Have we found THE Voiceover Mic????

Check prices for these Mics: --- (Affiliate Iinks)
VO 1-A: geni.us/bj-vo1a
CAD m179: geni.us/bjcad179
RODE NT1: geni.us/bjnt1
Lewitt LCT 440 PURE: geni.us/bj-440
CAD e100s: geni.us/bjcade...
Neumann TLM103: geni.us/bjtlm103
Sennheiser MKH416: geni.us/bj416
Neumann U87: geni.us/bju87
The headphones I'm testing (they're fantastic) geni.us/bjhd30...
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Thanks!

[@seijban6186]

Thanks a lot for featuring my mic, Mike! My partner ran up and shoved this video in my face the moment you posted it. Now I can boast to my friends that my mic has been inside Booth Junkie's booth and had you speak in it. And it was a shootout video too! I love these. This really made my day!

[@radiozelaza]

next stage is to be inside Booth Junkie's booth's junkie!

[@TheOstorlab]

Thank you for lending Mike this mic. I always wanted to hear a good review of it.

[@alexrosales8212]

@@radiozelaza Well if you did that you know what would happen right!!! Immediately and without a doubt he would have you record something!

[@TheOstorlab]

@_kf_ tr_a Thank you for thanking me for thanking Seij.

[@mmike855]

@_kf_ tr_a Hahahah

[@enriquekahn9405]

The real takeaway from this video is that Mike sounds amazing on any mic.

[@LiamFlaunch]

That's why his name is so similar to mic

[@samtripleseven]

@@LiamFlaunch exactly

[@tw364]

@@samtripleseven He's actually a puker. Sounds like an 80's smooth jazz jock.

[@Podcastage]

Haha. Damn you! I just bought this mic a week ago! You best me to it.

[@TheInvasionShow]

I still wanna hear the keyboard clicks lol

[@DieFallRPG]

I still need the box throw to feel satisfied :)

[@loose_tooth]

No worries, I still need to know how it sounds four feet away from the microphone!

[@ShawnMilo]

You have all the same mics, right? Except the U87, I'm guessing. You could replicate the video with a different voice. It would be really valuable.

[@davidw7348]

I'll be honest, when I wanna dive into the world of VO and beef up my game and get inspired I throw on some BoothJunkie, but when I wanna actually make my mic purchase and be entertained simultaneously I always cross reference Podcastage. Mic review consistency is what ALL other mic reviewers don't do. THANK YOU! I will definitely be waiting for the Podcastage review too. I love you guys.

[@ytb917]

his voice sounds great on everything, because he has a magic voice. he could use a 1970s burger king drive thru mic and still sound good. i think with a bunch of random clients, the u87ai would have the highest chances of sounding good.

[@ToddDolce]

Hey,..I use a 1971 Burger King Drive thru mic for all of my podcasts and professional voice work. It rocks!

[@kyleethekelt]

Thank you for this extremely helpful video. As a blind viewer it's imperative for me to have each mic verbally identified, and that is what you did. I rather think I liked the Cad M179, surprisingly, and I wonder what difference female voices would make to a shootout like this.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for providing these samples right next to each other Mike, super helpful!

[@Tacospaceman]

Holy shit. It’s so good. That’s so unbearably close to THE voice over microphone. 10/10

[@LongBeachRunner]

I love these kinds of videos. I'm not a voice actor, nor do I use a microphone, but its interesting to learn something from your videos as a headphone enthusiast. :)

[@xHadesStamps]

The polar pattern of the VO1-A is called "subcardioid." It's the opposite of "supercardioid." 2 omni + 1 figure 8 (super is 2 figure 8 and 1 omni)

[@thewarroom1203]

We've been saying MXL is really great quality for the dollar since 2011 we've used BCD-1's in our broadcast studio for 8 years and still we're not let down. They just work and sound good! This is a great mic Mike, and excellent video as always. Thank you so much! Gotta add, I think the Lewitt is the closest match to the VO's sound, followed closely by the MKE-416. Not bad for the price point!

[@loose_tooth]

You know, my life is crappy right now... The joy I feel when I see a Booth Junkie video! Hope you will be posting a lot more frequently. I love the booth with a selection of microphones in the background.

[@JunJP02]

The Lewitt LCT 440 Pure sold me.

