Setting up a voiceover studio at home.

Throughout the pandemic, having a home studio became essential for voiceover artists. Now that the pandemic has subsided, many clients continue to prefer this model of working, as it offers cost savings on studio rentals and enables projects to be completed more rapidly.

Setting up a home recording studio can be more manageable if you already have a relatively quiet home. If there’s minimal noise from barking dogs, passing cars, or low-flying planes, you’ll save significantly on soundproofing expenses.

A room with plenty of soft materials, curtains, and furnishings will help absorb sound and reduce echoes. A makeshift solution is setting up your mic inside a wardrobe with duvets draped over yourself and the doors. Experiment!

 

Microphone

When selecting a microphone, you have a couple of options to consider based on your budget.

A budget-friendly choice, would be a USB microphone like the Rode NT-USB. It plugs directly into your computer, making it easy to set up and use. USB microphones typically offer good sound quality for the price.

However, if you’re serious and want higher-quality sound, invest in an XLR microphone, such as the Rode NT1. XLR microphones generally offer better sound quality and more flexibility, but they require an additional piece of equipment called an audio interface to connect to your computer.

In this case, a popular and reliable audio interface is the Focusrite Scarlett Solo. It provides high-quality preamps and an easy-to-use interface, ensuring that your recordings are clear and professional. By investing in an XLR microphone and a reliable audio interface, you can achieve better sound quality and a more polished result in your voiceover work.

A pop filter is required as it helps reduce plosives, protect the microphone from saliva and moisture, and maintains a consistent distance between the artist and the microphone, resulting in a cleaner and more professional-sounding recording.

 

Software

For recording software, a popular free option is Audacity. Recommended paid options are Adobe Audition and Logic Pro on the Mac. All of which have extensive tutorials available on Youtube.

 

Headphones

Headphones are essential for recording voiceovers in a home studio because they allow the voiceover artist to monitor audio quality and identify issues such as plosives, isolate noise from the environment, prevent microphone feedback, and maintain focus and immersion during recording sessions.

 

Accessories

Other things to consider would be a mic shield such as the Kaotica Eyeball. Also take a look at the Nobsound alternative.

Or if you’re feeling handy, create your own using acoustic foam inside a storage box.

 

Client call in.

As a minimum you should be able to let the client listen in with Zoom or skype or similar. But you can sign up for a free Source Connect Now account. And it’s simple to use, just have the site open in Google Chrome browser on your computer and the client can hear an excellent quality feed of your microphone.

Also Cleanfeed offers a similar service.

With a little effort and money, you can set up a home studio for voiceovers that allows you to produce professional-quality recordings.