VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Neil K. Hess

What are your preferred mics? Are there any mics that help you sound more consistent and allow you to adjust your butt and back without changing the sound?
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AlanTaylor · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 1:29 pm Post subject:

I've used a Shure SM7B w/ Cloudlifter for many audiobooks with great results. Currently, I'm using a TLM 103. I stand in the booth and have had no problems maintaining a consistency of sound from one day to the next.

Bruce · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 2:23 pm Post subject:

Consistency has nothing to do with microphones and everything to do with the narrator! And if adjusting your butt changes your sound you may be coming at this all wrong to begin with. You should be able to take a week off and still be consistent from one sentence to the next.

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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Neil K. Hess · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 4:26 pm Post subject:

Bruce · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 5:00 pm Post subject:

Other than singing or announcing into a dynamic mic on a loud stage, you should never be 3" to 5" from a good condenser mic in studio. The sound will likely be distorted and terrible (see exceptions below). Nine to twelve inches is standard operating distance and even more if your space is well treated for sound reflexion.

And as mentioned earlier consistency comes from being consistent, as in always being about 9" away from your mic (let's say) for a long, contiguous read, and doing things like making sure your mic is always positioned at 10 o'clock for example. Sure if you're going to whisper or yell you can adjust closer or farther away temporarily (the exceptions), but restless monkey time around your mic is not going to win you happy customers or repeat business.

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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Neil K. Hess · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 5:04 pm Post subject:

Bruce · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 5:10 pm Post subject:

To be super accurate there are some dynamic mics as in the Electro-Voice RE20 that are somewhat forgiving. These are frequently used in radio stations where you have everything from serious newscasters to ape sh*t rock jocks behind the mic and you need just one product to cover all.

The only problem IMHO is that dynamic mics are just dull enough in clarity and liveliness compared to condenser mics that they just aren't a good fit for the serious voice actor. I know there are folks out there who will disagree and love dynamics, but I did put the H in IMHO.

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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

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

I did my first audiobook with an SM7B, and being a dynamic, I can tell you if you stray too far from the sweet spot the volume and presence drops off quickly; moreso than with a condenser. Just something to keep in mind based on my experience.

AlanTaylor · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 7:02 am Post subject:

A clarification of what I meant by "consistency." As Rob noted, the SM7B can vary if you move away from its sweet spot, at least in my experience. Haven't had that with my TLM 103.