[@BoothJunkie]

Yeah, the VO-1a has a bass rumble. Its present through the whole video when that mic is active. Also, I did reduce volume on many plosives throughout the video -- to save your ears and your subs. I'd love to hear your thoughts on THE voiceover mic. As if there could only be one ;-)

[@mjrinfl]

Agreed about the base rumble! I dont think its THE mic. But I think it's a pretty good mic for its price point. I'm not super crazy about the pattern

[@sbrown6434]

Mike, bought a mic via affiliate link. I’ve got a bunch of these but wanted to lend some support. I’ve got a question about mic preamps into A to D converter to usb. Is there a video about the equipment chain from mic to computer? I want to be sure I have it set up properly. Thanks sir!

[@smoogles.5534]

Just curious what do you attach your MKH416 too like is it behinger? kinda curious what it's connected to when you do your voice overs

[@zezesilver]

how is this comment older than the video???

[@BoothJunkie]

@@smoogles.5534 I connect to an Audient ID22 interface. (I also have a view analog preamps, but they are totally optional and not at all necessary)

[@gsuttonvo]

Hey, it's my mic! I own the VO:1a and I've gotten hundreds of jobs over the years with it. I'm adding a 416 soon, but honestly, I think there will always be a place for the VO:1a in my arsenal. I can't tell you how many compliments I've received from top industry pros over the years regarding the sound. If it ain't broke... Granted... space, editing, etc all factor into that as well. If you have a deeper-ish voice, the VO:1a may be a good choice for you. It punches above it's weight. Certainly not THE mic, but yeah.

[@zaidyusoff126]

This is. gold standard, great talent in front of superb microphone selections. Well done Mike!

[@itscrewston6684]

This channel is amazing

[@IsomPhilips]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I had the TLM-103 at one time and wound up selling it because I think the Rode NT1A sounded better with my voice

[@AnthonyMartinsRock]

The best mic I the world is the one that makes YOUR voice sound awesome and ready to deliver without having to rely on the computer to fix anything.

[@Sasha0927]

I love the way you cracked up at the end, lol. And... yeah, I think the most meaningful words I heard in this entire video (despite me admittedly being distracted by ordering groceries online) were, "doesn't matter." I'm gonna take those to the bank.

[@kesamek8537]

NT1 squashes all the competition here regardless of price imo.

[@DropkickNation]

...no?

[@DropkickNation]

@Ariel Falk I just switched from the NT1A to the TLM103 and man, it was worth the cash IMO. LOL

[@misterdrummings]

I think the VO:1-A Harlan Hogan Signature Series mic is a solid one and fits nicely within the group of other mics tested within its price range. (I would have liked to be have seen the Rode NT1-A added to the mix.) I would say in regard to cost versus the higher priced mics as evidenced by the comparisons, the law of diminishing returns applies. To my ears the Neumann U87ai did not sound $2700 dollars better by any means. Durability remains to be seen, but this VO:1-A seems to be a good quality mic and a good choice for voice over and probably one you can use and make money with for a long time. To me, "THE" VO mic is more of a marketing ploy than anything but the mic stood well amongst those tested here.

[@itsasmy]

Omg his voice! Makes me wanna buy this mic but I'm sad it wouldn't come with this voice! 😓

[@fionastocker3582]

Excellent video - informative, entertaining - and a smooth yet robust voice to listen to. :) Thank you.

[@richardhall8347]

LOVE your videos bro... I recently bought the VO-1 and LOVE it too... Amazing mic for the money. Great video. Thanks for making these vids (and this one specifically)!

[@mrfluffybunnypants]

My takeaway is IT DOESN"T FREAKING MATTER! Once you get about $200 nearly any microphone will sound great in a properly treated studio. After that, it's all how you use it. Great video.

[@martinkulik9466]

Paul Stefano ok which mic

[@PsychoBenches]

Exactly, especially a $300 microphone. I purchased the microphone in the video and I have high expectations since my room is fairly quiet. And I will get soundproof padding. HUGE upgrade from my current AT2020 XLR. It all relies on EQ, Room Size, Room Padding, and Background Noise.

