MICROPHONES FOR VOICE OVER: kit.co/JamesYounger/microphones-voice-over (When available, I use affiliate links and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you )
It took me a while to find people who actually know what they're talking about with all the nonsense videos on UA-cam! They really aren't many, but you are one of them. Thank you.
@@JamesYounger You're perfectly welcome. At several times in your video, in a few words, you put some misconceptions in their place as well as a lot of pseudo experts who give the impression of knowing everything but whose everything rings false: Their disparate and unsuitable hardware, software they recommend, the filters they apply, the crucial parts they omit to explain that show that they don't know the problems we encounter. And finally I ask myself even more questions than at the start. I'm going to watch all of your videos (this one is the first one) and I might allow myself to ask you some questions that -we never know- might give you video ideas to advise people like me, who are new to voice overs, even though I have been working in this area for 20 years and have written many scripts and directed many actors during the recording sessions. The transition to a voice over actor who wants to record from home is very difficult (if you are used to studio quality). The set-up before you even start recording is a real headache, especially if you have to watch your budget and try to climb crescendo and you do not believe that it is enough to buy a Scarlett 2i2 and a SMB7 to achieve a more than perfect result. 🙄 Just a little remark: You speak a bit fast for a non-native! 😁😁
@@LeSaff So true! I'm 100% open to whatever questions you have! I've been told I speak a little fast 😬 It probably has a lot to do with peoples attention spans being so short these days, so I end up speaking too quickly. I'm going to try to slow down a bit as I go. That's really cool that you were on the other side of VO for so long. That's just going to give you an advantage over most people, so that will be great! Looking forward to your questions!
@@JamesYounger Hi James, thanks for the answer. I got your email from your website and I will come back to you very soon with all the questions I must write down. Thanks again for the help ! 👍👍
Ugh ... click bait. Narrator fails to identify any particular mic as the "best." (Of course he cannot, because voices, spaces, equipment, and other factors are all different and there is no best single best microphone for all.) The dog is clearly relaxed and comfortable ... that's a good thing. Nice video. JJT
I have an NT1A somewhere and I loaned out my AT4040 (which I like a lot more than the AT2020). I ordered the CAD E100SX and AKG P420 for my (6x8) soundbooth. It's unfortunate there really isn't anywhere you can try out the mics before you buy them and I really hate the idea of buying several only to return most of them - but what else can you do - mics are a very personal purchase because they sound differently on each voice. Also have a collection of dynamics (SM7B, RE20, and Wave DX) for my basement where live stream. I'm also considering picking up a shotgun mic (or two). I suppose I have a not very deep male voice - medium register - so I'm thinking I could benefit from something with darker EQ.
This video really brought me up to speed. Im trying to do some voiceover work, since I'm starting a YT channel. Looking at some condenser mics for my voiceover work.
Your production value is amazing and this was great information. I've been looking for a mic that would work well for my Live streams as well as voice-over.
An short, small diaphragm instrument microphone like the Rode M5 or SE E7 is all anyone needs. Covers voice over, vocal, instrument (obviously), podcast, and overhead boom for video work. Change my mind.
It's all good! As long as you know how your specific headphones sound you can make accurate mixing decisions so just make sure you get REALLY familiar with how they sound.
would like to see how to position sm7B out of camera (i mean above our head) for best quality sound. I mean when you do a video about dynamic microphones
Hey there! Unfortunately that wouldn't work so well with a dynamic microphone like the SM7B. Dynamic microphones were made for the speaker to be right up on the microphone not at a distance like shotgun microphones. I'll definitely touch on this when I shoot the video about them! :)
Thank you so much for this information ... I commented on the Atlanta voice over UA-cam page about how you convinced me to switch over to the NTG4+ because of my S's ... I'd like to see more videos regarding voice work and how to handle our talents within the industry what to watch out for ... what benefits come from voice over work or audible narrations ... stuff of this nature .. thanks so much
Thank you so much! And absolutely! Could you give me a little more detail on what you'd like me to talk about? Also, unfortunately I'm still waiting on my new camera to ship to me so I can shoot another video. It's taking forever.
Honestly, this is the best video for microphones, I will be sleeping well tonight lol I would love to see more videos on anything audio related! Some future video recommendations would be... 1. Positioning microphones for different uses 2. Gaming audio equipment vs Studio audio equipment 3. What each audio interfaces do (I know there's a difference, but what is it?) 4. Maybe some story times in the middle of videos on your career and why you wanted to be an audio engineer I will most definitely watch future videos and learn more, thanks!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that! Coincidentally, my next video will be about Positioning the microphone (Proper Microphone Technique) so I'll check off one of your requests :) I'll add your other requests to my list right now! :) At the moment, I'm waiting on my new camera I ordered to be released and sent to me so it will be a little bit before I get to my next video but I'll get it out as soon as I can! Again, thank you so much for your comment!
You def should do a video for UA-camrs, that's much bigger audience for you than VO actors ;) I'm one of them trying to find a mic for my self looking into Shure SM7b... but it requires a lot of extras so maybe I should find the best USB mic... ?
Definitely got it in the works :) Look into using this microphone: www.amazon.com/dp/B09BZZCGC8?tag=jamesyounger-20&geniuslink=true (Amazon) Full disclosure that's an affiliate link so I get a tiny bit of commission if you order from that link at no extra cost to you. BUT that mic sounds close to the SM7B and a fraction of the cost. I personally like the quality of the mic and it would be great for your needs.
I don’t know much (as in one month of UA-cam research) about mics. I purchased the 7b (with the cloudlifter) for my girlfriend who wants to get into voice overs. Right now she’ll be in an open room in an open concept home. Now I’m not sure if I made the best choice, but I don’t think (hope) I made a “bad” choice. I looked at the NT1, but it wasn’t in stock. The NT1A they had, but both seemed like they wouldn’t be the best option for an open room that’s not been treated in any way.
I love the SM7B but it's not good for voice over. I did a video all about that on my channel if you want to see. The Rode NT1 is perfect and should be back in stock! While the SM7B is definitely the best choice for an untreated room, it's not a good microphone for voice over work. I'd get the Rode NT1 and eventually treat the room when you can. Treating the space you're recording in is 70% to 80% of having professional audio. If interested, I offer A home studio setup service on my website if you want to go check it out. Link in the description of my videos. Best wishes!
Hello James thanks for such amazing advices and truly this offered at no cost to everybody. I get a little bit concerned in selecting the right mic as i love to have one at my work office .. at office it may be a little bit hard to isolate the office (sounds like next office phone ringing, ppl talking in corridors etc) so what would be the best choice for such place 😅.. dynamic or shotgun unless otherwise ..
Hey there! What would it be for? VO? Or something else? If VO you'd have to go with a shotgun mic & if it's not for VO I'd recommend a dynamic mic. Listed out my choices below. Take care! SHOTGUN: geni.us/0ASG DYNAMIC: geni.us/Rode-Pod-Mic (When available, I use affiliate links and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you )
I really like your video very informative I can’t wait for that video to come out talking about the mic stream and for voice acting Mic I would also like to add what about for singing vocals the reason I’m asking this question yes because I plan on doing streaming and singing vocals so I want to know which Mic should I get. Ps. Keep up the great videos
Thank you so much! And you got it! Adding it to my list now! Unfortunately I'm still waiting for my new camera to ship so I can shoot a new video. Hopefully it will any day now!
Always showing me love! Thank you so much! I'll add those to my list! I'm trying to come up with a really efficient way for me to review microphones :) You know how it is, always good to have a solid, consistent way of doing things!
@@JamesYounger 💯% hear you, James! Looking forward to how you do that and put it all together! Love your content and your delivery!! Keep it comin'! 👊🏾😁
Amazing Video! Just stumbled upon this channel and I find it amazing. I was wondering if you could recommend me a good microphone for music production (Vocals). I am an Amateur so only a mid Budget one. Thanks!
You don’t just need treatment for the 416, that goes for most mics. You need a ton of treatment on the 416 bc of the slats to in order to avoid phase cancellation in a small space.
Hi James. I noticed that in your review of microphones for Voice Over, you (and most others) never recommend the ElectroVoice RE320. I know it's a favorite broadcasting mic but is there anything that would make it a bad choice for Voice Over? Many Thanks and your videos are just amazing. Thank you for what you do!
Hey man! Thanks so much for the kind words! Check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/eSaRM8B2nDc/v-deo.htmlsi=_nRmXxfyPW5nl4av it's about why the SM7B isn't good for voice over but it's all the same reasons for the RE320. I had already made this video a while before this and had a lot of hate comments so forgive my attitude in the video 😆
@@JamesYounger that's a great explaination in that video! I'll hang on to my RE320 for any non VO work. I have a AT875R shotgun and just purchased an NT1 signature as well! Thanks much!
Those are actually really good for editing. As long as you know the sound of your headphones you'll be fine because the M50X's are on the better end of headphones. I use the Sennheiser HD650's openback for when I need to edit using headphones.
Could you please tell me what software do you use to control the sound in your voice recording. Can that software support recording directly on adobe primier? thanks
AHHH YES!! This is a fantastic topic idea! Putting it in my list now! Thank you so much! I'm still waiting on my new camera to ship 😒so please bare with me on getting back to a steady video upload flow!
Did you ever do the more specific use videos? I’m an owner of a blue Yeti, which seems good for YT commentary videos, but I’m now trying to help a group with voiceover work and getting feedback about a metallic reverb I can’t explain/understand and if I need a different Mic I really can’t go over $200 in budget. I’d love to buy the 416 but uff da, not getting paid to do this so 😅.
Totally understand! That metallic reverb you're talking about has to do with how you acoustically treat the space you're recording in. So, that's good and bad news. Good news: It's not the microphone. Bad news: You need to further treat the space you're recording in. I'll eventually be making some videos talking about some of these topics but there is sooooooo much that goes into properly treating your space that I won't be covering everything in the videos. I offer private sessions on my website you can sign up for to be able to get your studio acoustically treated the best it possibly can be. Also, I always recommend the RODE NT1 microphone. It's GREAT! It's a bit over $200 but you won't be disappointed :) You can find it in my recommended equipment link in this video if you're interested.
