VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

DaveChristi · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:55 pm Post subject: Rode NT-1A plus Grace 101

My budget for a new Mic + Pre + Cables (thanks for the thread on THAT, btw) is under $1000. So I asked a friend for his recommendations and this is what he told me: the Rode NT-1A w/Grace 101 pre.

Anyone else use this mic or pre or (even better) both?
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The Character Voice Actor

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

I had the NT-1 A.

It's not bad, but a little sizzly on the top end and IMO there are better choices within your budget range, such as:

Electro Voice RE 20
AT 4047 or 4050 or maybe 4033
Studio Projects C1

Just my two cents!

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Those are very bright and glassy sounding pieces of gear. The NT1A was my first and least favorite mic I've ever had. I don't like that mic on anybody, and I'm not fond of Rode in general, some of their pricier mics are good. Just way too bright for most of their mics. The Grace is nice ( just not my cup of tea) but I wouldn't pair it intentionally with a NT1A.

Under $1000?

AT4040 and a dbx286a = $600
MXL m3/v88 and Grace 101 = $800
Shure KSM27 and a Joemeek Six Q = $750
Used TLM103 ($600) and a dbx286a.

Wait...let's look at it like this. What's are you currently using? Maybe you should be upgrading just your pre or mic. That John Hardy M1 $950 might just be the thing to make your current mics sound great. Maybe you shouldn't be getting two pieces of gear. Maybe you just need one top notch piece.

And then...I just spent $500 on bass traps and acoustic panels (GIK Acoustics). Bigger gain in sound quality than probably upgrading my tlm103 to a tlm193 or my Speck to a $1300 preamp...although I still want the 193 - I'm working on getting the 103 to sound smoother like a 193 - and the acoustic treatment has helped that. Smile

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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

Dave:

I listened to your Voices demo. Great character demo! Were those recorded in YOUR room? They sounded good.
What mic are you using now?

Lance, as always, gave good advice.

For a character voice, I'd suggest an AT4050. It's a very real, natural sounding mic. Great for the character you put in front of it.

Another good one and a bit less expensive is the Studio Projects C1.
Corey Burton, one of the best character voice actors of the last 30 years uses one and recommends it. Deebs our host uses one, too. www.coreyburton.com

For your style, you're not looking for ultra smooth, but very detailed to pick up the nuance of your characters.

The NT1A is very revealing, but a little too much in the 3k range. I does sound harsh on some words. Shhh and Sssss sounds really pop out.

The DBX 286A is very good and versatile for $200. It sounds better than the price.

Let us know which way you go.
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DaveChristi · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject:

Right now I'm using an AT2020 and a Studio Module SM6 pre.

I'm glad I asked about the NT-1A, I don't need any more help with my S's. The DBX286a was another on my list. I've used one for years at nearly every station I've worked.

I like the idea of another Audio Technica mic, the 2020 is a great mic and I use the USB version in my road kit.
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Dave "Christi" Felton
The Character Voice Actor

todd ellis · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject:

i use an AT-4050 a lot. like it a lot, and use an AT-2020 with a micport pro in my travel kit. no complaints all around.
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Bill Campbell · DC Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 621

I have an AT2020 too. How could you not buy an AT mic for 99 bucks?
The 2020 is a little sibilant, but not bad for the price.

I think Todd will agree, the AT 4050 will sound bigger and more polished than the smaller capsuled 4050.

It's funny, I've bought about 30 condenser mics in all price ranges over the years, but I always go back to my RE-20. It's just so smooth.

But, for character stuff, I'd go with a condenser.
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todd ellis · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:36 pm Post subject:

oh, yeah - HUGE difference between the 2020 and the 4050. i have an re-20 also and it seems like i always use it on radio spots. never really thought about it until now. i like the 4050 or mxl v69 for narration, though. speaking of tubes - i replaced the chinese tube in the mxl with a NOS mullard and have been thrilled with the results. i think it increased the mics sound by about $1,000.
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PJHawke · Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject:

Rellis and Bill (and Deeby) mentioned the SP C1; I just got one on DB's recommendation and I love it. I think it sounds great. They retail for about 200 bucks but I made an offer on eBay and got one for $170. Great bang for the buck.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Okay, now we're closing in on things!

