What are /r/VoiceActing's favorite Products & Services?

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Better off getting sound blankets like these to treat the room. They'll do a much better job of absorbing echo and reverb than foam. I used a few blankets like this called Producers Choice for a long time in a similar space and it works extremely well.

Try these - 52 square feet for $40!

Wix or Squarespace

Carrd is also perfectly fine and Carrd is free. And I believe about $20 for the entire year as opposed to much, much more with other options. https://carrd.co/build

I LOVE carrd.co they do single page websites, but it's easy to have multiple sections. The base version is free, and the pro version is $20/yr including hosting. Not for very complicated sites, but I love it. My site is www.tedcannon.com if you want to see what I've done with it.

We might have different understandings of recording and editing is, so let me tell you of my definition:

>A program that can record, allows me to capture the input of a microphone by click a few buttons to begin the recording, and a single button to stop the recording.
>
>A program that can edit, allow me to remove the pauses in the beginning and end, clean up unwanted grunts, clicks, and peaks, and level the volume to a pleasant level.

If you are going to record anything that should be listened to by anyone one this planet, you would like the tool to be able to clean it up as well. How many of the tools you use it not in this discussion, but you get them.

Audacity can record your lines, and also edit them to some extend. You can get more funky features to do certain things faster in other programs, such as Reaper, Tracktion or Adobe Audition, but Audacity is a good place to start.

My “booth” is the classic “closet with a laptop and mic” setup lol. Audio interface is a 3rd gen Scarlett solo, and the mic is this guy

Well first of all, bookmark those places to find auditions.

Second, I wrote an eBook aimed at brand new voice talent that are trying to figure out how to start. Its not the ONLY way to start, but its one way that worked for me.

Third, pick up a copy of this book. Read it, then read it again.

And after all that, dig through this sub and r/voiceover and read all the articles that have been posted.

There's a lot of good information out there.

I think 1 inch should be fine. But with 1 inch, you need to make sure that the structure is super stable. 1 1/2 inch is pretty much bullet-proof though.

So audio starts to sound great at about 2 producer blankets per side or 3 moving blankets per side or 2 Ultra Thick moving blankets (5 pounds each) per side. But as always, add more depending on the preexisting sound treatment in the room.

I agree with all the posts here, Another great way to get started is also with some literature. Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt wrote a fantastic book on not only the ins and outs of the industry, but also advice and tips for people emerging into VO work.

Here's the link if you're interested http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/voice-over-voice-actor-yuri-lowenthal/1115197318

I use Webflow almost lovingly. It’s free the whole way to make a site until you launch it (but you will need to activate your subscription to embed your custom domain), and their non-ecomm plans are very affordable.

https://webflow.com/pricing

If you’ve got any questions about it too PM me, it’s a pretty advanced builder but it’s not hard either somehow.

I had to retrace my post as I was about to make a post showing that egg cartons don't do squat.

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Then realized.

You're not talking about egg cartons.

You're talking about egg crate mattress toppers.

Mattress toppers are indeed pretty good. If you stack them. Mattress toppers are typically made of polyeurethane foam, the same stuff used in beds, sofas, dog beds, etc. And those are absolutely helpful as they are rather thick and dense and soft. So yes, if it's free, use it. But you generally want to just go to the source. And get something like this: https://www.amazon.com/FoamTouch-Upholstery-Cushion-Density-Standard/dp/B00UKG94OM/ref=sr_1_10?dchild=1&keywords=4+inch+thick+polyurethane+foam&qid=1611123147&s=home-garden&sr=1-10

Basically the same stuff but much more dense and much more of it. And yes, for sure, it helps. Alternatively and I swear this isn't a joke, go to a local TJMaxx and go to their dog beds section. You'll find huge, absolutely massive dog beds. Those have polyeurethane foam in them and those are excellent for treating around areas with reverb.

u/Dracomies thank you for the info and the time you took in your to make such a detailed reply.

Grommets are certainly handy. Fortunately, they can be added to most blankets fairly easily and cheaply as the link below shows. There are more expensive devices than this simple kit, that also allow for larger or more sturdy grommets, but hopefully knowing about this will be helpful. I am fortunate to know a great many professional crafters and artisans, so I get shown many different useful things.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BPNOMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kQk.Fb0SQX6G4

Moving blankets do work.

I think that's the one aspect of your video I disagree with.

You're saying VocalBoothToGo are the only option and that moving blankets don't work.

If moving blanket PVC booths never worked, I'd never ever ever recommend them. But they do. Key is to layer it correctly.

3 Moving blankets = 1 Producer blanket

I know this sounds wild and you won't believe me, but if you go and buy for yourself a 12-pack of moving blankets (any less than that it won't work) and use that instead, layering it 3 on each side you'll find it sounds just as good as 4 Producer blankets. It's just as effective.

VocalBoothToGo's mobile booths are just marketed well but its cost of $1000 isn't warranted imho.

If we run the math - a 12-pack of moving blankets will cost you $56 with free shipping.