[@Josh-sx2lg]

Yes a properly well treated studio will make any Mic sound good. But trust me, the more treated the room, the more difference are noticeable between a high end mic and a budget mic. Remember that condenser mics are very sensitive, they pic up everything, and if the circuitry on a budget mic is not top quality (which usually are not) that circuitry will be noticeable in your audio in a big $$$ sound proof room, and a U87 will kick the budget mic out of the studio, and same thing can happen backwards, if you have a home studio, that you just have a very quiet place, with well treated acoustics, then a U87 will sound good, but not at its full potential, cause he will pick up ambient noise that the budget mic will not, and you get confused that s the mic, and its sounds like the plus 200 mics and the high end mics are similar in sound, but no, the difference is earth to heaven. I spend all my savings and money I was earning from gigs in my set up and my studio, my room alone cost me 15K's, it is sound proof made by professionals and I hired a professional to treat the room acoustically perfect (every room is treated differently depending on the room sound waves or something like that, I'm not expert in acoustics, , they use a machine that picks up the frequencies that the room have and were they need to treat according to each frequency so that the room sounds perfectly balanced, it is a beauty science) anyways, I decided to spend all in the treatment for the room, with high end Pre-amps, mixers, interface, everything is studio grade equipment and then leave the mic upgrade to the end, cause I thought a good room will make the mic to sound good, I had the AT4040, which is an outstanding mic, but after all the set up (and obviously with no money left) I said "a couple of more gigs and I buy a U87 or if I could stretch more, the TLM 149" ..., but to my surprise, the AT4040 started to sound weird in the new studio, like a Samsung C1, so I had to go back and record in the Whisper Room and not in the studio, until I could save to get the 87. The 87 sounds better in the Whisper Room than the AT4040, but not that much, not enough to justify the price difference, but when I put it inside the Studio, the difference is waaaayyyy more. So, the takeaway is, if you have a Whisper Room or a proper quiet room but not a professional sound proof room, stick with budget mics, is not worth the difference in price within mics. But if you have or are able to spend some $$ in a sound proof and properly acoustic treated room, with high end channels.., don't get anything less than the 87.., (in fact in many high end studios, the 87 is the budget mic) So when you are about to upgrade, save money to upgrade evenly, within the room, pre-amps and mics, if you let one of those a little behind, you will have a weak link in the set up and that it would be noticeable.

[@alkashettigar2627]

@@Josh-sx2lg Thank you for that . Am just learning the ropes of VO and in a constant argument with self over the microphone. Any advice though on a good starter USB microphone?

[@rhann73]

Alka Shettigar was

[@Nick_Catania]

The Neumann U87 gets my vote for top VO mic.

[@TeatruSubtitrat]

Yes, that is kinda undisputed, but it's nice try out some new mic from time to time see if it works better with certain voices or instruments. But if you are a pro, you will definetly want to have the u87 in your locker just like Mike seemed to do :D

[@oliviervuille519]

Very interesting. THE voice over microphone? Maybe you should test the Sanken CU-41. I’ve been using it every day for 25 years and never found any mic sounding as good.

[@emarsk77]

Nice review! To me, the VO 1-A sounds quite better than the CADs and the Lewitt (and not too far from the biggies). The Røde NT1 still sounds like a better bangs-for-bucks, though.

[@sarfios]

I'm just sitting here... thinking. How spoiled are we to have this kind of concentrated experience, knowledge, equipment and effort represented in a specific topic in just 20 minutes... give that man a like please...

[@KellyCruz]

Thank you for your videos. Seriously. You provide so much valuable information and content, presented to us by your beautiful voice and beautiful face. What more could we ask for lol.

[@mettajennifer]

I'd really like to see mic comparisons with a female voice. And the difference in "bass" between them. Maybe I'll make those vids! :)

[@EstherRappaport]

I know this comment is a year old, but yes you should! I would love to see some reviews with female voices.

[@SPAMPANMAN]

i still love my shure sm7b and dbx 286s you recommended, i believe thats the best set up for the money, and i record artists with the same set up.

[@johnimg]

Thanks for the “taste” of your microphones !

[@alex.muntean]

The VO 1A price shown in the link in the description is 950 pounds. :)) It's supposed to be around 359 dollars. I think it sounds amazing for the price, just from hearing it in this video.

[@birdsonthehoodeatingpopcor415]

Maybe "THE" refers to it's being a mic that will be a safe bet in the sea of mics at that price range or even beyond. There might be plenty of people who are looking for a safe mic to choose in that price category if they were to buy and hope for the best without trying it out personally. I dig your vids. Years ago when they predicted narrowcasting tv shows to narrow interest niches, your show is like that for me.

