Voice Over Business

To be successful at voice acting, you will require specific hardware and software to be competitive. The last article in our series on voiceover technology and hardware will discuss additional equipment to help you achieve your goals. Today we will discuss voiceover technology such as computers, specific software, and audio panels.

Computer Preferences MAC or PC?

When deciding on which computer to purchase for your voice over career, there are certain factors to consider. Essential technology such as computer, memory, storage, processor, graphics, anti-virus, and internet are necessary. When you do a Google search, you’ll find hundreds of comparison articles on which computer is best, MAC or PC?

Ultimately, the decision is up to you! I own a MAC and a PC. My husband, who has a knack for technology, suggested I use his MAC. He’s always considered MACs better for creative tasks, and I didn’t do too much research. I trust him and have been happy using a MAC throughout my career.

In my previous work in the business world, I used a PC, and transferring over to a MAC felt very strange initially. I wasn’t used to the drag and drop features synonymous with a MAC. I prefer point and click, and to be honest, I still do, but MAC does have many other diverse features that many and myself appreciate.

Benefits of Voiceover Technology

Although I used a PC in the business world and all of my other co-workers, I always recall the Graphic Designers in each department using MACs. It stood out to me as I walked the hallways and saw the massive monitors, which always looked so stylish and unique.

If you are an Apple user, you will prefer using a MAC as all the Apple products work seamlessly together, and they were designed that way. MAC computers are known to have high-powered graphics, are visually appealing, and there are specific apps designed to be used only on a MAC. They also have a far lower rate of computer viruses.

PCs have come a long way to compete with MAC’s reputation of being King in the creative professional world. PCs are usually more cost-effective, diverse, and easily upgraded and there tend to be more software options created.

For me, after being in the creative world for a reasonable length of time now, I’m pretty comfortable with my MAC. However, I will say I still prefer the point and click feature that PCs offer. At times, remembering how to use the command/control/option/shift/fn buttons on a MAC can be frustrating, and I still find myself googling which command to use to solve a simple task. For now, I will press on and appreciate all the various features that a MAC has to offer.

Erase the Noise With Isotope RX

In the previous article, I discussed voice over software and the difference between DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations.) Another vital piece of software to consider for Voice over is Isotope RX, an audio restoration plug-in used to repair noisy or damaged audio. This software is an additional purchase that is not part of any particular DAW but can be used alone or as a plug-in for Mac and Windows-based DAWs and NLEs.

This software is a sound engineer’s best friend, and I would never be able to create professional voiceover without it. It’s used for recording, mastering, and audio-for-video post-processing, and its main features boost the ability to analyze sound. The thermal-spectrum view allows you to see all details and nuances in the waveform.

I use their De-Click option daily to remove those pesky mouth clicks, sounds, and pops that occur naturally. I have the plug-in connected to Logic Pro X so as I record, it removes all the sounds, and I can instantly deliver clean, fresh, de-breathed audio.

Client Requests for Voiceover Technology

Sometimes clients will ask me for particular audio requirements. Below is an example of a recent request from a client:

• 48kHz, 24bit, mono, PCM wav
• background noise<-65dB
• SNR>40dB
• RT60≤200ms
• No plosives, No clipping
• 2-3 second pause in between each line (no file splitting)
• Maintain consistency and quality throughout all recordings

By using Izotope RX, I was able to achieve their desired sound. There are countless blogs and YouTube videos online to help you set up the tool to your desired liking. There are various Izotope Packages you can purchase on their website. Take your time doing your research to see which is best for you! I have the Izotope RX7 version.

Insulating Your Voiceover Studio

There are many ways to reduce reverberation and echoes in your studio or booth. We have previously mentioned the option of purchasing pre-made booths, but some prefer to work in a small space within their homes, such as the closet. Working in a closet is the most economical way to get started in voice over. You can fill the space with moving blankets, sound foam, or audio panels to help reduce the noise. Let’s review specific studio foam and studio panels as a method to reduce noise.

Studio Foam 

Studio foam is a popular option to help reduce echo and reverberation, aiding in good clean audio. The price range can vary, from around USD 25 for a 12”x 12” 12 pack to over USD 400 for 12. Although studio foam is the less aesthetically pleasing of the two options, it serves a huge function. It aids in providing clean audio. It is also very customizable and flexible to work with. It can really help fill in all the gaps on the wall that produce echo sounds, which allows sounds to bleed through the walls. The goal of the recording space is to make the room sound “dead,” and studio foam can help you get there.

