In our VO studios, we often rely upon “magic box” processes. That’s not necessarily wrong or bad. Automation usually pays for itself in time saved and audio reliably delivered. But can it go too far?
As I was finishing up a recording session the other day, I found myself staring into my recording space and smiling. As documented a few months back, I gutted the insides of my booth and upgraded both the isolation and treatment of the space. I have to say the results have been quite pleasing.
Workflow in the home studio is a tricky thing. There’s simply no one-size-fits-all for voiceover audio. We need a variety of tools so our audio sounds appropriate.
Sometimes I get the feeling that as our recording tools increase, they can start to distract us from the task at hand: getting a brilliant audition out the door...
Arthur C. Clarke's quote regularly comes to mind while in the studio “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
Even the simplest audio recording application has many more tools than we’ll ever use. In our VO studios, the tools we learn will be the ones we need.
from time to time, it means we have to unlearn a less efficient method and force ourselves to use a tool that’s a bit less familiar at first.
"What are the 'right' settings to use for a VO audition?" A reasonable question to ask. But, what will make your specific setup sound better?
Shotgun microphones are cool. They are the epitome of minimalism, sleek and simple. It’s been interesting to see how many voice actors have added them to their home recording setups as they work to improve their sound. There are good reasons to do this. Shotgun mics tend to be highly directional, rejecting off-axis sounds, so they could potentially solve issues related to noisy spaces or less well treated rooms.
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For my VO Services: JimEdgarVoices.com