[@vhaleryanadamant1975]

Cad E100S and Lewitt LCT 440 Pure for the win. I you want voice over get the one or the other. Rode NT1 as well, very good, but I'd go with Lewitt just because of the design. Truth is, any mic is good if you know how to edit and to do voice over. All of them are incredible tools, you just need to learn to use the tool.

[@radzhkapoor3742]

Every mic is great. Until the Neumann apears.

[@GodlogicProject]

The U87 is AMAZING... but the VO 1-A really holds its own! I have and love the Deity S mic 2.... but Im becoming more and more sold on the 440 PURE. Good work Mike!

[@dylanj8676]

I'd recommend spending the extra $100 bucks on the LCT 441 FLEX. It's a super useful mic.

[@ScottJamesLIve]

@@dylanj8676 I have had the 440 Pure for a couple of years and it performs quite well. And I agree that moving up to the LCT441 Flex is probably a worthwhile step up.

[@VoxFelis]

Neumann TLM03 $1,085 Erm...not sure I can get that juuuuust yet haha

[@RetroFan2.0]

Depends where you look I got mine for 700$

[@xaosnox]

The Harlan Hogan is okay for the price, but the pickup pattern is a problem and even the RØDE NT1 beats it in sound quality and value. THE mic, not just for VO, but for almost everything, is the Townsend Labs Sphere L22. It is hands down THE best microphone in production on the planet at any price. Have you ever tried it? It''s an great mic on it's own, but what makes it AMAZING is that it's designed to emulate all of the classic mics. That's a bold claim, but, unlike other emulation mics like the Slate Digital VMS (which is a joke), they really achieved it by working closely with Universal Audio, Ocean Way Studios and top audio professionals around the world. It has two diaphragms so that it can emulate all of the pickup patterns of 30 of the most legendary mics of all time, but, more importantly, it captures the richness, warmth, depth, and sheen of the originals remarkably by using a special cable with dual XLR outs that records the front and back diaphragms separately into two channels so it can match the pickup and frequency response patterns exactly after you record. You can adjust the axis angle and proximity effect from the plugin after you record, so you can get the proximity effect of the mic without the popping and sibilance problems that occur when you're right on the mic. You can also combine different qualities of two mics-even in post. The build quality is world-class, and their focus on the quality from start to finish is astounding. If you have an Apollo, there is a UAD plugin that lets you track with it using their Unison technology that matches the impedance as well. It's truly remarkable. They also modeled the Ocean Way Studios legendary collection and Bill Putnam's collection. It's $1,499, but it would cost at least 20 times that to have all those mics in your locker-if you could find them-and you'd be spending at least a couple grand a year in upkeep on those. You can find just the right mic for each voice, and, even without any emulation, it sounds extraordinary. I've worked with it a few times recording music and VO, and it sounded more like a Neumann U47 and U87 than the particular Neumanns that were in that studio because they needed some maintenance. The producer was blown away and said, "That's what my Neumanns used to sound like!" I found this great comparison where it not only pounds the Slate VMS, it sounds better than the Telefunken 251 it's emulating. kzbin.info/www/bejne/baqwp52cftx-m7c I'd love to hear what you think of it if any of your listeners have one. The best sound for VO was achieved by using the Neve 1073 or UA 610 B channel strips in the Unison slot on the UAD Apollo, then testing different emulations in the plugin in post. Two voice actors sounded great through the Neumann/Telefunken U47 emulation, and another artist's voice just jumped out with the AKG C12 emulation. It will be my next mic purchase. And the next. And the next. Oh, and the U87 Ai is a terribly made mic that is a very pale copy of the vintage version, which is what you see in studios all over the world. The two should not be confused. The TLM 107 is the best Neumann in production currently, but there are quite a few mics, especially the Sphere L22, that smack the pants off of all of the Neumanns.

[@EposVox]

I'd be curious to hear if the Neumann U87 sounds better with specifically-tuned post-processing. At times, perhaps due to a consequence of proximity effect, it sounded almost... cheap. Hollow. I didn't like it for half of its screentime. (HA as I'm writing this you say "no one's going to criticize a U87"... huh.)

