Portable recording solution for voice work?

satasha · 7th June 2006

My sister does commercial voice work. The studios have her send in audio files that she records at home. However, she is often on the road doing other work. So, she would like a portable solution involving a laptop and a mic that she can use to record these file while in hotel rooms ect. What sound card should she get? Should it have a break out box with a mic pre and phantom power? Laptop suggestions (pc only)? Mic suggestions? She is no technical whiz (an engineer helped with the home setup) so perhaps she should buy from an audio computer shop? Thanks for your help, the first question, reguarding sound cards is the most important.

Nutmeg II. · 7th June 2006

I would say a Apogee MiniMe would be a great intervace for her.
It will have a nice mic pre on board, and good converters too.
She will be able to get a headphone mix out of it too.

When it comes to the computer I can't help you too much.

RadioMoo · 7th June 2006

I would agree with the MiniMe if she has around (I'm guessing here) $1200US to spend; otherwise, she could look at Digidesign's original Mbox (I say that because I understand the pres in Mbox 2 aren't as good), MOTU Traveller, Fireface, etc. You could search for USB or firewire interfaces to get some other ideas.

For mics, look at Shure SM 7 or Sennheiser 421MD dynamic mics, or just about any 20, 30 or 40 series condensor mic from audio-technica. If more money is available, look at AKG C414 or Neumann U87 or TLM 103, for example.

James Lehmann · 7th June 2006

FWIW I'm also a voice-over artist and I do work on the move with the following set-up:

Microtech Gefell M930 >> Metric Halo ULN-2 >> 12" PowerBook + Sony MDR7506 cans

This is a pretty decent voice-over set-up anywhere actually - the fact that it's totally mobile is a bonus!

quincyg · 8th June 2006

what about a high end stand alone recorder.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

very portable and less to go wrong, maybe. just a thought. this thing and a good mic.

7th June 2006	#1
satasha Gear interested Joined: May 2006 Posts: 4 Thread Starter	Portable recording solution for voice work? My sister does commercial voice work. The studios have her send in audio files that she records at home. However, she is often on the road doing other work. So, she would like a portable solution involving a laptop and a mic that she can use to record these file while in hotel rooms ect. What sound card should she get? Should it have a break out box with a mic pre and phantom power? Laptop suggestions (pc only)? Mic suggestions? She is no technical whiz (an engineer helped with the home setup) so perhaps she should buy from an audio computer shop? Thanks for your help, the first question, reguarding sound cards is the most important.

7th June 2006	#2
Nutmeg II. Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2003 Location: GEARmany Posts: 985	I would say a Apogee MiniMe would be a great intervace for her. It will have a nice mic pre on board, and good converters too. She will be able to get a headphone mix out of it too. When it comes to the computer I can't help you too much. __________________ "Any recording engineer who uses a tube U47 is obviously not a professional" Stephan Temmer 1979

7th June 2006	#4
James Lehmann Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Europe Posts: 2,428	FWIW I'm also a voice-over artist and I do work on the move with the following set-up: Microtech Gefell M930 >> Metric Halo ULN-2 >> 12" PowerBook + Sony MDR7506 cans This is a pretty decent voice-over set-up anywhere actually - the fact that it's totally mobile is a bonus! __________________ James Lehmann Voice-Over Artist - Project Studio Jockey www.jameslehmann.net · Use your real name - keep Gearslutz authoritative, accountable and courteous. · Stop the superlatives madness - just say no to gear threads with the word 'best' in the title. · Words or WAVs? The former are interesting, the latter are convincing.

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7th June 2006	#3
RadioMoo Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 526	I would agree with the MiniMe if she has around (I'm guessing here) $1200US to spend; otherwise, she could look at Digidesign's original Mbox (I say that because I understand the pres in Mbox 2 aren't as good), MOTU Traveller, Fireface, etc. You could search for USB or firewire interfaces to get some other ideas. For mics, look at Shure SM 7 or Sennheiser 421MD dynamic mics, or just about any 20, 30 or 40 series condensor mic from audio-technica. If more money is available, look at AKG C414 or Neumann U87 or TLM 103, for example.

8th June 2006	#5
quincyg Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 2,154	what about a high end stand alone recorder. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search very portable and less to go wrong, maybe. just a thought. this thing and a good mic.