Introduction
Hi everyone, I’m Luis Cruz, and I’m a voice actor who’s been working mostly from home since 2018.
As such, I’m often asked for advice about microphones, and I’m sure many of my colleagues here at Voice Actors at Home PH, as well as others in the industry, have heard similar questions.
I’ll be blunt; I don’t think I’m the right person to answer this because I’m a killjoy when it comes to that line of questioning.
Personally, I think your recording space matters a whole lot more than your mic, and there are other things you might want to consider spending on before spending on your mic.
But for now, in this video at least, I’m going to try to give an answer anyway because, like it or not, if you want to make a living as a home-based voice actor, your gear and your equipment are investments that will definitely factor into your success.
So let’s dive right into the topic and get some answers.
Why Don’t You Like This Question?
Alright, first, you might be wondering what do I have against microphones.
Well, I’ve got nothing against mics. In fact, as someone who suffers from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), I have a really strong tendency to geek out over microphones and other gadgets.
Which basically means that I would upgrade my mic in a heartbeat if money were no object.
But the fact is, I really just think your recording environment matters so much more, and I’ll just repeat something I’ve said elsewhere, specifically Instagram: If you’re recording in a noisy space, your mic will pick up everything.
The SoundBounce all over your room? Your mic will pick that up too.
If you can hear noise, chances are your mic is picking that up as well.
Fact is, your mic is only as good as the space it’s in, so if your space is subpar, your mic is not going to save you.
If you want to produce pro-level audio, your studio matters a whole lot more than your microphone does.
And as for building that studio recording space, well, that’s stuff for another post or video or two, or well, let’s just say I can discuss that topic at length because, well, it’s yet another thing I can geek out about.
What’s a Good Starter Mic?
So, what’s a good starter mic?
Alright, before we go any further, a disclaimer: please don’t take my advice as Gospel truth.
This is my opinion, and some experts will agree with me, while some will react quite violently.
But I’m the one answering now, so here’s my suggestion.
And mind you, we’re publishing this video in the first quarter of 2023, so if you’re watching this much later than that, it’s possible my recommendations for exact models may be a little bit dated.
However, the principles that I’ll discuss right after those things should still apply, regardless of when you watch this.
Anyway, on to my recommendations:
- Get a dirt-cheap BM-800 for a few hundred pesos, and for those in the US, that converts to less than $20, but ditch all the accessories that come with it.
- Pair it with a decent audio interface like the Behringer U-Phoria UMC22, or UM2, both of which you can get for under 5,000 bucks, or under $100. Or, if you really want to keep your expenses down (though at the cost of some bit depth, but that’s another topic), you can grab a Teyun Q-12 for just around a thousand bucks, or $20 tops.
- Connect the two with a high-quality, shielded XLR cable for a little over a thousand bucks, or $20.
All in all, this should set you back some 3,000 to 7,000 pesos, or again, in US dollars, something in the neighborhood of [55-130] dollars.
Why Did You Suggest This Combo?
So why this combination? Well, the BM-800 is probably the most affordable XLR mic you can get.
And while it’s not a great mic, the bigger issue, in my opinion, is that the VA sound card that comes bundled with it doesn’t deliver phantom power.
And if you don’t know what that is, well, we can discuss that some other time. The point is, the BM-800 is just your starter mic, and you will replace it, hopefully not long from now.
And items two and three, your interface and your cable, will help you make the most of your BM-800.
And will still work for you when you decide to get a better microphone.
Ideally, you practice with the combo, then replace your mic when you can afford to, and when you can upgrade again, replace your interface.
Rinse and repeat. On a side-note: In case you’re worried about the audio quality of the 800, check here [5:15].
Here’s a little video comparing it with a mic that retails for over 3,000 dollars, and that’s a Neumann U87.
Watch it now if you want, then come back and tell me, can you tell the difference? I bet you can’t!
The BM-800 might not be something you’d call an excellent microphone, but it gets the job done.
What About USB Mics?
Now, some of you might be wondering, “I see some USB microphones available. Would you recommend getting a USB mic?”
The short answer is not really. I like the idea of getting an XLR mic right off the bat because of the leapfrogging upgrade cycle I described earlier: replace the mic, then the interface, then the mic again, and so on.
If you get a USB mic, you’re getting a mic with a built-in interface, all in one kit, which means you’ll spend more come upgrade time because you have to replace everything all at once.
Plus, having all the electronics of both your mic and your interface all crammed into one tiny space has its own drawbacks when it comes to audio quality.