A 4-pack of VB72 WITH shipping costs (they don't give you free shipping) is $243

That's a $187 price difference. For the same sound.

VocalBoothToGo charges you for shipping costs. Amazon does not charge you shipping whatsoever.

If you purchase a 12-pack of 72 X 80 moving blankets that are 3 pounds each totaling 40 pounds of moving blankets and you have 3 layers of moving blankets on each side it's just as effective as VocalBoothToGo blankets.

There's literally like 40 people in our voice acting Discord who have moving blanket PVC booths and they have fantastic sound. Key is to layer them. If you're rolling with less than 12 moving blankets, it's not enough.

Hey there.

Check meetup.com for groups in your area. Usually they meet after work hours, and on weekends. On meetup, search terms could be: marketing, games, production, video, film, game, 3d, audio, voiceover, etc.

Ok, I did two quick takes on that script (it took me a couple of minutes to transcribe it. :) )

I posted it on Soundcloud here just for the sake of sharing it with the general public.

I'm not positive if this is the "best" quality file I can give you since I'm not an expert on the sound recording part...still learning. I can give you an AIFF file if you want it also I think. I've got some more recording I have to do tomorrow and I'll see if I can have my sound guy help me make sure I'm giving you the best possible quality. In the meantime, here is the raw Wav file just in case SoundCloud compresses and loses quality. It's currently still uploading, but it should be ready soon. I've gotta run. I'll check back when I get home to make sure you got the files ok.

What kind of voices you looking for? This is my animation credits but I do lots of commercial radio and film/tv as well http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=32311 my imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2082436/?ref_=rvi_nm

Let me know I can send you a demo if interested :)

If you want to try audiobooks you need to practice daily. Here are some tips that I've learnt as I explore this field myself.

• Make sure you hydrate. This means that you must drink water all through the day, and especially when reading
• Practice using your voice. The more you use it, the more you will be able to use it.
• I can only read about 2,000 words before my throat hurts. Apparently, the way around this is to ... you guessed it - practice. Practice helps strengthen your vocal cords, and other muscles associated with speaking.
• Breathe. More than you think you need to. Breathing technique is important.
• Practice reading books on forums like librivox.org. That way your practice can benefit someone, and you will also have the benefit of getting real world feedback on your work.
• Warm up your vocal cords before starting a read. There are many good guides out there on YouTube.

Hope this helps you. Don't be disheartened. However, remember that to be able to earn a living off something, you need to find someone who needs your talent. From the comment made by u/RoyOfCon, it looks like that's one problem that may have been temporarily resolved.

However, you must also have competence in many allied tasks such as recording correctly, using the mic well (developing mic skills), etc. One step at a time, though... For the moment, practice: even if it's just one paragraph at a time. Record it, play it back, read it again with the aim to improve. I'm sure you'll make it. All the best.

It’s not true.

Other than flipping burgers or stocking shelves there’s really no “profession” where you are hired first, then you figure out what to do.

Also, there’s no company that’s willing to pay good money for someone that wants to hobby for 8 hours a day,

https://librivox.org

There’s a good place to start. But even with them you need a good recording environment and decent equipment to start.

You can find nearly 30,000 Free Audiobooks, many recorded by native, English speakers in the LibriVox catalog.

https://librivox.org/search?primary_key=0&search_category=language&search_page=1&search_form=get_results

I just recorded this using a script I found online: https://clyp.it/oymamqs3. I've just gotten started trying to learn this stuff, so my technique isn't very good, but that should give you an idea of what my voice sounds like.

I use Carrd (https://carrd.co/) for mine, which is incredibly easy to set up and work with. I *think* they have an option to buy a lifetime membership as well? I can't remember. But I was able to display Soundcloud for my two demos and then I highlighted some of the work by embedding YouTube videos.

I hear http://iwanttobeavoiceactor.com/ mentioned from time to time, although I'm not dedicated enough to really pursue it.

Also, I have really enjoyed the (admittedly, very few) roles I've done with Librivox as practice and learning experiences.

I also highly recommend Reaper as a DAW. As far as I'm concerned it if the perfect VO DAW, and very very affordable. You can work 10 times more efficiently in Reaper than Audacity.

For audio recording, I recommend Audacity (http://www.audacityteam.org/) which is free, when you are ready to move on to the big leagues (and have the money) Adobe Audition is go-to I hear, I haven't used personally. But both of them designed with audio in mind unlike OBS.

I don't know if this'll work but what about a mouth guard for teeth grinding? That might help you with the dental consonants, and you'd just need to work around the extra saliva at the beginning of the process (which should go away after a few days).

Amazon also recommended these temporary teeth. They probably don't last long, but if you only use it for work instead of every day it might help.

The wall mount is the Heil Sound WM-1 Vertical Surface Mount. I got mine from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018TAIQI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And the arm is the RODE PSA 1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm. I also got it from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001D7UYBO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This may work for you...

Edit: not sure about the weight of your AT4040, if it's more than 2.2lbs/1kg then you'll need something sturdier... Good place to start though.

This clamp works well for that sort of thing. There’s also different arms and clamps from the world of photography that work well, with an adapter for the mic holder threading.

Table Mic Clamp Grip with 5/8"-27 Thread Gooseneck Extension Mount Holder for Microphones - Work for any Music Stand, Microphone Stand and Tripods https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JB59SLT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_N1G9EDJ2ASGV9PES74MM

Evolive body pillow cases with zippers.

Stuff it in. Zip it up. Clean gunk. Hang up with T pins. Done in 3 minutes per panel. Looks ugly but sounds great. No glueing, sawing, measuring, drilling, wood needed etc. Not a single tool required.

https://www.amazon.com/Evolive-Microfiber-Pillow-Replacement-Closure/dp/B071WHZHXF/ref=sr_1_5?

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I think with monitors - and searching for monitors- it can be daunting because there's a lot of good ones. And a lot are cheap. And a lot are good enough for what you need.

That said, here's what I think you might like:

It's 8109 reviews with an average rating of 4.6 stars

27 inchFrameless

$145

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-276E9QDSB-Frameless-1920x1080-FreeSync/dp/B07CLMDH3K/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=27+inch+monitor&qid=1611938034&sr=8-5

Honestly it's all you need for voiceover purposes.

But for me, personally, I like using a widescreen monitor. Recently bought a 34 inch widescreen and it has literally changed my life. I can do so much work and fill the entire screen. Really handy for work and for voiceover or both. When needed.

Skinner is kind of the guru of Standard American English, but it's hard to learn pronunciation from a book. If you can find someone who coaches in that method of Standard American English, that's the 'gold standard' of 'neutral American'.

I should add - it's a little out of fashion for most VO to use actual, perfect SAE - people find it lacks 'personality' or 'authenticity', but it could help you mitigate the sounds that make you sound like you come from elsewhere.

If this computer is for a dedicated studio, then you don't need a laptop.

I buy refurbished Dell business PC's that are upgraded with a fast and quiet SSD harddrive. $140. This way you don't have a noisy fan in your booth. You just need a small monitor. That also leaves you more money for a mic and materials to build your vocal booth.

You want to get a good XLR mic and interface and not settle for a USB mic.

I agree with /u/DeadDillo. I'd suspect that 3 2'x4' panels would be insufficient. I've been following what you are doing, and I'll throw my two cents in here.

If you can do a little DIY, you would go far with a box of 6 OC703 fiberglass panels, in 2'x4'x2". Amazon has boxes of 6 for about 70 bucks. I would hop over to WalMart, JoAnne fabrics or similar and get several yards of fabric. I got great stuff from WalMart that was a tightly woven synthetic material. Wrap each panel in fabric and hang it from the wall with picture hangers. You could push an eyebolt through the insulation and secure it with a large washer and nut, or make a border out of 1x2 pine and screws (handsaw and screwdriver are all you need). You could mount picture frame wire from that. In this scenario you can hang it from the wall with nothing more than a picture hanger, which probably would be OK for a renter.

~~I'd be happy to show you pictures~~ Here is an album of the ones I built doing exactly this. They worked great, and you could make 6 for the price of 3 in your first link.

Managing reflections from behind you will be critical, but you'll also need to prevent your voice from reflecting off the wall in front of you (so that it doesn't secondarily reflect off the wall behind you or next to you).

Personally, I use a combination of audimute blankets and acoustic foam panels. The blankets are expensive, but you can find acoustic foam on Amazon for relatively cheap.

I'm not sure how this going to end up sounding but I just bought this combination Mic Stand and Isolation Shield off of Amazon and I'm setting it up in my large downstairs closet. It has high ceilings and lighting so I'm hoping the results on my also new Apogee 96 will be okay.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1JNUET/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hard to say without a brand/model. Given the 3.5mm plug though, I'd have to guess it'd probably be OK for gaming, doubtful it'd be good enough for voice work.

Edit: found it on Amazon. You should be aware that decent equipment costs money. A $12 mic is not going to work. It MIGHT be good enough for practicing, just to get used to hearing yourself.

It's also omnidirectional, which means it picks up sound from every direction. You'll want a cardioid or supercardioid mic for voiceover.

Okay, so I recently got a great deal on Amazon.

I spent about $103 on a microphone and a soundboard interface and I couldn't be happier with my recording setup now.

The Marantz MPM-1000 comes with a shock mount, XLR cable, and a desk tripod if that suits your fancy.

Then the Behringer XENYX 302 USB comes with the USB cable for the interface and allows for some easy mixing.

If you have trouble understanding or setting up the Xenyx; go to YouTube and check out Podcastage's review and explanation of how to use it.

I'm very happy with both of these products thus far. Especially for the price.

If neither of these are singing to you, I recommend once again checking out Podcastage and watching some of the microphone and interface reviews that are there. I found those incredibly helpful as I was searching for the right equipment for me.

Blue Snowball or Yeti. Under $80, good quality for the price, USB. You can get a nice pre-amp and Rode microphone for under $300.

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Yeti-USB-Microphone-Silver/dp/B002VA464S/

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Snowball-Condenser-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B014PYGTUQ

Your welcome.

If by chance these don't solve the issue. I suggest.

XLR Ground Loop Isolator

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Pro-Audio-DTI-Transformer-Black/dp/B0009GUOQA

It's not black magic, but it'll certainly help.

I would avoid usb microphones. They tend to cut a lot of corners in the electronics in order to hit a “budget” price point.

I would buy a decent usb audio interface. The Focusrite Scarlett Solo is currently $109 on Amazon. (Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QR6Z1JB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bmQxFbJX2GGD2)

Then get a large diaphragm microphone and run it through that interface. The MXL 770 is currently $79 and comes with a shock mount. (MXL Mics 770 Cardioid Condenser Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007NQH98/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_flQxFbJEVH1V7)

This setup is really close to your budget and you can always upgrade either component in the future.

Hope this is helpful!

They used to be about $10 but they've since gone up. Everything's been going up in price since Corona.

Here's how much they are in Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Dragonpad-USA-Microphone-Studio-Filter/dp/B008AOH1O6/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=dragonpad+pop+filter&qid=1588215721&sr=8-2

But heck, get that Ebay one. It's cheaper and it ships quicker.

It was a package item, Focusrite Scarlett Studio Solo. Here's the Amazon link I got it from. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01E6T54E2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I don't have much of a frame of reference when it comes to comparing microphones. It certainly serves my needs and sounds great. Much better than any other USB mic I've ever used. I had the change available and decided to go for this one with the audio interface.

Hi Q MP3 Recorder has a function to resume (append) recording to an existing recording. Free version only lets you record 10 minutes I think, but the full version is reasonably priced and has lots of features.

Check out this thing call Loquat Honey. It is pretty amazing stuff when it comes to soothing and helping repair a sore throat.

There are "micro booths" that you can make for little money. Below is an example of one. Hope it helps!

https://www.amazon.com/WXZX-Recording-isolation-Soundproof-Absorbing/dp/B0B5L6F1Q7/ref=asc_df_B0B5L6F1Q7?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80539344142745&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=m&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&a...

She uses a 4-mic Tonor UHF wireless setup. I don't see that one on Amazon, but you can find a 2-mic version of it for $88 (on sale, price may change soon) right here.

Like is this okay? And i have the sony xm4 wireless (but has a cord to connect!) over ear head phones, they should be okay for this?

Rag-fibre blanket underlayer, then 2" memory foam mattress toppers cut to fit as an overlay, and you'll have a very solid space.

[all links non-affiliate]

Have you checked Meetup.com? Lots of meetups all around the world. It's highly likely that somewhere in Melbourne there's a gathering of Voice Talent that meet on occasion. I can think of two Australian voice talent that I know, though I don't recollect where in AU they are located. In any event, if there isn't a group, consider starting one! You might be surprised who comes out of the woodwork and wants to join your voiceover Meetup.

Honestly from what I've read, very little is known about the interface Bluecoil sells. I know an interface a lot of people recommend for beginners is the M-Audio M-Track Solo https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Q1NJSBQ/

There are some other bundles that exist for the AT2020 if you really need a stand, or mic arm, but it might be worth just getting a mic stand/desk mic stand and cable separately as mang of the bundles don't have very many reviews. There are also accessory bundles that are sold with no mic, but do have a stand, pop filter, etc. May need a cable still. With Holidays sales coming up for November, there should be some great deals.

Not OP but interested in the topic, don't know anything about "interfaces", is this what you're talking about and is this a decent beginner setup? https://www.amazon.com/Condenser-Microphone-Interface-Headphone-Headphones/dp/B09FKHS373/ref=asc\_df\_B09FKHS373/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=564825785450&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13919701986511859779&hvpone=&hvptwo...

This will get you everything you need for a decent set up: a condenser XLR mic, audio interface, shock mount, and pop filter. You’d just need to mount the mic onto something.

More importantly though you will need to sound treat your room.

https://www.amazon.com/Rode-Complete-Studio-Kit-Ai-1/dp/B077Y5C6HZ

Canadian prices for a 12 pack.

https://www.amazon.ca/WEN-272812-72-Inch-80-Inch-Blankets/dp/B07FD2MTNM/ref=pd\_day0fbt\_img\_sccl\_1/147-3331735-6636130?pd\_rd\_w=WvPgR&content-id=amzn1.sym.e75e323b-7c97-47b7-9cf5-7363cb1f4533&pf\_rd\_p=e75e323b-7c97-47b7-9cf5-7363cb1f4...

With your wall, considering your space is too small to accommodate middle set. Try hanging some oversized beach towels to absorb some of the reflection (I've actually done this, and it did work well with my home studio) or invest in some budget friendly acoustic padding. Which normally comes 12 to a pack with adhesive. https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Acoustic-Panels-Inches-Soundproof/dp/B08QQRWDWS/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1SQU84H5R14QJ&keywords=acoustic%2Bfoam&qid=1665369277&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI2Ljk3IiwicXNhIjoiNi42MiIsInFzcCI6IjYuMjEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=acoustic%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-8&th=1

An education would be a good gift.

BOOKS

• V-Oh!, by Marc Cashman
• The Sound Advice Encyclopedia of Voice-Over & The Business of Being a Working Talent, by Kate McClanaghan

TRAINING

• Both authors offer great training. I first started out with Marc, then found Kate (and Jeff) to be very instructive and a great next step, though they would have made a great foundation, too.

I always wondered what people's opinions were of just picking up the Scarlett Solo Studio combo?

Also, depending on just how tight your space is, even a tabletop mic stand would work depending on how you're set up. In my road kit, I've got one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009W3B2FI

Hi! So I’ve been researching mice based on your advice (tyvm btw! It was really helpful!) and I’m finally round to choosing some equipment to order - I was wondering if you could have a quick look at these and see if they’re okay? It’s my first proper mic (I’ve been working with earbuds lately) so it would mean a lot to get advice from someone more experienced!

Mic - https://www.amazon.co.uk/HyperX-QuadCast-Condenser-Gaming-Microphone-Black/dp/B07NZZZ746/ref=asc_df_B07NZZZ746/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=256047124442&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17755968610440464275&hvpone=&hvpt...

I was wondering if you had a decent link to the audio interface too? I’ve found a few but as I said I’m inexperienced

Thirding the XLR-mic-and-interface route. At some point, drivers will stop being updated for whatever USB mic you buy and it'll end up being a paperweight. The same is true of interfaces, but they're usually significantly cheaper than a good mic. Additionally, whenever it comes time to upgrade your mic, you'll have a much wider range of choice in XLR form.

As far as sound treatment, there's a number of small foam isolation boxes available cheaply (example). Moving blankets and a PVC cage are another inexpensive option. And there's always the good old closet filled with cushions and blankets, which will probably cost nothing except time and sanity spent in finding a place to put all the stuff that's currently in the closet.

I’m not very experienced with usb mics but I do know a small amount about how mics work and what different specs mean. I looked on Amazon for brands that I know and like so that it should be good service. And I found this which had specs that I like. I again, only know a small amount about things like frequency response and a/d converters to be 100% sure this is what you’re looking for, but as far as I know it looks like a solid mic. The reviews looked good as well.

https://www.amazon.com/MXL-Desktop-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B004OCD7EQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?crid=3SOUKZ1N7OBBK&keywords=mxl+usb+mic&qid=1662553956&sprefix=mxl+usb%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-11&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-...

Hopefully it’s what you’re looking for!

Headphones will not affect mic quality, but it would make her user experience better and would also allow her to her better without the headphone sound bleeding into her recordings. Closed back, over the ears headphones are best. AKG make good quality headphones for reasonable prices.

These would do. https://www.amazon.ca/AKG-Pro-Audio-Channel-Headphones/dp/B0016MNBAM/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=akg+headphones&qid=1659659111&rnid=5264023011&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-2

When I was in high school my voice caught the ear of an FM radio station owner and I was invited to visit the station and see how things were done and how it all worked. Eventually, I was allowed to read a line or two on air and it was exciting as all get out. That led to getting my 3rd class license which was needed back then and then doing weekend shifts etc. etc.

IN THE CONTROL room was a book called the NBC Handbook of Pronunciation and I can recall reaching for that puppy on more than a few occasions since after all, I was 16 at the time and my vocabulary was fledgling at best.

I just did a quick search online and lo and behold, there are reprints of it! HOWEVER...I also saw there were copies in "thrift" shops for around 7 or 8 bucks. AMAZON has one for 16 or 17 bucks at link below but look around and you might find a good used copy for half that. It's a great tool to have and I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't buy a copy myself once years later.

https://www.amazon.com/Nbc-Handbook-Pronunciation-Classic-Reprint/dp/1332984541

Best of luck to ya...

Neat Worker Bee is currently $69 on Amazon right now:

https://www.amazon.com/Neat-Worker-Bee-Microphone-Podcasting/dp/B09L526MC1/ref=asc_df_B09L526MC1/?

Pair that with a Scarlett Solo and that should work with your budget. Make sure it specifically says Scarlet Solo as there are knockoffs in Amazon.

As another commenter mentioned, I would strongly recommend holding out for a few more dollarydoos to get the Rode NT1 Bundle if you're set on getting an efficient beginner set up. Both the mic and interface are well reviewed for great VO sound and build quality.

I have this kit and I haven't felt the need to upgrade since buying it two years ago

Interface can be pretty cheap actually.

https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-Audio-Interface-1-Channel-UM2/dp/B00EK1OTZC/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3DXK6V8GV9FR5&keywords=xlr+usb+interface&qid=1657648974&sprefix=xlr+usb+interface%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-6

Simple moving blankets hung from the walls work wonders. Double them up if you can.

That schematic is an absolute godsend, thank you once again lmao

Mix and matching some changes with my own measurements and parts. While it isn't 5x5, I've managed to make a smaller booth that, based on the power of math, I should be able to more than fully wrap up twice!

Here's why I had to do a bit of a unique build: Home-Complete HC-4202 Walk-In... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GDVVZY4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This is where I've gotten all of my pipe from that allowed me to pursue a custom booth without needing the tools to cut and and buy my own PVC.

Here's the new finished frame: https://imgur.com/a/jN9bnLA

Now to find out if the blankets will hold up. 😩

For the car, you just need two beach towels at the front passenger seat, along with a power inverter and some clamps.

Plug the inverter into the car, then plug your computer and your interface into that for power. There! No more fans from your laptop ruining records and making it sound like it's ready to take flight.

Arrange two beach towels: one to cover your passenger window (just crack it, hang an inch of excess out the window, then close it back up), and one towel from the top corner of the windshield to the headrest of the driver's seat. I like beach towels because they're large and heavy.

Affix the mic to a small desktop mount/stand, but put it upside down and wedge the base of it between the roof and the sun visor. Secure with clamps. The interface can go on the floor or on the dashboard, and laptop obviously in lap.

This should provide you a pretty decent recording space, but it definitely favors new cars over older ones with less insulation properties. This exact setup has been used for an actual paid job recorded from the road and it passed muster.

If I am not using the mic it goes in the default case/box.
If I no longer have the default case, ie I bought it used, it goes in a Pelican case (which I buy).

If it's something I use daily, it stays on my mic stand.

If it's something I use every now and then, it stays on my shelf but with a nylon mesh pouch covering it.

If it's something I don't use often but it's cheap, I keep it an a plastic Underbed storage box and keep it under my bed.

I don't ever 'mount' a microphone on a wall or anything like that.

If you're getting plosives, the easiest way to deal is a pop filter - something like this (only linked this one in particular because it's the one I have and I'm happy with it - there are plenty of others!) It redirects the puff of air coming out of your mouth so that it doesn't hit the mic as harshly, but still allows your voice through.

The other option is to change your mic technique; either back away from the mic and increase your gain, or adjust the mic it so that it's off to one side and not directly in front of your mouth.

Respectfully, there's a lot to be done here.

• Firstly, being in a closet by itself is not the solution you think it is. As u/johnlano-voiceover said, those hard surfaces need to be dealt with. You need to line that nook with a similar material to that of the blanket you've got hanging on the door. I recommend these very cost-effective, easy-to-hang moving blankets.
• As I've said many times before, Foam is not Magic. The little bits of foam you have are doing virtually nothing, no matter what their shape is. From the looks of it, you're using a Yeti. They are very good at picking up every unwanted sound reflection in that space and including it in your recording, waiting for you to have to edit them out.
• I'm on Team "That laptop fan will almost certainly be an issue."
• While I agree with u/Hugzzzzz that the main measure of success is how it sounds, your ears aren't the judge. If you're new and your ears are untrained by the industry, it's very likely that recordings from this setup wouldn't be acceptable to a paying client (the ears that count).

The absolute best thing to do is get those hard surfaces dealt with, and get that laptop re-lo'd to somewhere that's not directly next to the mic, with only an open-cell foam barrier between them.

One more thing: your mic will undoubtedly pickup your laptop's internal fan.

Considering it's a USB mic, you should consider buying a USB extender (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZV6FHWF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_i_7S9QVMZS5TW392WFSQHC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) and place your laptop outside of the closet when you're recording.

Did you get the option with a desk or work surface. This works fantastically. Can't recommend this rig enough. I have two: one at my mixing desk, and one in my booth.

ProCase 6-in-1 Desktop Selfie Stand

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093KWTB9C/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_F8ABG1N431JDBVBET9PA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Drinking plenty of fluids helps a lot (both water and warm tea). I wake up congested until I've had a glass of water.

Thanks to allergies, I keep nasal decongestant in-stock for immediate relief when it gets too rough.

For extreme cases, or when I eventually get sick of it lasting too long, I have a neti pot (which can be found online - Amazon). They're very weird when you first try them (and you'll learn the proper angle to hold your head very quickly!) But wow, do they work great!

I'm glad to hear your room doesn't have much for reflections/echo.

Most rooms will have some, so just in case you hear any in your recordings, get ready to do some sound treatment.

And there are so many options available.

If it's an option at all, testing different mics in your recording space will always be helpful.

But, you could much worse than picking up the mic I use for YouTube (and use for my travel VO rig) plus a Focusrite Solo preamp (both listed below):

Shotgun mic

Focusrite Solo

​

$290 total on Amazon (new)

The shield is pretty useless. Get yourself an MXL 770, a U-PHORIA UM2, and spend the savings on lining a closet with blankets...

Get yourself one or two of those racks for hanging clothes on from Walmart.
Put them behind your desk and hang the blankets from it.
https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Houseware-Standard-Garment-Rack/dp/B07D1F3DSR/ref=sxin\_14\_ac\_d\_rm?ac\_md=1-1-Z2FybWVudCByYWNr-ac\_d\_rm\_rm\_rm&crid=TXOH3MF7T5HC&cv\_ct\_cx=clothes+rack&keywords=clothes+rack&pd\_rd\_i=B07D1F3DSR&...

Short answer: sure

slightly longer answer: You're using the words soundproofed and box wrong. If you put a microphone in a soundproofed pox, it won't hear your voice, unless your head is also in that box, and then there might be some breathing issues. You're talking about a padded shield.

Longer answer: You don't need to soundproof anything. You need to isolate your voice from other noticeable sounds. You do this by placing noise dampening materials around your recording space to make it harder for reflections to bounce into the mic. You can instead make a focused amount of material around the mic do the same job. HOWEVER, do not be tempted by commercial shields that were designed to help isolate mics from one another in group recordings. For instance, a curved shield like this one. If you only had reflections coming from the right and left, this would be fine, but you have reflections coming from above and below, and most importantly, behind you. So you can take a cardbord box, staple blankets around the sides, and sit a mic in the center, and you'll have taken care of most directions, but if you don't screen the area behind you, you'll still get roomverb.

Obligatory reminder that Billie Eilish recorded entire albums in a bedroom, in a crappy old house. It's learning how to deal, not having the ideal, that matters.

I've tested, have or bought all of these except for the Azden SMX30

The Sennheiser ME-2, keep that. It's handy. Pair that with a Zoom H1 and you don't have to buy more expensive 'wireless Sennheiser' lav mics. All the expensive Sennheiser wireless systems actually use the ME-2. As an example in this link here it uses the ME-2: https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-EW-112P-Omni-directional-Microphone/dp/B07BRM3353

it's $650

And you're basically only paying that extra $400 or $500 for the wireless system. And something like a Zoom H1 can make you pretty much record and walk anywhere you want.

Is the ME-2 good for voiceover?

No.

No lav mics are. But it's good to have for what lav mics are supposed to be used for. Situations where a condenser, dynamic, shotgun mic aren't practical.

​

Rode Podmic, pass on that. It's very thin sounding.

Rode Video Micro and Rode Videomic, pass on that. Get the Rode Video Mic Go 2 instead, just an amazing bit of tech that came out recently. Easily the absolute best USB microphone in terms of audio quality out there imo.

Samson C02. Noisy. Very hissy. At least the ones I tested. Still can be cleaned. But best to get something without that hiss. Maybe I got a faulty unit.

AKG D5. It's ok. But I find the $20 XM8500 performs just as well if not better. I returned the AKG D5 when I found it just wasn't that flattering for my voice.

​

TLDR, these are for camera systems. But what I'd do is check out the Video Mic Go 2. You might be pleasantly surprised.

That's really the best way to start out. And in this case, bigger doesn't equal "better." Actually, it just means more do deal with. If you can cover the surfaces/walls of the closet with blankets like these, then these, that will go a LONG way to reducing reflection inside. Honestly, don't bother with the wavy foam you so often see pitched at home VO folks: the stuff's really not as effective as blankets.

As far as housemates and noise, the best thing to do is a 50/50 of talking to them about what you want to do (and asking for their support, help, and understanding), combined with acceptance that you're in an un-ideal situation and you just have to do what you can as you can, and "record between the raindrops" as it were. There's a lot you can still do in that situation like that, and you've got a lot of learning and practice to do; better to do that in the space you're in, and not down the line when your recordings and output are mission-critical.

I use the Sony MDR-7506 cans and they're great for me. I wear them just about all day. Also, at under a hundred bucks, didn't break the bank.

Rode NT1. I bought this kit from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GGGQK56/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_47SQ833K5P60MZEN61TT

Although when it arrived, I saw it was the older kit with the original basket and dual layered metal pop filter! I was happy with the mixup because I prefer the sound of metal pop filters, and I can just stick the metal filter in the dishwasher to clean it. I don't think the old kit is even sold anymore.

People (myself included) have had good luck with two 4'x8' sheets of 2" rigid styrofoam insulation cut to 6' or so tall, taped together in the back, with the extra cut-offs used as a ceiling, then the interior covered in moving blankets (the kind I use in my booth are here, and cheap) spray-glued to the walls and roof, and a blanket swaged over the opening with some kind of curtain rod. Stuff the whole thing in the corner of the room. This solution's worked for me in the past, and runs about $100. Gives you 8'² to work in. You can literally tape and glue this whole solution together in an hour or two.

Sure, the extender I referred to is better known as an 'Active Extension Cable'. I found this one on US Amazon for reference: LINK

This is an example of one of the USB over Ethernet sets: LINK

At 13:40 that's a cable organizer

https://www.amazon.com/Management-Set-Large-Medium-Wooden-Organizer/dp/B08S6P5ZJ7/ref=sr_1_14?

In terms of what he is actually connecting to his microphone, he's using an EVO 4 and a Soyuz Launcher

I simply used the Voice Recorder app with no effects recorded directly as a wav file, 44.1 mono. The phone was set at face height on a mic stand, mic aimed at my face, about 10" away, with a pop screen between me and it. No more complicated than that.

Hello, I'm a bot! The movie you linked is called Sit Down Shut Up, here are some Trailers

Sounds good! Here is the script to do some demo lines, bare in mind it is very big but incomplete, take your pick at what you'd like to try out for: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8Vh4Q9HQ8npUXZaQy02Y29oRzQ/edit?usp=sharing

Happy to:

• "Punch & Roll" or "Punching In" is a recording technique where you are able to drop into (or "punch in") a track while it's playing. I do a lot of audiobook narration, with multiple character voices. Lately, after an OS upgrade rendered my little Korg NanoKontrol useless, I had been forced to record in one long take, then spend hours and hours editing out mistakes and mispronunciations. Punch & Roll saves me a ton of time, producing a (generally speaking) finished track that only needs final post-prod and tightening up by way of pacing. This is done with the help of...
• ...a DAW controller (in this case, a new Behringer X-Touch One). This allows me to control most of my important recording functions in Logic with one hand: scrubbing back and forth in a take to find a mistake, play that chunk of take back, and "punch in" right where need to in order to replace it with a new take. The rest of my gear is what's shown, including...
• Mic: Neumann TLM-102 (shown) or my Synco D2 shotgun (to the left of the Neumann) into...
• ...an ART VoiceChannel tube pre-amp (not shown)...
• ...while reading from an iPad 7th gen for displaying copy without page noise...
• ...all run into a 2020 MacBook Air (that doesn't generate any fan noise)...
• ...with everything mounted to a ProCase 6-in-1 Desktop adjustable arm system. The only thing not on the arm system is the X-Touch.

No worries. Very happy to help. As far as music production goes, being an old 2nd Engineer from back in the day, IMO you may want to look at something with a bit more by way of live-mix options, like the larger X-Touch. Or, you can start out with just the smaller X-Touch One as your primary DAW controller with the wheel for shuttle & scrub, then daisy-chain one or more X-Touch Compacts as needed to have full hands-on mix control. Bonus: all the faders are motorized, so it looks cool as hell when it's following track automation ;)

I tried a few cheap ones before settling on this weighted boom arm which I really like. It's both portable and extremely sturdy and can carry a lot of weight. I got mine "used-like new" for 40 bucks, the Deluxe version. There is also a smaller one that I'm sure is good enough for 4lbs as well, mine is a bit overkill lol but I like that I can't easily knock it over.

Have you considered reading older books into audio format as a volunteer? It’s a nice way to dip your toes into the pool, so to speak. Learn what you can and can’t do (yet!) Learn about your own speech patterns, how to hold up after hours of work, etc. Librivox works in conjunction with the Gutenberg Project and the Internet Archive. Bonus, you get to feel good about what you are doing while you learn.

Without question in my mind, get an TechZone Audio Stellar X2. That's my daily driver in my booth. That's a lot of bang for your buck.

Behringer U-Phoria UM2 is a solid interface that has Phantom Power on it. I would recommend it since it is affordable for beginners and it is straight to the point.

Did you use a USB C adapter?

You can just use something like this which will power everything

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S8MKJ6Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you're on a budget but want a high level condenser mic that sounds like it should a million times more, check out the TZ Stellar X2 -- https://www.amazon.com/Stellar-Diaphragm-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B07ZVHBFNJ

This kit includes everything you’d need for a decent setup (except for a boom or stand to attach it to).

Rode NT1 Condenser Microphone & AI-1 One-Channel USB Audio Interface Pack

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077Y5C6HZ/

Nice XLR cable. 6’. Unless they use USB, then I’d say maybe a nice tablet holder. Limited-time deal: Gooseneck Tablet Holder, Lamicall Tablet Stand: Flexible Arm Clip Tablet Mount Compatible with iPad Mini Pro Air, Switch, Galaxy Tabs, More 4.7-10.5" Devices - Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GQNRQ86/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_dl_RBMEZNJXQM2Y765AVMZN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

There is another avenue not mentioned yet I have a lot of respect for, the volunteers at LibriVox reading public domain audiobooks.

https://librivox.org/pages/volunteer-for-librivox/

Awesome project and maybe one of the only justifiable "free" gigs, especially If you're looking to get your feet wet in a low pressure scenario.

I'm not in the same situation, but I'd suggest finding some volunteer opportunities. There are a lot of people out there who will ask you to work on their project for free, but I am NOT talking about those people.

Instead, there are some great ways you can volunteer your voice for a good cause without devaluing the work that other VAs are doing. Off the top of my head, I can think of The Human Voicebank Initiative, which allows you to "donate" your voice to someone with a severe speech or vocal impairment. There's also Librivox, which is a database of classic literature audiobooks performed exclusively by volunteers. Finally, you could consider volunteering to read to children at your local library or to nursing home residents. I'm sure someone of your talents would be immensely appreciated and that the experience would be rewarding.