Dan Lenard and Jordan Reynolds share their tips and technical insight into choosing the right microphone for your voiceover business.

1. Choosing The Right
Microphone For Your
Voiceover Business
Twitter Chat
Wednesday, May 20th, 2015
12pmPT/2pmCT/3pmET
#WoVoChat
@WorldVoicesOrg
www.worldvo.org

2. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Featuring
Dan Lenard & Derek Jordan Reynolds

3. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q1: As a voice actor, is a microphone
the most important equipment
purchase & how do I pick the best
one? #WoVoChat

4. A1: Equipment purchase? Arguably yes. Ideally you should
try to buy 2-3. Try them in your studio and keep the best
sounding one. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A1: It is very important but the audio interface that you
connect the mic to must also be carefully selected.
#WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A1: Every mic sounds different on every voice, preamp
and recording environment. “The best mic” doesn’t
exist. Sorry ;-) #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A1: Part of the mic chain that’s often overlooked is the
XLR cable. Mogami & @SweetwaterSound”s Pro cables
are great. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn

5. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q2: Should I use different mics for
different projects/genres?
#WoVoChat

6. A2: It depends on the needs of the client. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A2: Promo and imaging are popularly done with
shotgun mic. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A2: Good condenser mics can handle everything.
#WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A2: It has more to do with mic technique. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman

7. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q3: Do I need to spend upwards of
$1000 on a mic to sound REALLY
professional? #WoVoChat

8. A3: Definitely not. But if you have the budget it certainly
wouldn’t be a waste of money. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A3: If you can spend $300-$400 on your first mic for
voiceover, you’ll be in good shape. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A3: It’s hard to pick a bad mic in the $800+ range.
#WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A3: Within 2 weeks, I’ll be announcing a new pro
microphone that I helped design specifically for
voiceover. Priced under $1K. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn

9. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q4: Why are large diaphragm mics
recommended for most voiceover work?
#WoVoChat

10. A4: They capture more detail. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A4: Small diaphragm mics are for instruments and are
designed for higher SPL(sound pressure levels).
#WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A4: Large diaphragm mics are primarily designed for
vocals. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A4: There are more choices of large diaphragm mics.
#WoVoChat
@Homstudioman

11. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q5: Explain the difference between
dynamic and condenser mics. Which is
best for the job?#WoVoChat

12. A5: In layman’s terms, dynamic’s tend to be more ideal for
live on-stage performances. Condenser’s are ideal for the
studio. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A5: In general, condenser microphones are highly
favorable/used when it comes to voiceover. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A5: Dynamics reject room noise much better than
condenser’s. But they can sound a bit punchy and
unnatural for voiceover. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A5: High quality dynamic’s are much less expensive
than condenser’s. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn

13. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q6: Should I consider things like puck
up pattern, frequency response & bass
roll-off? Sounds confusing.
#WoVoChat

14. A6: It depends on the type of work you do.
#WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A6: Bass roll-off is good to have in noisy
environments. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A6: The pick-up pattern is only critical for multiple
people on the mic. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A6: Frequency response should be flat. Not too bright,
not too low-end sensitive. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman

15. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q7: Can USB mics compete with the
quality of XLR mics? #WoVoChat

16. A7: Of the many USB mic samples I’ve heard & tested, not
many compete with mid-higher priced XLR mics.
#WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A7: Some USB mics compete with the quality of $200 or
less XLR mics. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A7: In my opinion, the only 2 USB mics that DO compete
with XLR’s are the @apogeedigital MiC &
@APHEX_AUDIO’s microphone X. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A7: Most USB mic’s don’t offer real-time hardware
monitoring that audio interfaces(with a XLR mic) do.
#WoVoChat
@jordanreyn

17. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q8: Are some mics better for men than
women, and vice versa? #WoVoChat

18. A8: More critical for women and tenor voices.
#WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A8: Men sound good on almost anything. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A8: Only engineers and geeks can perceive the
difference. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A8: Again, mic technique is critical. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman

19. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q9: Can a good pre-amp or smart
processing cover for an inexpensive
mic? #WoVoChat

20. A9: Sometimes it can. But most of the time a good pre-amp
can’t compensate for a cheap sounding mic. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A9: Of your gear budget, spend most of it on your
microphone instead of the pre-amp and/or audio interface.
#WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
A9: The built-in pre-amps in most audio interfaces
nowadays are good enough to record a professional
voiceover sound. #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A9: A good external pre-amp is really more of a luxury
than a necessity. But they certainly aren’t a waste of
money. ;-) #WoVoChat
@jordanreyn

21. #WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
Q10: What’s a good all-purpose mic for
$300-$400? #WoVoChat

22. A10: CAD E100S! Great mic! #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A10: Sennheiser MK4. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
A10: AKG C214. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman
#WoVoChat www.worldvo.org
A10: Shure SM27. #WoVoChat
@Homstudioman

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