VO Weekly Workflow – The Lure Of Incremental Upgrades

It’s always interesting to see how much better stuff gets over time. Moore’s Law explains how every 18 months, we get the same performance for much cheaper, or an amazing improvement with the same investment. In the past, I’ve mentioned that we live in a time of riches for gear. Often, when we hear about a new microphone model or see a shiny new bit of kit, our current hardware seems just a little bit dingier than yesterday.

The lure of giving into that impulse to purchase new gear is not without challenges. A more accurate microphone will precisely capture the performance we put into it. As every voice actor staring down any microphone can attest, what goes into the microphone matters. A “meh” audition won’t sound any more compelling through a more expensive mic.

That means when it comes time to evaluate our business budget, certain things are more important. An investment in performance training is always a good first bet. After that, the recording space matters, then the microphone, maybe the audio interface and cables. Finally, the software tools give us efficiency in auditions and delivering work. While it’s easy to become enthralled by that shiny new object for our studio, we might be better off working with a coach than buying the most expensive XLR cable on the internet.

However, I think there’s a corollary to that. When we consider upgrading gear, it’s a good idea to make a decisive change. Buying something “slightly better” may keep us mired in the bog of gear that’s not a significant improvement. Newer voice actors on a shoestring budget often start with a mic that costs $40 or so. When that doesn’t work well, they might consider one that costs around $50 – not much better.

Instead, I’ll encourage someone to use that first mic until they can at least double their budget for the next one. While spending twice as much may seem like a big investment, particularly when just dipping one’s toe in the water, it’s a good bet that the $50 mic will sound just about the same as the $40 model – as will a $60, $70, or $80 model. By the time you spend $100, it’s likely to be noticeably better and worth the extra time it might take to pile up the necessary cash.

Those numerical relationships hold up as prices increase. If you own a $400 microphone, will a $500 option be anything more than a lateral move? Starting with a Rode NT1 Signature (currently around $160USD), it makes more sense to set aside funds until you have $320, rather than snag a mic that comes in around $200. Another benefit of better quality equipment is that it tends to hold value. While it’s tough to find anyone who wants to buy a used $40 mic, reselling decent quality used gear in good condition can offset the cost of upgrading.

It’s worth thinking through that equation when considering new gear. Do I get something that is a little bit better? Or is this an occasion where a more significant investment might pay longer term benefits? A quality piece of gear purchased once lets us become more familiar with it. That familiarity lets us be  effective with it. It’s all part of developing our skill with the entire studio, which is, after all, our instrument.

Posted 3/17/26

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