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Chapter 6

Audition Audio Quality

The Professional's Guide To Voice Acting

Why Audio Quality is Important

Audio quality is crucial for voice over auditions, as it influences how clients perceive your professionalism and talent and it shows clients that your studio is capable of broadcast-ready files.

Clear, clean, and consistent audio has become standard for home studio recording, and audio problems and errors in auditions are no longer considered acceptable in the voice over industry. The standard for final files is the same for auditions, and clients do not expect to hear room noise, background noise, inconsistent mic technique, or uneven EQ in their files.

Audio quality is still the number one issue that prevents auditions from being chosen, so by ensuring that your audio is professional, you are already making yourself much more competitive

Audio Quality: Acoustic Treatment

Creating a dedicated recording space with proper acoustic treatment is crucial for producing high-quality voice over recordings.

Acoustic treatment is commonly confused with the term soundproofing, which is blocking or reducing sound from entering your home studio.

Choose a quiet area in your home where you can minimize external sound. If there are persistent sources of noise, such as HVAC systems or nearby traffic, you may need to invest in additional soundproofing measures. Once you have an ideal space to use, then it’s essential to treat the space itself.

When designing your recording space, it is also important to consider the materials used for the flooring, walls, and ceiling. Hard, reflective surfaces like tile or hardwood can create more echo and reverberation, while softer surfaces like carpet or acoustic panels can help absorb sound and improve acoustics. If possible, choose materials that are less prone to sound reflection and consider adding additional absorption or diffusion elements to create a more controlled sound environment.

If you think that your studio is competitive because it’s “mostly” treated, remember that you are competing against voice over talent with no room noise in their recording at all.

If your audio has audible room reflections, it will not be competitive. Use acoustic panels, moving blankets, or foam to absorb sound reflections and reduce echo. Place these panels strategically on walls, ceilings, and corners to target areas where sound waves tend to bounce around the most. Additionally, using bass traps in the corners of the room can help control low-frequency resonances and further enhance the acoustics.

A helpful test is to clap or shout in your home studio in order to highlight how much reverberation is still present and which surfaces are creating that echo.

Room resonance is present in every room before it’s treated, and certain frequencies can resonate and create unwanted resonances or peaks.

Sometimes you may need to experiment with different setups as well as your absorption efforts, taking into account angle and positioning of your recording setup, furniture placement, and your distance to the microphone.

Microphone Selection

A professional large-diaphragm condenser microphone is the preferred choice over dynamic microphones or cheap condenser mics.

A professional large-diaphragm condenser microphone offers several advantages for voice over work. Its wide frequency response range allows for capturing the full spectrum of your voice, resulting in a more detailed and natural sound reproduction. This is particularly important for conveying nuances and subtle variations in tone.

Moreover, the sensitivity of large-diaphragm condenser microphones is typically higher than dynamic microphones. This means they can pick up softer and more delicate sounds with greater accuracy, allowing for more precise and nuanced recordings. The low self-noise of these microphones ensures that the recorded signal remains clean and free from unwanted background noise.

While cheap condenser microphones may be tempting due to their lower price point, they often lack the quality required for professional voice over work. These budget options may produce a distorted or thin sound. It is generally advisable to invest in a microphone in the range of $100-150 USD as a minimum threshold for quality. Beyond the $300-500 range though, there can be diminishing returns on price as the quality is likely already professional-grade.

When selecting a microphone, consider its frequency response, polar patterns, and noise handling capabilities. The frequency response should align with the natural characteristics of your voice, ensuring accurate reproduction without emphasizing or attenuating specific frequency ranges.

The Polar pattern should be cardioid or supercardioid, as they focus on capturing sound from the front and reject unwanted noise from the sides and rear.

It is highly recommended to test different microphones to find the one that best suits your voice and recording environment. This can be done by visiting a local audio equipment store or renting microphones for trial purposes.

By experimenting with different models, you can assess how well a microphone captures the tone and character of your voice, helping you make an informed decision.

Here is a list of well-known quality microphones from professional audio brands that will help you start your microphone search:

  • AKG P220, P420, C214, C414
  • Audio Technica 2035 or 4040
  • Neat King Bee, Worker Bee
  • Neumann TLM 102, TLM 103
  • Rode NT1-A, NT-1, NT-2, NT-1000
  • Sennheiser MKH 416
  • Stellar X2, X3

And here are microphones to avoid for voice over:

  • Blue Yeti, Snowball (The Blue Yeti Pro is an exception)
  • EV RE-20 (Dynamic)
  • Rode Procaster (Dynamic)
  • Shure SM7-B, SM57, SM58 (Dynamic)

EQ, Compression, and Normalization

Techniques such as EQ (equalization), compression, and normalization can improve the clarity, balance, and overall sound of your recordings.

By familiarizing yourself with reliable editing software and developing the necessary skills, you can deliver professional-grade audio.

Popular DAWs include:

All of these DAWs have stock EQs which allows you to adjust the frequency balance of your recordings.