We’ll discuss that topic soon enough, but the gist of it is that you can’t defy the laws of physics.
When you cram a ton of electronics into a tiny device, you have to make compromises, and often those compromises include losing some audio quality.
Which USB Mics Should I Try
Having said all that, if I gun to my head and I had to choose, here’s what I would suggest (again, these are suggestions from early 2023):
If you’re on a tight budget, get something from Maono or FiFine. I can’t suggest a specific model because I haven’t used a USB mic in a while, but a number of colleagues have suggested these brands. I would specifically look for the following qualities:
- It’s a condenser mic…
- With a cardioid polar pattern, which is usually represented with an icon like this [7:22].
- Something that can record 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz audio.
- It can record at 16 or 24-bit.
- Maybe, if they advertise this, get one that promises low self-noise.
Now, I won’t get into technicals here, but the idea is to get a no-frills mic that lets you produce clean audio on a budget, between 2,000 and 5,000 bucks.
Alright, now if you want to spend a little more, you’ve got a few other options:
- At roughly 5,500, you can get an Audio-Technica ATR2500x USB.
- Or you can shell out around 7,500 for a Rode NT-USB Mini.
Aren’t There Mics That Have Both USB and XLR Connectors?
There is also another option: get something that does both. Get a mic that offers both USB and XLR connectivity.
This way, you can start out connecting your mic directly to your computer via USB and then get an audio interface later on and connect your mic via XLR.
A number of my colleagues have used the Samson Q2U for around 3,500 bucks, but you can also try the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB for 5,500, or if you’re feeling fancy, you can get the Shure MV7 for around 15,000.
What if I’m Planning to Upgrade My Mic?
Now, let’s say you’re done with your first mic and you want to upgrade. What are your choices?
Well, this is a difficult question to answer because once you get past your starter microphone, mic choice is quite personal.
You have to go out, try different microphones, and find one that just works for you.
Most people end up with condenser mics, but I’ve heard of some who have fallen in love with the odd dynamic microphone.
It’s hard to find one word to capture that idea, but in Filipino, it’s “hiyangan”.
Some mics just work better for you than others, and in order to find that mic, you’ve got to experiment.
(Geek Talk) How Did You End up Choosing Your Current
I realize this doesn’t really answer the question, but since, like I said, it’s a personal thing, let me just tell you about the mic I upgraded to when I outgrew my Blue Yeti.
This is the Rode NT1 paired with an AI-1 interface. I chose this particular mic and interface partly because it’s known to have a neutral or flat frequency response.
In plain English, it doesn’t tend to boost any particular frequencies, giving it a natural or neutral sound.
Admittedly, the discussion on this can get very long, geeky, and for some, very boring, but here’s the general idea in a nutshell: some microphones bump up certain frequencies and sometimes cut down others.
And part of what this means is that some microphones will suit your voice better than others. That brings us back to my first point about “hiyangan”.
Anyway, back to the NT1. I needed a mic that both my wife and I could use, and I figured a neutral mic would work well for both of us.
We’ll both eventually get mics that we think really fit our individual voices or our individual vocal ranges better, but for now, this Rode works quite well for both of us.
Will I Need Anything Else?
Now, do you need anything else? Yeah, you probably will. One thing you might need, or one thing you will need, is a way to monitor your audio output and listen to your recordings.
That would mean headphones like this [11:17] or monitor speakers. And you might need a 1/4-inch male to 1/8-inch female adapter for your audio jack too. It looks like one of these things [11:26].
And you’ll also need a DAW, and that’s a topic for another video, which is linked right here [11:31].
Of course, you also need a decent recording space. Yes, I will harp on this point over and over and over.
To quote our fellow voice actor and VAAH PH ComLead Joel Villafranca, “My first real mic was the Blue Snowball Ice USB condenser mic. It was okay, but because my room wasn’t treated, it picked up EVERYTHING.”
The fact is, your mic will only magnify any problems your space might have.
So, make sure your recording space is fairly quiet and acoustically treated.
I believe that will be a bigger factor in your success as a home-based voice actor than your mic will be.
That’s All, Folks!
Alright, that’s all, folks!
If this helps you decide what microphone to start with, then it’s mission accomplished for me.
If it helps you decide that, “Hey, I don’t need a mic just yet, and I just need a better recording space,” then all the better.
Maybe we got more questions that we can answer?
Maybe you’ve got some violent reactions? Do you want to say anything?
Leave a comment, we’ll make another video, and basically just let us know.
And of course, don’t forget to like and follow using the links down below. Bye!