[@robburgess4556]

The audio being out of sync with the video at 12:40 is driving my OCD to new limits 🤣 Whew, back in sync at 16:05 🤓

[@charl-johnduplessis9034]

I feel you

[@Tacospaceman]

I thought it was just me for a sec

[@tpthai2]

SM7-B with a Cloudlifter which allows 48V Phantom Power to be applied to the SM7-B. I have a TLM 103 and other mics. Best to consider your room tone and treatment when purchasing a mic. A TLM 103 will not serve you well when used in anything but a very well treated room or space. The best thing about the TLM 103 is it picks up every nuance....the worst thing is... it picks up every nuance.

[@ClearAdventure]

I also wish he had used the SM7-B. I still believe that will be my main volcal mic for both VO, and singing. 🤘

[@1972hermanoben]

Clear Adventure, see if you can get to test the Sontronics Solo, a UK-designed-and-manufactured dynamic mic. I have the SM7b, which I love, and bought as an upgrade for my SM58 beta for singing, in my home studio as well as for gigs; the SM7b stays at home now, in the studio; the Solo is my go-to mic for gigs - in terms of presence and detail, and off-axis rejection, as well as the fact that it can be held in the palm of your hand as well as sitting in a mic clip on a stand - well, it blows both Shures out of the water. You can buy three of them for the price of one SM7b, they’ve got a lifetime guarantee and they're built like bricks. Don’t take my word for it though - if you can, try one for yourself.

[@ClearAdventure]

@@1972hermanoben Thanks, brother! I will look into them! 😁

[@johnnyb357]

Yes Mike on mics! More Mike on mics! All together now!

[@2nazgul]

Rode NT1 is really cool for its price. Especially for those who don't like presence boost.

[@ThinBlueLaneRVLife]

What is happening fellow Booth Junkie!?

[@TeiwazTV]

The mic sounds really good, though the volume of the video as a whole seemed a bit low. I had to crank my speakers up as high as they go in order to properly hear the VO 1-A. Honestly, I really did prefer the sound of the VO 1-A to the Neuman U87Ai and all the other mics for that matter... I just picked up an MXL 990 after seeing your review of it and BOOM it changed my world. There's still something not QUITE right with my sound, I just ordered 100 sound proof foam pads and a new sound card, I'm thinking there might be an echo that's really throwing a wrench in my recordings lol if the pads don't help I might have to upgrade to a higher tier mic and the VO 1-A sounds great! :p

[@alex_montoya]

I like the CAD e100s a lot!

[@Arienne]

when you got a frog in your throat your voice timbre instantaneously TRANSFORMED into kevin conroy and went back when it cleared...

[@unkowndata2338]

Very nice b-roll!

[@mohamedsaad4738]

Thank you for the video i like your new setup

[@gaozhi2007]

Why are you doing this to me?? I have to sleep....it's 7 am.......

[@99temporal]

5 am here

[@randszzob8590]

Hey Mike, great videos. But that VO-1 polar response chart is clearly wrong. You can hear huge losses as you moved to the back of the mic, and plenty of proximity effect! The chart may well be a 100Hz plot. Single-plot charts are of no real use in assessing a mic, and would you trust the charts from a cheap Chinese manufacturer? No, of course not! And then again, you'd probably want to be able to use proximity effect for a great voiceover mic.

[@vervegrande]

Would have been interesting to have the Earthworks SV33 in the lineup for comparison.

[@Another_Lady]

"As I get closer to the microphone, I somehow get more attractive."

[@YannisPapadopoulos]

At least in my sound system, I'm truly impressed with the VO 1-A! Literally every other microphone sounded a bit irritating in the mid area (somewhere around 1khz-2khz) . Maybe only the sennheiser had that mid cut, but it turned out a bit too V-ish in comparison with the rest. However, somehow the VO 1-A was the most pleasing on your voice! I truly liked it. Definitely a great voice-over choice if you ask me 👍

[@JonnyBravo0311]

Mike, the audio and video went completely out of sync right when you started the segment on the TLM103 and continued through the MKH416. Once you got to the U87, things were synced up again. As far as audio... the VO-1 certainly sounded nice for the price. Now, to be fair, I'm not listening on expensive studio monitors or cans... I'm listening through a pair of Klipsch x6i reference buds, so I'm very likely missing a ton of the nuances that might be present. Having written that caveat, the differences I picked up were very subtle and wouldn't in any way justify the cost of the Neumanns, regardless of how the build quality compares. Sure, they sounded nice, but 10-times-as-expensive nice? No. Anyway, who am I kidding? Pretty much ANY mic would be better than the inline one on those Klipsch buds I mentioned earlier :). I keep waffling on setups... dynamic or condenser... audio interface or mixer... do I get a channel strip like the 286s or a mic activator like the dynamite (assuming a dynamic mic choice)... am I going to record into my Mac directly or do I want to pick up a Zoom... Yes, I'm starting from scratch. I thought I might give VO a try, or maybe startup a podcast or stream more or make more KZbin videos. Why, you ask? Well... honestly, it's because I have been a guest on a few podcasts and I constantly give presentations for work and have consistently heard, "you've got a great voice, have you considered doing any professional work?" Whatever it is, it will certainly be a part-time gig... unless of course someone is so blown away by my voice that I land a multi-million dollar deal :D

