Recording Your Voice: VO Equipment Basics

By Voiceover Recording Instructor Jim Edgar

How to get set up in your home VO studio

I published the first version of this article in 2015 for a voiceover training website. Since it continues to be a popular topic, I’ve updated it here as a resource for those who are new to voice acting. What gear to get remains one of the most common questions I get asked, but it can be one of the most difficult to answer well.

Why is that? Here’s the thing: I don’t know how easily technology comes to you or what level of comfort you may have with computers in general. That’s why it is always best to take advantage of my 15 Minute New Client Session where we can talk through your goals and develop a plan for choosing and setting up your home voiceover studio equipment. 

Please consider this simply as a set of ideas to get you started, rather than a definitive statement on what you may or may not need to get. Don’t let anyone talk you into buying a bunch of gear before you understand it, and in general… keep things simple! 

Last update to this page: 1/21 

Recommended Microphones and Audio Interfaces for the Home Voiceover Studio

If you are looking for more information about how microphones are used in voiceover recording, and recommendations on specific models to buy, please see my in-depth resource on microphones in the home voiceover studio. That is a refinement of the six-part article on VO Mics which was part of my Tuesday Tech Tip series of emails.

There is a separate resource which covers which audio interface model to choose for your VO recording setup.

If you have more questions about voiceover recording in general, you might search through the VO Answerbase, which continues to evolve as I add common questions and answers.

VO Gear: We Live In a Time Of Riches

The tools we need to record ourselves continue to become more affordable. This is truly a great time to be setting up a home-based recording studio. Gear gets better every year and affordable recording software lets us efficiently record and edit our audio. Quality once reserved for only top-end studios can now be put to use in your personal recording setup.

But trying to choose between all of the options can be overwhelming. On the internet, everyone seems to have an opinion on the “best mic” or what equipment you “need.” People are always willing to help you spend lots of your money on studio equipment. Or you get the impression that if you don’t have exactly the “right” mic, your audio quality will suffer. 

You don’t need to break the budget to record usable audio. Most decent quality gear can sound good if you use it appropriately – one of the reasons Voicetrax offers technical recording courses. 

Voiceover Recording Gear: How do you decide?

But the question remains – what is “decent” when it comes to recording your voice? It depends a bit upon what you need to do.

VO equipment needs change depending upon where you are in your journey as a voice actor These days, most working voice actors have access to a high quality setup in their home or office. They will often connect in real time from their setup to a remote director (or even a studio). Working at the pro level, you’ll need to produce work that goes directly into a production piece. 

You don’t need that to get started. Most voice actors build up to that level over time. It can take a while to soundproof and acoustically treat a room to achieve that quality. (Pro VO’s have been known to record auditions – and even final audio – in the strangest of places when time is tight and they are on the road.)

What are your voiceover recording needs?

As a new student practicing with scripts at home, you may need to simply record and play back your voice reliably to hear what you did. Beginning level classes focus on performance, so the need to record is not essential. Some Voicetrax Intermediate level classes will begin to require that students record at home and submit the audio for an instructor’s pre-class review. 

The good news is that you can start simply – recording your practice takes and listening back to your performances. That task may use equipment you already have. Find a quiet place and use equipment which your budget allows. As you upgrade, the old gear can become your backup system, or be sold to folks starting out. 

RECORDING YOUR VOICE AND PLAYING IT BACK – 

VO Recording Option 1: Your Phone

Simple and functional – your phone should have very basic “dictation” type recording apps which will capture your voice to a digital file. Perfect for starting out and practicing. You will find that the audio is typically not of sufficient quality to be be used for most production or class work. However, we may sometimes need to record a quick audition on our phone when we’re unable to use a better setup. In emergencies, it can work for a backup if all your other equipment has failed – assuming you are recording in a good quality space. It is not a replacement for a home voiceover studio.

VO Recording Option 2: Dedicated Hardware Recorders

Zoom and Tascam both make hand-held recorders which are truly pro-level devices. These are often used on location for film/tv sound, and many use them to record podcast interviews on site. However, everything we need to regularly do in VO works better when you record directly into a computer, where we can edit and splice our audio.

If you already own one of these, see if you can integrate it into your setup. Some of them actually work as audio interfaces – though they are often a bit “fiddly” to set up correctly.

The good news is that prices have fallen tremendously on these, as most voice actors are using software-based systems to record on their computer.

If you are on a more limited budget, these could be a more economical option while you begin. With most models, you can produce full-spectrum audio and transfer that to a computer for detailed editing. (But that will quickly become a hassle if you have to do it for every audio file). The downside is that the controls can be a little difficult to understand, so there can be a technical learning curve.

Also, none of these seem to work as efficiently as purpose-built audio interfaces (described below) when you use them to connect a microphone to your computer. I generally prefer a more traditional interface.

If you already own one of these, there’s no reason not to use it. But I generally would not recommend these over a USB mic (assuming you do own a computer).

Zoom – Field & Video Recorders on the Zoom site

TASCAM – product info on the manufacturer’s site

VO Recording Option 3: Computer-based Recording Software

This is the most commonly used solution. Some of the most popular (and most appropriate) recording applications are less than $100 (or free). Most work on Windows and MacOS operating systems, so you can use the computer you may already own. These allow you to record via a “USB mic” or other type of microphone via a converter. You can then edit and save your recordings, keeping them for easy reference or class assignments. All of these can produce industry-standard audio formats.

Twisted Wave – My personal favorite, though MacOS only – download a fully functional version here and use it for 30 days at no charge.

Want to learn Twisted Wave recording software? I have recorded webinars available through GVAA or can work with you one-on-one to get up and running quickly.