My only hang-up with studio foam is the lack of available colours. They seem to come in black, black, and more black. If you’re lucky, you might be able to find bright hues like cobalt blue, red, or teal. I do wish they had more options in white or lighter tones as I prefer to work in a bright space rather than a tomb 🙂

Voiceover Studio Panels

Studio panels are the large frame sound absorption panels in large music and production studios, movie theatres, and home theatres. They are usually more aesthetically pleasing than the studio foam mentioned before, yet, they don’t absorb sound and reduce reverberation. This is because they usually come in large-sized panels that are difficult to shape around corners and edges and are pretty expensive, which reduces the number of panels many want to purchase. 

I would consider using large 2’x4’ studio panels in my general office space to aid in sound reduction. When the washing machine or air conditioner is on, or a noisy truck goes by, it can get loud. Every bit of noise affects my primary recording space, so I would choose studio foam in a heartbeat.

To purchase either studio foam or studio panels, you can find them at your local music or sound store or online at Amazon, Vocalbooth2Go, or the coveted place for all things related to voiceover technology and equipment sweetwater.com. 

An essential component for setting up your business is considering which software you will use to record or edit your voiceover projects. You can purchase a state-of-the-art microphone and have a quiet space to record but consider which voiceover software program will capture vocal quality and perform day-to-day editing. Whether you work in commercials, narration, animation, IVR, Promo, or eLearning, an excellent digital audio workstation or DAW will help you get the job done quickly and accurately. 

As a diverse millennial voice actor, I was interested in learning the technology involved in starting a voiceover business. Although I love technology and all the bells and whistles that good software can provide, it can be daunting to learn a new tool. Especially when your inbox is flooded with auditions, you’re marketing yourself, and your time is limited.

How I Decided on My Voiceover Software

Software is one of the things I didn’t research. I purchased all hardware, set up my studio, and explored casting websites that I wanted to join. I had no drive to choose software, and I wanted to hit the ground running and start to book the jobs. I wish I had researched this when I look back on how I got started as a voice over actor.

My Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) of Choice

My husband had a MAC Computer, and he mentioned to me that we had a program called Logic Pro X, and that was the one I should probably use. He noted that his brother would use our computer now and again when he came over on the weekend and liked to make beats, so that’s the program he would use, and he figured it would be advanced enough for me. I had no idea how to use it, but he slowly but surely showed me how. I used Logic Pro X for about a year and a half with no real training on how it should be used. I searched the web high and low for tutorials but with little success. Most of the YouTube videos I found were geared toward music production and how to change the sound for instruments, and little was mentioned about straight voice over. 

Luckily, my two fellow Canadian voice over friends, Christi F. and Dalal S., also used Logic Pro X, so we chatted now and again and asked questions about how we used the program. Now to this day, those conversations were the best training source that I had on how to use the program. If anyone who reads this knows of an actual Logic Pro X course that we could take, please let us know. 

The Right Tool for Each Job

I should mention that I also contacted George Whittam, a top sound engineer from Los Angeles, to assist me with my overall sound. I told him I used Logic Pro X, and he was surprised. He asked why I used it and I said that it was already on our computer and figured it would be the easiest choice. He mentioned that for voice over, it was “like bringing a tank to a knife fight.” It was a massive software package for a simple job like voice over, and wasn’t necessary. But once I showed him what it could do, he agreed it was a good choice and referred me to use specific plug-ins to enhance my sound.

After working in voice over for a reasonable length of time, I now discovered that Adobe Audition was the most popular DAW, and I realized that I did have that on my computer. I decided to try it for a week as a trial to see how it compares to Logic Pro X but to be honest, when you are so familiar with and use a tool daily, and it’s tough to re-learn a new program. For that reason, I decided to continue with the tool that I was most comfortable using. Adobe now has a monthly subscription cost that I was not willing to pay, especially when I remember a time when it was a single buyout price.

When to Use Plug-Ins with Voiceover Software

It’s important to note that if you are recording in a beautifully top-quality sound-treated room, the effects you will use on the DAW will be limited. The better your recording space, the less you will use on your DAW. I used quite a few plug-ins when I began my career because I was recording in a lightly-treated bedroom closet, and I had to adjust and tune the sound to sound like I was recording in a professional Los Angeles studio. Now that I have upgraded my recording space, I use more minor sound effects and plug-ins. My good friend, who has the best recording space and top-tier microphone, uses virtually nothing on her voice and delivers raw audio, almost completely eliminating any plug-ins.

Because we are living in a digital age and have such diverse tastes, there are quite a few DAWs on the market. Below, I will review some of the most popular DAWs available today, and as time goes on I’m sure there will be many more to come!

Audacity – Free

Audacity is a free voiceover recording software! I remember using this in college to record an assignment for my class to hear. I had zero VO experience back then, but it was user-friendly and only took me a couple of minutes to learn. It’s press record and speak!

• Equalization
• Compression
• Mono vs. stereo
• De-Esser
• De-Clicker

For a simple beginner voice over, this is a good choice. If I needed to do quick editing for a general project, this DAW would be my choice, and it’s low risk and high reward.

Garageband – Free

Available for Mac computers only, Garageband works for music production and audio recording and editing. There are two versions available – free (great for low budgets)  and a paid version. It contains an extensive sound library and is a popular choice for podcasters.

Adobe Audition – USD 20.99 Monthly

Part of the Adobe Creative Suite, this is the most popular voice over DAW software for voice actors. Many of my voice actor friends, both young and old, use this. It contains several effects and a thermal spectrum view that many find user-friendly. I remember when this software used to be a full buyout price, but now it has moved to a subscription price of USD 20.99 monthly, which I find unnecessary and refuse to pay.

Logic Pro X – USD 279  

A pricer software, Logic Pro X is considered a high-quality recording software. It contains many plug-in options for music production and voice over and includes an entire library of sounds and instruments, and I have made background music for my demos. Although designed for music production, it works wonderfully for voice over.

Pro Tools – USD 299 Annually

This software is the industry standard for music production and voice recording. Beyonce, Sir Paul Mc Cartney, and Coldplay use it. It is a lot for the simple act of recording voice, but many voice actors love to use it. 

Reaper – USD 60 for a Discounted Licence –  USD 225 for Commercial License

Reaper is a new up-and-coming, fully customizable software favorite for voice actors. They claim it is user-friendly, fast, and crashes less than most recording software. I have heard great things about reaper, and many tech-savvy voice actors are slowly switching over to this software with rave reviews.

Which Voiceover Software is Best?

After a brief overview of the top-rated DAWs for voiceovers, which is the best? That comes down to your ability to learn all that the program offers, your requirements, and your budget. If you’re a singer and need to record vocals and instruments, you may pick a DAW suited for music production. If you just need to record a single-track voice-over, you may choose another DAW. For me, Logix Pro X is advanced for what I do daily, but it allows me creative freedom when I need it, and I am happy with all it has to offer.

As discussed in the last article, where you record your voice over can make a big difference in your booking rate and your ability to be seen as a professional. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned pro, recording your commercials, narrations, or animation jobs in a noisy space can frustrate your clients and editors, and they may not hire you again. It is essential to have no interferences within your recordings, and so, therefore, a voiceover booth is key to your success. 

I began my voice over career recording in a closet within my home, and it served me well for the first three years of my career. I recorded thousands of auditions and hundreds of jobs in that closet, and although it was not pretty and quite stuffy, it got the job done. I landed commercials on network TV and hundreds of explainer videos for international fortune 500 companies.

Quality Voiceover Booth Choices

Eventually, I decided to upgrade my booth to a more professional look and feel, and I’m happy that I did. The booth I have now (Vocal Booth to Go) works very well for my day-to-day work. It diffuses noise, absorbs sound, and is not too stuffy, which smaller booths tend to be. Although it is not the most expensive booth on my market, one would never know. When deciding to purchase my booth of choice, the Vocal Booth to Go, I did quite a bit of research online to learn about the various options available today. These are some of the most popular and highly-rated booths available.