[@Daniel_Batal]

Sync was fine for me. Most likely a KZbin playback issue on your end.

[@danmagoo]

@@Daniel_Batal The sych issue happens for me too, starting around 12:41 . Still, a great video.

[@JonnyBravo0311]

@@Daniel_Batal It happened on two different laptops (MacBook Pro and IBM ThinkPad) using Chrome, IE, Edge and Safari, my iPhone and my iPad. I tested it multiple times before I commented, and just tested it again from a completely different location and same result. As soon as Mike snaps his fingers and does the mic check on the TLM103, audio and video go out of sync. Is it possible that every single one of these suffered the same playback issue on my end? I suppose... but it's pretty unlikely.

[@AHDudeGuy]

No, You're correct. It was out of sync for those portions.

[@williamfernandez5170]

I had to really raise my volume in order to hear what you were saying

[@Niidea1986]

I can't help but reading "voilá" instead of VO-1A

[@totallyfrozen]

I think the Harlan Hogan runs close to the U-87 (at least in this demo) and it made the Lewitt sound thinner. The HH certainly had more beef than the Lewitt. I think it compared well against the TL-103, the Sennheiser, and the CAD. For what it’s worth, I’m listening to this over Bluetooth earbuds so I’m certain I’m missing some subtle nuances. In any case, for the price, I think it’s definitely a professional mic. I didn’t hear a reason to step up to the $1,000 TL-103 or the $3,000 U-87. This demo is just more proof that you can get a very great sounding professional mic in the $300 range.

[@tomjohnson6675]

Until I get to the point that I can afford and house a TLM 103, I will keep my NT1 and be happy.

[@stepparentingmadeeasy]

Past the 1 grand mark the comparison is ruthless. There’s a world of difference. And to a trained ear…there is even more difference. But if you cannot tell the difference do not spend that money

[@atlastennyson8401]

300 bucks Def worth it I've had mine for like 2 months

[@LemonLimeSqueeze]

The MKH416 and TLM103 sound way better than the U87 imo, if anything those two are "THE" voiceover mics.

[@silverlake973]

My Rode NT1 broker after it's 2nd use!! Terrible. Made my go for the the VO 1-A since i wanted that to begin with anyway

[@doctorhagglefester7199]

Drop them a few times, I'm sure the REAL winner of the competition will quickly emerge.

[@cookiechanart6586]

Omg. Your voice makes me feel so warm. I love it. The mics you use really does make a difference!!!

[@nikinik7503]

Hello Mike! I have a new mic for you. Please try Sennheiser MKH 8060. I think you will discover the 416 reborn and refine version, in a smaller form factor. Try it.

[@MyShowbizName]

I was quite impressed with that Rode for the money. Out of the mics at that price point. I'd give that one the edge.

[@severage8790]

The one trapping that microphone comparison videos has I feel is "Does my voice sound like this KZbinr's voice?". Some mics just sound better on different people, and some people don't have a bassier voice like Booth Junkie's here. I will say, though, of all these mics, I felt (At least with his voice) the 440 PURE sounded very good. It bumped the clarity of his particular voice, which sounded nice compared to the more bass-emphatic mics when his voice has bass to spare. The NT1 also sounded very good against the VO 1-A, with an overall more "direct" sound and less "breadth". I don't really like how wide the VO 1-A sounds - I feel like it doesn't add much except presence to the sound at the cost of being less precise. Overall, the VO 1-A might be *the* Podcast mic, in my opinion, and it holds up well against other mics, but at least the NT1 and 440 PURE sounded marginally better.

[@austynbilyeu2336]

Mike! Id still love to see some videos on the voiceover business side. How much do you charge for your work? How much do you process auditons? Etc. Ive found other resources but am always interested in your take :)

[@cathyholding]

Just thought you'd want to know that your VO 1-A link goes to Amazon and says, "Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock." All the best!

