Porta-Booth is not restroom...

bmowell

bmowell

Well-known member
...or so I've been told.

I guess DSE and Harlan Hogan came up with the idea.

http://voiceoveressentials.com/Port...froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

They suggest just building it yourself.

Anybody ever use one. My room where I record voiceovers does not have much reflection but I wonder if one of these gadgets could improve my sound quality.

I've been FREAKING OUT with OZONE and various other audio apps to try and get my voice to sound like the pro-quality of the narrator in Ken Burn's "The War".

Puberty be damned!
 
I'm sorry, but I had to go real bad! You know, that might explain why there wasn't any toilet paper... Good thread title!

As for that booth, for $129 you would think it would be bigger. Jay Rose suggested using either a a clothes closet, or making a free standing shield out of foam core board, kind of like standing a book on end and opened into a V. You could even insulate that further by gluing carpet or sound foam to it.
 
Inflection is number one followed by tone of voice. Tone of voice is something that is just there or not. Inflection can be learned.

When you find someone with the right tone and they learn narrative inflection you wind up with a Richard Kiley.

When someone is borderline with the natural tone but has good inflection you wind up with a Peter Coyote.
 
You can see for yourself if something like this would help by just throwing a blanket over yourself and your mic and doing a little VO.

You won't be able to plugin-magic your way to a great sound . It starts with good talent, and good analog gear.
 
bmowell said:
...or so I've been told.

I guess DSE and Harlan Hogan came up with the idea.

http://voiceoveressentials.com/Port...froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

They suggest just building it yourself.

Anybody ever use one. My room where I record voiceovers does not have much reflection but I wonder if one of these gadgets could improve my sound quality.

I've been FREAKING OUT with OZONE and various other audio apps to try and get my voice to sound like the pro-quality of the narrator in Ken Burn's "The War".

Puberty be damned!
Click to expand...

That's why they call talent "talent." It takes native ability, the right voice pipes, and practice, practice, practice. The narration quality of "The War" wasn't created with plugins, it was created by mother nature and years of experience.
 
Our booth often becomes a place to hide away loud servers so no one else can hear them. Of course this renders it useless as a recording booth...

Noah
 
Sooo...has anyone ever used one of these?

I've got a "radio voice". But there is some extra element to the narration on "The War" DVD. If you listen closely with headphones, it sounds like they added some type of harmonic excitation to it. I can do that in Ozone as well once I get the settings right.

His voice just sounds more "present" and centered in the stereo channel...and I'm wondering if maybe, even though I may not be able to hear it, my room is causing reflections that are pulling a little bit of the "punch" out of it.

So has anyone used one of these Porta-Booths. I'm not buying one. I'd just build it...lest I be spat upon by the PC DVX DIY community.

What kind of name is "Harlan Hogan" anyway?

Hurly Harpy

Harry Hundred

Heil Horeland

If you are a VO artist...just pick one...as long as I get credit!
 
My friend has one. It's ok if your room is already reasonably silent. But no replacement for a true isolation booth.

Noah
 
It may not be a restroom but someday it sure will smell like one if your clients don't know what it is. ;)

The VO voice: Radio DJs use to go to a special Broadcasting school to learn how to get the "Voice" sound. I think it's DNA, but maybe with practice one can get somewhat close to the classic sound you're after.

You can slow the playback speed down and it will lower the pitch and eventually make you sound drunk.

Boosting 2 to 3 dB somewhere around 140 to 145Hz will thicken your voice up. Also use lots of compression with a high ratio. do this while recording so you can use your throat in a very relaxed open way. Also do your VOs early in the morning. don't talk at all, except for your recorded lines. This should keep your voice low & thick. Don't worry about timing so much, you can cut & paste later.

Sidenote: A few years back I once went through a lunch check out line and this 18 year old kid at the register handed me my change and said something. I couldn't believe it, this natural deep well articulated amazing voice spoke to me. It was perfect, better than the MOVIE GUY, IMO. I stopped him right there and said you need to get yourself into Radio/Television and VOs SAP! ......hopefully he gave up the minimum wage job and we now listen to him. Usually I'm not envious, but in this case I felt my throat DNA was complete crap compared to this kid's rich voice. Oh well, at least I can speak, or is that squeak? :)
 
tigeba said:
You won't be able to plugin-magic your way to a great sound . It starts with good talent, and good analog gear.
Click to expand...

I have to agree...you can't 'create' a good voice, but as far as processing, I would recommend the Aphex 230. I have one of these (I used to work for the company) and it is GREAT and has everything you need right at your fingertips! Check it out: http://www.aphex.com/230.htm
 
These days I keep my signal chain as simple and clean as possible. AT4050 to an FMR RNP to a Digi 003R. That's it. All other stuff is done after the fact "inside the box" depending on the type of read.

Having a monstrous (4 layers of drywall) iso booth does help a ton as well.

pic circa 2005 pre-acoustic treatment (my insane white whale for that year).

IMG_2195.jpg
 
SouthBySoWhat said:
These days I keep my signal chain as simple and clean as possible. AT4050 to an FMR RNP to a Digi 003R. That's it. All other stuff is done after the fact "inside the box" depending on the type of read.

Having a monstrous (4 layers of drywall) iso booth does help a ton as well.

pic circa 2005 pre-acoustic treatment (my insane white whale for that year).

IMG_2195.jpg
Click to expand...

Where's the toilet?
 
Okay...I'm building one of these Porta-booth things as we speak. Hmmm...it would probably be easier if I put down the mic but I'm just so darned eager.
 
You could seriously LIVE in that thing!

Judging from the quality of the voiceovers on your site, I'd say it was effort well spent.
 
Heh, if you look on the right side, my buddy who did the design made it so the garage door opener could stay in place!

I oversized it not only for comfort, but also to allow a variety of instruments to be recorded if need be...
 
Capt Quirk,

Poor Dorothy never got any credit. I think they even dumped her when they made Road to Hong Kong...for JOAN COLLINS no less!

SouthBySoWhat,

How do you like your FMR RNP preamp? Is it superior to, say an Mbox mini or an M-audio 410?
 
I once recorded in a "booth" made from two old sofas without arms. :)

Experiment with the proximity effect on your mic. You may like the boomy sound of being right on mic if you can learn to control pops and wind.
 
Way better IMHO. Very transparent for the $$$. Some folks like a tube color or pres with personality, I just want the cleanest source possible and then I'll get jiggy with it later in post if need be.

FMR's a small Austin company that is well-liked in the music community.

http://www.fmraudio.com/RNP8380.htm


bmowell said:
SouthBySoWhat,

How do you like your FMR RNP preamp? Is it superior to, say an Mbox mini or an M-audio 410?
Click to expand...
 
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