VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

928427 · Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Posts: 13

I am just getting into the buying of equipment and I am planning on getting a new '11 laptop dedicted to just vo and jingle singing but also I will be getting a new mx 2003 mic, and the newest version of pro-tools.
My ? is with those items, a pop filter, and perhaps a hogan insulated vo box, is that enough to start. I set aside a $1,000 for everything.

Anything will help as I am as green as can be.
Thank You,
Brian

georgethetech · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:44 pm Post subject:

Wecome!
Maybe, but why Pro tools?
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928427 · Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Posts: 13

I don't know, it's what I thought would be best. I want to record several demos that are professional sounding. Everything from trailers, dialects, animation, radio, tv etc. Maybe you have a better solution in mind?

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:07 pm Post subject:

What level of Voice-over experience would you say you have?
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:37 pm Post subject:

It doesn't matter what level he's at. YOu do not make your own demos.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:13 am Post subject:

If you're new, you certainly don't try to make your own demos. But he may want equipment for other things.

Let's not shoot him down before he can answer, k?
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928427 · Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Posts: 13

In regards to experience, none. However, I have been doing a lot of research as of late in terms of what I would need to create nice demos. I understand that acoustics are a huge point of empahsis, and this I intend on getting as right as rain.

I read an article some time ago @ http://www.vosites.com/support/homestudio.html where the author wrote about utilizing an m box and pro tools le, an mxl 2003 mic to "use for auditions, hold messages, voice tracks and even complete mixes with music and sfx for radio spots, car spots, & industrial voiceovers". He even says he takes this set-up with him on his travels.

I am not pretending to be a guy who knows a lot about the technicalities associated with doing your own demos, but I'm sure you can do your own demos by taking the proper care and judgement needed.

Do you guys think that the M-box is that important or should I forgo this and go with the real simple set-up of a new laptop, new mic, pop filter, acoustical modifications, and AUDACITY?

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:54 am Post subject:

if i were you, i'd start cheap and work your way up. that way, you have recording equipment with which to practice and determine a.) if you have what it takes (and i'm not talking about a good voice) and 2.) if you actually want to do voiceover (aka run your own business, market yourself, train regularly, eat ramen, etc.)

from there, and when you're ready, you can consider demo production, preferably from an outside source.

meantime, you might visit studios and see if you can sit in on some sessions to see and hear how it's done from a professional space and with pro voices and engineers. also, listen to lots and lots and lots of demos, critically listen to commercials and non-broadcast voiceover, and design a game plan for starting, continuing, and. with hope, finding your niche and some success (read: work).

good luck!
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Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:19 pm Post subject:

I can say -without even hearing you- you are at least 3 years away for being ready for a demo.
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:19 pm Post subject:

What Mr. Cranky-pants is trying to say is that you don't start your career by cutting demos.

Diane is right (natch). Do your research first. Get some training. Buy some inexpensive equipment to practice on, like a Snowball or some other USB mic. Download Audacity (free). At this point, it's foolish for you to budget a grand, when that money could be spent better elsewhere such as getting some basic coaching and training.
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Deirdre · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:06 pm Post subject:

You really don't want to start out on Pro Tools unless you have had mucho training.

It's way too much bang and way too many bucks.
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928427 · Joined: 14 Mar 2011 Posts: 13

What software would you recommend starting with.....can you actually cut nice demos with the free audacity? Or what would you use instead of the protools?
Thank You

cyclometh · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:06 pm Post subject:

First- Don't make your own demo. You need someone to produce it, and that means you need to be ready and know what you're doing. Full disclosure: I arrived at this forum via another member who listened to my self-produced demo. It was... well. Moving on.

Second- take some classes in VO and acting. I take courses at the local community college, for example. There's also a lot of great seminars to be had, but watch out for places that will charge you a ton of cash and offer to make a demo as part of the course. Big red flag.

Third- practice, practice, practice. You need to be able to act as well as speak and it's not something you're just born with. Like any other skill, it takes a lot of honing. Take acting classes, work in your local theater, do some readings for Librivox.org, it's all good practice.

As to software, Audacity is a great place to start. It's free and you can learn a ton with it. The more advanced stuff is where you'll want to go when you've progressed past the point of making recordings and honing your delivery, but it's great for basic stuff and some VOs use it as their main tool. The list of software available is legion, but Pro-Tools is not what most VOs need- too complicated and geared toward a different type of user.

For commercial software, Audition is the usual standard- easier to use than PT and much less expensive (and persnickety). Most companies that make audio software offer trial versions you can use for a month or so and learn about it.

What it comes down to is this: As a rank novice, don't go spending a bunch of money just yet. I'm only a little ahead of you on the experience curve and I can tell you that the skills matter MUCH more than the tools, and the nice part is you can improve those without dropping a ton of cash.
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

From the tone and demeanor of your conversation, Brian...I'm not sure you even know what a "demo" is....do you?

Mike Sommer · Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject:

Mr Cranky-Pants? Just because my burlap underwear is grabbing on a little bit, doesn't mean I'm cranky. W00T

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If you have a Mac you can get Adobe Audition Beta for free.
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.