Basic voiceover recording set-up

Hello,

This maybe isn’t the place for what I’m looking for, but worth a shot. I need a very basic set-up to record voiceover clips.

This will unfortunately include mainly getting a new laptop, as my Sony Vaio now belongs in the Natural History Museum.

I need a good vocal mic with a pop-guard, and will be using Audacity to record. At some point in the future I’d like to be able to use Pro-Tools on the laptop, so it would need to be an 8GB one, with a 15”-plus screen, and would run Windows.

It would have to be lower budget (I’m not in the market for a Mac or anything at that price point). Any recommendations?
0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom

Comments

  • WhistlerWhistler Frets: 322
    Reaper at $60 would be far cheaper than ProTools but dearer than Audacity.

    A Rode NT1-A mic, usually available as a bundle with a pop filter and shockmount, plus a stand and an XLR cable and an audio interface such as a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 would be good but set you back about £300 all in.

    There are quite a number of USB podcast mics in the £150-£200 range so you could halve your mic cost if you wanted to go that route.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • StuckfastStuckfast Frets: 2393
    If you don't have a treated room, you'd do best to get a mic that you can work up close. The classic options are the Shure SM7B and the Electro-Voice RE20 but both are quite pricey and need a preamp with lots of clean gain.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Winny_PoohWinny_Pooh Frets: 7731
    edited March 2019
    Don't get Pro tools. (I have it so I'm not a hater) Get reaper, an audient Id14 or id44 and a used EV RE320 (or if budget allows an RE20)

    Spending most of your budget on software will count zero towards the quality of the end result.


    As for laptops get a decent used Lenovo i5
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • To be honest, ProTools was only an afterthought, as long as I can run Audacity (which is free) then all good.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • Getting one of the Yeti USB mics would do the job just fine, and negate the need for an interface. 

    I still have a snowball one for this purpose, although I've not used it much as I have a million other options now. 

    My Trading Feedback    |    You Bring The Band

    Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • octatonicoctatonic Frets: 33725
    edited March 2019
    Don't use a condenser for VO unless you want to pick up the room (you often don't)- use a good dynamic like am SM7B or RE20.

    Reaper plus an Audient interface is fine.
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • TimmyOTimmyO Frets: 7349
    I'd go for a dynamic mic if just for a spoken voice track - will save you needing to treat the room too probably. 

    Rode podcaster is good for this - and don't dismiss the venerable sm58 if you have one 
    Red ones are better. 
    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
  • HeartfeltdawnHeartfeltdawn Frets: 22096
    Laptop:

    Spec yourself up at PC Specialist. I bought a new one this year: 15" screen, i5-8300H processor, MX150 graphics, 256GB Samsung EVO M2, 8GB DDR4. £630 delivered, will end up costing me £660 after taking advantage of the 12 months interest-free credit offer. I looked at big name makes and simply couldn't get anything that suited me better as the bare bones lappies PCS use are easy to open up for cleaning and upgrade purposes. 

    Audio interface and software: 

    All the usual suspects here: Steinberg UR22 or UR12, Audient ID4. I'm interested to see what these are like: 

    https://www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/audio-interfaces/komplete-audio-1-audio-2/

    Don't buy Pro Tools :D



    0reaction image LOL 0reaction image Wow! 0reaction image Wisdom
Sign In or Register to comment.