Gear up for the Holidays: Part 1- the big items!
If you’ve attended any of my Home Studio Primer events, you’ve likely seen some of this info. If you haven’t- I have a place holder setup for the next event to be scheduled in early December. The focus is for voice actors suddenly thrust into the world of home recording to think about their ”booth”, mic, peripherals and connectivity.
Over time, I’ve amassed a list of proven winners for microphones and other gear for every budget and level of need. To keep shopping simple, I’m including Amazon Affiliate links so you can compare and decide.
Microphones: As you’ll see below, you can spend as little as $199.99 and sound absolutely amazing. If you’re looking to match what we use at the studios, you can spend up to $3,200. My mission for people that are new to recording from home (or the business in general) has been to spend enough to be broadcast quality without ending up with thousands of dollars worth of gear when studios opened back up. And they have! The studio I work for all day is fully open for actors, SAG approved and with all safety measures in place. Clients are all remote, as are our engineers. But the booths are there for you. This takes the pressure and stress off of actors who are struggling with gear, source connect and noisy home situations. But let’s talk mics first- from most expensive to least expensive. if you’re not sure which mic is best for you, feel free to reach out and I can work with you to help you decide based on your space and your voice.
$3,200- Neumann U87 https://amzn.to/3jDgKKI
$1,300- Neumann TLM-103 https://amzn.to/35bxyVl
$700- Neumann TLM-102 https://amzn.to/2EYzhlA
$999- Senheiser 416 https://amzn.to/2QPeVxO
$269- Rode NT1 https://amzn.to/3jA9ZJq
$249- Synco D2 https://amzn.to/3lHLKLt
Interfaces: All of the mics above will require an interface. That is what will power the mic and pass audio to your computer and software (DAW- Digital Audio Workstation). If you’re used to a USB mic, that is basically the mic and interface in one. Very few are acceptable for broadcast work, although they continue to be used. There are so many variables: voice, booth, kind of work you’re doing. In general, to compete and have the quality expected for broadcast production, they don’t cut it. As with the microphones, you can spend as little as $99 on up to thousands of dollars on your gear. Below are some popular proven winners. PRO TIP: most interfaces have a 1/4” headphone jack. If you’re using headphones that normally go into your phone or computer, you’ll likely need an adaptor. It’s one of those pesky little details that stop people dead in their tracks as they try to get everything connected and working. Make sure you have one!
$1,400 Universal Audio Apollo Twin X QUAD: https://amzn.to/3hSUvjt
$800 Universal Audio Apollo Twin MK2 https://amzn.to/3hSUvjt
$500 Universal Audio Apollo Solo https://amzn.to/31PMMwV
$229.99 Solid State Logic SSL2 https://amzn.to/3bk7Sqg
$179.99 Markie Onyx Producer 2X2 https://amzn.to/3gV9Crj
$99.99 Presonus USB 96 https://amzn.to/2DoEMK3
SOURCE CONNECT: You’ve likely been told by your agent that they can’t give you an audition unless you’re setup and reasy to use Source Connect. There’s a lot to know about it to get setup. I go over it in detail during my Home Studio Primer, so if you havent attended- you definitely want to check it out.
Source Connect wants you to be connected over ethernet for a stable stream. It’s not about speed. It’s about reliability. Your newer Macbooks don’t come with an ethernet port, so you’ll want to get a breakout box/hub that adds it. Check your Mac connection to make sure you’re getting the correct setup https://amzn.to/3jF94rn
If your router is too far away to connect, turn your electrical system into one big ethernet cable: https://amzn.to/34Y6Oax
Of course you can always just run a long ethernet cable and save some money, and curl it up when it’s not in use. https://amzn.to/31RR5I7
In Part 2, I discuss other incidentals and often overlooked items to make your home booth life easier. If you order your gear, and don’t know where to start in terms of connecting it and making it work with your computer- I’m happy to work with you. Visit www.FrankVerderosa.com/help for details. Also, check out the Events tab on the website for upcoming classes and free events!
More soon....
FV