You can use EQ to reduce low-end rumble or to boost the presence in the mid-range frequencies, depending on the characteristics of your voice and the recording environment. Keep in mind that the microphone you have chosen has a specific EQ response curve of its own.

Don’t EQ your audio file unless you have a specific reason to do so.

Compression may also come into play while editing. It helps to even out the dynamic range of your recordings by reducing the volume of louder sections so that your overall volume can increase. This can help maintain a consistent level throughout your voice over performance, ensuring that every word is heard clearly.

Compression can help control peaks from plosives (such as “p” and “b” sounds) and can increase perceived loudness for the client.

Normalization adjusts the overall volume level of your recordings.

It ensures that your audio reaches an optimal level without clipping or distortion. Normalization is particularly useful when working with multiple recordings or when you need to match the volume of different segments within a single recording. It helps achieve a consistent and professional sound across your voice over projects.

At Voices, we recommend normalizing to -1db for your auditions.

The foundation of good sound is not plugins and processing—it lies in the recording itself.

A well-treated recording environment, a high-quality microphone, monitoring through high-quality headphones, and proper microphone technique are key factors in capturing clean and professional-grade audio.

Pay attention to the acoustics of your recording space, position the microphone correctly, and employ proper microphone etiquette to minimize unwanted noise and ensure optimal sound capture.

Mic Technique

We think of the voice as our instrument; however, the microphone is just as much the voice actor’s instrument.

Proper microphone technique is essential when recording professionally at home. It ensures that your voice is captured accurately and with optimal quality.

Positioning

Start by placing the microphone in an ideal position.

Use a sturdy boom microphone stand (as opposed to desk mount) and shock mount to minimize handling noise. Position the microphone at a comfortable distance from your mouth, typically around 3 to 12 inches depending on your room and the natural volume of your voice and the amount of acoustic treatment. Experiment with different distances to find the sweet spot where your voice sounds clear and balanced, with enough low end but not too much.

The closer you are to the microphone, the more low end you’ll get, and the more the microphone is angled downward to where the chest voice lies, the more low end you’ll get as well.

Angle

Aim the microphone at your mouth and slightly move it to one side, to avoid plosive sounds (such as “p” and “b” sounds) directly hitting the microphone diaphragm.

This is called recording off-axis. The microphone should be pointing towards your mouth, but you’ll be directing your voice slightly to the side of the microphone, as opposed to the center of the microphone.

This helps capture a more natural and balanced sound.

Pop Filter (optional)

Attach a pop filter in front of the microphone to reduce plosive sounds and sibilance.

The pop filter acts as a barrier between your mouth and the microphone, preventing sudden bursts of air from distorting the recording.

Consistency

Maintain consistent microphone placement throughout your recording sessions.

Avoid moving your head too much or changing the distance from the microphone, as it can result in inconsistent audio quality and volume levels.

Headphone Monitoring

Use over-ear headphones to monitor your recordings in real-time.

This allows you to hear any unwanted background noise, mouth clicks, or other issues that may affect the quality of your recording. Adjust the volume to a comfortable level, ensuring that you can hear your voice clearly without causing distortion.

Breath Control

Practice proper breath control techniques to minimize unwanted breath noises during recording.

Take deep breaths before each phrase or sentence and release air slowly and evenly. This helps maintain a consistent vocal tone and reduces the need for excessive editing later. One helpful exercise is performing a typical 15-20 second audition one single breath, and if that’s too difficult, try 2 breaths, and then later work your way up to 1.

A seasoned voice over professional should be able to perform this entire paragraph in 2 breaths.

Audio Quality Troubleshooting

The following issues commonly arise in voice over auditions.

Loudness: Is the audio loud enough?

  • Ensure that your auditions’ level is comparable to demos found in Voices search. Another best practice is to Normalize the auditions to -1db.
  • Make sure the microphone is not backwards.
  • Ensure you are close enough to the mic, with a proper gain level.
  • Make sure you are performing with fully supported breath control.

Room sound: Are there any reflections, echoes, or a “boxy” sound in the audio?

  • Reassess the acoustic treatment of your space. You may need more materials or thicker materials to absorb the echo in your room. Bare shelves and desk tops may also be contributing reflections. For smaller spaces like walk-in closets, ensure you are not creating a “boxy” environment and you have enough thicker, denser materials (insulation, moving blankets, clothes) to eliminate a boxy sound from your audio.

Noise: Is there background noise or an air sound, hum, or buzz?

  • Reassess your recording technique. The microphone distance and gain might be picking up too much of the environment and not enough of your voice. You may have to lower the gain, and move closer to the microphone, ensuring that the microphone is not backwards or pointed at a wall instead of your face.
  • Ensure your cables are not picking up interference and producing a hum.
  • Ensure the microphone is pointed at your mouth and not at a wall, or turned backwards.

High End/Low End: Is the high end distorted and muted? Is the low end woofy and overpowering?

  • Use reference files of other voice actor demos to compare your EQ curve (sans music)
  • Do you have any noise removal plugins, de-clicks, de-essers? They might be taking out too much high end
  • Reflective surfaces might be making the low end resonate too much, or you may be too close to the microphone.