Hey been looking through all your videos, great stuff! saw that you were also going to be posting a video on the audiotechnica AT875R. When do you think the review will be posted? I'm subbed and notified to keep on it. I'm currently cut between getting that and the rode nt1 that you suggested for doing voice acting work. Been currently using Nividia broadcast as my main software for sound treatment with my generic sudotrack condensor usb mic, but would prefer to not use the software due to high pitch cutting issues and total audio rejection from the input.
Hi Chance! Thanks so much for your support! That review will probably be out around early to mid January unfortunately., I've been slammed with work lately. I wish I could steer you in a direction but without hearing or seeing your space I can't say for sure. If you want you can go to my site and sign up for my audio checkup so I can hear your current audio. It's only $25 and it will give me a better idea of what you might need. If you decide to do it, make sure it's RAW audio though. No processing whatsoever. That way I can get a REALLY good idea of what you're dealing with. Thanks again for the sub and for the support! I hope you have happy holidays!
OK ok ok, I believe this is the 500th video I see about this topic, I'm looking on how to improve my meaningless UA-cam videos, and every youtuber who claims is an expert in this, give a different recommendation in almost everything, the few things that all agree are: 1. Get the microphone closer, this is mandatory, and truly, really important, clooooooser, almost touching your internal organs hahaha. 2. Treat your recording space, this is 70% to 80% what defines the audio. Perfect... But how it is possible that some productions record video/audio interviews with shotgun mics in different places without treating each space they visit? Is there any way to record talking-head videos without treating each and every space? What if I have to do a documentary going to people houses to record audio? Because camera tripods, lights and all of that, justified... but how to we treat a space temporary?
Hey Rodrigo! I totally understand the frustration! I never want to come off as talking bad about anyone else but I have to say this up front. I always tell my students that UA-cam is unfortunately a dangerous place because literally anyone can pick up a camera and make a video touting themselves as an expert when in reality they may have no professional experience at all. This leaves the viewers confused because they're hearing so much conflicting ever changing advice. The only way to know for sure who you can trust as a professional is by seeing what they do for a living. I work for a professional voice over studio in the South East as one of their main audio engineers as well as their video content creator. I also teach multiple classes for them that cover DAWs like Adobe Audition & Audacity as well as teaching Home Studio setup for voice actors. I work in this industry every day and our studio follows the industry standards, so everything I teach here on this channel is mostly rooted in what the industry is doing, or what is industry standard. That way it's not just ALL my opinion which can get pretty messy sometimes. I'm about to run out of characters so I'm going to stop here and continue my comment in another reply, please bare with me.
You are 100% right about getting the mic as close as you can to your subject organs and all 😂 and treating your space is absolutely crucial for the best recording possible. But you are also correct that it's not always possible to treat a space in the time you're given or even budget. In that case you would want an experienced audio engineer to be able to do their best at cleaning up the audio in post. The topic of treating a space is REALLY in depth and everyone's space is different and everyone's voice is different and everyone's microphone will react differently to them and their space individually. In other words, there's no one size fits all method for treating a space because it has to be catered to YOU specifically with many various factors dictating what to do. I teach all of this stuff in my classes and assess everyone's audio and space individually throughout the weeks of my class to get everyone sounding the best they possibly can. For UA-camrs, one of the best things you can do is use a microphone like a Shure SM7B because it is sooooo great for untreated spaces. Loooooooooong story short you should definitely go with that microphone if you are doing UA-cam videos. I have one more reply. 1 sec.
People who go around doing interviews will only lightly treat a space. They normally bring things like REALLY thick quilts, blankets, or moving blankets to lay across hard surfaces to help alleviate the hard surface reflections (reverb) as well as other things. The frustrating thing here is that I have hardly even scratched the surface with these topics. I hope this was helpful in some way!
@@JamesYounger Thank you very much for your kind reply, indeed, there is way too much information, as a researcher and journalist, I do my best to verify the info and in this case, make some tests. Indeed, video is simple, you can shoot anyone knowing rule of thirds, having a three-point lighting, and thats it, and if you want to go deeper, 24fps, 180° rule for shutter, native ISO, good aperture with some NDs if necessary, LOG footage, a color chart just in case, DaVinci Resolve for color correction and grading, etc... But at the end, you can mesure if the shoot was well exposed using the waveform, and if colors and skin tones are ok with the vector scope, it doesn't matter if you shot a man, a woman, a giraffe or an elephant, but with audio, you have to consider the voice of the subject, the room, the kind and type of microphone, if there is interference, the cables, the distance, the preamps and/or recorder, the gain, then the EQ, the compression, the DeEsser, etc. etc. etc. And I understand, there is no magic bullet, and in my case, I know I'm little bit complicated, because what I want to do is talking head videos without showing a huge microphone in front of the subject, maybe a lavalier, but I prefer a concealed mic, to make it look more natural, and having to do interviews in so many places, I was wondering which solution for that case would be. About post processing, well, @EposVox said "EQ-ing is more of an art than a science.", which I think is kind of true... And @MarkusPix said that even tho you try your best, your audio will sound dramatically different depending on the device you are using to see the content, so in that spirit, What is what the professionals do when recording interviews? In other words, just like in the case of color correction... How the professionals mesure or check if an audio fits almost a professional level? Is there any objetive form to do it? Thanks a lot.
@@RodrigoPolo So, excluding room treatment, what would a professional do to make sure and capture the best audio possible. 1. If you can't treat the room, try to find a room with a bunch of furniture in it. A bunch of furniture and things randomly placed in a room will actually help keep hard surface reflections down a bit. 2. Make sure your levels are nice and healthy. Don't record too low and don't record too loud. You want your average audio modulating between -12dB & -6dB UNLESS it's a really dynamic read where the speaker is getting loud and then quiet, in that case, you'd want your average read sitting between -18dB & -12dB. 3. Make sure to turn off anything in the surrounding area that you possibly can that introduces excess noise in the recording. Air conditioning, refrigerator, fans etc... This isn't always possible but you just want to do what you can. 4. You already know this one but get the microphone as close to the subject as possible. The great thing about shotgun microphones is that they were made to capture audio at more of a distance than most microphones so that's one of their strengths.
I'm not sure how it's done personally, but you can go to a speech therapist and have it trained out of your speech. But here's the thing, you probably don't have bad sibilance and really probably don't need to worry about it. I'm about to shoot a video all about sibilance and it covers everything you need to know about it and about how to fix it in your recording software. But for 98% of people it's really not an issue you need to worry about. You're probably totally fine. Really. However, if it's really bugging you I have a service on my website called "Audio Checkup" that's only $25 where you can send me a sample of audio to evaluate.
hi there. loved your comprehensive presentation. please keep it coming. im commenting from the Caribbean. can you honestly say, if the lewitt lct 440 pure and other condenser microphones, along that price line, can be used for voice over work? i have my eyes on the lewitt and also the Audio Technica AT897 shotgun microphone. please advise me and recommend. thank you in advance
Thank you so much! And Hmmm... That's a tough one because dynamic microphones are used a TON for singing because they have high SPL (Sound Pressure Levels) however, I've seen people also use large diaphragm condenser microphones as well. Honestly, I feel like you'd be good to go with a Rode NT1 for both.
@@JamesYounger Coolness. I have the NT1 save to my Amazon list. As soon as I can afford it it's mine, along with the Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen USB audio interface 🤪 Cheers
Why do you think VO artists use 416 instead of mkh50? The latter seems to be better choice as its tailored for indoor use and is a standard for majority of filmaking for decades
Honestly the 416 just kind of became popular because of a couple really popular voice actors started using them. Once that caught on it just became the "cool" mic to use with no real solid reasoning. Though I've never heard the mkh50 I'm sure it would probably sound great but it just never got the popularity boost that the 416 did.
Hi James! I really love this video!! I’m interested in buying an Aston origin microphone because I really like the sound of this microphone, the price it’s very affordable for me and I feel like it could suit my voice very well to work as a voice over. Therefore I don’t have a studio to record, I have my desk adequate with a huge box around it covered with foam panels, this allows me to eliminate the echo of the room, since it has a very high ceiling; likewise I also have a kaotica, however, I have no problems with noise around me (only when planes pass by); I wonder if the Aston would work well in this space, since in the video you mentioned that these microphones (comparing them with the Neumann ones) do not work well in small spaces, I must clarify that the space where I record is not a closet, my desk is located in my room (with that box). Someone also recommended me to buy the synco mic d2, I like it because it is a shotgun microphone and it is also affordable to buy, but I don't like the sound, it sounds very dark to me and I really like the sound of the Aston origin. So, what advice could you give me? Should I risk buying the Aston? or is there any other microphone you can recommend me to buy? Thanks for your content, you have a new subscriber in your channel!!
Hey Lesly! Thanks so much for the comment, sub and watch! :) So, I would start by asking what your end goal with VO is? Is it just fun for you? Or do you want to make a career out of it? This would change my answer. If it's just fun, then I'd say go for the Aston and you'll be fine. If it's to make a career out of it, I'd say go with a RODE NT1 and try to improve your recording space. The Aston is a bit too noisy for competitive VO work and your desk set up won't work as a professional set up for VO. An Eyeball is a bad idea as well. One of my next videos actually covers this topic. Try to convert your closet into your recording space. OR maybe a PVC booth with really thick moving blankets. There's A LOT that goes into finding and then properly treating your space so go over to my website and look into private coaching if you want to learn more about what you can do. PS, I complexly agree with you about the Synco and unfortunately it's because you have a 50/50 chance when buying one that you will actually end up getting a good one... 50% of the time you will end up with one that sounds really muffled and dark. The other 50% of the time it actually sounds really good. It's not worth the risk in my opinion.
It's not enough to just treat your space for 416. If your space is really small like a 4' x 4' booth you need 8 inches of insulation to stop that phase cancellation. So what they say about 416 not being good for VO is true except in really well treated spaces.
Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that you have a 50/50 shot at getting a good one when you order one 😵 I've had quite a few students order them (And I also ordered one for myself) and half of us got great sounding microphones and the other half of us (myself included) got REALLY muffled sounding microphones. It literally sounded like we were all wearing 2 or 3 layers of masks while speaking into them. I hate it because when you get a good one they sound awesome!!!!