[@mageprostudios4334]

VOEssentials.com

[@markrouse3722]

Love how us shift mic. to mic. all in a row. Best microphone shoot put ever I have seen. I have seen a lot.

[@matthew.datcher]

I find it interesting how there are snobs in everywhere. "You're using a $200 microphone? You should be using this $2000 microphone." Or, "You're using those $400 speakers? They're terrible. You should be using these $1000 speakers." I think sometimes good enough is good enough. And, unless the snobs are going to get me enough work to justify spending two to ten times as much on equipment, I'll keep using what I can afford, thank you.

[@sanqingtemple6404]

The rule of ten always applies: 10 times the cost will get you 10% better sound.

[@TechButler]

To me, the U87 and the E100S sound the best.

[@taylorsharp5928]

Suggestion from the peanut gallery... Consider using an neutral density filter to allow slower shutter speeds so you don't have the unnatural soap opera effect

[@dangavsterGAMES]

I've been using the Neumann TLM 102 for almost 5 years now, and I'd say its a great choice if your budget isnt quite enough for the 103. It has a nice flat frequency response too, which is great for tweaking with your preamp/mixer.

[@JollyLegend]

Hey Dan, love your NG videos and your audio sounds amazing, any tips?

[@dangavsterGAMES]

@@JollyLegend I think you're on the right track with your new mic purchase. That RE20 you bought has a much richer more bodied sound than the NT1-A and less noise too. I think as long as your space is treated enough to minimize reflections, and you are positioning yourself so you're comfortable in front of your mic you'll get a good sound. I think the only other tip I could offer is: Take advantage of VST plugins for enhancing your sound to your liking. I have a dbx 286s to enhance my sound in realtime, but before that I used a program called VST Host to run my voice through VST effects like Compression, EQ, noise gate etc to get that radio sound. And since there are so many free VST effects out there that do a phenomenal job, you can get a great processed radio like sound for no extra cost. Since VST host is an old and free program. Free plugins like LoudMax (compression/limiter) and Free Gate are widely available and Virtual Audio cable (www.vb-audio.com/Cable/) is a completely free way to output the processed effects into a device that can be used for recording. You can get a great sound for nothing with minimal effort. Heck, I used VST Host and LoudMax for many years to get a real-time processed sound before I upgraded to the dbx 286s for convenience. I'd say the mic you have now sounds great, and you're already on the right track, keep doing what your doing and I think you'll get the results you want!

[@Johnthefearless]

Have the 102 with audient id14 pretty happy with it my self

[@stevefreegard6406]

If you're looking for a great pair of headphones, make sure you try the Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohms. I've tried a lot of different headphones for studio use and these are by far my favourite.

[@audiofreakspl]

3rd vote of confidence for the BD DT770 Pro80s!!

[@DropkickNation]

Stereotypical pic. Do more research.

[@audiofreakspl]

@@DropkickNation awesome, constructive comment in which you really contribute to the conversation.

[@DropkickNation]

@@audiofreakspl Says the guy that blindly supported a statement that had no factual information to begin with.

[@audiofreakspl]

@@DropkickNation not blind, I do own those headphones, but sure, you win at the Internet. Hurrah for you.

[@muntasir_almusalmi]

Did u returned all that microphones immediately after u shoot the video!!

[@stevelevin2834]

Thank you for doing this! I have a Harlan Hogan VO1A and I've been very happy with it in my studio. I'm really considering adding the Sennheiser to my collection as I've heard nothing but great things from other professional voiceover talents about it. My takeaway from your video is that for the time being I'll being doing fine with what I have until I can take the plunge on the Sennheiser. Love your videos, again thank you for the comparisons.

[@changedytaccount5539]

Sorry I'm a little late but what boom arms are compatible with the VO: 1-A? I just want to know since the mic is like 10 years old

[@TVperson1]

The rode NT1 sounds really good. It captures the deepness in your voice.

[@ceciliamcneal7954]

Which one is better for audio book recording in a female voice under $500 please?

[@taqebuch]

What kind of light do you use for the background (blue)? Can you link it for me?

[@Cheshire_Cataclysm]

It's just a re-labeled MXL 2006--which sells for $100.

