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in-home studio

D

Dorothy

Hello

I know there are many approaches, but can anyone recommend
a simple & cost effective set up for at-home voice work or
a web resource that you've found helpful and more
meat & potatoes than bells & whistles? I would think in this market,
many of you have home studios, which is why I'm posting it to this forum.

Thanks much!
 
Dorothy said:
can anyone recommend
a simple & cost effective set up for at-home voice work or
a web resource that you've found helpful and more
meat & potatoes than bells & whistles?
Click to expand...

Dorothy: are you asking about the mechanical/technical/acoustical/electrical aspects of the physical studio itself,

or are you asking about the selling/marketing/managing of the business activity?

Or both?
 
For a simple home VO set up you just need the following:
1) A decent computer with a high quality sound card (typically not the one that came with it). Try M-Audio or higher end Creative Labs. Should be able to get a decent one for about $150.
2. A good mic with a CARDIOD pattern. Try Shure SM7, EV RE20 or similar.
3. Mic Pre-amp/processor Try Symetrix or similar
4. Simple editing software. Adobe Audition or similar. Might be able to find some less expensive or free on web but it won't do as many tricks.
5. Mic stand
6. A quiet place to set up/work with some sound absorbing materials on the walls. A smaller space is best and will require less sound treatment. You can find that stuff at places like Guitar Center.
 
Bugsy has given you a good list.

I would add to it some way to listen to your work. Some "near-field" monitor speakers or some good headphones. Since most voice-over work is destined to be heard on speakers, you may want to go that route.

Let's talk about "good enough for now". If you are committed to this project and you have some assurance you are likely to generate some business, then you may want to write several checks or present the plastic card multiple times and do it all at one time.

If you have reason to tip-toe into this project one step at a time, work out a priority list of which items need to come first and what can wait. That's a tough call for any of us to try to do for you. There is the practical aspect: What do I need in order to generate some income NOW! Then there is the emotional and motivational aspect. Can you get your head to the point where you can voice great stuff even though you know you don't have everything in place?

I have been "building" my set-up one step at a time.

You have to have a mic of some kind in order to even do daily practice runs. (I think making your voice work the way you want is like playing the piano or the violin. You need to "play it" every day. If your budget allows, get a mic like Bugsy listed. There are others in the same price and quality range. Many of the highly recommended mics (including the ones Bugsy likes) are the choice of MALE voices. Go to the websites of femal V-O people and see if they are listing their mics. See if female voices who are far enough along to have their own websites have any other mics they like.

The mic is the first place your voice goes. If you are not ready to pop for the ultimate long-term mic choice yet there are some pretty darned good mics in the $90 to $150 range that are good enough that you can learn to use your compression, limiter and equalization. You can also get a feel for the adequacy of your studio acoustics with something as bland as a dynamic Shure SM-57 or SM-58. Samson and Audio Technica both offer a decent little cardioid condenser in the $150 range.

Only you can make some of these decisions based on how fast you think to can get up to speed in the world of V-O.
 
Goat Rodeo Cowboy said:
The mic is the first place your voice goes. If you are not ready to pop for the ultimate long-term mic choice yet there are some pretty darned good mics in the $90 to $150 range that are good enough that you can learn to use your compression, limiter and equalization. You can also get a feel for the adequacy of your studio acoustics with something as bland as a dynamic Shure SM-57 or SM-58. Samson and Audio Technica both offer a decent little cardioid condenser in the $150 range.
Click to expand...

Mr. Cowboy is correct. The mic has to suit YOUR voice, no one else's. I've been using a Shure SM-58 for over 20 years with good results; it's generally a lot kinder to female voices than, say, the EV RE-20 or 27, which impart a certain harshness. Again, your mileage may vary.

If you'd like to hear that mic in action, please visit my website (www.anitabonita.net, click on the DEMOS button). The Narrative demo and all but the 7-Eleven spot in the Spanish Commercial demo were done with my trusty Shure.

Anita
 
Anita Bonita said:
I've been using a Shure SM-58 for over 20 years with good results...
Click to expand...

Wow, that's even going back to your days as the imaging person for the old "105.1 The Buzz"! ;)

Not to take away from or besmirch the other participants on this thread, but Dorothy, I'd take Anita's advice, she is one of the most professional radio folks that I know!
 
You are all wonderfully helpful.
Thanks so much.
Goat Rodeo Cowboy: the sound in the room I'd like
to set up in, definitely a concern, but I guess I'll
have to work it out.
Anita: Thanks for raising the mic specific issue, didn't even occur to me. : )
 
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