Your Home Studio
If you want to call yourself a true voice over artist, you’ll need to have a home studio. It’s as simple as that.
Unfortunately, it’s also as complicated as that.
The nice thing about being a VO person is that we do not have to record many, many tracks with really fancy equipment and software. All you need to get started is a good microphone, some moderate sound proofing, and a computer with audio editing software. That’s all!
Before I begin, let me say that I am going for value in this setup, I want to make having a home studio affordable for everyone. You have to start small, get small gigs, make some money to put back into nicer equipment. It’s a vicious cycle, but it is well worth it. There is nothing like having a home studio.
Let’s get started:
1) A Good microphone: This is a post all to itself, so I will be as brief as possible. There is no need to go all out with your first microphone. The best microphone for the money is definitely the Samson CO series of USB mics. These mics are condenser mics (meaning they will amplify your voice before the sound enters your computer) and the only thing you do is plug them into your computer and VOILA! You have a mic. I bought my mic from a used music store in Nashville for $75. Talk about affordable! I take it on the road with me when I travel and it sounds pretty decent. Decent enough for practice and beginning VO at least. When it comes time to step up the microphone, there are many other choices from Shure (my mic of choice), Electrovoice, and many others that might suit you. Ask your favorite voice person what mic they use and don’t be afraid to check it out.
2) Some moderate soundproofing: This sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is. What I use when I travel and still need to work is foam rubber that I bought from a store that was going out of business, but you can pick them up from any craft store or home improvement store (Lowe’s, Home Depot, etc.). The blocks of foam are about the size of a large shoebox and they stack perfectly. I stack them on top of each other and drape a sheet over the top. There you have it, some moderate soundproofing. Another tried and true method is to go into a closet (with a fair amount of clothing) and the results speak for themselves, very few echoes. When you’re ready to get more serious about soundproofing, the easiest way to build a studio and save a LOT of money is to buy a pre-constructed sound isolation booth or convert a walk-in closet into a soundproof paradise. More on that another time.
3) A computer with recording software: It almost seems that a computer is a necessity in today’s world. It is a necessity for today’s voice over artist. There’s no way around it. If you know someone that builds computers, have them to build you one. Make sure you can trust them not to rip you off. Set a rigid budget and don’t budge. You can find a computer for whatever you’re willing to spend. It may not be a speedy geek machine (like mine) but it can get the job done. A laptop is not a bad idea. Laptops have become powerful enough to handle many tasks that a desktop can and they aren’t that much more expensive (if you buy from the right place). I would recommend at least 2 gigs of ram and a dual core processor. Vista or not, it doesn’t matter. Vista is not as bad as everyone says, it’s only bad for some, like people who are too cheap to buy what they need. The more you invest in your computer, the faster it will run, just like a car. Last thing, please get some type of malware protection. Your computer will run the way it’s supposed to if you keep it healthy. A computer is a lot like a person. Keep it clean, don’t beat it up, and give it what it needs (rest, medicine, and shelter).
The recording software you choose is up to you. I use Adobe Audition because it’s what I learned to use in school. I also use Audacity which is probably the second greatest free program in the world. If you want a full function audio editor and don’t want to pay a lot (or anything) it’s definitely for you. It has some of the plugins from some of the nicer softwares, but it’s totally free. I love open source. There are hundreds of recording softwares out there, try out some demos and see what you like.
There’s a lot of really good information in a short amount of time. I hope you can use it to your benefit. PLEASE contact me if you have any questions or want advice. I will be more than happy to help.
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