Go Pro In VO: Lesson 2
The Science Of Voice Over
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Complete list of lessons in the course – click to view any one that has been released:
YOU’RE WATCHING: Lesson 2:
The Science Of Voice Over (available 8/26)
CLICK TO WATCH: Lesson 3:
The Mindset Of Voice Over (available 8/28)
CLICK TO WATCH: Video 4: Next Steps (available 8/30)
After you’ve watched the video, please ask questions!
How much had you thought you needed to spend on really great gear?
How have you tackled lowering your noise floor? Where in your home do you record?
What else makes you really frustrated when it comes to being a VO talent?
I’ll read them all, and respond to as many as I can.
For beginners- where is the best place to look for good quality *trustworthy* work? Did a 5-day job recently that turned out to be a SCAM. Thankfully, my Bank and I discovered this before I shelled out any money- Money they said I needed to pay them to get paid myself- BIZZARE!
And with AI, scammers are able to do even more realistic emails and pitches. Sorry you had to go through that!
Hello David,
First things first- I want to THANK YOU for offering to help others like myself!
1) How much had you thought you needed to spend on really great gear?
I have been making recordings for more than 50 years (both Analog and Digital). I also operate a High-End Home Audio Shop, so I have a broad & comprehensive knowledge base to draw from. The first rule of recording: You must be willing to spend money on quality microphones! I’ll go further: You will also need a high quality low noise preamplifier to plug them into! The gear part I have covered quite well. I do not ever use Junk!
A list of my specific gear is available upon request.
2) How have you tackled lowering your noise floor? Where in your home do you record?
I record in an upstairs bedroom- This is the only place available I have. Suppose I could record in the garage but it’s not very comfortable…
Some ways I have lowered noise floor further: Investing in a quieter microphone. Previous Microphone was an MXL 2003 that has a self noise spec of 18dBA. Not bad, but… New Microphone is a Warm Audio WA 47 Jr SE. Self noise spec now sits at 9dBA. I switched from 20′ to 5′ long Mogami XLR mic cable (less EMI/RFI interference) and invested in a good quality pop filter. I’m considering acquiring a Lewitt Audio LCT 440 PURE Microphone, too. Self noise spec here is 7 dBA- Even Better!
3) What else makes you really frustrated when it comes to being a VO talent?
Finding good quality jobs that do not pay you with some weird method! The jobs I’ve had so far have all come from TWINE. Considering trying BACKSTAGE. Would be great if folks could conjure up a repository exclusively for use by VO talent only. Trustful, fully vetted available work.
THAT would be great and make life easier!
A quieter mic is a great start, but it only removes noise generated in the mic itself, not the room you’re recording in. I do appreciate your suggestions!
Hello David, After viewing & listening to your recent series on getting started in VO, I forwarded the contact information: voheroes.com/go to one Bobby Lonardo, who has a serious desire to pursue a career in voice over.
Thanks for your referral!
Thanks for this. It would be helpful to have captions or subtitles and playback speed options for those who might need assistance with verbal processing.
Thanks for your suggestions!
How to make a voice over demo
We have a page on the website that gives you an indepth look at how we suggest you create your demo portfolio (it’s not just one demo) – visit https://voheroes.com/demos – hope that helps!
I have an AT2020 USB mic, and was told I should get a “professional” xlr mic. I was sold on a dynamic mic form TreeCave (their proprietary TC1d), and they also recommended a PD70, also a dynamic mic. There is no electrical parts, and when I record I tend to get -48dB to -35dB. This is WAY far from ACX standards. As soon as I apply the RMS normalization tool on it to -20dBs, and then Noise Reduction, it already sounds overly treated, let alone the -3.01 Limiter for peaks, which always makes anything recorded over that, peaky and crunchy. When I normalize to RMS, no matter how softly I record – always brings peaks to my voice and distorts the high levels. Would Audiocupcake help me navigate the effects? I could get a pre-amp to boost the raw signal but i have a hum in my wall that become more evident that lives around -90dB, but is very noticeable in recordings so I do need to do noise reduction. I record in a walk-in closet (very small, 8x4x3.5 ish?) I;ve been trying to crack this nut for a years now. I use Audible, 3.5.1 . I’m looking for a way to preserve the qualityof my voice and not sound boxy after adding effects…?
I use an AT2020 USB Plus. And I use an AT2040USB. There are electrical parts in all of the microphones you mentioned, so I’m not sure whether the source of your intormation is very trustworthy, especially since you’re not getting the results you want. I never suggest you use Audacity’s (I think that’s what you mean, not Audible) RMS normalization, rather I use AudioCupcake. We’d overhaul your workflow if you were in our community and make life a lot easier on you, but I’d suggest that if you’re not getting what you want, and have to go through everything you list here (including the hum, which isn’t measured at negative dB, but rather in hertz, and is usually at 60 hZ or so), that the advice you’re relying on isn’t working. If you choose to continue to do your own research rather than testing and adjusting until it lines up, I do hope you figure it out!