Introduction
Hi everyone, ako si Luis Cruz, at ako ay isang voice actor na nagtatrabaho mostly from home simula 2018.
Kaya naman, madalas akong tinatanong tungkol sa microphones, at sigurado ako na marami sa aking mga colleages dito sa Voice Actors at Home PH, pati na rin sa ibang parte ng industriy ay nakakarinig ng parehong mga question.
I’ll be blunt, hindi ako ang tamang tao para sagutin ito dahil killjoy ako sa mga ganitong uri ng tanong.
Personally, I think mas mahalaga ang iyong recording space kaysa sa iyong mic, at may iba pang bagay na pwede mong gastusan bago gumastos sa iyong mic.
Pero ngayon, sa videong ito, try kong magbigay ng sagot dahil, gusto man natin o hindi, kung gusto mong kumita bilang isang home-based voice actor, ang iyong mga gear at equipment ay mga investments na tiyak na magiging factor sa iyong success.
Kaya simulan na natin ang topic and get some answers.
Why Don’t You Like This Question?
Alright, first, baka nagtataka kayo kung ano ang problema ko sa mga microphones.
Wala naman akong problema sa mga mic. Sa katunayan, bilang isang taong may GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome), may malakas akong hilig sa mga microphones at iba pang gadgets.
Ibig sabihin, agad akong mag-a-upgrade ng mic kung walang problema ang pera.
Pero ang totoo, sa tingin ko talaga, mas importante ang iyong recording environment, at uulitin ko lang ang sinabi ko sa ibang lugar, lalo na sa Instagram: Kung maingay ang lugar na pinagre-recordan mo, lahat ay maririnig ng iyong mic.
Ang SoundBounce sa buong kwarto mo? Maririnig din ng mic mo ‘yan.
Kung naririnig mo ang ingay, malamang ay naririnig din ng iyong mic ‘yun.
Ang totoo, ang mic mo ay kasing ganda lang ng space na nandoon ito, kaya kung hindi maganda ang iyong space, hindi ka sasagipin ng iyong mic.
Kung gusto mong gumawa ng pro-level na audio, mas mahalaga ang iyong studio kaysa sa iyong microphone.
Tungkol naman sa pagbuo ng studio recording space, ibang usapan na ‘yan para sa ibang post o video o dalawa, o sabihin na lang natin na pwede kong pag-usapan ang paksa na ‘yan nang mahaba dahil, well, isa pa rin itong bagay na pwede kong pag-geek-an.
What’s a Good Starter Mic?
Ano nga ba ang magandang starter mic?
Sige, bago pa tayo magpatuloy, may disclaimer: huwag ninyong tanggapin ang aking payo bilang Gospel truth.
Ito ay aking opinyon, at maraming eksperto ang sasang-ayon sa akin, habang ang iba ay magrereact nang malakas.
Pero ako ang sumasagot ngayon, kaya ito ang aking mungkahi.
At alalahanin mo, ipu-publish namin itong video sa unang quarter ng 2023, kaya kung mapapanood mo ito ng mas huli pa sa petsang iyon, posible na medyo outdated na ang aking mga rekomendasyon para sa mga eksaktong modelo.
Gayunpaman, ang mga prinsipyo na ipag-uusapan ko pagkatapos ng mga bagay na iyon ay mag-aapply pa rin, anuman ang oras na mapanood mo ito.
Anyway, ito na ang aking mga rekomendasyon:
Bumili ng sobrang murang BM-800 na worth ng ilang daang piso, at para sa mga nasa US, less than $20 ang palitan nito, pero tanggalin mo lahat ng accessories na kasama rito. I-pair ito sa isang maayos na audio interface tulad ng Behringer U-Phoria UMC22, o UM2, na parehong mabibili mo sa halagang less than 5,000 pesos, o less than $100. O, kung gusto mo talagang bawasan ang iyong gastos (bagaman sa gastos ng ilang bit depth, pero ibang topic iyon), maaari kang kumuha ng Teyun Q-12 na nasa halagang isang libo lang, o $20 tops. Konektahin ang dalawa gamit ang isang mataas na kalidad na shielded XLR cable na worth ng higit pa sa isang libong piso, o $20.
Sa kabuuan, magkakagastos ka ng 3,000 hanggang 7,000 pesos, o muli, sa US dollars, nasa paligid ng [55-130] dollars.
Why Did You Suggest This Combo?
Bakit itong kombinasyon? Well, ang BM-800 ay malamang na pinakamurang XLR mic na mabibili mo.
