OT: Voice over Mic 4 Christmas - what a difference

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 12/29/2008, 2:29 PM
ok, now my voice may be a bit more resonant, than before, the recording I did for the initial recording ( at 3a.m. cramming cuz I'd been so busy ), but I am just kind of blown away by the difference in the sound of these mics.

1st = rode NTG2
2nd = AT-3060 (clients sent me for Christmas)

Both recorded into Vegas Pro, and both had the same filtering applied to them from the audio presets that come with Ultimate S Pro, and noise reduction filter applied because they were recorded next to my desktop which I've got running with full fans at the moment.

file:
.wav - 2.3MB
.zip - 1.2MB

wow - what a difference is all I have to say.

and THANK YOU to my favorite clients if you happen to read this, I'll do voice overs for you any day :)

Oh, and I should let you know (in case you might be offended) that the content is an excerpt of scripture that I had read for a Christmas video - just FYI.

Dave

Comments

richard-amirault wrote on 12/29/2008, 4:22 PM
Why are you comparing these two? One is a shotgun mic., The other is a studio mic. They are built for different uses alltogether.
Coursedesign wrote on 12/29/2008, 4:26 PM
I am deeply offended that you didn't give equal time to at least Islam, Jain, Zen Buddhism, Shinto and the Zoroastran Faith!

:O]

But AT delivered as usual.

Coursedesign wrote on 12/29/2008, 4:27 PM
Shotgun mikes are commonly used for in-studio voice overs.

farss wrote on 12/29/2008, 5:02 PM
"Shotgun mikes are commonly used for in-studio voice overs."

The critical part there is "in-studio". Just plonked down anywhere in a small live room they can sound pretty bad and are even more problematic if the talent has no talent for VOs.

I have one client who insists on recording his own VOs by talking into his camera's 'shotgun' mic inside his car in his garage. I'm sure you can imagine what it sounds like.

I've just stuck with LDCs like the Rode NT1A, very little proximity effect so it doesn't matter when the talent moves around.

Bob.
apit34356 wrote on 12/29/2008, 5:58 PM
"I have one client who insists on recording his own VOs by talking into his camera's 'shotgun' mic inside his car in his garage" Surprisingly, depending on the luxury car vs jeep, it will probably sound better that any room in his house or office building,excluding a recording studio setup. ;-)
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 12/29/2008, 7:40 PM
I don't claim to be an audio guru, but from what I've heard, Shotguns are used for V/O work, and can work quite well. I don't record in a car in a garage either :P. I'm not trying to say that one mic is better than the other, I just was exclaiming how much more I liked the sound from my new mic.

My mic is positioned at an angle away from my face, with a pop filter between us. I am in my office/basement (pretty open, low ceiling, many angles that deflect sound around rather than making it a resonant area). I basically have no noise apart from the fan noise on my computer (case fans), which I add the Sony noise reduction filter (2.0) to take care of (though that does take out some of the highest frequencies pretty much all together I think).

Very simply though, all things being equal, the AT-3060 just seems to have a more extended range in the pickup, and works very well for the purposes of V/O recordings IMO.

Dave
Spot|DSE wrote on 12/29/2008, 8:22 PM
Shotguns are VERY often used for voiceovers, some of the biggest names in the biz use em'. But...whether in a WhisperRoom, a studio, or a bedroom studieo with a V/O box, a shotgun might not be the "sound" you're after. A tube mic, a ribbon mic, or an SM58 on popsicle sticks might be the sound you want. Rush Limbarf claims his gold-plated mic sounds better than anyone else mic....It's about what *you* like and what suits *your* needs at the end of the day.
Me...I like tubes on my own voice and I like shotguns on a couple of artists we use for V/O work. Harlan Hogan uses shotguns, almost exclusively....But really likes the new AT USB tube mic.
farss wrote on 12/29/2008, 8:51 PM
There does seem to be more snobbery attached to microphones than they deserve. Of late I've become more interested in how they look than how they sound. If a mic is going to end up in shot something chome or gold or diamond encrusted (unless you're Kylie) is a fliggin PIA.
Senny and Schoeps seem to be about the only ones making mics designed to be in shot and finished in uber matt black. I bought a Rode NT6 for a very good price which is nice and small but I'm thinking to paint it matt black or else slip a piece of carefully cutout black tubing over it.

Bob.