Tuesday Tech Tip: Right and Wrong

Posts and articles about the “right” voiceover recording gear continue to vie for our attention. They do so because it’s difficult to avoid the allure of discovering the “best” software or microphone. We tend to want unambiguous answers. A post or article publicly holding a strong opinion certainly generates lots of likes and comments in various social venues.

But, over the years I’ve seen hundreds of home voiceover setups with all manner of equipment and workflows. What they have in common is that they are all unique. There’s such a variety of booth locations and unique situations that it’s hard to imagine a single “out of the box” solution that covers all those potential variables.

Context matters. When context shifts due to circumstance, previously “right” answers may no longer be appropriate. A previously “definitive” answer may not work every time. That cold fact can be very frustrating when crafting auditions or preparing audio for a client project, but is worth remaining flexible and adaptable.

Success in our home studios is ultimately not about owning the right hardware or using a specific toolset. What matters is the sound quality of what we deliver. If that can be achieved with a hundred dollar microphone and a recording space treated with old sleeping bags, that’s the only test. Does it sound good?

That nagging feeling that we don’t have the “right” gear can often undermine our confidence. I often encounter narrators who have produced dozens of quality audiobooks, but feel they somehow aren’t legitimate because their equipment isn’t widely touted. They sometimes feel pushed to change to software that’s being heavily promoted instead of an application they know and effectively use every day.

Granted, some workflows may be moderately inefficient. But most people did not get into voiceover in order to become an audio engineer. There’s nothing wrong with using just enough technology to reliably get work out the door. When working with a voice actor for improving audio quality and workflows, I always try to meet them where they are. Whether they want to use a sliver of the capabilities found in a music production DAW like ProTools or Studio One, or dig more deeply into the powerful tools in Twisted Wave, Adobe Audition, there are a lot of appropriate pathways to pursue.

Have you tested your studio’s audio quality to make sure it meets professional standards? For a free review of your vocal recordings, please use the upload tool on my Audio Review page.

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