VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

I recently posted a mic query on one of the FB VO groups, and one response was that any male with a deeper voice (unless they are doing books) is ill - advised to use a Large Diaphragm Condenser for everyday VO work, auditions, jobs. etc.. the same gent suggested that one would be wise to stick with a 416 across the board..

It's common knowledge that a LDC and a shotgun are two completely different animals in the VO world, but I never actually considered that using an LDC would jeopardize your chances if being used as an audition mic, in todays market.. Is the 416 really the end all be all for typically deeper male voices who ARE NOT doing audio book work?
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Frank F · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 12:43 pm Post subject:

I really dislike being condescending toward others but simply put: who the H^%% are they? This is why one cannot listen to others who do not know microphones. The story is from someone who was and or IS in radio and does not know microphones.

I am not going any further as I do not want to make my blood pressure boil. I will finish with this soft comment: Do not listen to ANYONE else, listen for and to yourself.

Frank F
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I find the 416 to be indispensable, but only after much trial and error in learning to use it.

That being said, a good LDC (Neumann U87, TLM 103, AKG 414, CAD E100 etc.) can also be indispensable for certain projects.

I also have a CAD M177 that I got for less than $100 that I was playing around with the other day and it was surprising how with a little tweaking it had just about as much presence as the 416.

Bruce

Bish · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 5:34 pm Post subject:

The "wisdom of the crowd" is an oxymoron.

Some say the 416 is a great all-round mic, even for audiobooks (some very well-know male narrators use a 416 - one not a million miles from this board). Some say the 416 is good for promo/commercial and nothing else. Some say it's all smoke & mirrors and it's only good for location shooting (what it was designed for). Leave the FB discussion before someone says all you need is an RE20 for everything.

You will never get a straight answer from a Facebook group. People there pontificate and pretend they are the font of all wisdom. The only valid answer will be provided by listening to your own voice in your own environment.
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DougVox · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 6:37 pm Post subject:

"The wisdom of the Bish," however, is neither oxy-, nor -moronic.

This:

Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

There are some straight shooters on the FB forums, but regardless, when discussing microphones, no matter what the forum there are no definitive answers. And I'm don't think Im looking for any magic wonder microphone

However unless, you are privvy to a bottomless mic locker, how else does one narrow the choices in order to find a good sampling to experiment with?
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Frank F · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 10:52 pm Post subject:

Lee Gordon · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 2:31 am Post subject:

"Does this microphone make me sound fat?" cool

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heyguido · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:56 am Post subject:

No... But it makes your butt look big. Laugh

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Don Brookshire
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

Mike Harrison · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:03 am Post subject:

Ah, the internet: bubbling cauldron of frequently baseless opinion, petri dish of self-proclaimed experts and cattle auction for voice-over Pied Pipers.

IMHO, Frank and Rob (thus far) have THE advice.
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Male Voice Over Talent
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

Between the return fee and shipping from dealers and the mics I've bought and sold on Ebay.. probably could have bought a shiny new mic or two..

I went through this with travel mics.. after going thru at least a half dozen or so, I bought a mic sight unseen and untested, that was recommended by someone on this board, and have been using it for over a year now as a a travel mic..

I think the ultimate test for whether a mic is right for you is 1) if its an audition mic, are you booking? 2) if it's a job mic, are your clients happy?

I think one's ears are useful. to a point.. I auditioned for something once on a $50 USB mic as sort of a test, thinking it was a long shot to book the gig anyway.. I booked it.. and it turned out to be one of the biggest things I've done.. the engineer even pulled up the mp3 in the actual session and commented as to how good it sounded..

Maybe it was the vibe of the performance combined with the mic that simply aligned with the stars in another galaxy. who knows..? Point is, how WE think we sound as opposed to how the CLIENT thinks we sound.. can be two entirely different things..
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Jason Huggins · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:54 am Post subject:

What the difference between an "audition" mic and a "job" mic? I audition and do work on the mic I feel sounds best on my voice. If you have A mic that makes your voice sound the best it can, do you need a separate mic? I get different mics for different final products, but wouldn't you use the best mic for the job for the audition too?