If you're comfortable with the AT and dbx sound, go for a AT4050 and a dbx286a. That's a solid setup that can work for anything. The AT might be good with the Grace too. Or what about a used AT4040 for like $180 and then getting a Speck 5.0 for $780? Wink

I used to own a AT4040 and liked it a lot and I work with 4050s often around town and I love them...they're pretty close to each other in sound, but the 4050 has something special about it.

SP C1s are good, but I'd want a darker preamp for it, so I'd go with the Joe Meek Six Q...it's a decent dbx-like preamp, but when the transformer is engaged in that thing it's a whole new heftier animal. My corporate demo is largely a 4040 through a Joemeek, and I still like that.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:29 am Post subject:

It depends on how far below $1,000 you have. The best option would probably be to buy a Neumann TLM103 and use phantom power from your mixer.

Buy the best mic you can't afford and buy anything else you want (you don't need it) with what's left.

I know of many VO's both male and female who use the "TLM 103 plugged straight into the back of the tape recorder" option and all sound fabby. As for credibility, most of them earn sh*t loads of money too!

VO sound, order of priorities

1 - Voice
2 - Room
3 - Mic
4 - You think other people will notice all the extras but they won't

Listen to the audio, it is as raw as Sushi

http://thecorporatevoice.com/sage.mp3

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

You're right Philip that a tlm 103 with any source of phantom power, a good room and good talent can sound great. In many cases, less can be more with a tlm 103 in that a super detailed fast preamp can be too much for the crisp and hot 103. Sometimes I kinda like my 103 just plugged into the back of my Yamaha mixer. Sometimes.

However Philip, your voice has so much going on under 200Hz compared to most people...a lot more. You could be using a preamp that smeared everything above 200Hz and people might not notice as much because your voice is so rich and wonderful on the low end. Listening and looking at your clip, you have a big ol' consistent peak at 80Hz which is extraordinary, and the rest of the low end is huge. Massive. Makes me sound like a complete saddo. Makes a lot of big voices I know sound like spotty teenagers.

My rather reedy instrument needs a bit of a help along down there, so a good preamp really helps. It's better to do it that way rather than eat the mic and let things get muddy. Also, with a good preamp if the engineer want to press the "Make it sound a bit more like Philip" low end EQ knobs, it's a more plausible task. Artificial, but plausible Wink

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Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:04 am Post subject:

What Lance has written demonstrates beautifully my complete lack of technical knowledge, I have a pair of ears and nothing else. My audio provides a useful reference point to help any mic/preamp buyer discover where they are on the VO map in relation to me and by doing so decide in which direction they need to go in order to get the sound for their voice.

If I had anything which boosted the bottom end of my voice all that would happen would be a few buildings suffering from spontaneous cracks in the masonary. The oppisite of this would be to use something which lifted top end frequencies in Kara's voice only to discover a dogs camped outside the studio having enjoyed the performance while the sound engineer was convinced he'd recorded complete silence.

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Your voice and set up is a fabulous reference point, and it's very helpful for you to post the clip and your perspective. I actually A/B your clips to mine when I'm thinking "that sounds a bit thin for this read, then...let's take it to the Banksey". Hmm...I'd better get that resonance going and open things up (vocally, not with gear).

What matters is how does it sound. I measured your frequency response only because my real world impression was of how much great bass your voice has.
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DaveChristi · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject:

This has given me something else to think about. Should I use up my current budget on a better microphone now and use my current pre until I have more budgeted for a newer preamp? Shocked

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Dave "Christi" Felton
The Character Voice Actor