Basic studio gear for voiceovers?

[iboersma]

Hi everyone,

I'm just now in the process of setting up a home studio for doing voiceovers and am looking for some advice on basic setup/equipment from you sage folks.

I plan on only doing voiceovers; no rock band/multi-track stuff, so keep that in mind regarding your recommendations.

From what I've read on this site and after speaking to some others, I'll list below what I think should be a suitable set-up for moving forward with creating voiceover tracks, saving them to MP3 and sending them to my agent. The only pieces that I currently have are the computer and the audio editing software - the rest I still need to buy.

1) Dell 8400 with 1 Gig of RAM, plenty of HD space, Windows XP and CD/DVD burner (I already have this item).
2) Shure SM7B or EV E20/E27 mic (any other recommendations?) with stand and plosive screen
3) Analog to Dig interface (DigiDesign MBox or Digi002 - again, any other recommendations of something just as good for less $$ would be great)
4) Audio editing software (I already have Adobe Audition, but would most likely use ProTools LE if I bought a DigiDesign interface)
5) Headphones (suggestions?)
6) Monitors? (Are these necessary, or are the headphones sufficient?)

I've seen many posts discussing the need for mixers, compressors, etc. but I tend to think these might be more necessary for music/multi-track production rather than just single-track VO stuff.

Let me know if I'm on the right track or if I've overlooked something obvious, since I'm definitely a newbie when it comes to gear. By the way, I'd like to keep my budget for this under $2000.00 (though if I buy the Digi002 there goes that plan...)

Thanks!

Ian

 

[DavidK]

Dont really know exactly what you are after, however:

Seems like overkill to me. I have been in two radio stations giving interviews (mid-size market, Akron and Youngstown Clear-Channel owned) and they used Cool edit/ Audition. Since you have it, might work just fine.

Sound cards? I use Darla 24, the M-audio line is popular on this forum.

I dont really know why you would need Monitors. Actually, I would be interested if you would explain a bit more about your needs, sounds pretty interesting.

 

[iboersma]

A little more info

Hi David,

Thanks for the post.

A bit more on what I'm doing:

I am now in the position of needing to set up a space at home to record voiceovers, since the industry is tending towards that rather than the traditional audition call to a physical studio. I've got the computer and audio editing software - now I just need to get the gear to allow me to produce professional-quality voice tracks to send both back to my agent as well as to clients on a freelance basis.

I don't know much about the gear side of things, so I'm looking for any input you and the rest have about the proposed set up I mentioned. One thing I do know is that I don't anticipate using my sound card at the A/D interface, but rather am looking at buying a separate, firewire or USB A/D interface (like the DigiDesign MBox or Digi002).

Monitors may be overkill for what I'm doing, as headphones alone should suffice, but that's up for you all to debate.

First I want to make sure I get the basic equipment I need defined, and then I'll be looking for recommendations for the brand/model of each...

Let me know if that clarifies what I'm looking for or if you need more info.

Thanks,

Ian

 

[chizzle]

Ditto................

You've got all you need. Cool edit will suffice. That RE 20 takes it all right where you want to be. You've got more than enough memory. Let your budget rest.....compression can come when and IF you need it with plug in software. Cool edit has enough stuff to satisfy the most discerning client.
If I were you I'd look into some sort of telephone interface system .... not a must have but clients still like to use the phone and express their wants and desires. Oh --- monitors are a must. Near field types (the best you can afford). Headphones are for recording. Monitors are for playback. Even in voiceover work. Simply put, headphones can not do a monitors job.