Creating a Home Studio for Voice Recording
- Larry Cox
- Mar 27, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 2
For aspiring voice actors just starting out, creating a home studio for voice recording marks a crucial first step, particularly if you intend to pursue professional voiceover opportunities from your residence. For freelancers in the voice acting realm, the ability to record at any given moment is indispensable for achieving success in the field.
Moreover, with the increasing accessibility of home recording setups and advanced audio editing tools, voice artists can now generate high-quality audio recordings akin to those produced in professional studios, all within the confines of their own living space. In recent years, the demand for voice actors has surged with the rise of audiobooks, podcasts, video games, and animated films. This has led many aspiring voice actors to set up their own home studios to pursue their passion and career. However, creating a functional home studio requires more than just a microphone and a quiet room. It involves meticulous planning, proper equipment, and an understanding of acoustics. In this guide, we'll explore step-by-step how to create a professional-level home studio for voice acting. Choosing the Right Space
First, you'll want to assess the suitability of your space (room) for recording.
To assess your space the first thing I do is listen to it. Just talk in it have a listen to the way your voice sounds. You're gonna notice certain things. If there's a boominess or a high, ringy, slappy echo. Those are things you're going to want to get rid of.
If you want to try bringing your recording system into the space right at the beginning and record yourself to see what you sound like, that's a great start to assess what you've got and then set a game plan to zero in on a killer sound from there.
Aside from the sound of your own voice you also have to think about sounds coming in from outside that might make your recording unusable. Air conditioning in particular is probably the worst. There's traffic noise. Leakage from other rooms.
The main contributor to the sound of your own voice in the room is probably something you can't fix without a major renovation and that's the shape of the room, which is just the geometry. There are certain frequencies that rooms will support and certain ones that they won't, and when those unsupported frequencies start building up, the sound of your voice recording can sound quite bad. So, without doing a $20,000 renovation to an unsuitable space, the best thing is to select a rectangular shape room from the onset.
So, to sum up your considerations, assess the following factors:
Size: A smaller room is generally better for recording as it minimizes unwanted reverb. However, it should be large enough to accommodate you and your equipment comfortably.
Location: Choose a room located away from noisy areas of the house, such as kitchens or busy streets. Additionally, rooms with carpeting, curtains, or furniture tend to have better acoustics.
Shape: Rectangular rooms are preferred over square rooms as they have fewer sound reflections.
Soundproofing vs. Sound Treatment
Before diving into equipment setup, it's essential to understand the difference between soundproofing and sound treatment:
Soundproofing: This involves preventing sound from entering or leaving the room. Soundproofing techniques include adding insulation, sealing gaps around doors and windows, and using heavy materials like mass-loaded vinyl.
Sound Treatment: Sound treatment focuses on improving the acoustics within the room by reducing reflections and echoes. This is achieved through the use of acoustic panels, bass traps, and diffusers.
Buying the items and materials listed above to professionally and effectively treat a room can get expensive. Here are 5 affordable strategies that you can utilize if you are on a tight budget: 1. Select a room that strikes a balance between coziness and spaciousness, while allowing you to move comfortably. Ideally, opt for a room without windows, and ensure it features a sturdy, heavy door. Windows and doors are critical areas to focus on as they are prone to sound leakage. A closet is a popular choice by new voice actors.
2. Cover windows and doors to minimize sound transmission while acoustically treating the room. Moving blankets are a wonderful and affordable option.
3. Hang heavy fabrics such thick curtains around the room. Again, moving blankets are great for this. Position fabric in the corners in such a way as to create a triangular shape. All of this will reduce echo and reverberation, thus deadening the room.
4. Employ Furniture in the room as well. The goal is to create density in the room, which also acts as sound absorption.
5. Carpeting Solutions: Thick carpeting can significantly diminish unwanted noise in your studio. Consider carpeting the entire room, including the floor, walls, door, and ceiling, as an alternative to traditional insulating materials. You can explore affordable options by inquiring about miscuts from your local carpet store, which may introduce a colorful yet cost-effective solution.
When you think you have your room dialed in, perform a simple 'clap test' to gauge the effectiveness of your methods. Simply stand in the center of the room and clap your hands. Listen for echoes or hollowness. If echoes or hollowness persist, consider adding more sound-absorbing materials.
While both soundproofing and sound treatment are important, sound treatment is often more crucial for voice recording studios as it directly impacts the quality of the recordings.
Setting Up the Room
Once you've chosen your space, it's time to set it up for recording:
Positioning: Place your desk and recording equipment against a wall, preferably the one farthest from any potential noise sources.
Acoustic Treatment: Install acoustic panels on the walls to absorb reflections and reduce echo. Bass traps can be placed in corners to control low-frequency sound waves.
Furniture: Add furniture like bookshelves, couches, and rugs to further dampen sound and improve acoustics.
Isolation: Seal any gaps around doors and windows to prevent sound leakage. You can use weather stripping or acoustic caulk for this purpose.
If you are able to create some sort of booth for where you stand in front of the microphone, that would be great. If you can't afford to construct one somehow, a simple one can be made from PVC tubing and moving blankets. You can also get microphone isolation shields quite affordably on Amazon. Essential Equipment
Now, besides the obvious being a computer, let's discuss the essential equipment needed for a home voice acting studio:
Microphone: Invest in a high-quality condenser microphone suited for voice recording. Popular choices include the Audio-Technica AT2020, Rode NT1-A, and Neumann TLM 103.
Pop Filter: A pop filter helps reduce plosive sounds (like "p" and "b") and protects the microphone from saliva and breath moisture.
Mic Stand: Choose a sturdy mic stand to securely hold your microphone in place during recording sessions.
Audio Interface: An audio interface is necessary for connecting your microphone to your computer and converting analog signals into digital ones. Focusrite Scarlett and PreSonus AudioBox are popular options. This will feed your signal into software in your computer known as a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), which is used for capturing, mixing and processing your recordings. Some popular DAWs are Reaper, ProTools, Adobe Audition and FL Studio.
Headphones: Invest in a pair of studio headphones for monitoring your recordings. Closed-back headphones are preferred as they provide better isolation from external noise.
Optimizing Sound Quality
To achieve the best sound quality in your recordings, follow these tips:
Positioning: Position yourself close to the microphone (around 6-12 inches away) and maintain a consistent distance to ensure consistent sound levels.
Room Tone: Record a few seconds of silence in your room to capture its natural ambiance. You can use this as a reference for noise reduction during post-processing.
Mic Technique: Practice proper microphone technique, including speaking clearly, avoiding sudden movements, and controlling your breath.
Monitor Levels: Keep an eye on your recording levels to prevent clipping (distortion) and ensure optimal signal-to-noise ratio.
Post-Processing: Use audio editing software (your DAW mentioned above) to remove background noise, mouth noises, breathes, EQ your voice, and apply compression (as well as other effects) for a polished sound. This just gives you an overview. I cover the details regarding optimizing sound quality in detail in my tutorials and podcast.
Conclusion
Setting up a home studio for voice acting requires careful planning, room preparation and investment in quality equipment. By choosing the right space, soundproofing and treating the room effectively, selecting the proper gear, and optimizing sound quality, you can create a professional-level studio capable of producing great-sounding voice recordings. With dedication and practice, you'll be well on your way to pursuing your voice acting career from the comfort of your own home.