No one talks about this but is the hum of an air conditioner irrelevant when considering mics? I live in a humid country and would rather not work looking like Clubber Lang in round 3
🤣 I totally get it! Unfortunately I have to turn my AC off when I'm recording voice over. BUT the good news is for auditions (as long as you know what you're doing) you could use a plugin by WAVES audio called Clarity VX. I did a full tutorial and walkthrough on this plugin you can find on my channel, it's the last video I did and it is AMAZING for taking out background noises like your AC. It will be a life changer for you.
There are many key factors not dealt with in this video, eg the 416 is brighter YES but given that much of it’s time is spent in a cradle with a dead cat over it, which then makes it lose much of that overly bright sound
ua-cam.com/video/AR1QQgZ3888/v-deo.html - I'll leave that there for ya. Kinda irrelevant in that video though. If you're using a Deadcats in the studio you've got some bigger problems to deal with e.g gusts of wind... Deadcats are for recording outside where big gusts of wind can occur. That doesn't happen in studio. In studio you'd just use a pop shield (even though you could just totally bypass that with proper microphone technique). I'd love to hear all the many "key factors" that we're dealt with in the video??? As long as they're actually relevant, unlike the one you decided to go with for your example.
Wow sorry for any confusion but when ever I’ve used my 416 it’s always been on location, if in the studio I would use some of the other mics you mentioned
@@kevinedwards2658 No worries at all. I hope you understand I get a lot of mean comments where people try to "get one over" on me so please don't take offense to my response. I never know when it's someone just trying to troll me or start an argument. Thank you so much for the kind response. I means a lot.
Hello James, Great content man likes your video and I'm a big fan. I have a question about the Rode - NTG2, Shotgun Microphone, Black. Do you think it is a good Microphone to use to create youtube videos ? Thanks.
Hey there! Thanks so much for the kind words! First, let me say I've never personally tested the NTG2 so I can't say from personal experience how I feel about it BUT I will say that I haven't heard good things about it unfortunately :( Sometime in the near future I'm going to do a video comparing all of the Rode shotgun mics (Rode NTG1, 2, 3, 4 & 5) I just gotta get a hold of all of them. BUUUUUT I do think it would be a good starter mic. I'd just start with it, and just begin pushing out content. You can always upgrade in the future and as I always say, 70 to 80% of having great sounding audio is how you acoustically treat the space you're recording in, so I'd say focus more on getting your space ready to record. Totally up to you, but when you start preparing your space, feel free to book a private session with me to get it all set up. My website should be completed in the next week or two so you can sign up. Hope you have a wonderful day!
@@veprime9547 Thank you so much! I'm trying to get to a point where I can release 2 videos a month and then hopefully one a week! It's a lot of work but hopefully I'll get there sooner than later! :)
So, just an interesting side note, Bill DeWees uses a TLM 103 in a 3.5x5 foot Whisper Room, and he's a six-figure VO artist. Are you saying he's wrong?
I don't want to speak ill of anyone so I'll just lay out some information here. Do with it what you will. I might even make a video all about your question because it's a good question and there's actually a lot that could be covered here. 1. Audio standards now vs just 5 years ago are drastically more strict than before. 2. He's established in the industry (created networks of friends, clients & colleagues) and isn't being looked at under a microscope like newcomers that need to ensure not only that their reads are great but that there audio is fantastic in order to compete with the people who are already established in the industry and have been in it for years. 3. Some coaches on UA-cam (and other places) inflate their success to gain the trust of their viewers. 4. Once audio standards became WAYYY more strict, a lot of voice actors who had experienced a ton of success early on, started slowing down dramatically. I witnessed it first hand at a studio. It was mainly do to the fact that they thought, because they had so much success in the industry for so long, they didn't need to improve their audio. Needless to say, it came back to bite them in the ass hard. 5. There's a lot of scam artists on social media. I've seen quite a bit of scaminess from certain people over the years.... (wink wink) 6. Not naming names, but people with booths that are treated with (foam only) would sound like they're in a box no matter the microphone (and they do) but put an incredibly sensitive mic like a 103 in that space and it will increase that sound (and it does). Check out this video to help push the above info a little further: ua-cam.com/video/pQ-X1Sv2jtM/v-deo.htmlsi=S54U-l88ntMMnNQc I hope this helped clear that up a bit, and trust me I could go on and on which is why I'll probably make a video addressing this exact issue.
@@JamesYounger I appreciate the time you've taken to reply. I have a vocal booth that I built in my home, and I'm starting to get booked more and more for VO - I must be doing some things right, but then again, my gigs thus far are low-paying gigs - those folks aren't going to have the same standards as the big dogs. I'm a middle-aged guy - not a complete noob or ignorant when it comes to gear, but I certainly have more I could learn. Again, I appreciate your time today - I'll keep an eye out for that video!
@@patrickgleason6610 Thank you so much for the question! It's a really good one to ask. And yes absolutely that's another one I could have listed. As you move up in pay for the job the more strict the standards get. The video will probably be out next year because I get so busy around this time of year but I'm definitely going to make it because I think it's really important.
Hi James, new subscriber here, and I appreciate your insight and opinions. I am a now-retired 24 year radio talk show host who's getting into retainer VO work for a cluster of stations, as well as a new content creator starting my own UA-cam streaming channel. I own a TLM 103, SM58, and a Sennheiser series 21 (I believe) broadcast headset mic. I have auralex treatment in my 10x10 space. Is there a mic you'd recommend for doing both activities without having to switch out mics for the job?
Hey there! Thanks so much for the sub and the question! The TLM 103 is a staple in the voice over industry and would be great for UA-cam videos as well. I think you're totally good to go with that mic. The most important part though is how you treat the space. Unfortunately, in most cases foam won't be enough to properly treat a space and have it not sound "boxy" or like you're in a tube. Foam just isn't thick or dense enough to soak up the reelections of a voice in the way we'd like it to. I can't know for sure without hearing some sample audio BUT if I'm right, you may want to look into the 242 or 244 acoustic panels from GIK acoustics. They are top quality and are wonderful for acoustically treating a space. I hope this was helpful!
If a shotgun mic is super directional, why does it work good when it's on a boom and placed way high tilted down while your talking straight forward? Also, when it comes to the Shure SM7B it seems like a super VO mic if your reading long texts or audio books. If it's good for broadcast and podcast I don't see why it shouldn't serve well as a VO mic. Btw, I have quite expensive condenser mic and even the room is treated it's not always the best mic for VO work, I struggle sometimes with the hyper sensitivity while I enjoy the tonality. It can pick up breathing and just the slightest change in distance. I think it's wrong to say "this mic is not for VO" etc. Can't be that categorical. Both condensers and dynamic mics are used in radio for instance, podcast is essentially radio. Your speaking into the mic in both disciplines. I know that some dynamic mics are very popular in podcast environment but that has alot to do with marketing and hype too. Røde for instance are good at bundling podcast kits with mixer, mics etc. If your in a traditional radio studio you will find both condenser mics and dynamic.
This video explains why dynamic mics like the SM7B don't work for VO: ua-cam.com/video/eSaRM8B2nDc/v-deo.htmlsi=FoOCzuvV6FXEPuXN keep in mind it's the VO industry that says this, all the top agents, studios and most importantly engineers. This isn't my opinion. Secondly, this video helps to explain why a shotgun boomed overhead works the way it does: ua-cam.com/video/AR1QQgZ3888/v-deo.htmlsi=CYVOTs9AAUBAOO0q microphones are like cameras. They don't have to be right in front of you to be "in focus"
@@JamesYounger YKWTS. Thanks for sharing. I think we see things much the same, like you said the dynamic mic SM7B is a good option for long form narration. That's my point. Sometimes that type of sound image is required while a "fuller" more detailed sound is required for other types of VO work. Long form narration could mean audio book and that's a pretty sweet contract compared to short ads etc. I've been voicing in different studios trough the years, started back in 1984 so I'm getting old, but most times there's been setups for warm tube condensers and dynamic mics at the same time, what type of setup and combos we end up using is based on the assignment. In radio it differs too, as you probably know. Some are on the EV RE20, others use a condenser cause it suits their type of voice tone and/or speech technique. I'm not from the US so I voice in a different language, but I've seen the RE20 used alot in US radio studios together with a mix of Neumann mics as well. When I did radio the RE20 wasn't used at all, so perhaps that's an American thing, our go to mics was different Sennheisers or condenser AKG models. Having said that sound processing is heavier in radio than anywhere else, or at least that's my impression. Anyways, thanks for sharing your great content. I'm still not a categorical type of person when it comes to mics or equipment in general, there's a Sure SM7DB out now that's supposed to be less noisy due to it's active upgrade, even the main purpose isn't VO I wouldn't hesitate to use it (or similar mics) if it felt right for the purpose. Most times when I do VO work from my home studio I tend to use a tube condenser. Sometimes however it does generate too much of everything (not noise) and sometimes using an "honest" and much cheaper dynamic mic gets the job done, or should I say it's generates a sound image that's more suited. The performance has to be delivered by the VO artist in any case.
I'm actually reviewing the sE7 (SDC) from sE Electronics in the coming weeks so be on the look out for that video. I'd say they are totally fine for VO work as long as the mic isn't insanely colored and your space is properly treated.
Hey there Michael! Full transparency, I have no personal experience with the MKH50, but I can tell you the MKH550 is a condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern whereas the 416 is a shotgun microphone with a lobar polar pattern, therefore, the 416 will theoretically have a "tighter" sounds due to it's tighter polar pattern and great side noise rejection. Knowing those things could help you decide which one would be best for you in your specific situation. As far as the characteristics of the audio quality of both microphones, I can only speak to the 416 as I work with them on a daily basis at the studio where I work and at home when I'm recording VO. The 416 is a staple in the voice over industry and clients LOVE the way it sounds, so you can't go wrong with the 416. And of course it carries the name clients know so that also helps. The MKH50 likely sounds amazing (though, like I said I've never used one) BUT it doesn't carry the "name" the 416 does, so that might be something to consider BUUUUUT like you will always hear me say, the microphone you choose actually plays a VERY small role in your audio quality. YES the microphone can help or hurt your quality BUT properly acoustically treating the space you're recording in is FAR more important in making sure you will have professional sounding audio. I hope this was helpful!
