VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Christopher French · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: Something I just thought of. . .

I got to thinking (yes I know, the smoke is just FLOWING out of my ears), and I wondered, has anyone ever tried to use the Small Business Adminisration to start their own studio for VO work? I have a whole bunch of reference material at my house here about different SBA's in all 50 states. Anyone think that might be a good idea? I know I can't set up a home studio on just my good looks (after all, I DO have the face for voiceovers).
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Christopher G. French

"The only limitations we truly have are the ones we place on ourselves." -Attributed to Donald Trump

Christopher French · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject: A second thought. . .

I could use the studio that I set up for my own work, but I could also use it as an additional source of income for other VO artists or even musicians or such. That would be one heck of an idea. . .now how do I get it going?
_________________
Christopher G. French

"The only limitations we truly have are the ones we place on ourselves." -Attributed to Donald Trump

Deirdre · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 8:16 pm Post subject:

Christopher--Calm down. You're frothing at the mouth already. This kinda stuff doesn't happen overnight, no matter how much you want it to.

It takes time to establish contacts, it takes time to make friends, it takes time to discover where the work is. It takes time to learn the ropes.
I don't think it's a good idea to go into debt to get your very first recording setup going.
Get your act together.
Take some theater or voice classes.
Assemble a demo.

There are no specific answers for a great number of the questions you're asking. We each found our own way-- and even if we each told you step-by step what we did, it woudn't be steps you could follow. To paraphrase my pal George Sanger, The Fat Man-- the first thing you've gotta do is marry DeWitt.

Keep your dream alive by working on it a little bit every day-- read aloud every day.
Record yourself.
Listen.
Do better.
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anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

i agree with Deirdre - continue to work on your craft, voice-acting. there is so much to do in that area alone, that running a studio as a business will only hinder your progress.
Not to mention, that running a profitable studio business nowadays is close to impossible without establishing strong contacts and relationships - what I used to charge wannabe musicians/artists can't be charged anymore - that's if you can even find one to charge now since the days of the affordable DAW's.

-Anthony

Christopher French · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:32 pm Post subject:

I guess I'm just too eager. I've always wanted to do something like this, since I was a kid. Now, I've found this board with all of the wonderful talent here and I feel like a kid in a candy store. I guess I need to take a step back and slow down. I'm only 30, I have plenty of time to make this happen. First I need to get my chops back. It's been 12 years since I've been on a stage. As you said, DB, I should get involved with the community theatre. I apologize if I've been wasting anyone's time. I'm just so much into this and want it so badly that I can taste it. It feels right.

I don't know if that makes sense or not, but I do appreciate all of the advice everyone here has been kind enough to give me, and I hope that I haven't annoyed anyone with my constant yammering. I am the type that, when I find something I'm looking for, I go full bore. I need to not do that with this. I hope to make this a career eventually, I just have to wait for it.

Thank you for brining me back to reality.

Chris
_________________
Christopher G. French

"The only limitations we truly have are the ones we place on ourselves." -Attributed to Donald Trump

donrandall · Guest

Christopher -

I would suggest that you find 170 N. West St in Hillsdale. That is where you will find WCSR radio. Talk to Mike Flynn, the GM and see if he might have any advice for you or perhaps even a spot for you. He would probably even be willing to give you some copy that they have used in the production of some of their ads, which you could take home and use as practice material.

If you have a computer - and obviously you do - download a digital editing program, pick up some sort of interface such as a mixer and get a microphone. Put it all together and learn how to use it. Then practice and learn and get better.

You can get a digital editing program without spending any money at all - I believe some here use one called "Audacity", if I remember correctly. You can pick up an acceptable mic for about $50 or so at Radio Shack and even a mixer of acceptable quality for less than a hundred. If you have a decent internal soundcard - stay with that and get the necessary cables and hook up and go.

At some point you will want and need better gear - but why spend the money until you need to? The first thing to work on is you.

Oh yeah - if you go see Mike, tell him "Dyno Don" said hello.

billelder · Guest

Yup, the cost of a "starter studio" is well under $100. In fact, it's about $70 excluding shipping. <g> At Musicians Friend you can get a Behringer UB802 mixer for $49 and a Behringer MX8500 mic for $19. I have this exact portable setup for use with my laptop. Add to that some cables and a mic stand and when your total goes over $99, shipping is free. This is by no means optimum, but it is good quality for the money.

Christopher French · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:39 am Post subject:

Wow! Thanks for that! What about Apex mics? I have an Apex vocal mic (the model escapes me at the moment) Would that work just as well?

