Voice Over Equipment

[Bobbsy]

Just to repeat again what almost everyone has said, despite being expensive, the basic acoustic foam panels don't do a very good job anyway. There are specialist brands that offer up to four inch thickness and, used in conjunction with bass traps (in a layout designed by a specialist) that can do the job but just scattering so-called acoustic foam around the room won't do much for you.

 

[Bobbsy]

Lest you think talking about duvets and blankets is purely amateur, here's a photo of a noted BBC reporter (who shall remain un-named...he'd shoot me) doing a live 2-way interview into a prime time newscast.

 

[ecc83]

Kinky!

Since there is a dedicated room (shed!) for the recording setup there would be no problem in building a "booth" but don't give it solid walls.
It might be operationally easier to have a "structure" to sit inside (very well padded seat! ) and a surface to hold a script*. Such a surface should be acoustically transparent however, a perforated steel sheet covered with (ahem!) thin FOAM but could be 1/4" felt or other fabric. Above this is mounted the microphone in a shockmount. The idea of the open shelf is to stop sound bouncing into the mic and causing colouration.

The walls, door and roof of the booth are then covered with GF or whatever warm stuff is available. Such a booth would also attenuate mild whirrs and clicks from a PC but will do next to Jack for general external noise.

*Scripts should be one sided for the whole "take" so make the shelf big enough to hold 2 A4's side by side, very few people will read 2xA4 even at a 14 font without a fluff or cough. See, you do NOT want peeps turning pages! If a steel plate wee magnets will hold the papers in place.

Dave.

 

[Orson]

Idea

Sorry to continue this further but as a permanant feature would lining the room with foam carpet underlay and then topping that by putting carpet over it but instead of it being fixed flat would fixing it to the wall with continuous slight ripples every few inches in the carpet make any difference or be a waste of time? Maybe putting strips of 1" square timber on the wall every few inches and laying the underlay and carpet over it so a rippled effect like the accoustic foam is achieved?

 

[Bobbsy]

If you're looking for something more permanent, a trick I've used in several small studios is to use rock wool or compressed fibreglass insulation.

My method has been to use 1x4 wood, fixed to the walls with the little "L" shaped fittings you can get. Space these exactly as far apart as the insulation rolls you're using.

Stuff the gaps between your wood battens with the "soft stuff". Wear protective clothing to protect eyes, nose and mouth and gloves on your hands--the stuff can be literally a pain.

Then cover this assembly with fabric of your choice by stapling said fabric (tightly stretched) across the wood. Finally, make it look pretty (and stop the fabric from tearing at the staples) by tacking thin strips of wood down the front of each wall batten.

I'm going to get into trouble with lots of people for suggesting this method--it's not idea for music where you actually want some room tone--but works pretty well for spoken word type stuff.

 

[ecc83]

Idea

Sorry to continue this further but as a permanant feature would lining the room with foam carpet underlay and then topping that by putting carpet over it but instead of it being fixed flat would fixing it to the wall with continuous slight ripples every few inches in the carpet make any difference or be a waste of time? Maybe putting strips of 1" square timber on the wall every few inches and laying the underlay and carpet over it so a rippled effect like the accoustic foam is achieved?

If you are prepared to go to the trouble of fitting battens to the wall (I'd go 2"x1") put them on centres to take plasterboard (K A "sheetrock" in US?) with absorbent/insulation in the void. Snot the joins with sealer.

If done well this will afford some attenuation of outside noise and make the place more pleasant to listen to music in since a light, wood panelled shed will have next to no bass. The downside is the bass will be "lumpy" so pile some GF/RW bags in the corners or build some bass traps. You will still need the soft stuff panels/booth...Never bloody ends does it!?

Dave.

 

[JefferySmith]

To deaden things in a less than good room, you might want to look at the Kaotica Eyeball. It would work fine with the Rode NT1A in that the microphone has to be a bit long to allow the capsule to reside inside of the eyeball.

 

[johnk4007]

Hi Orson. For my voice over set up I use my computer desk/workstation with egg carton foam on a light wooden frame around the desk. We rent so I wont attach anything to the walls. I have a Rode NT1a, with the shock mount on a flexible swing arm (e-bay) on the LHS, and on the RHS an Audio Technica AT875R on a micro phone stand boom arm (e-bay). I took the base off the stand and secured stand to the desk. My interface is a Scarlett Focusrite 2i4. For mixing I use Reaper (free but I paid the $60). I don't have a set of monitors, I use Senheiser headphones. For learning beyond the trial and error I have used this forum along with the multitude of free Reaper Videos on YouTube for Voice Over Recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfZ6UxFujx4. Using Reaper DAW for Voiceover - Introduction. Simply Google Booth Junkie Youtube. Booth Junkie has a lot of videos specifically for voice over production, equipment, microphones, sound booths, and set up. I also heartily recommend a Youtube video, The Art of Mixing (David Gibson)-Thriller-Michael Jackson 1982. A wonderful graphical representation of music in the mix. Try listening to the music with the screen turned off then watch the video. Thriller will never be the same for me again. Wow! One size doesn't fit all as they say. My set up works for me in my surroundings for short DVD voice overs that are not commercial, and still result in a quality product.

 

[radi0j0hn]

voice over

Thanks Bubba. I have been looking for 3 days solid now and 99% say get PC processing software so looks like a good microphone and Adobe is going to be on the equipment list.

Watch out for pc fan and hard drive noise. Find a mic to put in the zoom and then transfer the pc.

 

[Bobbsy]

To deaden things in a less than good room, you might want to look at the Kaotica Eyeball. It would work fine with the Rode NT1A in that the microphone has to be a bit long to allow the capsule to reside inside of the eyeball.

I've never managed to hear results with the eyeball but, as previously mentioned, have had excellent results with the sE Reflexion filter. I'd rank it about 80% as good as a fully professionally treated room.

 

[ecc83]

I've never managed to hear results with the eyeball but, as previously mentioned, have had excellent results with the sE Reflexion filter. I'd rank it about 80% as good as a fully professionally treated room.

Interesting you rate it so highly Bobbs but everyone, beware of imitations!

Dave.

 

[Bobbsy]

I should add that the one I have experience with is the original, fairly expensive one. I haven't played with their budget versions (though sE usually make pretty good stuff). You also have to follow their instructions precisely to get the best out of it.

 

[justareviewer]

I use EV RE-20 mic with a homemade vocal shield as a sound booth running direct to an EM-U soundcard into a PC running SONAR - no external mixer. Have done many commercial radio spots.

 

[ecc83]

I use EV RE-20 mic with a homemade vocal shield as a sound booth running direct to an EM-U soundcard into a PC running SONAR - no external mixer. Have done many commercial radio spots.

Sound CARD or AI?

Dave.

 

[Bubba Spear]

I use EV RE-20 mic with a homemade vocal shield as a sound booth running direct to an EM-U soundcard into a PC running SONAR - no external mixer. Have done many commercial radio spots.

Hello justareviewer, I don't wish to pry, but any chance of showing what your homemade vocal shield looks like? I'll be going down that same road with the same microphone.

Cheers

Bubba Speare