Perhaps you can’t see it, but listen closely and you can hear it loud and clear: At-home voiceover recording is here to stay, even post-lockdown.
Voiceover refers to a variety of styles including animation, commercials (TV and Radio), podcasts, audiobooks, e-learning, dubbing, over-the-top (OTT) video content, and so much more. With no shortage of options, this article will help you level up from voice memos to working with the pros!
A USB mic like the Blue Yeti or the AT2020 is solid and reliable, but the jump to industry-standard, professional home studio requires non-USB microphones and equipment that converts sound into files for your Mac or PC.
In addition to great equipment, you also need a space that is conducive to sound recording. Sound travels in the air as vibrations which bounce off all the surfaces of your space. A great microphone is only as good as the space that it’s in.
Here’s an overview of the equipment you’ll need to make your future home voice studio, followed by my recommendations.
The Gear
1. Microphone + Bracket + Stand/Arm
2. Studio Quality Headphones
3. Interface
4. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW, aka your audio software program)
5. Sound Friendly Space
Microphones
With all the options to choose from, it’s important to know the difference between the two main types of microphones. Dynamic microphones (ex: Shure SM7B) are better for capturing loud, strong sounds like drums and loud vocals. Dynamic mics are known as the “workhorse” mics of a studio: versatile. As you can see from the pattern below, these microphones are designed to pick up sound only in the direction they are pointed, canceling out any sound coming from behind it.
Dynamic microphones have a cardioid pattern (unidirectional). It looks like a heart! This mic is great if your space isn’t able to block out noise completely. It’s the go-to microphone type for Joe Rogan and YouTube vloggers. These are also on the budget-friendly side; you can really get professional-grade options in the $375 range.
Condenser microphones are used to capture delicate sounds and higher frequencies. They’re typically more expensive, and require an external source for power (outside of your laptop). Unlike dynamic microphones, condenser mics pick up sounds from all directions (omnidirectional pattern).
Condenser microphones like the Sennheiser MKH 416 are used on film and TV productions, as well as voiceover and animation. A Neumann U87 costs around $3,000 and is the default microphone in almost every professional recording studio. Of course, you don’t need to spend $3,000 on a microphone to achieve the same quality at home. Get creative and do your research to find your version of the best.
Studio Quality Headphones
This is one of those pieces you don’t want to forget, and no, your Beats by Dre won’t work here. I mean, I guess they could technically, but I wouldn’t go around telling people about it. The best studio level headphones are still wired into an audio interface or your laptop. There are tons of high-quality options starting from $50, but you’ll want to go for comfort as much as quality if you’re going to be recording and feeling your best to #bookit.
Reputable brands include Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, Audio Technica, Shure and AKG.
Audio Interface
Unless you’re using a USB microphone, you’ll need an audio interface, which connects your microphone and headphones with your computer.
The “king of the ring” of audio interfaces is the Universal Audio Apollo Twin, which comes in at about $899. However, Focusrite offers studio-level quality for all levels, starting with the Focusrite Scarlett Solo for $129. You can find audio interfaces with more inputs for microphones, instruments, midi support, anything you can imagine. Audient is another well-known brand of audio interfaces that are extremely popular.
Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
A digital audio workstation, commonly referred to as the DAW, is an application software to process and edit your audio. Garageband comes free with a Mac and works amazingly well. f Audacity is free and does a lot of what you need to export in .MP3 or .WAV format. The industry standard? Avid’s Pro Tools, which you can access by purchasing a perpetual license for $599 or a $99 yearly subscription.
Other popular options include Adobe Audition and Reaper, each offering their own pros and cons. Most in-studio professionals operate with Pro Tools, but there’s no reason you can’t get the same quality with ANY of these programs.
Studio Space
All the equipment and purchases aside, the space you are recording in matters more than anything. If you invest in a $1000 microphone but have a wide-open space without insulation, your mic could pick up everything from the AC vent to the refrigerator hum. Fully soundproof whisper rooms are available for custom builds and they cost a lot, but they are super effective. Industry guru Tim Tippet has a recommended equipment page on his website with links to industry standard soundproofing blankets, microphone arms, and other pieces that could be helpful if you decide to DIY it. And, of course, there’s always YouTube.
One of many videos you can find when searching 'DIY vocal booth'.
Final Thoughts
Building and creating your own at-home voiceover studio can definitely feel overwhelming (speaking from experience!). However, take the pressure off from having to figure it all out at once, and remember the long game when purchasing and building out your studio.
Do your research, because someone before you definitely asked the same questions you’re asking. Maybe you start out with a great mic and free software and share stuff with your friends. Figure out your space in the room, and in the realm of voice acting. You can invest right and build a career with time and effort. The possibilities are endless.
Need to go deeper in? Here’s some help to get you started!
• The science behind dynamic vs condenser microphones
• Ultimate YouTube Studio Tour
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Note From Tongal: "How To Set Up Your #WFH Pro Voiceover Studio" is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here and then Pitch us a topic you'd like to write about for the Tongal Blog!
