VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

mythwoman

Okay Friends of VO,

I'm on two missions now instead of one.
1. Is to buy a new microphone for the purpose of voiceover and singing. And I've noticed that the RODE mic series has a great deal right before the 31st.

2. Is somewhat of question. I need a new computer, but I'd like to buy a laptop for recording purposes and business reasons. Then I can keep my old CPU for computer games, internet social sights and so on.

So, can anyone recommend a good laptop computer that I can use for recording (not MAC!)?

I also plan to get the portabooth I've heard so much about so I can record when I'm on vacation or out of town.

So great folks in VO, will you please share your thoughts?

Mary

bobsouer · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject:

Mary,

You may have to search to find one because they're not in current production, but my IBM/Lenovo T-60 is a fabulously quiet and powerful laptop that does everything I need with hardly a whisper. I'm very, very happy with it. Snagged it when it was available as a refurb sale at Buy.com.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Which Rode mic did you have in mind? I have not heard great things about their USB Podcasting mic, if that's what you had in mind. The NT-1A is controversial - it can be sibilant, which I would guess may be more of a problem with women's voices. Now, I have used my trusty Rode NTK tube mic for many years and made lots of money doing so. I just upgraded the tube to a 1960's NOS Amperex, and I love it. But it is not a good choice to use on the run due to its bulk.

In any case, you really would be best served to actually try out several mics before you choose. It can be a hassle, but it's well worth the effort. But I will say that the Marshall MXL V88 sounds very very good on the lady whose studio I helped set up - it's about $150-200.
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Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
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David Swinehart

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

By the way, what is your budget? Do you need for the mic to be travel-friendly? (If so, the NTK is too bulky). I know you'll use a porta-booth, but will you have to deal with background noise like a furnace, sump pump, a/c, etc. I know from experience that a HH porta-booth won't get rid of those - its more about avoiding echo than eliminating noise. So if background noise is an issue, you may want to consider a dynamic mic (but you need a LOT of gain for those...).
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

mythwoman · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:09 am Post subject:

Thanks so much for all of your responses.

Tom - the NTK is my primary choice. A few music composers for video games that I keep in touch with suggested this mic to me.
The deal with the Guitar Center gives you a second mic for a $1 when you register it on their website. But I was thinking that if I went with the deal then I could just sell the second mic and buy one that is road accessible as you suggested.
Budget wise, I'd like to stay under $700 (for a mic)

Any suggestions for a laptop? I'm so very used to using a PC but if I understand correctly (because I misunderstand a lot when it comes to tech talk) PC laptops are hard to find now?

I so appreciate your time guys! I made some mistakes in the beginning of my studio and I really don't want to make them again.

Later!
Mary

Tom Test · DC Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL

Mary, I don't think that PC laptops are hard to find at all. You *might* have problems using Vista though. What will you be using as the interface between mic and laptop (i.e., the preamp and analog/digital A/D converter)? Some do not play well with Vista, so you might need to find a laptop with Windows XP (I'm pretty sure Dell still has XP as an option).

The lady I set up a studio for uses the Centrance MicPortPro, which is both a preamp and an A/D converter, AND has a headphone jack. She has had very good results using this to connect to her laptop, and it is very portable too. Not sure if Vista is a problem for the MicPortPro - you'd have to look that up.
_________________
Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com

georgethetech · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:18 am Post subject:

Dell Mini 10
It is:

1- SILENT (no fans!)

2- Light

3- Cheap, get one from Dell Outlet store online

4- Windows XP

5- More than adequate for VO recording
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

The Mic Guy · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject:

To address Tom's question, I use a MicPortPro on my Vista-equipped (or encumbered, depending on your point of view) laptop with no problems at all. YMMV, of course.

Speaking of YMMV... I'm a fan of my Rode NT-1A. I do like my Studio Projects C1 ever so slightly better, though, the more I use it.
_________________
Michael Rankins
TheMicGuy.com
Who am I, and why am I talking into this microphone?

georgethetech · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:05 pm Post subject:

Huge fan of the MicPort Pro, as many of you know.
I sent Bill Ratner to Europe for 2 weeks with a Mini 10, MicPort, a 416, and 3G modem. The 3G was a disaster, but the micport and Dell mini 10 were awesome.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

mythwoman · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:44 am Post subject:

George, THANK YOU!! for your advice. I'm on the Voicelympics cruise btw and I remember your Tech talk is one of the mini workshops offered. But I signed up for the ADR class because it would help me better my skills in animation voiceovers.

Tom, right now I use an Audio Technica AT4047 Condenser Mic, with SoundForge 8.0 and PreSonus INSPIRE 1394 Firewire Audio Interface.

I'll look into the MicPort Pro though. I'm planning a long visit to Guitar Center tomorrow to do research and mic testing (if they'll let me).

You guys are so awesome!
Mary

mythwoman · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:25 pm Post subject:

George, I forgot to ask about your opinion on microphones. I know I have to try them out for myself and tomorrow I will but can you recommend a microphone you favor that is useful for voiceover and for singing?

I need to decide if the Rode NTK is the way to go or nor before the 31st this month of the deals at Guitar Center end.

I'd so appreciate your thoughts and suggestions!
And I'm so sorry I won't be able to make the Tech Talk class.

Take care,
Mary

georgethetech · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:09 pm Post subject:

Not to evade the question, but I think the room acoustics are as or more important than the mic when it comes to capturing great sounding vocals.
That being said, most of the mics that VO users like were developed with the purpose of recording the human voice. I honestly can't say with authority what mic is the ultimate singing and speaking mic.
If you find one that you like for your singing voice, chances are it will compliment your speaking voice as well. Singing is more demanding of the mic, since it covers a wider frequency and dynamic range, generally.
That being said, I know singers who's voice has different tonal characteristics while singing than while speaking, especially those with musical theater training.

One cool thing we are doing with the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Lab is providing a wide variety of microphones for demo purposes, since it is very difficult to get demos from dealers, especially Guitar Center. Generally, the best thing you can do is borrow from friends or rent them.
What can also help is to record your voice with ANY mic you can afford, and get a good idea of what you like/dislike about the sound. That gives you a point of reference to work from.

Even more cost and time effective might be finding a music studio near you with a great variety of mics. Book a few hours of time and have the engineer record you on as many mics as possible in a controlled manner (same mic pre every time, recommend a solid state preamp for consistency and accuracy).
For $100-$200, you'll have recordings of a huge variety of mics, and the ammo you need to buy the right mic without spending months experimenting.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Deirdre · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:18 am Post subject:

George— That array of mics setup for the new VO lab is the bomb.

And finding a nearby music recording studio makes sense, even here in the woods.
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mythwoman · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:11 pm Post subject:

Well, today I learned that the only Guitar Center in Dallas doesn't carry the Studio Center C1 which really surprised me.

I asked questions and asked for recommendations. It sort of became a hassle to try out a lot of microphones but they did allow me to experiment with the Rode NTK and for the heck of it I tried out the Neumann TLM-103. The sound difference is incredible. Budget wise, I'd probably go with the Rode NTK. But if I perhaps give in to a payment plan then I might go with the Neumann. The sound is so pristine.
There's a massive sale going on till the 31st and I'd hate to miss out on any deals.

Then again... I need to get a new computer now, or a laptap, like a Dell Mini 10 as George suggested. So, maybe I should wait a while longer for the Neumann.

Thank you everyone for your time and advice on this subject!
Mary