ISOVOX 2 Vs. ISOVOX GO: Vocal Isolation Booth Review (With Audio Samples)

[@NewLayer]

What do you think about the concept behind ISOVOX? What do you currently use as a recording booth?

[@ted6385]

Thanks a lot for this video! It is very informative and helpful to get understanding which one is better suits for my needs. In terms of isolation - the ISOVOX 2 is better than ISOVOX GO but it makes the voice sounds more bassist which can be an issue for bass voices.

[@NewLayer]

I'm glad it helped! The main goal of these is definitely getting rid of reverb/echo, which is next to impossible to do well in editing. The ISOVOX GO is more transparent, which I agree, could be the better choice for deeper male voices. Either one works very well with a little EQ in post, which should really be done anyways, so I don't really even consider it a con since it's no extra work.

[@REMY.C.]

Oh wow your wife's voice is sooo nice!!!! Is there somewhere I could here more like audiobooks?

[@MaryLova]

thank you so much for this video. It really helped me shape my thoughts around whether to try the isovox go or not. Ps. The Isovox 2 sounds a lot more bassy to my opinion as in comparison with the Go version

[@NewLayer]

I'm glad it was helpful! And yes, they each have their own unique sound. I prefer the ISOVOX GO for myself for that same reason, while the 2 works very well for my wife and gives her a fuller sound on the low end. One thing to keep in mind for anyone else who reads this, is that tweaking the frequency response with EQ can be done easily, but removing reverb/echo in post-production is extremely difficult or impossible. Since all production audio should have EQ done anyways, there's no extra work in that sense, it's just handled a little differently.

[@MaryLova]

@@NewLayer I guess, like any voice equipment, it matters what type of voice you have so it ehances those frequencies.

[@NewLayer]

@@MaryLova Yep, always ideal to find what fits your voice best.

[@REMY.C.]

And here I thought the Aston Halo Shadow at 265€ was too of a high price for me to start recording in a non treated room (total beginner).

[@NewLayer]

There's definitely a huge range, from using a clothing packed closet for $0, 1" eggcrate foam for $100, ISOVOX booths for $500-1000, a basic self-contained booth for $5,000-8,000, or fully custom stuff for $10K+. Whatever you can currently make work within your budget is usually the best solution :)

[@lucasjuniorproducer]

I notest kind of a Phaser Stuff on the Isovox 2...Strange

[@NewLayer]

You might be hearing a boost in the lower frequencies. The space between the mic and walls is too small to really create any phasing issues. Any reflections would be in the 0.1 millisecond or less range. To absorb lower frequencies, you need much thicker materials, like 4-8" or more. That's why the 1-2" egg crate foam isn't well-liked, because it doesn't affect midrange or lower frequencies, and is why recording studios have panels that are super thick + bass traps, etc. So, because of the material thickness, the ISOVOX 2 will absorb more high end, while reflecting more low end, which gets picked up in the mic, so it sounds "bassier". That can be EQed out if needed, which to me, isn't a problem because production audio needs to be EQed anyways, so it doesn't add any extra work, it just needs to be done differently. I'd say 95% of the purpose of these booths is to remove reverb/echo, which they do extremely well, and is much more important because that is something you cannot fix in post production. On thinner, or higher pitched voices (like my wife), I personally really like how the ISOVOX 2 fills in the bottom end. For myself, I like the ISOVOX GO because it does sound more transparent on my voice.

[@aleksivahapassi]

Just use your wardrobe space 😁

[@REMY.C.]

I'm no expert but I can here a better sound with the booth.

[@uguronlineShorts]

Bunların farkları neler youtubede dilinizi çevirmeme izin vermiyor :)

[@NewLayer]

ISOVOX 2 - Thicker materials, nicer finish, uses velcro and zippers to set up, heavier, blocks outside sound a little better ISOVOX GO - Slightly thinner, lighter weight, pieces together like a 3D puzzle, sounds a little more transparent, includes a carrying case for travel I hope that helps, along with the audio samples :)

[@RayoBeatz]

its a piece of junk for 1k i regret buying it. save your money and get a booth its basically an over priced reflector and also not compatible with every microphone and getting a pop filter in there is a pain in itself. i did a before and after in a treated room and this thing does nothing special. whos this for? this is for mobile setups where you are on the go its also for people who have clients but they record in their bedroom because having one of these things will give you that cool factor where everyone wants to try it since they don't know any better. but if you are serious about your sound and you were thinking no one would hear you or that it would elevate your sound then this just isn't going to do what you think it is. there is still noticeable noise in this thing due to the giant hole underneath of it that is used to allow you to breath. it is super cramped as well and gets stuffy. this would not be bad for about $299.99 or $199.99 that is a much more realistic price for what you're getting but $999.99 is a super inflated price and so is 799.99. the material is bed foam material as well this is literally a sofa pillow with zippers.

