In a world where almost everyone is connected by the Internet, the concept of commuting to a job may be slowly becoming an outmoded concept. As a voice-over performer, you are especially privileged to work from home a vast majority of the time. However, you need a top-shelf studio to do it.
This article will detail build a basic voice-over studio, complete with the equipment, soundproofing and software necessary to help you create the perfect little niche.
Instructions
The Equipment
1. Obtain the right microphone and preamp for your voice over needs. For example, if you're skilled in calm, steady commercial voice overs, purchase something like a Behringer B-1 Condenser microphone and MIC 100 preamp--the mic is mono-directional and ideal for soft-to-medium volumes, while the preamp allows you to adjust the volume and limits easily. On the other hand, someone who does loud, brash cartoon voices more regularly would have to buy equipment that can record those voices without distortion.
Also, a pop filter is invaluable, as it helps you avoid distortion from the "pop" sounds: P, B, T, C, K, Q, and D.
A basic outfitting for a studio should run you between $500 and $1,000, with the preamp and microphone generally costing the most. Most, if not all, of the equipment can be purchased online, and by doing a little comparison shopping, you can cut down significantly on the price of your studio.
2. Buy a professional sound card and build a computer capable of handling your voice over business. You'll want plenty of memory, storage capacity for high-fidelity sound files, the ability to process without stuttering, and a PCI slot for your pro sound card.
If you're not technologically savvy, perhaps have a professional build you a computer that meets these specs. It's strongly recommended that you do not use a pre-built computer off the store shelf, or the quality of your product will suffer accordingly. A good rule of thumb to remember is that your studio computer is like a custom suit--it needs to be tailor to fit you, and only you.
3. Choose the right recording software for you--this can be tricky, because different people and different voice jobs require different tools. A common software to begin with is something like Audacity, while a more advanced toolkit can be found in CoolEdit Pro. Do some trial runs and decide which software you feel most comfortable with.
4. Soundproof your home studio with studio foam to ensure that any outside noises, such as cars, barking dogs or noisy neighbors don't make it into the middle of your recording session. If possible, choose a place like the corner of a basement or closet for your studio--the smaller the space, the more soundproof it is.
Also, most rooms in a home tend to echo terribly. You'd never notice it if you weren't trying to record something, but sound-proof your area well, and you should have no problem.
Tags: build computer, something like, sound card, voice over, your studio, your voice, your voice over