Voiceover work: What to use?

[jmikeperkins]

The Electrovoice RE-20 is another world standard voice over mic (and radio announcer mic). Its warm mid range tone is kind of like a U87 but because the RE-20 is a dynamic mic its going to respond differently on some voices and may work better because its not as sensitive and does not have such an extended top end. Sometimes a U87 picks too much and emphasizes things in a voice you don't want to be so prominent. Some actors also have poor mic technique and the extra sensitivity of a U87 just exposes these flaws. If a voice over artist is playing a part that requires them to get excited and the they start screaming, you would then appreciate the RE-20's ability to smooth those kinds of things out. The Shure SM7 mentioned above is another good choice (but I personally think the RE-20 is a little better). The Sennheiser 421 and Sennheiser 441 are also good choices for a high quality dynamic mic.

If you can afford several mics, get a U87 and then a world class dynamic. If by some strange chance someone is STILL too harsh, then you need a good quality ribbon mic as well.

J. Mike Perkins

[thedoner]

Originally Posted by Franz

+1

I once read a book by a very experienced engineer (can't remember who ), who claimed that when ever
you record a voice 50% of the result depends on the room, 25% on on mic and 25% on the preamp.
I totally agree with that.

This rings pretty true to me. The room is king.
Back when I was working in a studio that did a lot of VO work, my go to chain was a U87-API-Urei La4
Another good choice was an RE20-Focusrite ISA115
If you go with an SM7, make sure you match it with a quiet hi-gain pre like John Hardy M1

[gevermil]

Originally Posted by thedoner

This rings pretty true to me. The room is king.
Back when I was working in a studio that did a lot of VO work, my go to chain was a U87-API-Urei La4
Another good choice was an RE20-Focusrite ISA115
If you go with an SM7, make sure you match it with a quiet hi-gain pre like John Hardy M1

Exactly , for me , the hardy was the best pre for the sm7 . Lots of open clean gain .

[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by jmikeperkins

If a voice over artist is playing a part that requires them to get excited...

Yes - I must say I nearly overloaded my pre-amps and blew out my monitors with this dangerously exciting excerpt from a recent job. I could hardly contain myself...

"Bacterial inocula are cultivated in small Erlenmeyer flasks and successively transferred to bigger vessels, 40 liter and 1000 liter bioreactors. [Acme Pharmaceutical Product] is composed of several bacterial genera: Haemophilus, Diplococcus, Streptococcus, Neisseria, Staphylococcus and Klebsiella. These strains are cultivated independently and all operations are managed by computerized systems."

Whew!

[Dayo]

My Fearn VT1 doesn't have enough juice to power my SM7, so it's found a happy home on ebay. Er... the mic... not the mic pre!

[Yoda117]

Originally Posted by James Lehmann

Yes - I must say I nearly overloaded my pre-amps and blew out my monitors with this dangerously exciting excerpt from a recent job. I could hardly contain myself...

"Bacterial inocula are cultivated in small Erlenmeyer flasks and successively transferred to bigger vessels, 40 liter and 1000 liter bioreactors. [Acme Pharmaceutical Product] is composed of several bacterial genera: Haemophilus, Diplococcus, Streptococcus, Neisseria, Staphylococcus and Klebsiella. These strains are cultivated independently and all operations are managed by computerized systems."

Whew!

I must say that I'm having trouble containing myself after reading that.

Mostly it's trying not to laugh too hard and waking others...

in the house next to mine.

[Chris G]

I do a lot of TV and radio VO work with some big VO specific studios over ISDN. Every studio asks for NO compression and NO eq. They always want to do that on their end in the production stage.

I'm using a U87 and a focusrite green and a really well designed booth.

my 2 cents

[Chris G]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Starr

Would appreciate seeing pix of a Senn 416 being used for VO.

I've never used mine in the studio, just out in the wild.

I used one in a session that required some off the mic off in the room reads. Kinda like the listener was hearing me from the other side of the room. It worked real well. there was clarity, but it got that "from across the room" feel. It also helps with VO talent that can't seem to stay "on" the mic that move around alot.

[vly]

Hello,
I'm totally agree that acoustic of the room is most important for VO,and if you know how,and have good voice talent,the choice of gear is more or less the question of taste(and budget of course).
In my studio I'm recorded thousands voiceovers in last 12 years,and my choice of gear was changing in direct relationship with improvements of my budget true the years
in business.

Am i going to tell you that my early recorded voiceovers sounds much worse in comparation with newest one recorded with much better mics and preamps?

Definitely,NO!

In my experience,clients definitely don't hear that difference,BUT I DO,and that's important for me.

I have several recording chains for different occasions but when voiceover is the the task,my favorite is the SE Electronics Gemini with Neve 8801 .I like that presence and boost,and that makes mixing izzy for me...

Also,I have "backup" chain with AKG C12vr - Neve 8801 if i record the thinner female voiceover,or if this mic suits better for some voice.

Third chain is AKG C414 with Universal Audio LA-610(Signature Ed)

Of course,every variation is possible,but after some time in business, Gemini and 8801 become my dearest combination for VO.