[Peter Groom]

If, as you say, youre an audio novice, then how can you deduce that the issue lies with the mic?
Its probably the mic, the transmitter, the reciever AND whatever else you plug it into combined!
As Ty said, any signal chain is only as good as its weakest link – and that includes poor operators IMHO.
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

Hi
Others with more indepth mic knowlege will speak up im sure, but I feel you may have a bit of a conflict of interests here.
You want something small and possibly headworn – which is perfectly do able BUT in general these small mics (usually called lapel or lav mics) are designed to only pick up very nearby sounds. That is why theyre used and positioned where they are for speech pickup. They dont pick up general ambience very well.
Mic s that are designed to pick up more of the ambiance, have greater “reach” BUT this is achieved by the mic designers by creating a long or “shotgun” style mic, which isnt as neat and convenient as youre hoping for. So Im not sure what to recommend but you may need to re think the aims.
Performance versus size and convenience!.

Ty is more expert in mics and im sure can expand further.
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

The only thing that I can think of in a “non audio freindly” space is to become aware of the characteristics of the speakers that you are having problems on.
IE Its pointless allowing low frequencies through in your mix that those speakers are never (and are not meant to attempt to replicate)
Id also suggest compression to makimise the overall levels youre sending.
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

Ok.
Mixing audio is not about putting things to numbers – its aboiut using your ears and deciding what feel or vibe you are trying to communicate -ie chaos, happiness, dread etc etc.
You have already identified that different devices sound different. Thats always the case. Ive been mixing for Tv for 30 years, but dont panic myself about someone who is listening on some hopeless little mac in built speakers on a laptop etc.
Get some decent monitors (not massive studio speakers) but something like Genelec 8010. Learn how they sound and mix on them with at least 6 ft between your ears and the speakers, as the air space changes a LOT of how things sound.
Lastly use meters so you can be sure that the levels of you recordings and mixes are optimised. Id say dont use meters within programmes like Premiere and FCP as they are db meters and not going to help you mix with any real loudness understanding. id say get some proper meter unit that offers loudness and PPM values etc, but youre probably not going to do that, so learn the balistics of whatever meter you use, and set the max levels accordingly. Then mix with your ears engaged on something you trust rather than the poorest monitors on earth.
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

Ty is right, but a voice is mono, so recording it to 1 channel is ok. You should then use the nle to send it to the correct outputs rather than record a mono signal as a dual mono one (some will wrongly call stereo)
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

Mke sure any new I/O has the powering you need for your mics. The mbox may have been doing more that you think.
My personal philosophy would be to keep audio recording and editing in an AUDIO appication and video in a video NLE. The 2 disciplines have different strengths and weaknesses.
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

i have a mixer with a strap. On that strap I put some DUAL LOCK at about my chest level. This allows me to fix the zoom at a good place where i can see the meters, control the buttons etc but not have to hold it.
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

re
Is it my voice that requires enhancement?

Dont think so. Just your voice sounds thin overall and compared to the sample.
Everyones voice sounds different, and not all of us have “Red Peppers” delivery tone. Mine included, but then i stay firmly on my side of the studio glass.

Is it my performance? my distance from the microphone?
Your mic distance is not an issue. Its more performance / diction / accent.

Not sure if the way I performed the words gave the odd feeling or if you’re referring to the accent itself..

You speak some words in the sample provided very oddly compared to a profesional English Voice over.

Are you English?
ie. A French person speaking english will always sound like a French person speaking English. Therefore they would ONLY ever get hired as that. Thats fine as long as that is what you need. I, nor any of the clients i know would hire a non english native to speak in English UNLESS they were after a particular sound.

How can I reach the depth that the other sample had?

I dare say some vocal exercises / coaching might help at little, but we sound the way we sound. ie No amount of coaching or physio could make me 6ft tall when im actually 5 ft 9. IF you have put some lo filtering in then that will roll out some of the lower tone that Im missing, but I think your voice doesnt sound like a film trailer!

Finally, about the Mic would I reach a better quality if I implemented my Microphone along with XLR-> preamp?

I very much doubt if your signal path is the reason. A better mic MIGHT help but Im not personally familiar with what youre using so dont presume that it will be better. Why not take youreslf to a pro studio and make a recording and compare the 2? Or get someone with a really rich deep tone to record on your mic, then you record, and compare?
BUT in conclusion, I dont believe you have a rich, deep voice like the sample. Just my opinion.
But I have worked with thousands of voice overs over my 30 years in studio sound.

Peter

Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

Ok comparing the 2.
1) I dont think theres any issue with your recording as such in a quality way.

2) your recording is a bit over bright (HF) , but not excessively. Any studio would fix that in a moment.

3) Please dont take this personally but comparing your recording to the other English sample that you like, your voice lacks the depth and re assurance / tonal quality of the sample voice over. His has a chocolate depth and yours is thinner and more brittle. Yours has nothing in the lower frequencies / register.
As someone who hires a LOT of voice overs, it is this that I pick up on most from a sound perspective.

4) Lastly, you have some very odd pronunciations / ways of saying certain words ie mountain,possible, think so, belive so, come, nature, freind, dot etc. Of course I dont know where you are marketing yourself to accent wise, but as an English presentation, it differs vastly to a normal English read.

Acoustic is fine. Mic is fine.
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Peter Groom]

Ive not heard and samples to hear what exactly it is you’re not happy with but what are you doing to control your acoustic space?
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer