Is Your Recorded Voice-Over Sound Competitive?
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- If you are a voice-over artist, how do I know if my voice-over recording quality sound is professional? You might think, how do I know if my voice-over sound is competitive? How do I know if my voice-over recording quality prevents me from winning auditions? In this video, I answer that question for a New York Voice-Over artist named John Carhart.
Here’s what I look for. A good raw recording is key. A great raw recorded voice-over sound can be optimized with processing. A poor raw recording sound can only be partially “fixed” with processing, which offers a less-than-optimal sound. A poor raw recording sound is usually due to the microphone capturing reflected voice sounds in addition to pure voice. This causes frequency imbalances. A great raw recorded voice-over sound is “reflectionless, from the microphone’s perspective, in all frequency spaces.” How do you resolve a reflection problem? You can usually improve a poor raw recording by adding acoustic treatment, re-configuring the mic position in the room (rotation and/or distance from any walls or hard surfaces), or increasing the room size (smaller spaces are often the biggest offenders).
I describe the factors that make a voice-over recording sound professional, competitive, and effective. This can be subjective. However, the following is my opinion, and I find it helps boost a voice-over artist’s confidence. The most important job of any voice-over is to translate emotion to the intended listener. It won't be effective if a voice-over recording doesn’t “move” the listener (e.g., drive them to act, feel a certain way, or do something). The best way to get a voice-over recording to translate emotion (as an audio engineer) is to capture pure voice (no reflections) and use processing (like EQ and Compression) to emphasize that emotion from the storyteller. Processing should be mostly transparent. It should be used to amplify, sharpen, and detail the emotion of the audio. So, when I feel that a raw recording is pure enough to allow processing to do its job, I can safely say that a voice-over recording can be considered professional, competitive, and effective.
Finally, I walk you through my custom processing setting for John on his Rode NT1 microphone. Then, we compare John’s before- and after-processing sound.
See my training course, including free lessons and instructions on how to submit your voice for a free demo of my custom processing on your voice at www.lennyb.com
▬ Training Course Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Optimal Recording Levels for Voice-Over
www.lennyb.com...
Acoustic Treatment For Voice Over Training Course
www.lennyb.com...
See All Training Courses From Lenny B
www.lennyb.com...
▬ Custom Processing Link ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Submit Your For Voice www.lennyb.com...
▬ Equipment Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
John’s Microphone: Rode NT1 (5th Generation)
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John's Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlet Solo
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Waves F6 Floating-Band Dynamic EQ Plugin
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Waves Scheps Omni Channel Plugin
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Lenny's microphone used in this video: Roswell Mini k87
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Lenny's Preamp used in this video: Neve 1073spx
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Lenny's Interface used in this video: Apollo X6
www.sweetwater...
▬ About Lenny B ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
I help content creators make a stronger connection with their audience. Voice-over artists, actors, musicians, and performers worldwide come to me to help improve their production quality, expand their influence, grow their audience, win more auditions, and get more work. Some of the links on this page are links to affiliate websites, and I receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. My affiliates include Sweetwater, Roswell Microphones, Gik Acoustics, Waves, and Amazon.
Hi Lenny, you're the Bob Ross of sound engineers, just doing happy little things to make something beautiful.
I was gonna say he’s the Moby of sound engineers.
Thank you for this video!! I'm very happy we connected!! I started to watch this and suddenly realized you were talking about me!! Mind blown.
This is a great ear training example for voice actors who need to know what it’s supposed to sound like! TDR Nova is good for this as well. Nice work.
This is a true masterclass for FREE. Thank you Lenny B.
Let me say this: once you hear a LennyB preset on your voice, you can't un-hear it. He created a preset for me this week, and I honestly didn’t know what I was missing until I heard my original compared to his magical preset. WOW! I can't wait to receive the final preset because it motivates me to hit the record button and practice!
The price was reasonable, and the turnaround time was 2-3 days. I already owned most of the plugins, and the ones he suggested were affordable and part of various summer sales bundles in June 2024. Thank you, Lenny! 💪🏼
Highly recommended!
Another great video, Lenny. You processed my audio several weeks ago and it made all the difference in my sound and equally important, my confidence!
A great teaching moment for all VO performers out here! Thank you!
Where should the final levels peak at
Hi @Dsmoove94. The final peak level depends on where you intend your audio to go. Final peak levels happen with Mastering. I explain all about mastering for voice-over here www.lennyb.com/blog/mastering-loudness
Hello Lenny I am a commercial voice actor, your videos are amazing can u suggest an audio interface for a TLM 103, Iam planning to buy SSL 2 or Focusrite solo Gen 4. But confused Which one to buy? thanks Lenny
The SSL2 features a 4k boost (button), but I don't suggest using it for voice recording. It's more valuable when recording certain instruments for music production. The Focusrite Solo 4th Gen features auto-level, which I also don't suggest using for voice recordings. I believe the auto level is more valuable for music production. I have videos on my channel that show you the best recording level for voice and how to set it. However the SSL2 or the Focusrite Solo Gen 4 are both good choices. I say you can't go wrong with either. I hope that helps.
@HeyLennyB Thank you so much. We ! the voice actors community has a lot to learn from you.
What mic you on there LB?
That is the Roswell miniK87. See it here: www.lennyb.com/equipment#section-1680075065548
@@HeyLennyB Nice! Have you tried any Beesneez mics? I'm curious and def supposed to be very good.
Thank you!
Hey do you think a Neumann TLM 102 would be a good to go if we consider the room is treated good enough? i have one and would love to go with that mic before having to spend another 100s on a new mic. I tested it and it sounded pretty good, also just to much mud, had to lower in the same range, between 80 to 700hz
Hi @VELVET462, The TLM 102 is a great mic. Send me a sample and i'll take a listen to what you're working with. Please follow the three steps on this page: www.lennyb.com/get-your-voice-processed-submission-form
Lenny did a preset for me with my Neumann TLM102 that is amazing. If your space is good the TLM102 and his preset should be all you need.
Such a helpful video and beautifully presented. Thank you.