Hardware box for over the top radio type vox processing.

[Tom H]

I am in search for a hardware box wich can give me this over the top processed compression and enhancement for vocals. Doesn't matter if it's analog or digital or a combi of some kind as long as as i can get near zero latency.

The reason; I am doing some work with this guy for some jingle type stuff and I can get the sound perfectly right with the combination of analog compression and plugins. But what we want is for him to do the voiceover with the procesing in his cans so he can "play" with it. Right now with my system we have too much latency if we are monitoring post AD so it's impossible to do the playing now.

I am using Logic 8 btw, we will go with a Symphony or a Lynx system in the next half year somewhere to solve latency problems, no intent on using PT hd system for now so that's out

Anyway to make a long post a little bit longer; do you guys and gals know any cool boxes to use for this kind of processing? I'm open for all suggestions, old, new, cheap, expensive name it please?

Thanks for any suggestions in advance! thumbsup

[Yoda117]

Dude, it's rare that I've ever tracked my VO with processing, same for most other folks. We usually do that stuff later in the process.

But you're not asking for my opinion on how to record a VO, so I'll just leave it at that.

As for what other studios and VO folks are using for compression, the 1176 and the clones seem to be the popular choices. Fletcher was telling me of some awesome stuff he and his gang were getting out of a squeezebox for a VO last year (I tried it and was also impressed). For my own work, I'm using a pair of Trakkers (which in my opinion are totally rocking for the price for what you get... as in they do a bit of everything a compressor can do, and they do it all very well).

[Geert van den Berg]

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

I can get the sound perfectly right with the combination of analog compression and plugins.

I think your only option is to replace the plugins with 'similar' sounding analog gear. You'll need the same types of processing as you're using, but then as outboard. What plugins are you using?

[Tom H]

Hi Yoda, I understand it all sounds a bit weird

And yeah, it's actually not my standard approach at all to track with heavy processing recording a VO, a tad compression maybe. It's just something we are experimenting with a bit in this case.

Basicly what's most important is that he can do this VO with the processing in his headphones, so he can adjust to it, he's actually real good at that and the guy is realy pro. We can work real fast like that.

With TDM this would be easy of course; the plugs just sit in the monitoring path with very low latency. Now not having a TDM system I am actually looking to do something similar. Hence the hardware box.

I see the suggestion of the 1176 (have been using a distressor now) and damn the slut in me would LOVE to get a Squeezebox and I bet the Trakker is awesome for VO too. The thing is I am not looking for something that hifi or a compressor perse; it has to be good quality but I am actually wondering about a box that can replace some Waves plugs for example.

Note the vocals themself, the microphones, pre's etc. are top notch and everything sounds realy great. I am just looking to ad something processed sounding stuff in realtime.

Does anyone have experience with the stuff from Aphex or Symetrix for adding some over the top excitement. Or do you guys think I am tripping now?

[Tom H]

Originally Posted by Geert van den Berg

I think your only option is to replace the plugins with 'similar' sounding analog gear. You'll need the same types of processing as you're using, but then as outboard. What plugins are you using?

Hi Geert, sorry overlooked your post but that's it indeed, all though I am getting perfectly good sounds from my analog chain as it is.

Plugins; Sonnox dynamics + eq and Waves L2, Logics exciter and Space Designer are a few I was toying with.

cheers,

[Yoda117]

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

I see the suggestion of the 1176 (have been using a distressor now) and damn the slut in me would LOVE to get a Squeezebox and I bet the Trakker is awesome for VO too. The thing is I am not looking for something that hifi or a compressor perse; it has to be good quality but I am actually wondering about a box that can replace some Waves plugs for example.

You'd love my place for VO then... lol! I went slutty a while back and never looked back.

To answer the question though. The symetrix is not uncommon in the broadcast community. I'm not impressed with it, but it seems to get more than it's fair share of work (particularly with the local TV affiliates). On a lesser end you've also got the DBX286, which is also used a lot.

That said, I think Geert's comment is the best one of the bunch. If this is being used so that the VO can hear the compressed track as he's doing it, I'd get something as close to the plug-ins as possible. Otherwise he's not really going to know, is he? That said, I think that for the $, if you are just looking to take the track from the mic, split it and have one of the split tracks used as monitor for the talent, while processing the other track via your normal methods, that the symetrix or even DBX would do you fine (on the low end of the spectrum).

Got to tell you, I've only done it this way in my own place. Never needed to do it otherwise (I trust the word of my producer and recording engineer).

