Voice Over Home Studio Booth
Since COVID, home studios have become common in the voice over industry. They had existed for some time before, but when remote work became necessary a lot of companies started working with remote talent and that trend hasn't really changed for most genres. Now it's handy to have a studio even in a large market area like New York or LA or London so a talent can work with people around the world!
Home studios come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. They range from inexpensive closet booths using what's readily available to pre-fabricated booths that can costs thousands of dollars to custom room builds that require the help of contractors and sound engineers.
Let's talk about what a home studio is! A home studio is a sound treated space that allows a voice actor to record audio from home, so with a well treated space and a solid internet connection a VA can do VO from almost anywhere. The most important quality of a home studio isn't how it looks--it's how it sounds. "Broadcast Quality" is a phrase used often in voiceover and basically refers to audio that is clear, free of distortion and environmental noise, and without the need for heavy EQ or processing to make it sound great. The ability to produce high quality raw (unprocessed) audio can take a lot of the stress out of recording remotely because if a VA can trust their space and equipment they can focus less on trying to be an audio engineer and more on their performance. That being said, a real audio engineer can do a lot with an imperfect recording, but the easier a vocal talent can make their job, the better.
Creating a home studio space that has a low noise floor (the quietest part of a recording) and that is free of outside noise can be challenging, especially in a space with shared walls or with high amounts of outside traffic. Choosing a space that's as far away from exterior walls, plumbing, and large, noisy appliances is preferable--but sometimes it's simply not possible! When choosing a space to turn into a studio, it's important to consider the quality of audio (and, frankly, comfort) a booth can provide should a session be booked, which can last several hours. If a session is going to be interrupted a lot because of outside noise, it's probably not the best location. Here's a tip: If your booth is attached to a room with windows, you can make acrylic inserts for the windows to create a double-pane effect. Make sure the acrylic covers at least the glass part of the window and this will quiet the room significantly. Mass loaded vinyl can also be attached to the wall inside of a booth to cut down on exterior noise. It's not cheap and it's not a perfect solution, but it cut way down on the traffic noise that bled into my first voiceover booth.
Currently I am on my second booth, which is a standalone structure I bought secondhand from another voice actor, but for about 5 years before that I recorded out of a closet. (I was interviewed about it by David Goldberg at Edge Studio for their "Show and Tell" series. See below!) That closet booth went through many changes over the years. I arranged that 3'x4' space using materials I had (quilts, rugs), borrowed (a height-adjusting bedside desk), bought (moving blankets, mass loaded vinyl), and had built (a raised platform to get around a stubborn squeak in the floor--not seen in the interview). Even though I have a pre-fab booth now I recommend for those still early in their VO journey to make their own! It's a challenge learning how to select and treat a space, but it's significantly cheaper than buying a booth and the money saved there can be put toward coaches and classes.
Last but not least, let's talk about software. There are loads of different DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations--the software audio is recorded and edited on) to choose from. Every VO has their own preference and personally I use Twisted Wave. It has its positives (simple to use, fairly intuitive, can be used across multiple apple products) and draw backs (can only record one track at a time, not cheap, not really Windows friendly), but I especially like that with hotkeys I can quickly edit and tidy up a recording and setup is just hitting record. Another type of software to consider are those that connect the talent to the client. Some are free and are just used for directing (like Zoom and Google Meet), but others actually capture the audio through a hardwired connection (Source Connect and ipDTL) and these often (but not always!) require a paid subscription. Here's a tip: If you're not sure you're ready for a subscription or full license to Source Connect you can get a 2-day pass for about $25 USD, but I do recommend learning how to set it up and use it because it's a bit tricky. Luckily Source Connect 4 has recently been released and it is much easier to set up and use than its predecessor!
Home studios come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. They range from inexpensive closet booths using what's readily available to pre-fabricated booths that can costs thousands of dollars to custom room builds that require the help of contractors and sound engineers.
