Some of the most frequent comments I see on my videos are ones asking about my gear and studio build. And I’ve never answered because to be honest... it’s a very long answer.
So last night I finally decided to put together this brief guide on how to create a recording space for voice acting, YouTube videos, reels, shorts, and tiktoks with my assistant, Barbara "Babbs" Streisand.
Before we get started, I need to be very clear that if your goal is to be a competitive full-time voice actor with a broadcast quality recording space, it is absolutely essential to get a consultation with a specialized voice over engineer. It is almost impossible to create your own recording space that will be up to broadcast standards without the help of an engineer who very specifically specializes in recording spaces for voice actors. So take the information below to your engineer and get some help fine tuning your setup. The vast majority (if not all) of engineers these days are able to consult on these spaces and help build them virtually.
Again, I can not stress this enough - if you want to be a professional voice actor, get a professional voice over engineer to create a professional recording space.
My engineer has been Emmett Andrews since 2017. He’s helped me with all of my setups since then and I highly recommend his engineering services.
I’m going to go over each recording space I’ve worked in at various times in my career, starting with the most affordable and finishing with my custom in-home studio.
Note: I do get a small affiliate commission if you use these links, which is very appreciated!
The Hanging Travel Booth
When I was in my early 20s, still working at my day job, and voice acting part-time, I was predominantly doing small local independent work. At that time, I had a little hanging booth like this. Today, this is what I would recommend if you’re just starting out but want something that sounds a little better than just sitting in your closet on a rug. Something like this would be good for, again, small independent projects but typically isn’t going to cut it for something that needs to be broadcast level quality. These hanging booths are also called travel booths and can be great if you’re on the road and need to submit a quick audition.
Here’s another version that can sit on a desk or table.
The Isolation Booth
This was the last kind of recording space I was using while I was building my in-home studio. An isolation booth can deliver a very professional sound with the assistance of an engineer. These are super easy to build but can take a little elbow grease if you don’t have another set of hands to help build the structure. This is a great option if you want something that can deliver quality sound and won’t break the bank.
All you need to do after you build the frame is add the acoustic blankets. These are the ones I used -
The Home Studio
This is what I have now! I converted the third room of my condo into a recording studio. My engineer and I took very careful measurements and had everything custom built and ordered through GIK. The entire process including planning and execution for me personally took about two years but for many folks, it would take about three months. This is not something I would recommend doing without the assistance of an engineer who specializes in voice acting.
Gear:
I only buy my gear from Sweetwater. There is no guarantee that you’re getting an authentic and quality product anywhere else (believe me, I’ve tried). Sweetwater also has impeccable customer service and is just a fantastic company all around.
Audient iD14 MKII USB-C Audio Interface
This is what powers your microphone
Saramonic LC-XLR XLR to iOS Lightning Interface Cable - 19.5 foot
This is how you plug in your microphone into the interface that connects to your phone for tiktoks, reels, and shorts
IK Multimedia iRig Pro I/O USB Audio Interface for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC
This is the interface for your phone
On-Stage SMS7650 Hex Base Studio Boom Microphone Stand
This is where your microphone lives
iZotope RX Post Production Suite 8 - Upgrade from RX Post Production Suite 7.5
This smooths out audio issues like mouth noise and more
And finally the answer to my most frequently asked question:
What microphone do you use?
Mojave Audio MA-201fet Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone - Vintage Gray
I hope this was helpful and you love your new recording space!
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