Is my Voice over recording setup good? at DVinfo.net

Baldo Lopez · December 22nd, 2006, 06:23 PM

I do a lot of voice over recording at the agency I work for and I am wondering if our setup is up to par or do we need preamps,equalizers, or compressors?

My recording room is small and has another workstation in it, it is always off when I record, it has some homemade sound pads on the walls. They are just square sponges with speaker cloth around them. I use a Shure KSM44SL Studio Condenser Microphone with pop filter and shockmount. The signal goes thru XLR into a Fat man Tube compressor. The compressor does not have XLR output just input so I have to output 1/4" into 1 channel of my Mackie mixer and then Output XLR from the mixer to my AJA Kona card XLR input into my Final Cut Pro System.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
Baldo

Bruce S. Yarock · December 22nd, 2006, 07:04 PM

Most important question...How does it sound?
Bruce S. yarock
www.yarock.com

Steve House · December 22nd, 2006, 07:41 PM

Only comment I'd have is to suggest you record 'dry' without any compression etc. Then when doing the mixdown in post apply any compression equalization etc that you feel works out. But if you apply it during the initial recording, there's no changing your mind later if it doesn't sound quite right.

Baldo Lopez · December 22nd, 2006, 08:09 PM

What program would you suggest for audio compression? FCP audio tools are not very powerful. Would Soundtrack be enough for audio compression?

Ty Ford · December 22nd, 2006, 09:24 PM

Soundtrack Pro does have compression and limiting. The controls are a bit weird because they don't have the same controls and values that you'd find on hardware or even most software gain reduction devices.

I do VO for a living and I do a lot of the recording here. I use a Neumann U 89 among others and I do compress a little on the way in.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Baldo Lopez · December 23rd, 2006, 09:53 AM

Ty,
What kind of compressors do you use, and do you use a preamp also?

Ty Ford · December 23rd, 2006, 10:19 AM

I use the Millennia Media STT-1 preamp/Compressor/EQ.
http://www.proaudiosolutions.com/Pro...ILLENNIA-STT-1

The Symetrix 528e and DBX 286a are good entry level preamp processors.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Baldo Lopez · December 23rd, 2006, 05:20 PM

Thanks, ty

December 22nd, 2006, 06:23 PM	#1
Baldo Lopez New Boot Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: McAllen,Tx. Posts: 13	Is my Voice over recording setup good? I do a lot of voice over recording at the agency I work for and I am wondering if our setup is up to par or do we need preamps,equalizers, or compressors? My recording room is small and has another workstation in it, it is always off when I record, it has some homemade sound pads on the walls. They are just square sponges with speaker cloth around them. I use a Shure KSM44SL Studio Condenser Microphone with pop filter and shockmount. The signal goes thru XLR into a Fat man Tube compressor. The compressor does not have XLR output just input so I have to output 1/4" into 1 channel of my Mackie mixer and then Output XLR from the mixer to my AJA Kona card XLR input into my Final Cut Pro System. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks. Baldo

December 22nd, 2006, 07:41 PM	#3
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Only comment I'd have is to suggest you record 'dry' without any compression etc. Then when doing the mixdown in post apply any compression equalization etc that you feel works out. But if you apply it during the initial recording, there's no changing your mind later if it doesn't sound quite right. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

December 22nd, 2006, 09:24 PM	#5
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Soundtrack Pro does have compression and limiting. The controls are a bit weird because they don't have the same controls and values that you'd find on hardware or even most software gain reduction devices. I do VO for a living and I do a lot of the recording here. I use a Neumann U 89 among others and I do compress a little on the way in. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

December 23rd, 2006, 10:19 AM	#7
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	I use the Millennia Media STT-1 preamp/Compressor/EQ. http://www.proaudiosolutions.com/Pro...ILLENNIA-STT-1 The Symetrix 528e and DBX 286a are good entry level preamp processors. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

December 22nd, 2006, 07:04 PM	#2
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	Most important question...How does it sound? Bruce S. yarock www.yarock.com

December 22nd, 2006, 08:09 PM	#4
Baldo Lopez New Boot Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: McAllen,Tx. Posts: 13	What program would you suggest for audio compression? FCP audio tools are not very powerful. Would Soundtrack be enough for audio compression?

December 23rd, 2006, 09:53 AM	#6
Baldo Lopez New Boot Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: McAllen,Tx. Posts: 13	Ty, What kind of compressors do you use, and do you use a preamp also?

December 23rd, 2006, 05:20 PM	#8
Baldo Lopez New Boot Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: McAllen,Tx. Posts: 13	Thanks, ty