Chris
_________________
Christopher G. French

"The only limitations we truly have are the ones we place on ourselves." -Attributed to Donald Trump

Philip Banks · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:47 am Post subject:

Within reason any mic will do as at this stage you're merely using your equipment to practise. Find out what you are able to do first and then when you discover someone is prepared to pay you to do it buy the pro' sound gear.

Hart · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:06 am Post subject:

billelder · Guest

Christopher,

I agree w/ Banksey. Good advice from these posts for you to take in.

If you already have the Apex mic, that'll be great. The Mixer also has phantom power for those condenser mics. Now you're on your way!

Christopher French · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:24 am Post subject:

Bill, you mentioned the Behringer UB802 mixer and I looked it up. It looks like a great mixer! Do you know anything about the UB1202? It's only 30 dollars more and it looks like it could have some serious stuff behind it. . . Let me know your opinion. I'd appreciate it. Smile

Chris
_________________
Christopher G. French

"The only limitations we truly have are the ones we place on ourselves." -Attributed to Donald Trump

brianforrester · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:59 am Post subject:

Hi Christopher,

My name's not Bill, but seem to have an opinion on everything, so I'll pipe up!

First off, you may not even need a mixer... if you're simply recording one signal source (your microphone) into an audio interface with phantom power, I would suggest that you not worry about a mixer as it is simply another piece of hardware in your signal chain that can potentially degrade the signal quality and confuse you if any problems arise! Your setup can be as simple as this: mic, audio interface (with phantom power), computer. For a beginning setup, this can give you a very clean and simple setup! I personally do not use a mixer in my input chain (mic, pre-amp, interface, computer).

Now I'll weigh in on the Behringer Mixers... I've been quite vocal about my opinion of Behringer products in the signal chain, and it based on one bad experience, however that's all that it takes for me!

I will not put a Behringer product (as they stand now) into my input signal chain... I find them kinda wimpy, poorly constructed and the sound quality isn't what I'm looking for. Now... I'll temper that with the following... I'm making an unfair comparison, because I'm comparing it to Mackie and other more expensive gear, which is essential like comparing a chevy cavelier to Audi A6! I know it's unfair, but I'm looking for overall quality, while still considering price.

For the price of the Behringer stuff, it's a great piece of equipment, however I would not rely on it to last an overly long time (with regular use) and I wouldn't expect the cleanest and most true signal! For v/o you really don't need the eq that their mixers offer, you will typically want to record as true an audio signal as possible and then apply effects etc in mix (further support for not using a mixer at all).

Now here comes the schizophrenic aspect of my opinion... For someone who is just starting out and trying to put together a basic home setup, you can't beat behringer! Once you get to the point of recording your own stuff and sending it off to paying clients regulary, I'd say look at making the invetment in some higher quality gear.

As far as the choice between the UB802 and the UB1202, in this case bigger isn't necessarily better... the 802 has all the channels that you will typically need for v/o and provides the same aux returns as the 1202, the only difference between the 2 is that 1202 has 12 channels and the 802 has 8, the 1202 has a bigger footprint (takes up more valuable workspace), and guess what... the 1202 has a slider for the main mix volume (oooooh, ahhhh, now you can feel like a real pro engineer!). My opinion, go with the 802!

So, I know that some of our fellow board members use Behringer gear and are very happy with it, and I don't dispute that it offers great value and can work very well for many applications, I'm just very set in my ways! I will admit right here and right now that I do use a Behringer UB802 for my output mix (monitors, headphones and sound booth), but as I've said before, it will never makes its way into my imput signal chain.

Short version, buy the UB802 (if you decide that you even need a mixer at all), you'll be happy with it as a first mixer, just be prepared to make the upgrade to a more beefy piece of gear when the big paying clients start rolling in!

I'm sure others will now put me in my place...

Good luck to ya!
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Brian Forrester Voice Overs
www.brianforrester.com
brian@brianforrester.com
778.668.5715

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billelder · Guest

My suggestions were the lowest cost to get someone started recording VO's into their computer. I don't get into p***ing contests with folks on equipment. I've heard folks do amazing things with cheap equipment and poor things with expensive. <g> Every post is spot on here and great information.

The Behringer has been a lifesaver in a pinch. I don't think you're going to find a difference in the sound from one model to the next. For the extra money you're getting more mic inputs, more bus features.

There's always someone who doesn't agree with what you've bought or use. You can go broke pleasing a board of professional voiceover people! LOL My criteria is "Are clients complaining?" and "Are you making money?" <g>

Like Brian, my studio setup is also from a preamp to the computer. I use my studio mixer for monitoring. But, I stress that it's what you do with what you have...and I'm talking about your performance.