Home Studio: Equipment

Is your VO recording booth a sweat box in summer? “I’ve heard both male and female voice actors tell of recording in only their underwear because their booth was so hot,” notes voice actor Greg Thomas. “Even if the booth starts out at a moderate temperature, after you’re in there for 20 or 30 minutes, your body heat alone will cause the temperature to rise significantly.” Well, being a DIYer, Greg had a cool idea for escaping the heat – and shares his plan for air conditioning a booth (recording in undies optional) …

When a problem pops up in your voice over recordings it can launch a panicky “whack-a-mole” search for the culprit in the equipment chain. Audiobook narrator/voice actor Barry Abrams relates his recent journey to eliminate sudden glitches and skips in his audiobook recordings – including a solution that actually created a new problem (but all ends well, for now) …

If you’re just starting in voice over and wonder which microphone to buy, check out VO pro Rob Marley’s tips here to understand what TYPES of mics are available, how they work, and how to buy …

Your voice-over microphone needs to perform consistently, day after day. So, are you caring for it? Dan Lenard – AKA the VO industry’s “Home Studio Master” – shares eight ways to ensure top mic performance – including tips on how to use it properly …

Your guard the health of your voice – but a healthy microphone is key to sounding your best, too. Dave Courvoisier explores the dirty world of dust and crud that can settle in over time – and needs attention …

Voice over newcomers’ guide to home studio audio equipment – microphone, interface, acoustics, software

The sky darkens, thunder booms … and CRACK! Lightning fries your voice over audio gear – even though outside cables are buried and all your gear was turned off. What happened? Voice over gear expert and voice talent Mike Harrison shares his experiences with two strikes, and what he’s doing to avoid strike three …

Generally, producers want voice actors to provide them with recordings that have not been processed (compressed, equalized, etc.). That lets the producer process the file to meet the individual client’s needs. But if an engineer/producer – like Erick Gomez – were sitting next to you, here’s a peek at the equipment and process he might advise …

Free-market forces are having a heyday in anticipation of ISDN’s eventual downfall, notes voice actor / tech expert Dave Courvoisier about the increasingly expensive telephone-based system for remote recording with your voice over client on the line. And what system – or systems – are most likely to replace ISDN?

Voice talent are becoming fed up and/or priced out of the ISDN market, says veteran voice actress Bobbin Beam, who is pulling the plug on ISDN this month, selling her Telos Zephyr, and turning to Internet-based alternatives for broadcast-quality remote recording with clients and producers …