Standardized Recording

Hey Reader,

We all know that a great performance is only half the battle in voice-over—the client also needs a clean, professional sounding audio file. While your gear matters, consistency matters just as much.

The fastest way to professional-sounding audio is by standardizing your setup before you even press 'Record.' No more fiddling with settings mid-session!

Here is a quick guide for calibrating your mic and gear and getting a consistent sound, every single time.

​

1. Check Your Distance/Position: Before you speak, measure the distance between your mouth and the mic. Whether it's 4 inches, 6 inches, or a specific measure you've found works best, make it repeatable. Do the same for your position, whether that's a little off-axis, or angled a certain way. Your distance and position play a huge part in controlling bass response and the tone of your audio.
2. Optimize Your Gain: Do a quick line check. Your audio level (or gain) should peak reliably somewhere between -12dB and -6dB in your recording software. This is a good sweet spot: loud enough to be clear, but with plenty of headroom to prevent clipping (distortion) on loud words.
3. Position Your Pop Filter: A pop filter isn't just a physical barrier; it’s a necessary buffer. Make sure it's positioned 1–2 inches away from the mic capsule. This placement protects against those plosive "P" and "B" sounds without muffling your voice.
4. Noise Floor: Take a 5-second recording of room tone in your booth and check your ambient noise floor (the sound of your room when you're silent). Aim for a maximum of -60dB, lower is better. Check for computer fans, a humming fridge, or an open window, and fix it before you start recording if there is something in your space that is causing a high noise floor. Rely on noise repair style plugins only as a last resort.

The takeaway: A professional VO session starts before the red light is on. By making this simple calibration a routine and eventually muscle memory, you’ll eliminate the common audio inconsistencies that force clients to ask for retakes or lead to lost auditions.

-Michael

​

Check out all of the past VO Pro Tips here! VO PRO TIP ARCHIVE​

Hope you find this useful! Feel free to reach out with any questions! And if you find these emails helpful - please share VoiceoverRoadmap.com among any VO groups your part of - Facebook, Reddit, etc... or just tell others about it!

Thanks so much!

Curious about my own personal VO Work?

​www.MichaelLangsnerVO.com​

Want to help support future content from VORM? Use our Amazon Affiliate link when shopping on Amazon by clicking the link below!

​VORM Amazon Affiliate Link​