[@andregautron2821]

Have to say the Vo 1-A is a smooth transparent mic. Proximity is a major selling point for me and is something I will consider down the road for a more controlled environment. Currently I use an Sm7B with fet head for low budget onsite recording as I get stuck often in places that is not forgiving when it comes to environments (room reflections) with my condensers (NT1A and or 4033). The greatest down fall of course with a dynamic the issue is with proximity. The E100s looks as though could be an alternative, would you have another recommendation ?

[@stevekrumlauf8178]

Mike, at the recommendation of my sales engineer at Sweetwater, I recently upgraded my main booth microphone from a discontinued AKG to the Warm Audio WA-87. I'm told it's a nearly spot-on clone of the original Neumann U-87. Not ever having used a Neumann of any kind, I couldn't swear to that in court, but, at about $2,600 less than the U-87Ai, it fits much better into my budget and it sounds fantastic!

[@ricknash3055]

The comparisons are a lot of fun to listen to on my S9 phone. Not sure the U87 was setup the same as it seemed significantly 'louder" and fuller with the preamp and compressor/limiter likely reacting a bit different. What does the complete audio chain consist of?

[@nil2k]

The moment you started talking into the 416, my brain said "that's the booth junkie sound I'm used to..." and yet when you switched to the other mic, there wasn't any obvious difference until your voice got into a certain range that made it a little more obvious... it's interesting how little it takes to make a difference... and surprisingly the u87 didn't even measure up in my head (but maybe it's what I'm "used" to hearing that matters here?) so maybe just for me, your 416 is THE voiceover mic.

[@goodme001]

That MXL VO 1-A does sound pretty good for the cost. It wouldn't do too good for me because I use the mic out of frame (studio not a booth), so I use a pencil condenser mic or a shot gun. I think the VO 1-A would pick up too much room noise because of the wide cardioid pattern. It does sound very good though. Thanks for the great video and information. That was a lot of mic comparisons, awesome. For me the CAD e100s...

[@moristar]

If we talk comparable prices Røde was noticeable better sounding mic + extra stuff that comes with it - better deal all around

[@PeteSchmidt]

Hey Mike, Have you ever messed around with the Townsend Lab Sphere L22. Would love to hear your opinion on it. I love mine!

[@SO-kz9su]

All sound same on phone speakers.. :)

[@Nedeles]

is really quiet, but the volume is really really low

[@RealDymondZ]

Strangely - only for this video and it never happend to me before - the sound only comes out of my subwoofer? I cannot understand a word but it seems that nobody has this problem

[@generalcontrol]

This mic is quite strange. Or rather its market positioning. The bass roll-off and high end boost is just a pre-applied EQ. It won't tame the proximity effect as claimed. You would still need a dynamic EQ or a multiband compressor to make up for the voiceover actor moving back an forth. It still suffers from the proximity effect. Is PE a problem for an experienced sound engineer? No, it isn't. For an amateur - yes, but still this mic doesn't solve this problem. Wide cardioid is an arguable choice as well. It raises the bar for room's acoustic treatment. That's not good for an amateur bedroom recordist. Self-noise of 16dbA isn't impressive either by today's standards. So this mic creates as many problems as it claims to solve.

[@JackFright]

Mike, just wanted to say thanks. Appreciate this channel. It's been helpful while I have been putting together a basic setup for the office. I liked the E100S so much for the office that I bought one for myself as well. I do feel like I sound muddy, though. I am not certain if that is just me hearing the recording of myself and not liking it or if there is something I can do. Would you mind pointing me at any material that might help me on KZbin or elsewhere to diagnose and fix that? If you end up using that for a video topic, that would be great as well. Thanks!

[@steprockmedia]

Shock mount looks to be the same as the MXL-990, which I own and use. Lower price point mic, but I like it. That VO1-A is no slouch - sounds very nice. Not like a $3K Neuman, but hey!

[@walterwilliams1323]

Great mic shoot out Mike. Surprisingly the VO 1-A held it's ground pretty well amongst some stiff competition, but it's def not THE Voiceover Mic. Try my Neumann TLM 49 in "Booth Junkie" one day and you'll be impressed.

[@TheMucusMan]

For $300 vs $1,000+, I'd say its *the* microphone for amateurs that can't afford one of the Neumans.

[@Bcwilderness]

forget the mics the mxl gets it done, get a prism lyra adda interface, end game, had all those mics try the most important bridge to the pc