voiceover equipment Archives

Suppose you are interested in making voice over a career. In that case, it’s very important to purchase the right equipment to give you a leg up and remain competitive against thousands of other actors. While raw talent, training, and business sense are essential factors to success, your voiceover equipment can also play a significant role.

Using inexpensive equipment can be acceptable at the very outset of your career. However, to make considerable strides in booking big-budget jobs and ongoing projects, good quality equipment can make a difference in your business. We’ve talked about how to choose a microphone and the factors to look for. Now, we will look at two more important pieces of equipment for a voiceover home studio, preamps, and headphones.

Microphone Preamps for Home Recording

A digital interface is crucial when recording quality voice over using a computer. A digital interface is a form of technology that connects multiple pieces of equipment. It allows hardware devices to communicate with one another and accept audio and video in various forms. XLR microphones require a digital interface. Both are connected and used to convert the audio (your voice or music) into analog and into a form that can be heard and edited on the computer.

Can’t I Just Use a USB Microphone?

Yes, you can. It is much simpler to use and relatively cheaper to purchase. A USB mic is a microphone that connects straight into your computer, mobile device, or tablet, and the recording interface is built into the mic. No other equipment is required, and you can produce quality recordings.

Why An XLR Microphone?

An XLR mic has a port on the bottom to connect to an XLR cable. That cable then connects to your digital interface and then to your computer. It’s a seamless approach that provides better quality sound. XLR microphones are more expensive to set up initially, that’s true. You will need a microphone, digital interface, cables, and a computer. You will also need to install drivers or a control panel for the interface. Digital interfaces allow you to record various types of audio, not just voice over. Most interfaces come with multiple ports so you can connect to other mics or instruments.

Voiceover Equipment Sound Quality

Using a digital interface and XLR mic, the sound quality you get is second to none. A USB Mic’s resolution is 16-bit 44.1/48 kHz sampling rate. Using an XLR mic with a digital interface allows for a resolution of 24-bit, and up to 192 kHz sampling rate. There are many digital interfaces on the market to choose from. Here is a list of two popular options:

The Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen USB Audio Interface is USD 190. This is the pre-amp I use every day and the most popular on the market. I started my career with this interface and haven’t yet upgraded because I’m still so happy with it. At a reasonable price point, this interface has terrific quality and performance. It contains a gain button and an additional input port for instruments.
The Apollo Twin MK11 (Solo, Duo, Quad) is USD 1110. Serious professionals use this preamp because of its advanced features and heavy price tag, and they are considered the best audio interface for home studios. The solo, duo, and quad have varying levels of plugins, and the solo has the least, which is why independent voice actors favor it.

Stick with a more reasonably priced preamp if you’re just starting in voiceover. If you decide to make voiceover a full-time career and want an upgrade, consider the Apollo Twin MK11.

Voiceover Equipment Headphones

I wear my headphones every day and all day when I record and edit my voice over work. I initially started my career using my Mac-built-in computer speakers. Still, a very successful sound engineer told me that I was doing a disservice to my work and that using headphones would make a vast difference in my product quality. That being said, I went straight to my local music store a purchased a good professional-grade pair.

Why not use my mobile phone headphones? Because they are of inferior quality and not capable of hearing all the beautiful nuances that your voice delivers. If you plan on making voice over a career, it’s crucial to invest in professional headphones and nothing in-ear. In-ear headphones offer inaccurate bass frequencies because of the size of the driver.

It’s essential to get an authentic portrayal of what your voice sounds like, and that can only be done with over-the-ear headphones. Ok, no problem at all. I can use my BeatsbyDre then, you might say. Uh, no! Noise-canceling headphones are also not advisable. They play extra noise through the headphones to counteract the noise outside, therefore not accurately portraying what you’re hearing. They are also costly for no reason. Pass! 🙂

Professional Headphone Options

Bluetooth headphones are also not advised as they could pick up interference with neighborhood sounds and traffic passing your home, especially if you live in an urban area. Over-the-ear headphones with a wire are the best choice, and here are two options:

Audio-Technica M40 is USD 140. These are my headphones and have been going strong since I began my voiceover career. The sound is crisp, clean, comfortable, articulate, and perfect for long sessions. They get the job done and, thankfully very sturdy as I’ve dropped them too many times to remember.
Sennheiser HD 630VB is USD 250. You can never go wrong by purchasing a Sennheiser product. These are amazing high-quality closed-back, over-the-ear headphones, and they provide clear, detailed sound and have a variable bass boost option.

