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Best Microphone for Voice Over set
Hi
I am in the process of setting up a Voice Over facility for my studio. Has anyone got any good tips on what type of Mic I should buy?
Thanks
Mike -
3 Replies
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My favorite microphone for voiceover work is the Electrovoice RE20 through a Grace preamp……Steve C.
Check out our microphone site at http://www.themicrophonevault.com
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What you want for all-around use is probably a medium- to large-diaphragm condenser mic. Depending on your budget, the choice can be huge. In my experience with VO (that means half my work hours), I’ve found the Neumann TLM range to be most versatile. They can give you the boomy trailer sound when put up close to a big man, or a smooth, breathy, sexy sound when placed in front of a petite woman. The reange also has mics at many price points, depending on your budget and features you need.
The RE-20 suggested above would be great for super-deep ballsy VOs, but the day you get a small girl in front of it, you’ll be crying out for another mic. Also don’t neglect the importance of the preamp in VO work, and allocate a substancial part of your budget on getting a good one. My hands-down favorite for VO is the Avalon Vt737SP. Smooth creamy goodness.
JC Boulay
Audio Z
Montreal, Canada
http://www.audioz.com -
A lot depends on who will be doing the VO. I’m an AFTRA/SAG VO pro (demos on my website) and I teach VO to other talent and “regular folks” at my studio who have been told they “have good voices and should do VO.”
If you’ll be using pros, your job is easy. Pros can sound good on many more mics that non-pros.
The RE 20 is fine. EV SM7 is good. These are both dynamic mics requiring no phantom power.
Large/medium condenser mics are not “must haves”, but you’ll find them more frequently in most pro VO booths. The SD mics also work. The Schoeps CMC641 is the mic of choice for boomed dialog in films. It works quite well as a VO mic.
If you’re in a competitive market, you’ll need a Neumann U 87 or an AKG C414. These are “gold standards” for VO. If you can’t afford them try a Neumann TLM 193 or an Audio Technica AT4050.
There are a TON of cheap condenser mics on the market. Don’t be deceived most of the chaep ones suck.
The comment about having a good preamp is spot on. My GML pres cost over $1k per channel. They sound great.
Commensurately cheaper preamps to consider are Symetrix 302, dbx 286a and the FMr’s RNP.
Please check the mic and preamp reviews I have written for trade magazines in the Online archive on my website.
Regards,
Ty Ford
PS; and if you need a good narrator, I am available. In additon to my demos, you can hear some of my most recent narration work (U 89 Neumann and Millennia Media STT-1 preamp/processor) in the SAGE project folder in the archive.
Ty Ford’s “Audio Bootcamp Field Guide” was written for video people who want better audio. Find out more at https://home.comcast.net/~tyreeford/AudioBootcamp.html
or https://www.tyford.com
Download Ty Ford’s “Existential Boogie” from iTunes now.
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