Hey, James. Thanks for the in-depth explanation of microphone selection and types. Quick Question tho, what are your thoughts on the Focusrite scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen mic ? You speak highly of the interface so I wanted to know your opinion on the entire bundle (mic, interface, cable, headphones) seeing as it's one the very few microphones available in the Egyptian market.
Hey there! You are so welcome! Unfortunately, I’d stay away from bundles. In 99% of cases you will only get 1 solid piece of equipment in those exchanges. Using the focusrite bundle as the example, you will get a solid interface but unfortunately when it comes to the microphone and headphones, they have a REALLY cheap company make both the microphone and headphones and then just slap their logo on them to be able to sell a bundle and charge more. :( Do they not offer the Rode NT1 where you are?
@@JamesYounger Well, they do offer the NT1A (solo or in a bundle with the scarlett interface) and the NT1 is in a bundle with the Rode Ai-1 interface, but at a higher price. I could save up for both pieces but I wanted to see if I could cut the costs down a little bit then get the Rode NT1/NT1A afterwards.
@@TheAKinferno Well ,I should have asked this first because this may help you save some money. What is your end goal? Like, what do you want to do once you get your equipment? Get with agent and do VO? Or make your own content like UA-cam videos?
@@JamesYounger well, I currently use the BM-800 mic to do some UA-cam VOs and content and stuff but I wanna take it a step further with professional VO and podcasts, so I've been opening up like a hundred UA-cam tabs to try and get a grip on where I should start. Which is why I'm trying to find the equipment that satisfy the balance between cheap and efficient well enough. Eventually I will upgrade once graduated and working, but I'm trying to have the quickest start
@@TheAKinferno Okay awesome. The RodeNT1A is a great microphone (Though I prefer the Rode NT1) but only because the 1A is a little too "bright" sounding for my liking. But it's still a great microphone. If I were you, I'd go with the RodeNT1A and Focusrite solo bundle. That's the best bang for your buck. A great microphone & interface.
What do you think about small diaphragm condenser microphones instead of the high priced sennheiser 416 or neumann. I was considering something like the Oktava MK12 (with hypercardiot capsule) or Rode NT5. Could they survive the demands for voice over (i worry about okatava's self noise )? Perhaps you could suggest a suitable small condenser on this price point or they should not be taken into account for voice over ?
I am thinking about getting a microphone for voiceovers for videos. I really want some crips lvl of audio but I am quite unsure what to pick. Shotgun mic might be a good idea since it can be used on a camera later on. Or should I just get a standard condensor/dynamic one?
Hey there! I have no idea what microphone they're using but just from listening to the audio it sounds like there's a lot of processing going on like EQ and compression.
@@hilariouschannel5472 Unfortunately there aren't really any "apps" that do this, or at least do it well. Accusonus used to have an automatic EQ but they aren't doing business at the moment for whatever reason. You will need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) in order to use EQ or compression. Audacity is a free DAW that A lot of people use and I also teach a class on it. If you are going to go with Audacity I'd download a 3rd party EQ called TDR Nova. It's really good and it's free as well. I'll be making a course all about EQ and Compression soon as well. They can be really complicated at first but once you learn them you will probably think it's actually easier than you thought.
Hey Rich! Yep! I like shotguns over LDC in small spaces. It's not that LDC don't or can't sound good in small spaces but they do capture more room reflections and ambience around them which can be problematic, whereas shotguns have a tighter pick up pattern and reject audio that comes in from the sides of the microphone which in turn helps to create an even tighter sound. Though, of course, It's always recommended to still acoustically treat the space really well.
hello can you please recommend me a microphone for under 100$. i'm doing a personal animation project and i need to make a voiceover, i live in a 1 room apartment so i need to use it on my desk. thank you
Hi James, I have a deep, bassy voice and I'm considering upgrading from my AT2020. I was looking in the Synco D2 but hearing it may not do well with my voice. Would love the 416 but can't swing that right now. Would the Synco D2 still be a good choice?
Hey there! Thanks so much for the comment! :) I'd shy away from the Synco because I found out the hard way that you have a 50% chance of getting a good one and then a 50% chance of getting one that sounds really muffled. It's just not worth the risk in my opinion. If looking for an affordable shotgun mic I'd look into getting the Deity S mic 2 if you can swing the price. If getting a condenser microphone I'd look into getting the Rode NT1 if you can swing that one as well. The AT2020 is fine for content creation but won't hold up as a professional voice over microphone.
The closet I've heard to getting the 416 sound at half the price is the Azden SGM-3500L. However, I am about to review the Audio-Technica AT875R which is significantly cheaper than both of those BUUUUUT we will see if it sounds cheap or if it can hold up.
The closet I've heard to getting the 416 sound at half the price is the Azden SGM-3500L. However, I am about to review the Audio-Technica AT875R which is significantly cheaper than both of those BUUUUUT we will see if it sounds cheap or if it can hold up.
@@JamesYounger should I wait for you to review it or just buy the deity mic 2? I’m entry point by the way, with a train station outside my house for some context; I have no acoustic treatment
Hey there Melissa! To me personally I would say yes absolutely. Technically it should be perfect. BUT I'm not sure if the VO industry would agree with me. I don't want to tell you yes and then get you in trouble one day if a client get's upset because you are using one. BUUUUUT I'd say use it until it's a problem, and most likely I'd say it won't be.
@@gaborkiss1425 I'm actually going to be making a video all about just that in the next month or so. It's actually pretty technical and more than I can get into here in a comment.
@@JamesYounger Yea there isn't much info on the A77... I just really like how it looks. But it is half the price of E100Sx so I imagine its not as good.
@@NirnBootMod You're probably right but sometimes microphones at that price range surprise me 😳 It doesn't happen often but it definitely can. I highly recommend the Rode NT1. It's $270 and sounds amazing. It's my go to mic for anyone.
@@NirnBootMod I can't speak to the NT-1000 (But I've heard it's a solid microphone) But I definitely prefer the Rode NT1 over the NT1A. The NT1A isn't a bad mic or anything, it's just a lot "brighter" than the NT1 and ends up making people's sibilance more harsh. Basically, it's just not as pleasing to listen to for long periods of time whereas the Rode NT1 is.
The AT2020 is one of the worst microphones around. It's NOT a large diaphragm condenser, but an SDC, and if you get feedback it's about the high noise floor. Get an AKG P120 instead. Similar price, better quality all over. The NT1-A is NOT suitable for voice over, because it's way too bright. The NT-1 however (which just got it's 5th generation released, and from which you have shown the website instead if the one you mentioned) has a great reputation, and would be a great choice. The NT1-A is not as good in taking the processing that is often used in voice over. The AKG P220, TLM-103 and U87 are great within their price range. There are also many microphones in between those price brackets.
@@JamesYounger This is funny. I was responding to another video from somebody who did, and the moment I posted my comments, your video autostarted. Apparently my comment was posted to this video. Sorry for the misunderstanding... 😂
MICROPHONES FOR VOICE OVER: kit.co/JamesYounger/microphones-voice-over (When available, I use affiliate links and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you )
Finally a channel which is in depth for Voice Overs. Voice Over Artists will love this channel. Thank You!!
THANK YOU! :)
It took me a while to find people who actually know what they're talking about with all the nonsense videos on UA-cam! They really aren't many, but you are one of them. Thank you.
Thank you so much for those kind words! I really appreciate that!
@@JamesYounger You're perfectly welcome. At several times in your video, in a few words, you put some misconceptions in their place as well as a lot of pseudo experts who give the impression of knowing everything but whose everything rings false: Their disparate and unsuitable hardware, software they recommend, the filters they apply, the crucial parts they omit to explain that show that they don't know the problems we encounter. And finally I ask myself even more questions than at the start. I'm going to watch all of your videos (this one is the first one) and I might allow myself to ask you some questions that -we never know- might give you video ideas to advise people like me, who are new to voice overs, even though I have been working in this area for 20 years and have written many scripts and directed many actors during the recording sessions. The transition to a voice over actor who wants to record from home is very difficult (if you are used to studio quality). The set-up before you even start recording is a real headache, especially if you have to watch your budget and try to climb crescendo and you do not believe that it is enough to buy a Scarlett 2i2 and a SMB7 to achieve a more than perfect result. 🙄
Just a little remark: You speak a bit fast for a non-native! 😁😁
@@LeSaff So true! I'm 100% open to whatever questions you have! I've been told I speak a little fast 😬 It probably has a lot to do with peoples attention spans being so short these days, so I end up speaking too quickly. I'm going to try to slow down a bit as I go. That's really cool that you were on the other side of VO for so long. That's just going to give you an advantage over most people, so that will be great! Looking forward to your questions!
@@JamesYounger Hi James, thanks for the answer. I got your email from your website and I will come back to you very soon with all the questions I must write down. Thanks again for the help ! 👍👍
@@LeSaff You got it!
Great review! Truly appreciate other creators helping our audio community.
I really appreciate it! Thank you!
Ugh ... click bait. Narrator fails to identify any particular mic as the "best." (Of course he cannot, because voices, spaces, equipment, and other factors are all different and there is no best single best microphone for all.) The dog is clearly relaxed and comfortable ... that's a good thing. Nice video. JJT
Cute puppy.
I asked my question on part 1 so i will not repeat it.
Subscribed and watching more tomorrow
Thank You!! I really appreciate the sub and I'll let my pup know what you said 😁
I have an NT1A somewhere and I loaned out my AT4040 (which I like a lot more than the AT2020). I ordered the CAD E100SX and AKG P420 for my (6x8) soundbooth. It's unfortunate there really isn't anywhere you can try out the mics before you buy them and I really hate the idea of buying several only to return most of them - but what else can you do - mics are a very personal purchase because they sound differently on each voice. Also have a collection of dynamics (SM7B, RE20, and Wave DX) for my basement where live stream. I'm also considering picking up a shotgun mic (or two). I suppose I have a not very deep male voice - medium register - so I'm thinking I could benefit from something with darker EQ.
This video really brought me up to speed. Im trying to do some voiceover work, since I'm starting a YT channel. Looking at some condenser mics for my voiceover work.
Your production value is amazing and this was great information. I've been looking for a mic that would work well for my Live streams as well as voice-over.
