Syntrillium Backup Forums :: View topic - Voice Master Pro versus Ultravoice Digital

luigi · Posted - Thu Jul 03, 2003 2:35 pm

During the last few weeks I have been sitting until late hours reading many threads in order to know and decide what could be the best audio setup for optimizing "vocals" needed for professional radio commercials.

I finally concluded that two very important components are needed beside a good voice, and that is, a very good condenser microphone and a very good pre-amp with voice enhancement features.

For the microfone I am considering either the AKG3000B or AT4033a.

For the pre-amp I am considering the Voice Master Pro or the Ultravoice Digital VX2496.

Can somebody please advise if I would "really" lose out if I went for the cheaper AKG3000B + Ultravoice combination instead of the much more expensive AT4033a + Voice Master Pro combination.

Your help would certainly be mostly appreciated as next week I intend to buy the equipment.

Emmett · Location: USA

If you're doing radio commercials, you're going to be fine with a cheaper pre. Before a spot is heard by a listener, it goes through some compression, EQ, and some other processing...Then travels through an STL, ISDN or T1 line, which often has a levelizer of its own...the signal is then but back together, where it travels through an optimod and transmitter...then travels through the air before being recieved by an antenna miles away. The sound will get ruined anyway. Obviously you want a good sound, but there is a point where it doesn't matter what you do, the signal can only be so good. If you want to simulate what the signal will sound like, add bass, excitatation and widening...then some compression. Save to an mp3 at 96kbps. Re-open the file...add more bass mid and high...compress more. That's about what your file will sound like once it reaches a radio.

SteveG · Location: United Kingdom

Emmett's quite right, of course - the most important part of this is actually collecting the best signal you can in the first place - which will make more difference to the ultimate quality of your voice than the mic pre will. For radio (and quite a lot of other things), the mic pre's in the Folio are more than adequate. A good mic is a lot more valuable (and affordable now) than a top-flight preamp is - the law of diminishing returns sets in pretty early with preamps.

luigi · Posted - Sat Jul 05, 2003 12:32 am

Thanks once again for the advice.