VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

mythwoman · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject: Phone Patch costs, etc.

Hello to all my VO friends,

Alas, I have a new problem. Well, sort of. I just received an audition for a videogame project but the official recording producers want someone with a standard analog phone patch.

I've e-mailed a VO close to home to see if he'd let me record at his studio, should I get the job. But since I haven't heard anything yet, I want to prepare for future auditions/jobs.

So, how do I got about getting or buying a phone patch? I don't think I've ever seen them at Guitar Center so I'm assuming one has to go to a different source.

Suggestions? Advice?

You guys are great!

Take care,
Mary aka mythwoman

bobsouer · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:07 pm Post subject:

Mary,

I take the low-tech approach and have a simple telephone headset connected to my phone. (Actually I have 2, one connected to my land line and the other to my cell phone.) They can hear me over the headset. I can hear them the same way. The microphone is recording my voice into my workstation.

If they need to hear playback, I just mute the mic and play the audio through my monitor speakers. The headset picks up the sound just fine.
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KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject:

I second what Bob said! That is how I do it too.

I insisted forever that I needed an official audio hybrid unit until the day it occured to me it just wouldn't work with my set up. Since my recording gear is not inside my 'booth' [AKA: closet], and the client would only be able to hear me through my mic- my movement would be restricted. With a headset- I get the same end result, but can freely move around from computer to mic for whatever I, or my client, may need.

My headset is Plantronics, and fits under my ear (it was made for people with small ears- like me!) My headphones fit over it very comfortably.

I've used it MANY times, and have had wonderful results!
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imaginator · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

ms. kara

it wouldn't necessarily solve your logistics problems, but i have had great success with a little 99 dollar hybrid by genter. it's the size of a thick paperback book. i patch it into my mackie board so i can hear the direction in my headphones, but since i do not assign its channel to the line out my computer records on, only my voicetrack is preserved.

for sessions where i do want the phone conversation, i just pan it hard over to one channel so i can isolate the raw voicetrack later.

it has to be a simple arrangement...otherwise i couldn't do it.

admitedly, any client who wanted to hear a certain take played back would have to wait for me to walk out of the booth and over to my console to stop the recording and do a playback...but it could be done.

before all that, i did what y'all do....i had a little radio shack headset phone in the mic booth with me.
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Gp · Guest

There are a number of inexpensive controllers out there. For example the ADS technologies, red rover controller for audition. If you look you can find something for around 100.00. It gives you the ability to start and stop recording etc from a remote location such as in your closet when your DAW is on the desk 10 feet away.

KaraEdwards · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject:

A remote control would make me nervous...I'm 'see it to believe it' kinda girl. I do want to add a seond monitor and keyboard in my closet at some point so I can control the session. It actually works great as-is, only because the computer is right outside my door.
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Kara Edwards
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CarynClark · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

Mary, I received this same lead, and did not respond b/c they specifically asked for a "standard analog phone patch."

For phone patch situations, I use a headset. But since they were SO specific about a "standard analog phone patch" I decided I shouldn't respond.

It's rare though, when someone asks for specifics like that. I know I can do a phone patch thru my Zephyr, but I've never tried it. I use a headset, just like a lot of folks, and I put my headphones over top.

Smile

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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

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Deirdre · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject:

Yep.
I'm Mrs Speakerphone.
It works for CBS Radio, it ought to work for those guys.
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ccpetersen · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:44 pm Post subject:

I did one once using Skype as the "patch"... seemed to be just fine.
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TigerMitch · Guest

DELETED

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject:

The ones that gall me are the kids who feel they have to direct you in an apparent effort to justify their position or existence.
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Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

That's often a result of the Peter Principle at work. They were great as a go-fer, so 'Hey, let's promote 'em to director!'.

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

The JK Audio Autohybrid phone patch has served me well

http://jkaudio.com/autohybrid.htm

Chrissy · Guest

Although I didn't start this Topic I want to thank everyone for the suggestions. I didn't realize there was a cheap but effective way to do this.

Chrissy

TheVoiceOfBob · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:39 am Post subject: