Top products from r/voiceover

Most of us will make the argument, that USB microphones are worse (as in really audible worse) than XLR microphones. For XLR microphones you need an audio interface. Then you buy a microphone. You can hear how this advice is getting expensive, right?

In most cases the XLR microphones gives a better sound, though you can find USB microphones which matches the low level XLR. I always recommend this video when people asks what to get (watch it to the end!).

To make a TLDR of my own advices:

• Find somewhere quiet to record - we don't want to hear the washing machine, or the kids playing outside.
  
  
• Get something to kill echoes. The room might be quiet, but in bathroom-like conditions (or other echo rooms) the quality of the record will suck.
  You can also make a box which is still an improvement, though it gives a bit of a different characteristics. Even cheaper is a walk-in closest.
  
  
• Get a microphone - huge topic, but you (and your budget) have a few options:
  
  
  • Almost everyone starts out with a Blue Snowball - it's $50, usb, and the goto for clean sound where nothing fancy is needed. Nobody is proud of using it, but it does the job most of the time.
    
    
  • Stepping up is the Blue Yeti - $120, and still USB. Most people find their happiness with this on, and are not afraid to say they record with it.
    
    
  • Does it get better in USB - the Røde NT-usb (in my opinion) takes it to level you need to be. Now at $170, but still USB.
    
    But I mentioned XLR?
    
    Yeah, now you need an audio interface - a box that does what the USB microphones did for you (convert and transfer audio through a USB cable) - just that better. This allows the microphone manufacturers to create better microphones and let the audio interface sample what must be sampled. This is better (in most cases).
    
    You need the box, and I'd say the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2. gen) is the one to get - $100 and you are set.
    
    Now you need a microphone (I mentioned 'pricey' earlier, right?).
    
    As the first video explains, $50 vs. $1000 is not really something you can hear when the room is right. I use a Røde NT1 myself ($250), and I'm not planning on changing it, cause people will not notice my sound quality has gone up, unless I send my recordings to professional audio engineers.
    
    Last, you need to record the audio. This will have zero influence on the outcome, so go with the free version of DAWs (Digital Audio Workstation - the software you record with), Audacity. Select your microphone in the top, and hit the fat, red circle to record.
    
    Remember, the better your raw recording is, the less work you must do to make it sound good in the end. You can fix a lot in post-production, but nothing is better than a clean recording.

First step: read my eBook. Its free.

Next, start investigating what area of VO you'd like to get into. Do you want to do character stuff? Commercial? Corporate narration? Are you good at pronouncing complicated words without a lot of practice? Maybe medical narration would be a good fit. The sky's the limit. Just explore all of the possibilities and see which ones you gravitate towards.

Recording jingles might be good if you know you can do it well. Most every aspect of the industry is filled with highly talented individuals that want to be the best just as much as you do, so if this is an area you are good at, then jump in and give it a shot.

Check out the monthly "air checks" over at /r/recordthis - that will give you some examples of various styles of VO that you can try out. I

Do you have a voice coach for your singing? If so, talk to them about voiceover work. There are a few skills with singing that you can apply to VO - breath control and understanding the "musicality" of the spoken word, for example - also knowing your voice and what it takes to warm it up and sustain it are good skills to already have in your pocket.

Start studying. James Alburger's book "The Art of Voice Acting" is considered the bible when it comes to VO. Study it and it will be a life-long resource for you.

Start watching videos. There is a ton out there. The weekly show "VO Buzz Weekly" is a great one to see interviews from established people in the industry.

Take business and acting classes. Learning how to sing on mic is one thing, but learning how to act is crucial.

If you've got a decent space, you are probably set when it comes to gear, but make sure your acoustics are as dead as you can make it. Avoid too much over-processing: noise gates and compressors are nice, but its much better to have clean audio to begin with.

Once you've figured out which area of the business you want to get into, get a coach that can show you the right ways to get there.

Build a business plan. Study marketing and build a marketing strategy. In the meantime, keep practicing and networking.

Read. study. Listen and practice, practice, practice.

I have had one of those years ago for camping and changing in the open. They are like a pop up tent and very flimsy. The construction is not strong enough to hang blankets around it and without it would almost not be better than no tent at all. Make a blanket booth. I did this this week with PVC Pipes and joints. Cheap, easy, good results. Cleaned up my sound.

Disassembled it again today cause it is too big. Have to cut a few pipes and put it back together. There was a calculator for such a booth online and it worked great. I used shower curtain hooks to hang the blankets. They were perfect. -Those!- You could overlap the blankets cause it has 2 hooks. Pipes and joints from Home depot $65 and 6 blankets from notherntool.com with grommets for $110. If you have a carpet you could buy only 5.

Here's a great book from a highly respected VO professional and manager, Celia Siegel:

https://www.amazon.com/Voiceover-Achiever-Brand-career-Change/dp/0692991808

I picked up the Audio Technica AT2020+ USB microphone right now and it's pretty damn good for what I'm using it for. I got it for $148 on Amazon.

U need an audio interface I use a sonus audio box. It come with the phantom power you need and plug into my Mac via usb

AudioBox iTwo 2x2 USB/iPad Recording System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBMAJZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DA2aAb3X4DNWT

Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface and Recording Bundle with Pro Tools https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E6T54E2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VOIvyb3VMHYR8