Clean chain for voice-over recording?

[rr1073]

I do a ton of VO work. Literally almost every day. I have had great success with a Neumann U87AI to a Focusrite ISA110 (original) into a Urei LA-4. Sometimes into a DBX 900 series compressor.
There is always the exception, but if I have multiple voice talents coming in and am up against a deadline (which is almost always the case) this combo seems to work for a high percentage of people.

[VoxPro]

Originally Posted by 1destiny

I thought that was you down in sunny FL posting .... I think the model on the Great River is the NV1. It's the single channel unit. They make a dual and a pre/eq combo, but I'm told all pres are 100% identical. So I'm told.

Anyway, I LOVE the deffinition, the clarity, the detail, the openness, without EVER sounding cold or harsh. I'm seriously thinking about putting the GML strip in our new B room... pre, eq, comp, combo box. Have you ever used it?

Yes M149 lover ! It's me !!! Great River mic pre sounds cool.

Did you have the chance to audition de John Hardy M1?

or the LA-4 ?

[redrue]

Here's a sample:

Again it's

TLM49>GML>MC77>Digi192

[voiceaddict]

First ... Russ / Brent .... thanks for keeping it real.

A national spot pays a voiceover talent $20K - $50K. Do you really think they're going to throw "any" mic up in "any" room with "any" engineer who believes "every other instrument" is harder to record than the human voice? Do you really believe they're going to waste their time debating which mic is going to be used? Do you really believe all the audio is going to mixed in "that" studio?

If you do not know the answer, you need to stop responding when people ask about purchasing equipment for voiceover work. So, let me help you out here.... the answer is "no" - they're going with what they know: Avalon, Millennia, Focusrite (Red), GML, Hardy, Buzz Audio. Most here find their way to a negative slant about Focusrite ... you really should visit your competition and take a look at what is in their racks and who is on their client roster. Mic shootouts? WTF? Clients do not have time and money to waste at $500 an hour (plus additional fees for telephony and ISDN fees). A good talent, a 416 or a U87 and a real engineer who knows what EQ is and how to use it is all that is required and money well spent.

I have to admit, every time I read a post regarding voiceovers and the responses generated, I shake my head at what I read because you can tell who knows what they're talking about immediately. dfegad "A kick drums is harder to record than a voice" - stick with what you know buddy. This is one area of the industry where there are known standards and any qualified voiceover talent will know IMMEDIATELY upon speaking with you or entering your studio if you have the right gear.

VoxPro, sorry you had to put up with this rant and some of the "colorful" responses I read previously. While most engineers will agree with my not-to-politically-correct-response, I'm sure to be flamed by those who haven't a clue. Whatever the case, I'm going to leave you with a few quotes we could all use....

"Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how."

"Not everyone has a right to speak into life."

"You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person."

"Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life."

[clusterchord]

thanks guys, this was a very informative thread ..

im primarily writing music (film/jingles), but on ocassion i recorded VO sessions for cartoons/announcements, in a friends studio. we used Classic-II into STT-1. HV3 channel was fine, very clean. esp nice when we had U87ai on tryout (stood better in the mix). now, i need to do this in my synth studio ..

ideally, i see the need for a clean pre/comp plus LDC like 87iu, which seems to be the concensus arround here. now, since i ocassionally record lead vocals/instr too, i was wondering what would u recommend as a nice compromise solution between these two applications..?

HV3 is perhaps too cold for me. i dig its detail, but i like at least some colour/life. liked vocal tracks i got w SP-737 once. but have no idea how it'll fare for VO. my other thoughts.. GR NV, Portico 5032, RED7?


another idea is preferably getting something from the 500 series. i always found the concept appealing. and with the array of new products in this format.. its giving me serious G.A.S. i was plannig couple of APIs for recording synths/beatboxes one day, and now im thinking, if 512C can do VO too .. . expand later w some Eisen stuff, 550b or a (future) purple comp .. bottom line, which 500 series pre for VO ?


so many questions, so little time..