At kahit na hindi ito isang magaling na mic, ang mas malaking issue, sa aking opinyon, ay ang VA sound card na kasama nito na hindi nagbibigay ng phantom power.
At kung hindi mo alam kung ano iyon, well, mapag-uusapan natin iyon sa ibang pagkakataon. Ang punto ay, ang BM-800 ay ang iyong starter mic, at papalitan mo ito, sana ay hindi na matagal pa mula ngayon.
Ang mga bagay na pangalawa at pangatlo, ang iyong interface at iyong cable, ay tutulong sa iyo na makuha ang pinakamarami sa iyong BM-800.
At gagana pa rin para sa iyo kapag nag-decide ka nang bumili ng mas mahusay na mikropono.
Ang ideya ay, mag-practice ka gamit ang combo, tapos palitan mo ang iyong mic kapag kaya mo nang bumili, at kapag kaya mo nang mag-upgrade ulit, palitan mo ang iyong interface.
Ulitin ang proseso. Bilang side-note: Kung naiinip ka sa audio quality ng 800, tingnan mo dito [5:15].
Narito ang isang video kung saan inikumpara ito sa isang mic na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit 3,000 dollars, at iyon ay ang Neumann U87.
Panoorin mo na ngayon kung gusto mo, tapos bumalik at sabihin mo sa akin, kaya mo bang sabihin ang pagkakaiba? Taya ko hindi mo kayang malaman!
Ang BM-800 ay hindi mo matatawag na sobrang galing na microphone, pero pwede na para sa trabaho.
What About USB Mics?
Ngayon, baka iniisip ng ilan sa inyo, “Nakikita ko ang mga USB microphones na available. Ire-recommend mo ba ang USB mic?”
Ang maiksing sagot ay hindi talaga. Gusto ko ang ideya na magkaroon ng XLR mic agad dahil sa pag-upgrade na sinabi ko kanina: palitan ang mic, tapos ang interface, tapos ang mic ulit, at iba pa.
Kung bibili ka ng USB mic, bibili ka ng mic na may built-in interface, lahat sa isang set, ibig sabihin, mas magastos sa panahon ng upgrade dahil kailangan mong palitan lahat nang sabay.
At saka, paglalagay ng lahat ng electronics ng iyong mic at interface sa isang maliit na espasyo ay may sariling disadvantages pagdating sa audio quality.
Pag-uusapan natin ang topic na iyon sa susunod, pero ang idea ay hindi mo kayang labanan ang mga batas ng pisika.
Kapag siniksik mo ang maraming electronics sa isang maliit na device, kailangan mong gumawa ng kompromiso, at madalas ang mga kompromisong iyon ay kasama ang pagkawala ng ilang audio quality.
Which USB Mics Should I Try
Sinabi ko na lahat ‘yan, kung mapipilitan at kailangan kong pumili, ito ang aking maipapayo (ulit, mga suggestion mula sa simula ng 2023):
Kung limitado ang budget, bumili ng Maono o FiFine. Hindi ko ma-suggest ang specific model dahil matagal na akong hindi gumagamit ng USB mic, pero maraming colleagues ang nag-suggest ng mga brands na ito. Hanapin ang mga sumusunod na katangian:
Condenser mic ito… May cardioid polar pattern, na karaniwang kinakatawan ng ganitong icon [7:22]. Kaya nitong i-record ang 44.1 kHz o 48 kHz audio. Puwede itong mag-record ng 16 o 24-bit. Baka, kung ipinapangako nila ito, kumuha ng isa na may mababang self-noise.
Hindi ko na pag-uusapan ang teknikal dito, pero ang ideya ay makakuha ng simple na mic na makakapag-produce ng malinis na audio sa budget, sa pagitan ng 2,000 at 5,000 pesos.
Sige, kung gusto mo naman mag-spend ng konti pang budget, may iba pang options:
Sa halagang 5,500, pwede kang bumili ng Audio-Technica ATR2500x USB. O kaya naman, maglabas ka ng mga 7,500 para sa Rode NT-USB Mini.
Aren’t There Mics That Have Both USB and XLR Connectors?
May isa pang option: kumuha ng mic na parehong USB at XLR ang connectivity.
Sa ganitong paraan, pwede mong i-connect ang mic mo sa computer mo via USB muna, tapos kumuha ng audio interface mamaya at i-connect ang mic via XLR.
Marami sa mga kasamahan ko ang gumamit ng Samson Q2U sa halagang 3,500, pero pwede mo ring subukan ang Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB sa 5,500, o kung gusto mo naman mag-feeling fancy, pwede rin ang Shure MV7 sa halagang 15,000.