OcenAudio – Good stable program, Mac/Windows/Linux versions available here.

Audacity – Free multitrack recording environment with wide support – Mac/Windows/Linux versions available here.

Studio One – My go-to multitrack option. Free-level “Prime” version is available, as well as more fully featured “Artist” and “Pro” versions – Mac/Windows versions available. More info here.

EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR VOICEOVER RECORDING SETUP – 

Option 1: USB Microphones are Simple and Direct

Just to get slightly pedantic, these are technically “Condenser microphones with a USB connection” which means that you can attach them directly to your computer’s USB port and start recording. But, since most folks call them “USB Mics,” you can too… 

These are basically “plug and play” microphones. You don’t need an adapter to connect it to your computer because there are electronics inside which handle the amplification and conversion of the signal so your software can understand it. You should also not go super-cheap here – there are all kinds of inexpensive mics which sound pretty bad. That’s one of the reasons USB mics get a bad rap. There are decent quality USB microphones which can be used for production work, but because these are aimed at the lower end of the market, there are not many pro-level USB mics. 

The price of the technology continues to drop, which has significantly increased the quality of this microphone type. New USB microphone models frequently appear. But, the following three are proven and popular.

Rode NT-USB – product info at manufacturer’s site

Audio Technica AT 2020 USB – product info at manufacturer’s site

Apogee MiC+ – product info at manufacturer’s site

Note – If you get a USB microphone, you will not need an interface.

Option 2: XLR-Connected Condenser Microphones

Pro level microphones will use an “XLR” connector. They produce output which needs to be converted into the 1’s and 0’s which your computer can deal with (see “Interface/Converter” below). These are the microphones which make up the majority of the market. The sound quality is generally better and you have more models to choose from at a range of budgets. 

Everyone has a favorite microphone and you can certainly spend a lot of money on one. The mics listed below are generally found under $300, which is an appropriate amount to invest if you are getting serious about pursuing VO.  Below are good quality models with a proven track record. They connect through a USB Interface (described below – you’ll need both to make it work). You will also need a microphone stand – they are not “hand held”. Most of these microphones are extremely sensitive to sound, so they will tend to pick up environmental noises and reflections which you might not notice – something we address during my home recording classes.

Rode NT1 – description on Rode website

SE X1 S “Vocal Pack” – description on SE Electronics site

Audio-Technica AT2035 – description on Audio Technica site

As you might guess, you can spend a lot more than this on a microphone. But when starting out, I’d tend to be a bit conservative. You’ll likely need to invest in tuning up your recording space.

As you’ll hear me say in class – no mic will ever sound better than the space it is in. Also – no microphone can ever make up for a bad performance! 

You may also hear about a “shotgun” style microphone. These are more directional and often used on film sets to record dialog. In some cases they can work as VO microphones. I generally don’t recommend these for newer voice actors, as they can be a little trickier to position properly. But, they do tend to not pick up as much background noise. The most recommended models (Sennheiser MKH416 and Rode NTG5) are more expensive, but I’ve had a few clients and students using the Synco D2, which is more budget friendly. 

Synco D2 shotgun style microphone –

Shotgun Microphone, SYNCO Mic-D2 Hyper-Cardioid Directional

Additional VO Studio Equipment:
One more thing… XLR Microphones Need a USB Interface/Converter

An Audio Interface is a device that goes between a traditional “XLR” microphone and a computer. It allows you to use a wider variety of microphones, including specialty mics which are more directional. Although some people refer to these as “preamps” they actually do a lot more. This is another place where we have benefitted by the quality improvements at various price points. We get deeper into the how/why specifics in the VO recording classes, but two popular models are below. Models which accept two and one microphones as input are listed.

FocusRite Scarlett Series – 2i2 and Solo models

Steinberg – UR22mkII and UR12 models on the manufacturer’s site–

Other Bits You’ll Need to Record Voiceover at Home:

I have a VO Equipment and Gear Page which provides links to many other the necessary items (and quite a few specialty things you won’t need to worry about when starting).

At a bare minimum, you’ll also need:

• a microphone stand to hold the mic (some come with a tabletop stand, but I usually recommend against using those)
• a “Pop” screen which goes between you and the mic to soften the sound of hard consonants (some microphones include that when you buy a package)
• a way of holding your script (whether on an iPad or printed page), like a copy stand
• a cable to connect your microphone to your interface (if you get an XLR-connected microphone – most USB direct-connected microphones come with their own USB cord)

Additionally, you should budget for “treating” your space – heavy moving blankets, old comforters, sleeping bags, pillows, etc. are good to prevent reflections. Don’t worry – we’ll cover that in classes or when we work together.

You Got the Gear – Now Start Practicing!

Once you get all that gear home and unboxed, it can be a little overwhelming. But hang in there, keep it simple and experiment a bit. Just as the first time you read a script, it takes a bit of practice to record well. 

Last Thought – Don’t Do VO In the Shower!

Remember – the space you record in has a huge influence upon the quality of your audio. Pillows and clothes hanging in closets can work to damp vocal reflections, and then you can refine things as you develop a better sense of how things should sound. 

You are always welcome to send a sample to me for a free audio review.

Recording Basics Checklist – 

• Enthusiastic VO student
• Excellent coaching
• A quiet and non-echoey space to record
• Microphone w/ pop screen
• Microphone stand
• Copy stand to hold scripts or iPad
• Cable to connect mic to converter (or directly to your computer)
• Converter (unless you are using a USB-direct-connected microphone)
• Computer running recording software

Further Resources for VO recording gear and classes

Voiceover Microphones
Audio interfaces for the VO studio
Voiceover recording classes
Free Audio Review of your VO studio recording

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