Voice Over Beginner needs advice

[Ty Ford]

Hello Likka and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

I think you need to decide if this will be a hobby or if you will pursue this vigorously. As a hobby, it doesn’t really cost you a lot and you have nothing to lose except time and money.

Look a few posts down on this forum and you’ll see a link to a webcast I recently was a part of about voiceover.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Peter Groom]

Yep exactly.
Profession or hobby?

As a hirer of dozens of VO’s per week, Im not interested in keen amateurs. I need people who know the trade, have the right kit, the right commitment, will be there working day after day and deliver the goods.

Questions to consider

Who will your clients be, where are they and how will you be contacted.
How will they get your voice. Are you recording and emailing, using an IP connection, ISDN lines?
What are your specialities. Why should they call you. Are you great at characters, commercials, reading fast, or power reads etc etc.
How will you market yourself to them.

Then the kit, desk, pre amps, isdn codecs, computers, soundcards, software etc etc all becomes a factor of the market you wnat to exist in.
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Ty Ford]

Peter,

I have a thought. Can you reach out to me by email or skype?

tyreeford@comcast.net

Skype: tyford

Thanks,

Ty

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ilkka Aaltonen]

Thank you for the posts!

I checked the video Ty mentioned. It was very interesting.
Haven’t gone through the whole thing yet, but will do the rest shortly.

However, I did some Google research and I have one question regarding the audio interface.
If the Blue Yeti Pro can accept audio via XLR in 24bit/192kHz, does that mean that if the audio interface accepts those frequencies that the same data will go through the USB to the PC/Mac, where I use a program (for example Audacity) to record the same audio using the same frequencies? In other words, if the mic and audio interface accepts 24bit/192kHz and the program that records is set to accept those signals, no data is lost even though it goes to the PC/Mac via USB?

This question mostly became to my mind due to the fact that I see people mentioning that “do not buy USB-microphones” very often, but it seems that many audio interfaces have USBs.

[Andrew Rendell]

Yes, if the mic/converter makes the signal 24bit/192kHz, then that’s what goes down the usb cable and gets recorded. Personally I’m not (yet) convinced that the higher sampling rates have much to offer for the spoken voice over the standard 48kHz, using the higher rates would really depend on what your market requires.

IMO the advice to avoid USB mics is because the first USB mics were budget devices that were somewhat compromised in quality. That is changing and there are now some very good USB mics around so it’s no longer a hard and fast rule.

A couple of other comments – when deadening the room don’t forget the desk. A hard surface can cause reflections that interfere with the recorded sound, even just placing a cloth under your script can make a difference (it might be subtle but pro results = attention to every detail, even the minor ones). The other thing is that however good/ well set up your equipment is, the performance is critical and for me a big part of getting a decent performance is posture. I usually get my less experienced speakers to stand rather than sit for the recording and you might be surprised at how much difference it makes.

[Ty Ford]

Andrew, et al,

While the sample rate of the USB device may be 192, or 96, the actual sample rate of the recording is determined by the recorder. So it it’s set at 48 or 44.1, that’s what you get.

And, yes, for vo work (and many other things) 24-bit, 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz are fine.

As a beginner, with some skin in the game, you want to have enough quality to never have that be an issue. That begins with mic, and goes right on through preamp, acoustics, and deliverables.

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ilkka Aaltonen]

Thank you for the messages, awesome information!

I still have a question: Do I need a preamp if I buy external audio interface?
Also, what are the pros/cons of having both or just having one?

I’m probably going to get myself Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, if you need to know.

[Ty Ford]

Hello Likka,

You need a preamp. Whether or not the interface you select has one remains to be seen.

I would suggest getting one that does.

As regards the Scarlet 2i2 and preamps, what do you think?
https://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-2i2/specifications

Regards,

Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog

[Ilkka Aaltonen]

Looking at the specifications in the link you provided, it says that it has 2 microphone preamps.
Are they good? I have no idea.

Also, I’ve seen mixed opinions about whether or not to buy separate preamp. Some say that a separate preamp will lose some quality and therefore preamp within an audio interface would be better.
But as I am completely new to the voice recording, I can’t really say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to anything.

[Peter Groom]

Might I suggest a little caution in buying a lot of kit. As you are starting out, only time will tell if this is the right industry for you, both from a personal position and wether financially its a success. You can always buy more later if necessary, but maybe a more cautious approach might be better??

In the UK there are hundreds and hundreds of voice overs, only a small maount of whom really make a good living at it. Ive known quite a few bail out as it just isnt a money spinner for them! You might be the best ever and make a real fortune but might not also?

What are you doing to allow connectivity between you and your clients?
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer