sgotr
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Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
It looks like Disney uses the U87 and Avalon sound strip. of course I don't have that much to spend. I'm setting up my computer for home recording and the first thing was to get a sound card so I got one. Now I am looking for a microphone to record voice tracks for film animation (independent film). I have done some searching for microphones and it looks like some are said to use a sound pre-amp. So, another question if it says to use a sound pre-amp does that mean that I can not use those types of microphones through my sound card phantom ports? Also I have read that the best way to record the voice is to record it raw and sweeten it up in the DAW.
post edited by sgotr - 2011/04/28 14:04:08
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skullsession
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/04/28 16:07:38
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All mics will need a preamp for spoken voice.
If your soundcard has mic inputs with phantom power, those ARE preamps. It's up to you if they do the job well enough for your purpose.
I'll let others suggest microphones....this is where it gets subjective.
Good luck.
HOOK: Skullsessions.com / Darwins God Album "Without a doubt I would have far greater listening and aural skills than most of the forum members here. Not all but many I am sure....I have done more listening than most people." - Jeff Evans on how awesome Jeff Evans is.
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AT
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/04/28 18:21:42
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Most - ok, many radio stations use the sm7 or re20 (shure and electrovoice, respectively). That gives the "big" sound, which should work for Animation, esp. if you are doing monster truck commercials (be sure and use a stadium reverb, too).
Without know the voice or type of animation one can only generalize. But one of the dynamics (above) would be a good choice, or a heil (the latest and greatest). Those run $300-400. A condensor would round out things nicely - large diaphram for male or small for female. MXL 2003 is the latest cheapee to comes highly praised. For a SD, hmmm.
What interface did you get - and what preamp does it have. For Voice over work a nice preamp helps. But hopefully that can wait. A condensor will most likely need phantom power - is that what you are talking about w/ the sound preamp?
@
https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
http://www.bnoir-film.com/ there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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sgotr
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/04/28 18:25:35
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Thanks for that.
you say
It's up to you if they do the job well enough for your purpose.
do you mean how it's tweeked in the DAW (Sonar 8.53 and have Adobe Audition came with the Production suite cs5)
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sgotr
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/04/28 18:32:47
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AT
What interface did you get - and what preamp does it have. For Voice over work a nice preamp helps. But hopefully that can wait. A condensor will most likely need phantom power - is that what you are talking about w/ the sound preamp?
@
Got a Tascam US-800 (haven't set it up yet) an two Rokit 5 monitors. I saw that Disney used a pre-amp the Avalon sound strip and wondering I had to also have one or use the pre-amp on the Tascam US-800
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sgotr
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/04/28 18:37:19
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AT
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/04/28 19:53:57
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The preamp on the Tascam should be fine unless you have a couple of spare thousand laying around. I'd suggest the RND NEve Portico II over the Avalon, but that is just me.
For voice over the room - a dead room, is one of the first things to have.
Mic next.
At some point something like the Focusrite ISA One or another "pro" preamp is a good investment per dollar. Lots more headroom than most interface preamps have.
But really, unless you are on Walt's head budget, the tascam and a dynamic mic should work fine. Throw up a quilt behind the vo artist to dampen reflections behind. A lot is the artist. Get a nice performance and your DAW's effect should be able to scuplt the rest. A lot of highend gear is for getting clients and resale. A good channel strip is nice, no doubt, but quickly reaches the point of dimishing returns. Two nice mics and a good preamp will put you in the pink against most post rooms.
I've seen all the old disney stuff - when my girls were growing up. Seen and seen and seen again. I don't want to relive those days, but thanks.
@
https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
http://www.bnoir-film.com/ there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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sgotr
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/04/28 20:39:48
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Thanks for the help AT. I've been googling for the Shure SM7 but even when it says SM7 it takes me to a SM7b which lists for 349.00. Is that the same mic?
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sgotr
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/05/04 14:56:06
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AT
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/05/04 16:13:29
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The SM7b is what they sell now. I don't think there is much difference, tho you may want to check. I don't know anything about the Shure, and would stick to something that I know the record of.
Most of the animation w/ actors voices I've seen are done with a large condensor, Neuman etc. But that is Disney and they have money. Most of the better LCDs cost more than the good dynamics. The SM7b has a tight pattern, which means less room sound, which is a consideration if your booth isn't treated. It also needs a high amount of gain. Most radio people get right up on it, which gives them more bass (proximity effect). Your tascam might not be able to drive it.
You haven't mentioned how much you have to spend (of course it is never enough), but the avalon is an expensive channel strip. Thinking of the best investment and if I was you, I'd spend the money on a mic, then preamp. A strip would be nice but I'd rather get a better preamp than a so-so channel strip. Instead of the avalon (nice but a bit too much at this stage) I'd get a Bock 195 LCD Fet mic and a focurite ISA One. I've used the Bock (or the older SoundDeluxe model) and it is a great all around mic. I've got an ISA one and it is a very nice preamp. Those should be less than than Avalon and mic - $1000 for the Bock and $500 for the ISA. For most of the channel strip functions you can use your DAW. For VO you are not as likely to need compression or EQ going in, tho a limiter is always nice. I usually think dark for analog going in, since Digitial is so bright coming out.
@
https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
http://www.bnoir-film.com/ there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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Beagle
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/05/04 16:25:06
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that's a PG42 and it's similar to the SM32/KSM-27 line. I think it would be fine, myself. I have a KSM-27 and it's my favorite vocal mic out of the small collection I have. what I'm more surprised at is that Best Buy has decent audio equipment for sale and at competitive prices! 
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sgotr
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Re:Microphone for doing Animation Film Voice Tracks
2011/05/04 18:14:33
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