Voiceover Equipment You Can Count On

Whichever digital preamp interface and studio headphones you decide to purchase will be determined by your budget and goals. You’ll never make a mistake if you take your time doing thorough research. Happy hunting.

Because of advances in modern technology, many have started a rewarding career in this industry from home and have been very successful. Although it is relatively easy to start, a critical component to consider is the technology required to start this business. An essential tool in your technology toolbox would be a voiceover microphone. How else will you capture the sound of your instrument? One can possess a great voice, acting ability, and drive, but without a good microphone, a voiceover career is just a pipe dream. There are hundreds of mics on the market, so let’s explore how to decipher which one is right for you?

Voiceover Microphone Options

USB Microphones are the newest technology of microphones. They were designed with a USB end to plug directly into your computer and begin recording. They are the most popular microphones because they are inexpensive, user-friendly, and available in most online stores. You can set it up quickly and easily. A couple of popular USB mics include:

Blue Microphone Snowball iCE
Blue Yeti USB Mic
Audio Technica AT 2020

Dynamic microphones are the top choice for radio broadcasters. They give DJs that big, boomy, warm radio sound which is helpful while speaking in a noisy DJ booth. As a popular choice for podcasters, musicians, and singers, they are great at recording instruments like the drums. They are usually reasonably priced and don’t require a power source. Popular dynamic pics are:

Shure SM58
Electro-Voice RE20
Sennheiser MD-441U

Large-diaphragm condenser microphones work well for voiceover recording and singing. It provides the best sound quality, tone, and resonance and makes your voice bigger, crisper, and beautiful. You can capture the depth of low-frequency sounds and the preferred choice of audio engineers.

Rode NT1
Sennheiser MK416
Neumann U87

How to Choose a Microphone?

What do you want to spend on a new mic? Overall, the best microphones are the large diaphragm condenser microphones, but they are usually the most expensive. Many newbie voice actors feel more comfortable choosing a USB mic to start, as they are unsure of success and fear investing too much into this new hobby or career. The USB mic can barely be distinguished from a condenser mic as technology evolves.

If you are serious about making voiceover a career and want to invest in a good microphone, I recommend a condenser microphone if you have the budget. The sound is the best and will give you a competitive edge against top talent. Agents will likely take you more seriously if you have invested in a good mic and may be more likely to represent you.

Try Before You Buy

I would also definitely recommend doing a “mic shoot-out.” This means going to a local music store and asking the technician to set up 3-5 microphones for you to try in a quiet space. It may take some time to set up, but it is worth it. When I had to make my choice for a mic, I had three mic’s in a soundproof room set up and spent a good 40 minutes testing each one slowly. I tend to have a higher register voice and book a look of work with specs for teenagers, millennials, and young adult voices. I wanted a mic to give me a slightly warmer, and deeper tone, and only by taking my time was I able to feel confident in my choice.

My Voiceover Microphone Choices

I chose the Rode NT1 as my first microphone. I did a lot of research and loved the sound it gave me. My clients asked me which mic I used, and most replied, “Oh, that’s a great mic!

Almost four years later into my career, I felt the need to upgrade my mic. My latest purchase was the Neumann TLM103. Neumann is probably the most respected microphone company, and the TLM103 is a trendy choice for voice actors. I rented this mic for one month from my local music store, and within 20 minutes, I knew it was the mic for me. It was incredibly crisp and clear and gave my voice a lot of colors. I will continue to use my Rode NT1 but will use it as part of my traveling rig.

Other Great Microphones

Two other very popular microphones for voice actors are the Sennheiser MK416 and Neumann U87. The MK416 is what they call a shot-gun mic. It is the microphone most used on film sets. It’s the one you see set up on a boom arm with the mic operator raising the boom arm right above the actors’ heads, following them around the set. This mic is very forgiving and can hide a lot of background noise. If your beginner booth isn’t the quietest, this will be a great choice.

The Neumann U87 is the Rolls Royce of microphones commonly seen in Hollywood studios. There is a lot of debate about whether it is worth the heavy $5,000 price tag, but those who do it are taken seriously as professional voice actors, and agencies are pleased if their talent owns one.

Your Best Voiceover Performance

The voiceover business is a unique, rewarding, and creative industry. There has never been a better time to begin a career in Voiceover. Everywhere we turn, we hear voices on television, radio, online, on the phone, and even when we pay at self-checkout at the grocery store.

Whichever mic you choose is ultimately up to your individual needs, goals, and desires. You can not go wrong with doing your research and not rushing into any major decisions. When you pick the right mic, you will be confident in your abilities and perform at your best potential.

Voiceover Equipment #1 Preamps and Headphones