Thank you so much! I'll always suggest the Rode NT1. It's amazing! :)
An short, small diaphragm instrument microphone like the Rode M5 or SE E7 is all anyone needs. Covers voice over, vocal, instrument (obviously), podcast, and overhead boom for video work. Change my mind.
Currently have a Lewitt 440 pure in a 3X4 recording room. I do have a TLM 103 however I don't use it much.
This video is excellent, Except for the fact that your info on the Sony mdr 7506 headphones made me cry.
It's all good! As long as you know how your specific headphones sound you can make accurate mixing decisions so just make sure you get REALLY familiar with how they sound.
Great content here, James. Listening to you is a pleasure!
Thank you so much Karol! :)
From one James to another, this was great - good job!
Thank you SO much! :)
would like to see how to position sm7B out of camera (i mean above our head) for best quality sound. I mean when you do a video about dynamic microphones
Hey there! Unfortunately that wouldn't work so well with a dynamic microphone like the SM7B. Dynamic microphones were made for the speaker to be right up on the microphone not at a distance like shotgun microphones. I'll definitely touch on this when I shoot the video about them! :)
I see dogs,i hit like!
😂
Thank you so much for this information ... I commented on the Atlanta voice over UA-cam page about how you convinced me to switch over to the NTG4+ because of my S's ... I'd like to see more videos regarding voice work and how to handle our talents within the industry what to watch out for ... what benefits come from voice over work or audible narrations ... stuff of this nature .. thanks so much
Thank you so much! And absolutely! Could you give me a little more detail on what you'd like me to talk about? Also, unfortunately I'm still waiting on my new camera to ship to me so I can shoot another video. It's taking forever.
Honestly, this is the best video for microphones, I will be sleeping well tonight lol
I would love to see more videos on anything audio related!
Some future video recommendations would be...
1. Positioning microphones for different uses
2. Gaming audio equipment vs Studio audio equipment
3. What each audio interfaces do (I know there's a difference, but what is it?)
4. Maybe some story times in the middle of videos on your career and why you wanted to be an audio engineer
I will most definitely watch future videos and learn more, thanks!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!
Coincidentally, my next video will be about Positioning the microphone (Proper Microphone Technique) so I'll check off one of your requests :)
I'll add your other requests to my list right now! :) At the moment, I'm waiting on my new camera I ordered to be released and sent to me so it will be a little bit before I get to my next video but I'll get it out as soon as I can!
Again, thank you so much for your comment!
You def should do a video for UA-camrs, that's much bigger audience for you than VO actors ;)
I'm one of them trying to find a mic for my self looking into Shure SM7b... but it requires a lot of extras so maybe I should find the best USB mic... ?
Definitely got it in the works :) Look into using this microphone: www.amazon.com/dp/B09BZZCGC8?tag=jamesyounger-20&geniuslink=true (Amazon)
Full disclosure that's an affiliate link so I get a tiny bit of commission if you order from that link at no extra cost to you. BUT that mic sounds close to the SM7B and a fraction of the cost. I personally like the quality of the mic and it would be great for your needs.
@@JamesYounger Have you compared it to
PreSonus Revelator Dynamic ?
I"m trying to decide now between these two USB mics
I don’t know much (as in one month of UA-cam research) about mics. I purchased the 7b (with the cloudlifter) for my girlfriend who wants to get into voice overs. Right now she’ll be in an open room in an open concept home. Now I’m not sure if I made the best choice, but I don’t think (hope) I made a “bad” choice. I looked at the NT1, but it wasn’t in stock. The NT1A they had, but both seemed like they wouldn’t be the best option for an open room that’s not been treated in any way.
I love the SM7B but it's not good for voice over. I did a video all about that on my channel if you want to see. The Rode NT1 is perfect and should be back in stock! While the SM7B is definitely the best choice for an untreated room, it's not a good microphone for voice over work. I'd get the Rode NT1 and eventually treat the room when you can. Treating the space you're recording in is 70% to 80% of having professional audio. If interested, I offer A home studio setup service on my website if you want to go check it out. Link in the description of my videos. Best wishes!
Hello James thanks for such amazing advices and truly this offered at no cost to everybody. I get a little bit concerned in selecting the right mic as i love to have one at my work office .. at office it may be a little bit hard to isolate the office (sounds like next office phone ringing, ppl talking in corridors etc) so what would be the best choice for such place 😅.. dynamic or shotgun unless otherwise ..
Hey there! What would it be for? VO? Or something else? If VO you'd have to go with a shotgun mic & if it's not for VO I'd recommend a dynamic mic. Listed out my choices below. Take care!
SHOTGUN: geni.us/0ASG
DYNAMIC: geni.us/Rode-Pod-Mic
(When available, I use affiliate links and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you )
Gefell m930 ♥️
Excellent.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Lots to take in and lots more to learn - SUBSCRIBED!
Thank you so much!! :)
I was so unhappy with the Asten. Great form factor though.
I would definitely be interested for the best mics for youtube and podcasts
Awesome! Adding it to my list! Thank you so much for the feedback! :)
I really like your video very informative I can’t wait for that video to come out talking about the mic stream and for voice acting Mic I would also like to add what about for singing vocals the reason I’m asking this question yes because I plan on doing streaming and singing vocals so I want to know which Mic should I get. Ps. Keep up the great videos
Thank you so much! And you got it! Adding it to my list now! Unfortunately I'm still waiting for my new camera to ship so I can shoot a new video. Hopefully it will any day now!
Love this, James! SO MUCH IN-DEPTH, great content!!! Would love to hear your view on the AT2020USB series, plus the new Shure MV7!
Always showing me love! Thank you so much! I'll add those to my list! I'm trying to come up with a really efficient way for me to review microphones :) You know how it is, always good to have a solid, consistent way of doing things!
@@JamesYounger 💯% hear you, James! Looking forward to how you do that and put it all together! Love your content and your delivery!! Keep it comin'! 👊🏾😁
@@TrueNorf I seriously can't think you enough for all the love and support! 😁
Amazing Video! Just stumbled upon this channel and I find it amazing. I was wondering if you could recommend me a good microphone for music production (Vocals). I am an Amateur so only a mid Budget one. Thanks!
Thank you so much! And absolutely! What's your limit??
@@JamesYounger its rather small. I wouldnt like to spend more than say 300 euros
@@JamesYounger Hope I can get a good one for 300 euros. Otherwise I will just wait a little longer
@@faith.WOh! Totally forgot to ask, is this for live use or studio use?
@@JamesYounger Its for studio use.
can you do a review of the Audio Technica AT897 shotgun microphone?
I'll put that on my list :) I am doing a review of the Audio-Technica AT875R very soon though, and I LOVE the way it sounds.
You don’t just need treatment for the 416, that goes for most mics. You need a ton of treatment
on the 416 bc of the slats to in order to avoid phase cancellation in a small space.
ua-cam.com/video/PY0RPN8kvhs/v-deo.htmlsi=ueU3jbp2F1W4B1_e
Hi James. I noticed that in your review of microphones for Voice Over, you (and most others) never recommend the ElectroVoice RE320. I know it's a favorite broadcasting mic but is there anything that would make it a bad choice for Voice Over? Many Thanks and your videos are just amazing. Thank you for what you do!
Hey man! Thanks so much for the kind words! Check out this video: ua-cam.com/video/eSaRM8B2nDc/v-deo.htmlsi=_nRmXxfyPW5nl4av it's about why the SM7B isn't good for voice over but it's all the same reasons for the RE320. I had already made this video a while before this and had a lot of hate comments so forgive my attitude in the video 😆
@@JamesYounger that's a great explaination in that video! I'll hang on to my RE320 for any non VO work. I have a AT875R shotgun and just purchased an NT1 signature as well! Thanks much!
Make a review of
At4040.... / Rode ntg3 / Sphere L22..., 🥺🥺
Those are on my list :) It will take some time but I'll definitely make sure to get to them! Thank you so much for the suggestions!
I had not considered the headphones - what headphones are good for editing. I'm using the ATH-M50X for most of my editing.
Those are actually really good for editing. As long as you know the sound of your headphones you'll be fine because the M50X's are on the better end of headphones. I use the Sennheiser HD650's openback for when I need to edit using headphones.
Could you please tell me what software do you use to control the sound in your voice recording. Can that software support recording directly on adobe primier? thanks
As a filmmaker, I’m interested in a video to see which microphone is used for ADR in Hollywood movies.
AHHH YES!! This is a fantastic topic idea! Putting it in my list now! Thank you so much! I'm still waiting on my new camera to ship 😒so please bare with me on getting back to a steady video upload flow!
Did you ever do the more specific use videos? I’m an owner of a blue Yeti, which seems good for YT commentary videos, but I’m now trying to help a group with voiceover work and getting feedback about a metallic reverb I can’t explain/understand and if I need a different Mic I really can’t go over $200 in budget. I’d love to buy the 416 but uff da, not getting paid to do this so 😅.
Totally understand! That metallic reverb you're talking about has to do with how you acoustically treat the space you're recording in. So, that's good and bad news. Good news: It's not the microphone. Bad news: You need to further treat the space you're recording in. I'll eventually be making some videos talking about some of these topics but there is sooooooo much that goes into properly treating your space that I won't be covering everything in the videos. I offer private sessions on my website you can sign up for to be able to get your studio acoustically treated the best it possibly can be. Also, I always recommend the RODE NT1 microphone. It's GREAT! It's a bit over $200 but you won't be disappointed :) You can find it in my recommended equipment link in this video if you're interested.
Hey been looking through all your videos, great stuff! saw that you were also going to be posting a video on the audiotechnica AT875R. When do you think the review will be posted? I'm subbed and notified to keep on it. I'm currently cut between getting that and the rode nt1 that you suggested for doing voice acting work. Been currently using Nividia broadcast as my main software for sound treatment with my generic sudotrack condensor usb mic, but would prefer to not use the software due to high pitch cutting issues and total audio rejection from the input.
Hi Chance! Thanks so much for your support! That review will probably be out around early to mid January unfortunately., I've been slammed with work lately. I wish I could steer you in a direction but without hearing or seeing your space I can't say for sure. If you want you can go to my site and sign up for my audio checkup so I can hear your current audio. It's only $25 and it will give me a better idea of what you might need. If you decide to do it, make sure it's RAW audio though. No processing whatsoever. That way I can get a REALLY good idea of what you're dealing with. Thanks again for the sub and for the support! I hope you have happy holidays!