Vocal Booth 2 Go

This booth is cost-effective, portable, travel-friendly, and durable. It’s a portable walk-in studio that allows you to have an immediate acoustically treated room anywhere. This is an excellent option for a permanent booth at home and on the road. The set-up time was relatively quick, and in no time, you could be recording professional sounding Voice over for your clients. The booth comes with a PVC frame, moving blanket walls, and a LED light within a large duffle bag. Available in multiple dimensions. The Vocal Booth to Go interior is in the color white, which aids in providing me a lot of energy and vitality throughout my day.

• Price: $955 USD+
• Made in the USA
• -10 dB reduction
• Under 50 Lbs

Tri-Booth

Cost-effective, portable, travel-friendly, and durable. Ideal for voice actors or recording artists who require an affordable professional home/mobile studio anytime. Set up time is relatively quick. The booth comes with a PVC frame, moving blanket walls, a stand, and an LED light within a duffle bag or hard-shell case. Available in three dimensions  – standard, short or tall. The interior color is white.

• Price: USD 1500
• Made in the USA
• Under 50 lbs

Whisper Room Voiceover Booth

Though this booth is at a higher price tag, this is a trendy choice for voice actors. This is considered a professional-grade voice over booth and can stand the test of time. This booth comes with the frame, walls, a ventilation system (add-on), door, cable passages, acoustic foam, LED light, and a remote switch. Available in many dimensions, you choose and can also choose from colored acoustic foam. 

• Price: USD 4275+
• Made in the USA
• -30 dB reduction

Bear Cave Silent Booths

This booth is a professional-grade option and would sit permanently within your space. The basic models are the only booths that use 1-inch MDF for their walls, and their single wall unit is roomier than most. Their double-wall units are the only ones on the market that use an innovative material called Sonopan, which is specifically used for soundproofing.

• Price: USD 3878+
• Made in Canada
• Single Wall Booth  -25-30 dB reduction
• Double Wall Booth -40-45 dB reduction

Studio Bricks

If you’re looking for a higher-end vocal booth, look no further than the famous Studio Bricks. It is the booth that accomplished voice actors possess. The overall visual appearance of Studio Bricks is very appealing. It dons a white sleek, futuristic look, all done with professional-grade materials. The interior studio foam comes with a recognizable cube design. The booth comes as a frame, and all other materials are not included in the basic price. Multiple color options of the exterior and interior studio foam are also available. Despite its high-quality design, it’s pretty durable if you decide to move the booth’s location into a different room of your home, your office, or move entirely.

• Price: USD 4500
• Made in Spain
• -46 dB reduction

Which Voiceover Booth is Best?

All of the booths mentioned are professional-grade and highly acclaimed. Suppose money was no object. I know which booth I would be getting. I would list the Whisper Room, Bear-Cave booth, and Studio Bricks to be similar in functionality. They are a more permanent structure and are all very quiet rooms regarding noise reduction. All three brands also come with many add on’s, such as HEPA filters, Bass Traps, Desks, wall windows, etc., to perfect your recording space. My booth of choice would be the Studio Bricks, not only because of the design and low dBs but also because I love the overall aesthetics. It is a thing of beauty, as well you can choose your studio foam color, and I love the idea of a lighter, brighter booth to give me energy throughout my day.

As a diverse millennial voice actor, my Vocal Booth to Go will serve me well for years. I would love to be a digital nomad traveling with my portable booth. And when I am ready to upgrade for my home, the Studio Bricks would be at the top of my wish list! 

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the industry, a voiceover recording studio is more important than purchasing any single piece of equipment. You may have a fantastic voice that can read many genres, including corporate narration, commercial, eLearning, or animation. However, even if you have a superb microphone, you can have many background noises bleeding into your recording if you don’t have a quiet space. 

Noises such as cars or airplanes passing by, your family walking around the home, or the sound of your air conditioner running will be distracting to the listener. Additionally, you may increase the risk of your clients being unhappy with the final product. There is a lot of buzz online within the community about this topic, so let’s chat about what you need to know to create your own voiceover recording studio.

The Ideal Space

A professional recording studio is the best space to record your voice over. The top choices are professional studios with a custom booth, a sound engineer on hand, and tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Some voice actors rent out professional studios and perform their jobs there, but that isn’t a sustainable option.