[@NewLayer]

I can understand if it doesn't work for you, or didn't live up to your expectations. When the GO is on sale for $599 like it is now, it's extremely hard to beat. Where's your before and after? I'd like to check it out. What mic are you using? The included mic holder only works for select mics, but it can also handle any standard mic mount, like the Lewitt one shown in my video. I know some people buy this and try to us an SM7B with it, or another broadcast style dynamic mic, and it's not really made for that, although it can work. You'd have to get a low profile mic stand and set it inside, rather than use the included mount. It sounds like you have a treated space already, and bought the ISOVOX in addition to that? If you already had a dedicated, treated space, then I can understand it not doing enough to be worth it to you. And to some people, spending $600-1000 one time and having no more work to do is a small price to pay. The ISOVOX setup is not perfect, of course, nor is it the best for all scenarios. If you can afford a fully enclosed booth, that will be more effective. But, you also need the space and $4-5K minimum to do so, both of which are the main sticking points for home recording. Fully acoustically treating a room is another good option, but that too will be much more expensive than the ISOVOX booths, and again, requires the space. It's main function (I'd say 95% of it) is to eliminate reverb and echo, which it does exceptionally well. They do block outside sound to an extent, but they aren't designed to do that, so it's a bonus, and no one should buy one if they have the need to silence external noise. The only way to do that is with a fully encapsulated sound proof booth, and sound proofing is totally different from sound treatment, as I'm sure you know. The majority of home recording is done in a closet or bedroom, and that's where the ISOVOX booths shine. If you're building out a full home studio, then $500-1000 can get you far with acoustic treatment. But, since most people don't have the time/knowledge/space/desire to do that and need something plug and play like this, I still think it's one of the most foolproof options. Your comment about the foam is not surprising. Acoustic foam is just foam within a certain density range, and the thicker it gets, the more frequencies it can capture. If you lined an entire room with memory foam mattresses, you'd have a professional sounding home studio, haha. The material quality of the ISOVOX 2 is very good, it definitely doesn't feel hodgepodged together or anything.

[@RayoBeatz]

Oh, I see-$599 for a foam box and some assembly instructions is suddenly the gold standard of home recording? Sure, if you’re fine paying premium prices for what’s essentially an IKEA project for your mic, more power to you. But let’s be real here: anyone calling this “hard to beat” is either blissfully unaware of actual sound treatment principles or just trying to justify blowing $600 on something that barely scratches the surface of soundproofing. And about that mic holder-yeah, it works “fine” if you stick to their narrow compatibility, but if you’re trying to use a real mic like an SM7B, you’re basically told to jury-rig a solution. Classy. Let’s not even get started on the outside noise argument-buying this thing expecting it to block sound is like putting duct tape on a leaky boat and calling it waterproof. But hey, if spending half a grand to avoid basic acoustic treatment knowledge feels like a win to you, who am I to ruin the illusion?

[@NewLayer]

@ Putting words in my mouth and then arguing against them is certainly one way to go about it 😂 Sounds like you didn’t understand what you were buying and bought it anyways. If you’re producing music for other artists, of course you’d want a dedicated, fully treated studio space. That’s not who these are for, you are clearly not the target audience. $599 for a ready to go solution is not a lot to a lot of people when the alternative is acoustically treating a room, buying a much more expensive booth, or sourcing and assembling your own custom solution. The fact that you’re calling the SM7B a “real” mic as if the condenser mics that most professionals use are not “real” is very telling. Broadcast style dynamic mics are meant for podcasts and broadcasts, even if they have been hijacked for music vocals. The vast majority of pre-recorded voice work is done on condenser mics, so that’s what this is geared towards. It’s fine if that’s what you prefer, but the reality is that you’d be an outlier in the grand scheme of potential users. Clearly it doesn’t work for you, but in my opinion, you are not the target audience and bought it anyways. It’s fine to say it’s bad for you, but they are far from junk. I can say from much experience. I’ve recorded and produced music and audiobooks for top tier publishers, so I’m very aware of the entire spectrum of sound treatment and proofing. I stand by my statement that these are one of the best options when you weigh ALL factors: ease-of-use, setup, portability, effectiveness, size footprint, price, etc. Other options will definitely “beat” these in some of those areas, but not all, and that’s my point. If price is your main factor, maybe they’re not worth it. If you prioritize fast, compact, and zero thought, they can be worth the cost. Time is money, after all.

[@ClintsGrievances]

With both voices, "narration" sounded best.