Let's talk about what a home studio is! A home studio is a sound treated space that allows a voice actor to record audio from home, so with a well treated space and a solid internet connection a VA can do VO from almost anywhere. The most important quality of a home studio isn't how it looks--it's how it sounds. "Broadcast Quality" is a phrase used often in voiceover and basically refers to audio that is clear, free of distortion and environmental noise, and without the need for heavy EQ or processing to make it sound great. The ability to produce high quality raw (unprocessed) audio can take a lot of the stress out of recording remotely because if a VA can trust their space and equipment they can focus less on trying to be an audio engineer and more on their performance. That being said, a real audio engineer can do a lot with an imperfect recording, but the easier a vocal talent can make their job, the better.
Creating a home studio space that has a low noise floor (the quietest part of a recording) and that is free of outside noise can be challenging, especially in a space with shared walls or with high amounts of outside traffic. Choosing a space that's as far away from exterior walls, plumbing, and large, noisy appliances is preferable--but sometimes it's simply not possible! When choosing a space to turn into a studio, it's important to consider the quality of audio (and, frankly, comfort) a booth can provide should a session be booked, which can last several hours. If a session is going to be interrupted a lot because of outside noise, it's probably not the best location. Here's a tip: If your booth is attached to a room with windows, you can make acrylic inserts for the windows to create a double-pane effect. Make sure the acrylic covers at least the glass part of the window and this will quiet the room significantly. Mass loaded vinyl can also be attached to the wall inside of a booth to cut down on exterior noise. It's not cheap and it's not a perfect solution, but it cut way down on the traffic noise that bled into my first voiceover booth.
Currently I am on my second booth, which is a standalone structure I bought secondhand from another voice actor, but for about 5 years before that I recorded out of a closet. (I was interviewed about it by David Goldberg at Edge Studio for their "Show and Tell" series. See below!) That closet booth went through many changes over the years. I arranged that 3'x4' space using materials I had (quilts, rugs), borrowed (a height-adjusting bedside desk), bought (moving blankets, mass loaded vinyl), and had built (a raised platform to get around a stubborn squeak in the floor--not seen in the interview). Even though I have a pre-fab booth now I recommend for those still early in their VO journey to make their own! It's a challenge learning how to select and treat a space, but it's significantly cheaper than buying a booth and the money saved there can be put toward coaches and classes.
Last but not least, let's talk about software. There are loads of different DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations--the software audio is recorded and edited on) to choose from. Every VO has their own preference and personally I use Twisted Wave. It has its positives (simple to use, fairly intuitive, can be used across multiple apple products) and draw backs (can only record one track at a time, not cheap, not really Windows friendly), but I especially like that with hotkeys I can quickly edit and tidy up a recording and setup is just hitting record. Another type of software to consider are those that connect the talent to the client. Some are free and are just used for directing (like Zoom and Google Meet), but others actually capture the audio through a hardwired connection (Source Connect and ipDTL) and these often (but not always!) require a paid subscription. Here's a tip: If you're not sure you're ready for a subscription or full license to Source Connect you can get a 2-day pass for about $25 USD, but I do recommend learning how to set it up and use it because it's a bit tricky. Luckily Source Connect 4 has recently been released and it is much easier to set up and use than its predecessor!
FAQ
►What Kinds of Services Do You Offer?
Short answer: When I am hired for a voiceover job I record my performance and supply either raw, lightly edited, or lightly processed audio to the client, depending on their preference.
Long answer: When I am hired for a voiceover job, I can record on my own using a script that the client provides (self directed), or I can work directly with the client in person or via a program like Zoom or Source-Connect (directed session). Regardless if it's self directed or directed in session, if I'm in my booth I record the audio on my end. After recording from my booth, I will supply either raw, lightly edited, or lightly processed audio to the client, depending on their preference.
I have a long list of genres I perform in: Animation, Anime, Audiobooks, Audio Dramas, Automotive, Documentaries, Commercials, Corporate Narration, E-Learning, English Language Training, Explainers, Museum Guides, Narration, Podcasts, Political, Singing, Video Games / Interactive and Performance Capture.
Don't see something you're looking for? Drop me a line! [email protected]
►What's Your Turnaround?
To respond to inquiries: Typically within a day, often sooner.
For auditions: Typically within a day, often by end of day--sooner if needed.
For completed jobs: Typically by end of day, often sooner. It depends on the amount of editing I do, if any. If no editing is needed, I can submit recorded audio to the client immediately. I always record in the booth, even when doing a directed session and the client is recording on their end. I do this in case the connection breaks or their copy glitches. Redundancy for the win!
►I'm From Another Country... Can I Still Hire You?
Yes! I've worked with many people from around the world. If there's a large time difference it's easier if the project is self directed, but I can accommodate a directed session with enough notice.
►How Can I Reach You About A Project?
The best and fastest way to reach me is via email: [email protected]
►How Much Do You Charge For A Project?
It depends on several factors, such as length of the finished project, genre, and where / when / how long it will air. No two projects are the same so to get an idea of what fair rates are for your project, I recommend checking out the GVAA Rate Guide.
I am Non-Union, which also influences how much some projects cost, but if you'd like to hire me for a Union job (or want to convert a Non-Union project to Union that you hired me to) there are ways to do so and I can help with that too.
►Voiceover looks like so much fun! How Can I get Into voice acting??
First of all: It is!!
Second of all: There's no one way to get into VO, which is a beautiful thing when you think about it. There's also not one particular path required to have a fulfilling career--loads of people make a lot of money doing things like Corporate Narration and Commercial work, or they love to read and work exclusively in Audiobooks, or they're into character work and focus all of their time and energy into Video Games or Anime.
Most VOs have a mix of genres they do and that mix is as individual as a thumbprint.
If you're interested in learning more about getting into voiceover, I recommend checking out Dee Bradley Baker's awesomely encompassing site, I Want To Be A Voice Actor. It will give you insight on the industry, equipment, demos, and what to do if you're starting from absolute scratch.
Short answer: When I am hired for a voiceover job I record my performance and supply either raw, lightly edited, or lightly processed audio to the client, depending on their preference.
Long answer: When I am hired for a voiceover job, I can record on my own using a script that the client provides (self directed), or I can work directly with the client in person or via a program like Zoom or Source-Connect (directed session). Regardless if it's self directed or directed in session, if I'm in my booth I record the audio on my end. After recording from my booth, I will supply either raw, lightly edited, or lightly processed audio to the client, depending on their preference.
I have a long list of genres I perform in: Animation, Anime, Audiobooks, Audio Dramas, Automotive, Documentaries, Commercials, Corporate Narration, E-Learning, English Language Training, Explainers, Museum Guides, Narration, Podcasts, Political, Singing, Video Games / Interactive and Performance Capture.
Don't see something you're looking for? Drop me a line! [email protected]
►What's Your Turnaround?
To respond to inquiries: Typically within a day, often sooner.
For auditions: Typically within a day, often by end of day--sooner if needed.
For completed jobs: Typically by end of day, often sooner. It depends on the amount of editing I do, if any. If no editing is needed, I can submit recorded audio to the client immediately. I always record in the booth, even when doing a directed session and the client is recording on their end. I do this in case the connection breaks or their copy glitches. Redundancy for the win!
►I'm From Another Country... Can I Still Hire You?
Yes! I've worked with many people from around the world. If there's a large time difference it's easier if the project is self directed, but I can accommodate a directed session with enough notice.
►How Can I Reach You About A Project?
The best and fastest way to reach me is via email: [email protected]
►How Much Do You Charge For A Project?
It depends on several factors, such as length of the finished project, genre, and where / when / how long it will air. No two projects are the same so to get an idea of what fair rates are for your project, I recommend checking out the GVAA Rate Guide.
I am Non-Union, which also influences how much some projects cost, but if you'd like to hire me for a Union job (or want to convert a Non-Union project to Union that you hired me to) there are ways to do so and I can help with that too.
►Voiceover looks like so much fun! How Can I get Into voice acting??
First of all: It is!!
Second of all: There's no one way to get into VO, which is a beautiful thing when you think about it. There's also not one particular path required to have a fulfilling career--loads of people make a lot of money doing things like Corporate Narration and Commercial work, or they love to read and work exclusively in Audiobooks, or they're into character work and focus all of their time and energy into Video Games or Anime.
Most VOs have a mix of genres they do and that mix is as individual as a thumbprint.
If you're interested in learning more about getting into voiceover, I recommend checking out Dee Bradley Baker's awesomely encompassing site, I Want To Be A Voice Actor. It will give you insight on the industry, equipment, demos, and what to do if you're starting from absolute scratch.