What if I’m Planning to Upgrade My Mic?
Ngayon, sabihin natin tapos ka na sa first mic mo at gusto mo nang mag-upgrade. Anong mga choices mo?
Mahirap sagutin ang tanong na ‘to kasi once na lumampas ka sa starter microphone, personal na ang pagpili ng mic.
Kailangan mo lumabas, subukan ang iba’t ibang microphones, at hanapin ang talagang bagay sa ‘yo.
Karamihan ng tao ay pumipili ng condenser mics, pero may naririnig din ako na nagkakagusto sa dynamic microphones.
Mahirap hanapan ng isang salita para i-describe yung idea na ‘to, pero sa Filipino, ito ay “hiyangan”.
Yung ibang mics kasi talagang mas bagay sa ‘yo kaysa sa iba, at para malaman mo kung alin ang talagang bagay sa ‘yo, kailangan mo mag-experiment.
(Geek Talk) How Did You End up Choosing Your Current
Naiintindihan kong hindi talaga nasagot ang tanong, pero tulad ng sabi ko, personal thing ‘to, kaya kwento ko na lang sa ‘yo kung anong mic ang kinuha ko nung lumampas na ako sa Blue Yeti ko.
Ito ay ang Rode NT1 kasama ang AI-1 interface. Pinili ko ang mic at interface na ‘to partly dahil kilala ito na may neutral o flat frequency response.
Sa simple English, hindi ito nag-boo-boost ng kahit anong particular na frequencies, kaya natural o neutral ang tunog nito.
Aminado ako na ang usapan dito ay pwedeng maging mahaba, geeky, at sa iba, boring, pero heto ang general idea in a nutshell: yung ibang microphones ay nagboboost ng certain frequencies at minsan naman ay binabawasan ang iba.
At parte ng kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito ay mayroong microphones na mas bagay sa boses mo kaysa sa iba. Kaya bumalik tayo sa unang point ko tungkol sa “hiyangan”.
Anyway, balik sa NT1. Kailangan ko ng mic na pwede naming magamit pareho ng asawa ko, at naisip ko na maganda ang neutral mic para sa aming dalawa.
Makakakuha din kami eventually ng mics na sa tingin namin ay talagang bagay sa aming individual na boses o sa aming individual na vocal ranges, pero sa ngayon, gumagana nang maayos ang Rode para sa aming dalawa.
Will I Need Anything Else?
Ngayon, kailangan mo pa ba ng iba? Oo, malamang. Isa sa mga bagay na kailangan mo, o isa sa mga bagay na kakailanganin mo, ay paraan para i-monitor ang audio output mo at pakinggan ang iyong mga recording.
Ibig sabihin nito ay headphones tulad nito [11:17] o monitor speakers. At baka kailanganin mo rin ang 1/4-inch male to 1/8-inch female adapter para sa iyong audio jack. Mukha itong ganito [11:26].
At kailangan mo rin ng DAW, at ito ay topic para sa isa pang video, na naka-link dito [11:31].
Siyempre, kailangan mo rin ng maayos na recording space. Oo, paulit-ulit kong itutuldok ito.
Para i-quote ang kapwa nating voice actor at VAAH PH ComLead na si Joel Villafranca, “My first real mic was the Blue Snowball Ice USB condenser mic. It was okay, but because my room wasn’t treated, it picked up EVERYTHING.”
Ang katotohanan, ang mic mo lang ay palalakihin ang anumang problema na meron ang space mo.
Kaya siguraduhin na medyo tahimik at acoustically treated ang iyong recording space.
Naniniwala ako na ito ang mas malaking factor para sa iyong tagumpay bilang home-based voice actor kesa sa mic mo.
That’s All, Folks!
Alright, that’s all, folks!
Kung nakatulong ito sa’yo para pumili ng microphone na sisimulan mo, mission accomplished na para sa akin.
Kung nakatulong ito para mag-decide ka na, “Uy, hindi pa ako kailangan ng mic, kailangan ko lang ng mas magandang recording space,” mas maganda.
Baka meron pa tayong ibang tanong na pwedeng sagutin?
Baka mayroon kang mga violent reactions? Gusto mo bang magsalita?
Mag-iwan ng komento, gagawa kami ng isa pang video, at ipaalam lang sa amin.
At siyempre, huwag kalimutan mag-like at i-follow gamit ang mga link sa ibaba. Paalam!