Thanks for such a great video. Could I ask you, would the sennheiser MKE600 be good or bad for sibilance?
OK ok ok, I believe this is the 500th video I see about this topic, I'm looking on how to improve my meaningless UA-cam videos, and every youtuber who claims is an expert in this, give a different recommendation in almost everything, the few things that all agree are: 1. Get the microphone closer, this is mandatory, and truly, really important, clooooooser, almost touching your internal organs hahaha. 2. Treat your recording space, this is 70% to 80% what defines the audio. Perfect... But how it is possible that some productions record video/audio interviews with shotgun mics in different places without treating each space they visit? Is there any way to record talking-head videos without treating each and every space? What if I have to do a documentary going to people houses to record audio? Because camera tripods, lights and all of that, justified... but how to we treat a space temporary?
Hey Rodrigo! I totally understand the frustration! I never want to come off as talking bad about anyone else but I have to say this up front. I always tell my students that UA-cam is unfortunately a dangerous place because literally anyone can pick up a camera and make a video touting themselves as an expert when in reality they may have no professional experience at all. This leaves the viewers confused because they're hearing so much conflicting ever changing advice. The only way to know for sure who you can trust as a professional is by seeing what they do for a living. I work for a professional voice over studio in the South East as one of their main audio engineers as well as their video content creator. I also teach multiple classes for them that cover DAWs like Adobe Audition & Audacity as well as teaching Home Studio setup for voice actors. I work in this industry every day and our studio follows the industry standards, so everything I teach here on this channel is mostly rooted in what the industry is doing, or what is industry standard. That way it's not just ALL my opinion which can get pretty messy sometimes. I'm about to run out of characters so I'm going to stop here and continue my comment in another reply, please bare with me.
You are 100% right about getting the mic as close as you can to your subject organs and all 😂 and treating your space is absolutely crucial for the best recording possible. But you are also correct that it's not always possible to treat a space in the time you're given or even budget. In that case you would want an experienced audio engineer to be able to do their best at cleaning up the audio in post. The topic of treating a space is REALLY in depth and everyone's space is different and everyone's voice is different and everyone's microphone will react differently to them and their space individually. In other words, there's no one size fits all method for treating a space because it has to be catered to YOU specifically with many various factors dictating what to do. I teach all of this stuff in my classes and assess everyone's audio and space individually throughout the weeks of my class to get everyone sounding the best they possibly can. For UA-camrs, one of the best things you can do is use a microphone like a Shure SM7B because it is sooooo great for untreated spaces. Loooooooooong story short you should definitely go with that microphone if you are doing UA-cam videos. I have one more reply. 1 sec.
People who go around doing interviews will only lightly treat a space. They normally bring things like REALLY thick quilts, blankets, or moving blankets to lay across hard surfaces to help alleviate the hard surface reflections (reverb) as well as other things. The frustrating thing here is that I have hardly even scratched the surface with these topics. I hope this was helpful in some way!
@@JamesYounger Thank you very much for your kind reply, indeed, there is way too much information, as a researcher and journalist, I do my best to verify the info and in this case, make some tests. Indeed, video is simple, you can shoot anyone knowing rule of thirds, having a three-point lighting, and thats it, and if you want to go deeper, 24fps, 180° rule for shutter, native ISO, good aperture with some NDs if necessary, LOG footage, a color chart just in case, DaVinci Resolve for color correction and grading, etc... But at the end, you can mesure if the shoot was well exposed using the waveform, and if colors and skin tones are ok with the vector scope, it doesn't matter if you shot a man, a woman, a giraffe or an elephant, but with audio, you have to consider the voice of the subject, the room, the kind and type of microphone, if there is interference, the cables, the distance, the preamps and/or recorder, the gain, then the EQ, the compression, the DeEsser, etc. etc. etc. And I understand, there is no magic bullet, and in my case, I know I'm little bit complicated, because what I want to do is talking head videos without showing a huge microphone in front of the subject, maybe a lavalier, but I prefer a concealed mic, to make it look more natural, and having to do interviews in so many places, I was wondering which solution for that case would be. About post processing, well, @EposVox said "EQ-ing is more of an art than a science.", which I think is kind of true... And @MarkusPix said that even tho you try your best, your audio will sound dramatically different depending on the device you are using to see the content, so in that spirit, What is what the professionals do when recording interviews? In other words, just like in the case of color correction... How the professionals mesure or check if an audio fits almost a professional level? Is there any objetive form to do it? Thanks a lot.
@@RodrigoPolo So, excluding room treatment, what would a professional do to make sure and capture the best audio possible.
1. If you can't treat the room, try to find a room with a bunch of furniture in it. A bunch of furniture and things randomly placed in a room will actually help keep hard surface reflections down a bit.
2. Make sure your levels are nice and healthy. Don't record too low and don't record too loud. You want your average audio modulating between -12dB & -6dB UNLESS it's a really dynamic read where the speaker is getting loud and then quiet, in that case, you'd want your average read sitting between -18dB & -12dB.
3. Make sure to turn off anything in the surrounding area that you possibly can that introduces excess noise in the recording. Air conditioning, refrigerator, fans etc... This isn't always possible but you just want to do what you can.
4. You already know this one but get the microphone as close to the subject as possible. The great thing about shotgun microphones is that they were made to capture audio at more of a distance than most microphones so that's one of their strengths.
Shotgun mics are also condenser mics.
However they behave much differently than your standard condenser mic. Gotta make the distinction.
How do you train out sibilance? Get braces? See an orthodontist appointment?
I'm not sure how it's done personally, but you can go to a speech therapist and have it trained out of your speech. But here's the thing, you probably don't have bad sibilance and really probably don't need to worry about it. I'm about to shoot a video all about sibilance and it covers everything you need to know about it and about how to fix it in your recording software. But for 98% of people it's really not an issue you need to worry about. You're probably totally fine. Really. However, if it's really bugging you I have a service on my website called "Audio Checkup" that's only $25 where you can send me a sample of audio to evaluate.
Just found you, great information, will be subscribing
Thank you so much! :)
Hahah 🤣🤣🤣 the dog 🐶😌😴🧡
🤣
hi there. loved your comprehensive presentation. please keep it coming. im commenting from the Caribbean. can you honestly say, if the lewitt lct 440 pure and other condenser microphones, along that price line, can be used for voice over work? i have my eyes on the lewitt and also the Audio Technica AT897 shotgun microphone. please advise me and recommend. thank you in advance
Hey there! Thank you! The 440 pure is used a lot for VO, however I can't speak on the Audio Technica AT897 because I've never used it unfortunately.
Cool stuff man ♥
Thank you! I really appreciate it! 😁
Another great video mate. What type of microphone would one use if they are doing VO and singing/ recording music? Cheers
Thank you so much! And Hmmm... That's a tough one because dynamic microphones are used a TON for singing because they have high SPL (Sound Pressure Levels) however, I've seen people also use large diaphragm condenser microphones as well. Honestly, I feel like you'd be good to go with a Rode NT1 for both.
@@JamesYounger Coolness. I have the NT1 save to my Amazon list. As soon as I can afford it it's mine, along with the Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen USB audio interface 🤪
Cheers
Thanks alot
Absolutely! Thank you! :)
Why do you think VO artists use 416 instead of mkh50? The latter seems to be better choice as its tailored for indoor use and is a standard for majority of filmaking for decades
Honestly the 416 just kind of became popular because of a couple really popular voice actors started using them. Once that caught on it just became the "cool" mic to use with no real solid reasoning. Though I've never heard the mkh50 I'm sure it would probably sound great but it just never got the popularity boost that the 416 did.
Lol @ the opening 🤜🤛
Thank you so much! 😂
Hi James! I really love this video!! I’m interested in buying an Aston origin microphone because I really like the sound of this microphone, the price it’s very affordable for me and I feel like it could suit my voice very well to work as a voice over. Therefore I don’t have a studio to record, I have my desk adequate with a huge box around it covered with foam panels, this allows me to eliminate the echo of the room, since it has a very high ceiling; likewise I also have a kaotica, however, I have no problems with noise around me (only when planes pass by); I wonder if the Aston would work well in this space, since in the video you mentioned that these microphones (comparing them with the Neumann ones) do not work well in small spaces, I must clarify that the space where I record is not a closet, my desk is located in my room (with that box). Someone also recommended me to buy the synco mic d2, I like it because it is a shotgun microphone and it is also affordable to buy, but I don't like the sound, it sounds very dark to me and I really like the sound of the Aston origin. So, what advice could you give me? Should I risk buying the Aston? or is there any other microphone you can recommend me to buy?
Thanks for your content, you have a new subscriber in your channel!!
Hey Lesly! Thanks so much for the comment, sub and watch! :)
So, I would start by asking what your end goal with VO is? Is it just fun for you? Or do you want to make a career out of it? This would change my answer.
If it's just fun, then I'd say go for the Aston and you'll be fine.
If it's to make a career out of it, I'd say go with a RODE NT1 and try to improve your recording space. The Aston is a bit too noisy for competitive VO work and your desk set up won't work as a professional set up for VO. An Eyeball is a bad idea as well. One of my next videos actually covers this topic.
Try to convert your closet into your recording space. OR maybe a PVC booth with really thick moving blankets. There's A LOT that goes into finding and then properly treating your space so go over to my website and look into private coaching if you want to learn more about what you can do.
PS, I complexly agree with you about the Synco and unfortunately it's because you have a 50/50 chance when buying one that you will actually end up getting a good one... 50% of the time you will end up with one that sounds really muffled and dark. The other 50% of the time it actually sounds really good. It's not worth the risk in my opinion.
It's not enough to just treat your space for 416. If your space is really small like a 4' x 4' booth you need 8 inches of insulation to stop that phase cancellation. So what they say about 416 not being good for VO is true except in really well treated spaces.
ua-cam.com/video/PY0RPN8kvhs/v-deo.html
Poor dog :)) couldn't stop laughing
I know he wasn't amused hahahaha
This is so good.
I appreciate that so much! Thank you!
I really want to know about the problems you have with the synco d-2.
Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that you have a 50/50 shot at getting a good one when you order one 😵 I've had quite a few students order them (And I also ordered one for myself) and half of us got great sounding microphones and the other half of us (myself included) got REALLY muffled sounding microphones. It literally sounded like we were all wearing 2 or 3 layers of masks while speaking into them. I hate it because when you get a good one they sound awesome!!!!
No one talks about this but is the hum of an air conditioner irrelevant when considering mics? I live in a humid country and would rather not work looking like Clubber Lang in round 3
🤣 I totally get it! Unfortunately I have to turn my AC off when I'm recording voice over. BUT the good news is for auditions (as long as you know what you're doing) you could use a plugin by WAVES audio called Clarity VX. I did a full tutorial and walkthrough on this plugin you can find on my channel, it's the last video I did and it is AMAZING for taking out background noises like your AC. It will be a life changer for you.
There are many key factors not dealt with in this video, eg the 416 is brighter YES but given that much of it’s time is spent in a cradle with a dead cat over it, which then makes it lose much of that overly bright sound
ua-cam.com/video/AR1QQgZ3888/v-deo.html - I'll leave that there for ya.
Kinda irrelevant in that video though. If you're using a Deadcats in the studio you've got some bigger problems to deal with e.g gusts of wind... Deadcats are for recording outside where big gusts of wind can occur. That doesn't happen in studio. In studio you'd just use a pop shield (even though you could just totally bypass that with proper microphone technique). I'd love to hear all the many "key factors" that we're dealt with in the video??? As long as they're actually relevant, unlike the one you decided to go with for your example.
Wow sorry for any confusion but when ever I’ve used my 416 it’s always been on location, if in the studio I would use some of the other mics you mentioned
@@kevinedwards2658 No worries at all. I hope you understand I get a lot of mean comments where people try to "get one over" on me so please don't take offense to my response. I never know when it's someone just trying to troll me or start an argument. Thank you so much for the kind response. I means a lot.
Hello James, Great content man likes your video and I'm a big fan. I have a question about the Rode - NTG2, Shotgun Microphone, Black. Do you think it is a good Microphone to use to create youtube videos ? Thanks.
Hey there! Thanks so much for the kind words! First, let me say I've never personally tested the NTG2 so I can't say from personal experience how I feel about it BUT I will say that I haven't heard good things about it unfortunately :( Sometime in the near future I'm going to do a video comparing all of the Rode shotgun mics (Rode NTG1, 2, 3, 4 & 5) I just gotta get a hold of all of them. BUUUUUT I do think it would be a good starter mic. I'd just start with it, and just begin pushing out content. You can always upgrade in the future and as I always say, 70 to 80% of having great sounding audio is how you acoustically treat the space you're recording in, so I'd say focus more on getting your space ready to record. Totally up to you, but when you start preparing your space, feel free to book a private session with me to get it all set up. My website should be completed in the next week or two so you can sign up. Hope you have a wonderful day!
@@JamesYounger Thanks a lot for your advice. Waiting for more of your great content :D.
@@veprime9547 Thank you so much! I'm trying to get to a point where I can release 2 videos a month and then hopefully one a week! It's a lot of work but hopefully I'll get there sooner than later! :)
So, just an interesting side note, Bill DeWees uses a TLM 103 in a 3.5x5 foot Whisper Room, and he's a six-figure VO artist. Are you saying he's wrong?
I don't want to speak ill of anyone so I'll just lay out some information here. Do with it what you will. I might even make a video all about your question because it's a good question and there's actually a lot that could be covered here.
1. Audio standards now vs just 5 years ago are drastically more strict than before.
2. He's established in the industry (created networks of friends, clients & colleagues) and isn't being looked at under a microscope like newcomers that need to ensure not only that their reads are great but that there audio is fantastic in order to compete with the people who are already established in the industry and have been in it for years.
3. Some coaches on UA-cam (and other places) inflate their success to gain the trust of their viewers.
4. Once audio standards became WAYYY more strict, a lot of voice actors who had experienced a ton of success early on, started slowing down dramatically. I witnessed it first hand at a studio. It was mainly do to the fact that they thought, because they had so much success in the industry for so long, they didn't need to improve their audio. Needless to say, it came back to bite them in the ass hard.
5. There's a lot of scam artists on social media. I've seen quite a bit of scaminess from certain people over the years.... (wink wink)
6. Not naming names, but people with booths that are treated with (foam only) would sound like they're in a box no matter the microphone (and they do) but put an incredibly sensitive mic like a 103 in that space and it will increase that sound (and it does).
Check out this video to help push the above info a little further: ua-cam.com/video/pQ-X1Sv2jtM/v-deo.htmlsi=S54U-l88ntMMnNQc
I hope this helped clear that up a bit, and trust me I could go on and on which is why I'll probably make a video addressing this exact issue.
@@JamesYounger I appreciate the time you've taken to reply.
I have a vocal booth that I built in my home, and I'm starting to get booked more and more for VO - I must be doing some things right, but then again, my gigs thus far are low-paying gigs - those folks aren't going to have the same standards as the big dogs.
I'm a middle-aged guy - not a complete noob or ignorant when it comes to gear, but I certainly have more I could learn.
Again, I appreciate your time today - I'll keep an eye out for that video!
@@patrickgleason6610 Thank you so much for the question! It's a really good one to ask. And yes absolutely that's another one I could have listed. As you move up in pay for the job the more strict the standards get. The video will probably be out next year because I get so busy around this time of year but I'm definitely going to make it because I think it's really important.
Hi James, new subscriber here, and I appreciate your insight and opinions. I am a now-retired 24 year radio talk show host who's getting into retainer VO work for a cluster of stations, as well as a new content creator starting my own UA-cam streaming channel. I own a TLM 103, SM58, and a Sennheiser series 21 (I believe) broadcast headset mic. I have auralex treatment in my 10x10 space. Is there a mic you'd recommend for doing both activities without having to switch out mics for the job?
Hey there! Thanks so much for the sub and the question! The TLM 103 is a staple in the voice over industry and would be great for UA-cam videos as well. I think you're totally good to go with that mic. The most important part though is how you treat the space. Unfortunately, in most cases foam won't be enough to properly treat a space and have it not sound "boxy" or like you're in a tube. Foam just isn't thick or dense enough to soak up the reelections of a voice in the way we'd like it to. I can't know for sure without hearing some sample audio BUT if I'm right, you may want to look into the 242 or 244 acoustic panels from GIK acoustics. They are top quality and are wonderful for acoustically treating a space. I hope this was helpful!
@@JamesYounger - Thank you so much for your insight and recommendations. I'll look into those panels asap!
@@Radd_AZ You're so very welcome! :)
If a shotgun mic is super directional, why does it work good when it's on a boom and placed way high tilted down while your talking straight forward? Also, when it comes to the Shure SM7B it seems like a super VO mic if your reading long texts or audio books. If it's good for broadcast and podcast I don't see why it shouldn't serve well as a VO mic. Btw, I have quite expensive condenser mic and even the room is treated it's not always the best mic for VO work, I struggle sometimes with the hyper sensitivity while I enjoy the tonality. It can pick up breathing and just the slightest change in distance. I think it's wrong to say "this mic is not for VO" etc. Can't be that categorical. Both condensers and dynamic mics are used in radio for instance, podcast is essentially radio. Your speaking into the mic in both disciplines. I know that some dynamic mics are very popular in podcast environment but that has alot to do with marketing and hype too. Røde for instance are good at bundling podcast kits with mixer, mics etc. If your in a traditional radio studio you will find both condenser mics and dynamic.
This video explains why dynamic mics like the SM7B don't work for VO: ua-cam.com/video/eSaRM8B2nDc/v-deo.htmlsi=FoOCzuvV6FXEPuXN keep in mind it's the VO industry that says this, all the top agents, studios and most importantly engineers. This isn't my opinion. Secondly, this video helps to explain why a shotgun boomed overhead works the way it does: ua-cam.com/video/AR1QQgZ3888/v-deo.htmlsi=CYVOTs9AAUBAOO0q microphones are like cameras. They don't have to be right in front of you to be "in focus"
@@JamesYounger YKWTS. Thanks for sharing. I think we see things much the same, like you said the dynamic mic SM7B is a good option for long form narration. That's my point. Sometimes that type of sound image is required while a "fuller" more detailed sound is required for other types of VO work. Long form narration could mean audio book and that's a pretty sweet contract compared to short ads etc.
I've been voicing in different studios trough the years, started back in 1984 so I'm getting old, but most times there's been setups for warm tube condensers and dynamic mics at the same time, what type of setup and combos we end up using is based on the assignment. In radio it differs too, as you probably know. Some are on the EV RE20, others use a condenser cause it suits their type of voice tone and/or speech technique. I'm not from the US so I voice in a different language, but I've seen the RE20 used alot in US radio studios together with a mix of Neumann mics as well. When I did radio the RE20 wasn't used at all, so perhaps that's an American thing, our go to mics was different Sennheisers or condenser AKG models. Having said that sound processing is heavier in radio than anywhere else, or at least that's my impression.
Anyways, thanks for sharing your great content. I'm still not a categorical type of person when it comes to mics or equipment in general, there's a Sure SM7DB out now that's supposed to be less noisy due to it's active upgrade, even the main purpose isn't VO I wouldn't hesitate to use it (or similar mics) if it felt right for the purpose. Most times when I do VO work from my home studio I tend to use a tube condenser. Sometimes however it does generate too much of everything (not noise) and sometimes using an "honest" and much cheaper dynamic mic gets the job done, or should I say it's generates a sound image that's more suited. The performance has to be delivered by the VO artist in any case.
Could the “shotgun” Audio Technica AT875R be a good professional microphone ?
Not sure, but I've added it to my list of microphones to try out and review! :)
@@JamesYounger I can’t wait to see it in a future video
What is your opinion on small diaphragm condenser microphones for VO?
I'm actually reviewing the sE7 (SDC) from sE Electronics in the coming weeks so be on the look out for that video. I'd say they are totally fine for VO work as long as the mic isn't insanely colored and your space is properly treated.
How about MKH50 vs the 416 for VO?
