely personal and anyone's interpretation is as good as mine.

There are however minimum requirements in the professional world. But that doesn't mean you have to spend Rolls Royce money when you really are a lousy driver. If we first learn to drive well, the car we drive is one of many relyable opions at different price ranges. Whatever suits you and makes YOU a pleasant driver. Just never try to save money in the wrong places... don't ever invest in inferior cheap cables for instance... I recall the saying is something like "Pennywise; pound foolish", but english is not my native tongue or pen for that matter... I might be wrong here

[Yoda117]

Both Frank and Philip are right, which is amusing since they're saying the opposite things.

You need to find out what works best for you. A U87 is not for everyone, and I strongly advise against it for most people who are new to VO because it brings out so much of their voice (and not in a good way). That said, it's a standard of the industry.

Avalon (BTW: when did that become a boutique preamp? It's an industry standard and can be found most anywhere). Same thing. It's a standard and people are comfortable with it.

I have industry standard items in my studio (EV-20. EV-27, U87, U89, etc.) and those that are more esoteric and "boutique" (RM2J, U48, CMV-563, U47, etc.).

The only folks that having the rare stuff impresses are A ) those who truly know what they're doing and wouldn't care about the gear so much as the talent and B ) those who have no clue what's going on are are impressed with the name.

VO does not require boutique equipment. HOWEVER, you ought to be using items which are standards of the industry. Take a peek at the studios where you regularly book your work. What are they using? Odds are you'll want to incorporate that into your studio... eventually.

Now take all that, and temper it with this last bit. It ain't all about the gear. A lot of larger name folks here and elsewhere don't use Pro Tools, or a U87, or anything that's considered to be upper shelf. They found what works for them and went with that. Way too often I find that people put themselves in bad spots because they got a case of "gearitis". Do you really need a $5,000 mastering EQ? Probably not. How about a $20K Prisim AD/DA? I'm thinking not so much... Get just what you need to make yourself sound good and go from there.

If you're spending tens of thousands of bucks in order to do that, then you're doing something wrong...
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Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

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

[Lance Blair]

Keep your NTK if you like working with it and it flatters your voice (and if the clients are happy!) but definitely upgrade from the Mackie preamps.

You don't need to spend $3K...just spend $500 to $1100 on a good preamp when you're ready. You will notice the difference, if you don't then try to squeeze the sound from the nice preamp back through the Mackie sponge before it goes through your computer.

Sounding great can never hurt you.
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[Bill Campbell]

As a producer, who gets mp3 and wav files from a lot of different talent, for broadcast, this is what I can't fix...

an echoey room
a loud hum
bad sibilance
over use of compression

anything else doesn't really matter that much. I'm going to process and eq my "signature" sound into the vo and spot anyway.

So, my answer is - avoid those issues above, and it'll be fine. I've gotten great vo from all kinds of mics, including $100 mics.
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www.asapaudio.com

[Jowillie]

There are industry "standards" like the U87 and 416 and the few standard pre amps..... if you are doing material that will be shared by other studios. It is usually simpler to match up.
The comments about "If you sound good on what you have..." is appropiate. If it isn't broke......
But don't stop seeking improvement.
(By the way Frank, I'm trying to get back in my old pair of "Lardashe" jeans from the old days.)
Willie E.

[Deirdre]

Continue to improve your delivery first and foremost.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[ccpetersen]

We used to have similar discussions back in "the day" and it always came down to this: no matter how good the mics, the pre-amps, the studio decor, coffee station, etc., it just didn't happen if the talent wasn't there. All the rest will fall into place.
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Charter Member: Threadjackers Local 420

[Lance Blair]

In order of importance:

1.) Talent
2.) Acoustics
3.) Preamp
4.) Microphone

some people will swtich 3&4, and some people will put the computer/recording devices even before those.
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Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

[davidmonteath]

Of course talent is the main concern, its really all about confidence.

You assume that the vo has talent and if they are using their own equipment or a studio's equipment and it is of a known and respected level of quality it is one (or several) things less to worry about.

So, the mere possession of big name equipment won't make you money, but it may be one more reason why a client would hire you or why a client wouldn't not hire you.
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[CarynClark]

[anthonyVO]