Evolution of the Voiceover Recording Studio

In the past, voice actors led their careers relying on recording in professional studios. They would receive their auditions from their agent, audition time and date, and drive to the studio to record their audition. If selected, the talent would return to that studio or another to do the final recording. The audio quality would be excellent, but time, energy, and money were required to work this way. Living in the digital age, voice actors have moved their studios into their homes. Up to the year 2020, only about half of the voice actors had home studios. Once the pandemic hit, voice actors were forced to acquire a home studio as quickly as possible if they wanted to continue working.

My First Recording Booth – The Closet

Luckily, I had already had a booth set up. That was one of the main reasons I considered voice acting, the fact that I could do it from home. The word “booth” is interesting because my first recording space was actually a closet within my house. I did much research when starting in voice over, and many online stated that the most cost-effective option was to use an existing closet within your home and retrofit it into a working voice over booth. So as the millennial in me, that is what I did.

You want it to be quiet in any recording space with no noise bleeding through and no echoes. Otherwise, you get a boxy sound—vocal isolation and sound absorption, not complete soundproofing. When your recording is acoustically treated with the right equipment, your recording will sound crisp, clear, and professional. This will make the editing much more manageable.

Building From Scratch

I emptied a closet, purchased some studio foam from Amazon, and started nailing in each 12” x 12” piece until I covered most of the walls. I also bought a moving blanket from Amazon to cover up the closet’s back wall. Moving blankets are a cheap and effective way to dampen noise and reverberation.  Once that was complete, I added a carpet to the floor. Next, I added my microphone and a music stand and went to work. It took a few weeks of trial and error to get the best sound to my ear. 

After many months of still doubting my sound, I decided to hire George Whittam, one of Hollywood’s top sound engineers, to check my sound quality. I sent him a few raw (unedited) recordings, and within 45 minutes, he had my sound in tip-top shape. If I could do it again, I would have hired him months earlier to give me the utmost confidence when I recorded every audition and went into each live-directed session. Nevertheless, he said my booth sounded great but needed minor adjustments within my editing software. 

Your Voiceover Recording Studio Doesn’t Have to Be Beautiful

That first booth was not a pretty sight. It was pretty unappealing to the eye. The colors were orange and black (not my favs), and it was dark, small, and stuffy. I had to keep open the door frequently during long live-directed recording sessions because the temperature rose quickly there. It was a place I did not to be all day. I felt it was a tomb!

Though that closet was a sight for sore eyes, it was pretty profitable for me. I was able to record thousands of auditions, work with hundreds of international clients, and it allowed me to leave my regular full-time job and pursue voice acting as a real career. I also recorded commercials seen on network television there. It’s funny when I think about it. One would never know that I recorded that in a dingy closet from my home. I think only five clients have ever asked me where I record. My reply was “a professional studio as approved by a top Los Angeles sound engineer.” That was all they needed to hear, and I got the job. 🙂

My Voiceover Studio Version 2.0

Eventually, I decided it was time for an upgrade. So after a lot of research, now I have a portable voice over booth. I did much research online to find something within my budget that would still allow me to record good quality broadcast voice over, and my priority was to find a booth that was comfortable to stay in during long sessions and not overheat.

More voiceover booths are available on the market than ever before as the digital landscape has evolved. I settled on a Vocal Booth to Go, a portable unit initially designed for the artist on the go. But, it works as my main booth. I purchased the 4×4 booth and placed it in a walk-in closet within my home. I nailed up two moving blankets onto the left and right walls of the closet to dampen the noise. Then I added my studio foam from my old closet to the back wall and placed the 4×4 booth inside. So, in effect, I have a booth within a booth 🙂 It’s a little hack that works quite well. 

The last time I checked, my dB was -55, which is pretty good. I love the Vocal Booth because it’s a PVC frame with moving blankets as the “walls.”  The color is white, which is light, bright, and refreshing. My old booth was quite dark and felt like a tomb. This new space is much bigger and gives me room to move my arms and legs, which is especially necessary for animation work and leaves me with energy at the end of my day. I also now have room for a desk, chair, and a monitor to do my daily work.

Your Voiceover Recording Studio is Up To You

Whether you are a diverse voice talent or a niche specialist, your recording studio can be customized to your needs. It would be unreasonable to assume that every voice talent has spent thousands of dollars on their booths because it doesn’t matter what it looks like. It’s about how it sounds and feels to you, the talent. 

The next article will discuss some of the top-rated voice over sound booths available today.