Hey there Michael! Full transparency, I have no personal experience with the MKH50, but I can tell you the MKH550 is a condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern whereas the 416 is a shotgun microphone with a lobar polar pattern, therefore, the 416 will theoretically have a "tighter" sounds due to it's tighter polar pattern and great side noise rejection. Knowing those things could help you decide which one would be best for you in your specific situation. As far as the characteristics of the audio quality of both microphones, I can only speak to the 416 as I work with them on a daily basis at the studio where I work and at home when I'm recording VO. The 416 is a staple in the voice over industry and clients LOVE the way it sounds, so you can't go wrong with the 416. And of course it carries the name clients know so that also helps. The MKH50 likely sounds amazing (though, like I said I've never used one) BUT it doesn't carry the "name" the 416 does, so that might be something to consider BUUUUUT like you will always hear me say, the microphone you choose actually plays a VERY small role in your audio quality. YES the microphone can help or hurt your quality BUT properly acoustically treating the space you're recording in is FAR more important in making sure you will have professional sounding audio. I hope this was helpful!
Hey, James. Thanks for the in-depth explanation of microphone selection and types. Quick Question tho, what are your thoughts on the Focusrite scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen mic ? You speak highly of the interface so I wanted to know your opinion on the entire bundle (mic, interface, cable, headphones) seeing as it's one the very few microphones available in the Egyptian market.
Hey there! You are so welcome! Unfortunately, I’d stay away from bundles. In 99% of cases you will only get 1 solid piece of equipment in those exchanges. Using the focusrite bundle as the example, you will get a solid interface but unfortunately when it comes to the microphone and headphones, they have a REALLY cheap company make both the microphone and headphones and then just slap their logo on them to be able to sell a bundle and charge more. :(
Do they not offer the Rode NT1 where you are?
@@JamesYounger Well, they do offer the NT1A (solo or in a bundle with the scarlett interface) and the NT1 is in a bundle with the Rode Ai-1 interface, but at a higher price. I could save up for both pieces but I wanted to see if I could cut the costs down a little bit then get the Rode NT1/NT1A afterwards.
@@TheAKinferno Well ,I should have asked this first because this may help you save some money. What is your end goal? Like, what do you want to do once you get your equipment? Get with agent and do VO? Or make your own content like UA-cam videos?
@@JamesYounger well, I currently use the BM-800 mic to do some UA-cam VOs and content and stuff but I wanna take it a step further with professional VO and podcasts, so I've been opening up like a hundred UA-cam tabs to try and get a grip on where I should start. Which is why I'm trying to find the equipment that satisfy the balance between cheap and efficient well enough. Eventually I will upgrade once graduated and working, but I'm trying to have the quickest start
@@TheAKinferno Okay awesome. The RodeNT1A is a great microphone (Though I prefer the Rode NT1) but only because the 1A is a little too "bright" sounding for my liking. But it's still a great microphone. If I were you, I'd go with the RodeNT1A and Focusrite solo bundle. That's the best bang for your buck. A great microphone & interface.
What do you think about small diaphragm condenser microphones instead of the high priced sennheiser 416 or neumann. I was considering something like the Oktava MK12 (with hypercardiot capsule) or Rode NT5. Could they survive the demands for voice over (i worry about okatava's self noise )? Perhaps you could suggest a suitable small condenser on this price point or they should not be taken into account for voice over ?
I am thinking about getting a microphone for voiceovers for videos. I really want some crips lvl of audio but I am quite unsure what to pick. Shotgun mic might be a good idea since it can be used on a camera later on. Or should I just get a standard condensor/dynamic one?
What microphone does a learning channel like Ridddle use?
Hey there! I have no idea what microphone they're using but just from listening to the audio it sounds like there's a lot of processing going on like EQ and compression.
Can you please name some apps you know that are used for eq and compression
@@hilariouschannel5472 Unfortunately there aren't really any "apps" that do this, or at least do it well. Accusonus used to have an automatic EQ but they aren't doing business at the moment for whatever reason. You will need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) in order to use EQ or compression. Audacity is a free DAW that A lot of people use and I also teach a class on it. If you are going to go with Audacity I'd download a 3rd party EQ called TDR Nova. It's really good and it's free as well. I'll be making a course all about EQ and Compression soon as well. They can be really complicated at first but once you learn them you will probably think it's actually easier than you thought.
Hi James. Would you recommend shotguns over LDCs for small booths ?
Hey Rich! Yep! I like shotguns over LDC in small spaces. It's not that LDC don't or can't sound good in small spaces but they do capture more room reflections and ambience around them which can be problematic, whereas shotguns have a tighter pick up pattern and reject audio that comes in from the sides of the microphone which in turn helps to create an even tighter sound. Though, of course, It's always recommended to still acoustically treat the space really well.
hello can you please recommend me a microphone for under 100$.
i'm doing a personal animation project and i need to make a voiceover, i live in a 1 room apartment so i need to use it on my desk.
thank you
Which micrafone is good for vocals
Hi James, I have a deep, bassy voice and I'm considering upgrading from my AT2020. I was looking in the Synco D2 but hearing it may not do well with my voice. Would love the 416 but can't swing that right now. Would the Synco D2 still be a good choice?
Hey there! Thanks so much for the comment! :) I'd shy away from the Synco because I found out the hard way that you have a 50% chance of getting a good one and then a 50% chance of getting one that sounds really muffled. It's just not worth the risk in my opinion. If looking for an affordable shotgun mic I'd look into getting the Deity S mic 2 if you can swing the price. If getting a condenser microphone I'd look into getting the Rode NT1 if you can swing that one as well. The AT2020 is fine for content creation but won't hold up as a professional voice over microphone.
@@JamesYounger thank you so much, this was a big help.
I haven’t treated my room at all im new to voice over work, my room isn’t too big , should I get the shotgun Mic or not sir?
What about the blue yeti, blackout edition?
What would be the closest thing to the Sennheiser that doesn't cost so much money? haha
The closet I've heard to getting the 416 sound at half the price is the Azden SGM-3500L. However, I am about to review the Audio-Technica AT875R which is significantly cheaper than both of those BUUUUUT we will see if it sounds cheap or if it can hold up.
@@JamesYounger Okay awesome!! I'll check that one out when you make it :)
The senhiser 416 is too expensive do you have any alternatives ?
The closet I've heard to getting the 416 sound at half the price is the Azden SGM-3500L. However, I am about to review the Audio-Technica AT875R which is significantly cheaper than both of those BUUUUUT we will see if it sounds cheap or if it can hold up.
@@JamesYounger should I wait for you to review it or just buy the deity mic 2? I’m entry point by the way, with a train station outside my house for some context; I have no acoustic treatment
@@JamesYounger also I wanted to ask sir which mic would be best for my situation the deity mic 2 or the Azden?
@@chidiwidi4148 That all depends on your budget. The Azden is around $550 so if you can swing that I'd go with that one. If not, go with the other.
@@JamesYounger okay thank you sir
What about At4040 Mic?? 🙂🙂
Would the Shure SM7B be ok for long form voice over work, like audiobook narration?
Hey there Melissa! To me personally I would say yes absolutely. Technically it should be perfect. BUT I'm not sure if the VO industry would agree with me. I don't want to tell you yes and then get you in trouble one day if a client get's upset because you are using one. BUUUUUT I'd say use it until it's a problem, and most likely I'd say it won't be.
@@JamesYounger Thank you!
@@melissabarton-briggs8174 Absolutely! :)
@@JamesYounger What would be the disadvantages?
It looks a pretty flexible mic (owing to the switches on the back for low/high cut/enhance)
@@gaborkiss1425 I'm actually going to be making a video all about just that in the next month or so. It's actually pretty technical and more than I can get into here in a comment.
You seem trustworthy, I bought a Rode NT1 off you're recommendation~
*I'm a UA-camr offering no real contribution to world....
Can't go wrong with the Rode NT1! And naw man we all have contributions to give!
what about CAD E100Sx or CAD A77?
Hey there! Yes to the CAD E100Sx but as far as the A77 goes I honestly have no idea. I would have to get my hands on one and do a few tests.
@@JamesYounger Yea there isn't much info on the A77... I just really like how it looks. But it is half the price of E100Sx so I imagine its not as good.
@@NirnBootMod You're probably right but sometimes microphones at that price range surprise me 😳 It doesn't happen often but it definitely can. I highly recommend the Rode NT1. It's $270 and sounds amazing. It's my go to mic for anyone.
@@JamesYounger how does that compare to NT-1000 and NT1A... which of the three is the best?
@@NirnBootMod I can't speak to the NT-1000 (But I've heard it's a solid microphone) But I definitely prefer the Rode NT1 over the NT1A. The NT1A isn't a bad mic or anything, it's just a lot "brighter" than the NT1 and ends up making people's sibilance more harsh. Basically, it's just not as pleasing to listen to for long periods of time whereas the Rode NT1 is.
The AT2020 is one of the worst microphones around. It's NOT a large diaphragm condenser, but an SDC, and if you get feedback it's about the high noise floor. Get an AKG P120 instead. Similar price, better quality all over. The NT1-A is NOT suitable for voice over, because it's way too bright. The NT-1 however (which just got it's 5th generation released, and from which you have shown the website instead if the one you mentioned) has a great reputation, and would be a great choice. The NT1-A is not as good in taking the processing that is often used in voice over.
The AKG P220, TLM-103 and U87 are great within their price range. There are also many microphones in between those price brackets.
Wait... When did I recommend the AT2020 or the Rode NT1A?
@@JamesYounger This is funny. I was responding to another video from somebody who did, and the moment I posted my comments, your video autostarted. Apparently my comment was posted to this video. Sorry for the misunderstanding... 😂
@@NicoDeclerckBelgium I was sooooo confused! 😂No worries at all!
@@JamesYounger BTW love your no nonsense channel... ❤️
@@NicoDeclerckBelgium Thank you so much! That's my goal. I want to cut through the BS and get straight to what matters. I appreciate ya!
Intro is quite long
Are you okay?
Picture jerking forward and backward made me feel like I'd have a seizure. Awful.
Are you okay?
could you pls reveiew some the the budget usb mic ?
I'm going to be reviewing one soon from sE electronics that looks really promising! :)
@@JamesYounger thank you so much for replying ... Appreciate it ...
@@brutalr8922 Absolutely! :)