What Mics, what scripts, for voice-overs?

Voice-over services - Sound design - Music production - VO show-reel recording - Pick the right VO scripts for your voice - How to select scripts for your VO show-reel? - What microphone to use, dynamic or condenser? What microphones and gear do we use and recommend for VO recording?

Voice-over examples in English, Danish and German, sound design and music production

Aprivista voice-over promotion video

Here are some examples of voice-over recordings in English, Danish, and German. The underlying sound design and music production were recorded and produced at Aprivista. We offer voice-over show-reel recording for VO actors and VO artists

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Apart from obviously your voice, there are other important factors in recording a great voice-over or vocal recording. The microphone, the preamp, the recording environment, the vocal technique, the placement of the microphone and the scripts you chose are all components that play a role when recording the "perfect" vocal or voice-over performance.

Probably the two most important factors after your voice are the microphone and the environment that is used for the voice-over and vocal recording. Despite the magic an audio editing software can do, the quality of your microphone plays a big role in determining the overall quality of your voice-over recording.

What Microphone do voice-over actors use?

Large-diaphragm condenser microphone. Condenser microphones are considered the industry standard for voice actors. These microphones have very detailed and lively sounding middle and upper frequencies, they are more sensitive than a dynamic microphone and to get the optimal recording you should ideally have an acoustically treated recording environment such as a designated vocal booth for vocal and voice-over recordings. To achieve the optimal recording it is also advised to have a great preamp to record the microphone through. In a professional studio, they will have that special equipment to achieve the optimal recording level. Condenser microphones are also excellent for field recording, as they are more sensitive than dynamic microphones and have a flatter response that is suited to capturing detailed audio.

Dynamic microphones are often used in radio broadcasting or voice recording. They are generally easier to use as they don't require phantom power to work, however, you will need a good preamp to get the optimal recording levels. Dynamic microphones are good for general vocals that don't necessarily need accurate and smooth reproduction, such as interviews, hosting, and live venues, they produce a warm sound. They are suitable for podcast hosting, general voice recording. If your recording environment is not acoustically treated then a dynamic microphone could be an ok option as it does not pick up the acoustics of the room in the same way as a condenser microphone will do.  

 Today's microphone market offers a wide selection of microphones ranging in price and quality. Over the last decade the market has seen the emergence of many ok and low budget microphones for vocal and music recording, however, the price tag is often still a reflection of the quality you will get out of your microphone for your vocal recordings. So it is recommended and still worth the money to spend most of your budget on either a good condenser or a dynamic microphone. You have to weigh up whichever option fits your recording situation and what outcome you are after.

Examples of different condenser microphones and dynamic microphones often used by voice-over artists, and in professional studios, ranging from lower budget to more expensive ones.

• Rode NT2-A, large-diaphragm condenser microphone
• Shure SM7B, cardioid dynamic microphone
• Røde NTK, large-diaphragm valve condenser microphone
• Electro-Voice, RE20, large-diaphragm dynamic microphone
• AKG 414C MKII, large-diaphragm condenser microphone
• Neuman TLM 103, large-diaphragm condenser microphone
• Neumann U87 Ai, large-diaphragm condenser microphone