[jowillie]

This guy is eat-up with broadcast processed sound. Go to his two sites and explore around. Better yet. Drop him an email and ask your question. He loves to talk about it and better yet--he loves to share what he's learned.

Mark Jensen
Podsqod
Newmediagear

[Tom H]

Originally Posted by Yoda117

That said, I think Geert's comment is the best one of the bunch. If this is being used so that the VO can hear the compressed track as he's doing it, I'd get something as close to the plug-ins as possible. Otherwise he's not really going to know, is he? That said, I think that for the $, if you are just looking to take the track from the mic, split it and have one of the split tracks used as monitor for the talent, while processing the other track via your normal methods, that the symetrix or even DBX would do you fine (on the low end of the spectrum).

Thanks a bunch for the tips and suggestions, I am going to experiment a bit, maybe throw something from Aphex, DBX or Symetrix in his monitor path for some exageration, and mimic that with some plugin later.

Originally Posted by jowillie

This guy is eat-up with broadcast processed sound. Go to his two sites and explore around. Better yet. Drop him an email and ask your question. He loves to talk about it and better yet--he loves to share what he's learned.

Mark Jensen
Podsqod
Newmediagear

Thanks, I looked at his site and I am indeed wondering about that kind of over the top broadcast stuff right now. I mail him, see what he thinks...

In the meantime if anyone has experience with this type of gear, I'm all ears.

Cheers,

[adamcal]

in my experience those huge fat mega processed voice over tracks your hear on FM radio or movie trailers, is usually 95% the human in front of the mic.

you can hear them coming down the hall, they already sound like that.

so long as your gear is of reasonable quality (and you know what to do with it), not prosumer but just about everything above that will be fine,


so long as you have the man (or lady) with that voice.

[Tom H]

Yes Adam, absolutely... If you carefully read the thread I am not implying anything else. Believe me when I say the dude in question allready has that sort of voice and we have zero problems getting him to sound good.

I am just curious about some gear to drive things to the outer extremes without dealing with the latency of plugs.

It's a bit ridiculous, I know.

[Geert van den Berg]

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

he suggestion of the 1176 (have been using a distressor now)

Originally Posted by Tommylicious

Plugins; Sonnox dynamics + eq and Waves L2, Logics exciter and Space Designer are a few I was toying with.

It seems to me that you're on track using the Distressor (maybe even with some 2nd order dist if you don't use a coloring preamp) I think it's a good hardware counterpart to the Sonnox plugin.

If you can split your signal after the preamp, and record to 2 tracks, you can always experiment a bit with your processors while still having the option to change it if it isn't working at mixdown.

[K Bartos]

I know your problem.
I've worked in radio for 15 years and at some stations the Orban wasn't at the studio, but at the transmitter site. With digital lines to the transmitter, the delay was so high it wasn't possible to monitor through the Orban as the on air talent normally does. I've racked up all kinds of processing to create an Orban-like sound for the DJ to listen to while broadcasting (or voicetracking for that matter). Basically it's all abot tweaking. Cheap stuff can get you there, with expensive stuff you'll get there faster and get a "better" quality sound. Remember that broadcast processing really isn't about "good sound quality", it's for the most time about being loud and intelligeble.
Experiment and you'll get it - BUT that will take effort and time, which you might not have, nor be willing to spend on what is really a glorified monitoring feed.
Therefore - my suggestion is that you get a "quick fix box" that get's you there fast. For that, I'd recommend any TC Finalizer you can get your hands on. The DBMax also could work, but it isn't my first choice. I myself don't like the Finalizer Express so I'd personally stay away from it, YMMW.

The Finalizer (and DBMax) is really close to the big boy broadcast processors (only lacking the ability to output multiplex signals and insert RDS feeds etc, which is completely irrelevant in this case), and will have your talent sounding "broadcast" within minutes.
The Finalizer can do more than the DBMax, which is really a niche product intended for broadcast transmission duties, so that's my first choice. Also, it's been around the longest, so chances are that you'll be able to get hold of a used unit at a good price point.

Good luck


Kristian

[Tom H]

Thanks Kristian, your post is very helpfull, it's good to know I am not the only one who's encountering this, I will definitely take a look at the units you recommended. thumbsup

Originally Posted by Geert van den Berg

If you can split your signal after the preamp, and record to 2 tracks, you can always experiment a bit with your processors while still having the option to change it if it isn't working at mixdown.

Excelent idea Geert, I do this all the time recording music too and it's very handy indeed. (also for paralel use, but that's another story...)


Cheers,