My StudioBricks One Booth for VO - A Closer Look

PhoenixBT asked for a closer look at my Studiobricks booth setup. I bought it in 2015 from a guy who buys storage locker auctions and it's been one of the best decisions I ever made. Plus, some B-roll at the end where I tell a pretty wild story about buying the booth.

[@scottfauber]

Appreciate the tour.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

My pleasure.

[@phoenixbt]

Thank you so much for doing a video on this, I really appreciate it! Just the info I was looking for. That's a crazy story how you got yours (and good luck too!). The price tag initially is quite a hit, but I'm thinking of making the investment and it sounds like the booth will be worth it. They now have a specific VoiceOver package, that includes a custom desk, mic arm, and notes stand and I think it includes some extra foam treatment as well. I'll be curious to see how much I'd need to add like you mentioned doing if getting that package. I also saw some people making foam treatments for the door, but it sounds like you can work past that and I'd prefer not to be closed into a box with no windows, so that seems to be the way to go :) Thanks again!!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I can't advocate for a booth enough. Not only is it the best place to work, but it's also a great place to sometimes just go to destress and put on headphones and listen to music in complete isolation. It's the ultimate pro tool in a VO artist's toolkit because it eliminates the biggest issue with recording VO and forces you to focus on the true sound of your rig.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

Mark, this was awesome to finally see, also seeing you outside of your natural habitat. Haha. The booth is ridiculously nice. Can’t wait to get one. Regarding the story at the end, I think it’s funny how you effortlessly plop yourself into bizarre encounters, with the end piece here, and going by your novels. I think you should do a story channel on here. I’d subscribe.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thanks Jeff! You know, I've been half thinking of doing some storytelling here on KZbin, maybe doing one of my books or using it to inspire me to create something new. I just recently found a pretty great "narration" sound I like, which I will detail in a later video, so it's a matter of me figuring out how to fit it into my schedule since I don't want to take away from the time spent doing this content. Maybe it's a 'late at night' kind of thing.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Would love to listen to those, man! Tone… interesting you mentioned audiobook tone. I sent my book editor two files, the 416, one full EQ and one with only the C-Suite 78/0 setting and Precision De-esser. After he told me he preferred the no EQ sound, I sent blind A-Bs to a few people and each one chose the same file. Curious to hear how the new booth sounds because to my ear the no EQ file was definitely smoother, a bit darker, easier to listen to, it sounded a bit bass-heavy, but they didn’t notice. Of course it takes a lot of time out of the equation losing the EQ and DFC. But I’m going to play with it still. But, anyway: Yeah, tell your stories on YT. I think you should improv from memory and shoot from the hip.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@liquidvelvetliterature Finding your tone is definitely a process and it’s good to have people you can count on to give you feedback. Off the cuff from memory as opposed to reading, which would require writing LOL, would probably be the better way to do it. Probably would keep it a lot more energetic, too.

[@liquidvelvetliterature]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Exactly. Forget reading, just tell the story. You’re a natural. And you have endless material.

[@xavierpardo]

Great video! How many outlets come with the booth to plug in devices inside booth (computer, monitor, etc)?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thanks! There is a cable pass-thru to the right of the door so I run a power strip that I’ve attached to the wall and all the other mic/data/monitor cables run through that to the rack next to the booth.

[@CamdenVA]

Thanks for sharing! Question: does the booth smell? I have a Demvox booth and the smell is so bad, I want to switch to another brand.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

No.

[@astralaudio101]

Awesome Booth.. just off topic. When you run your other mics, you have a midi controller? How do you do this? cheers

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

UA Midi Control. It’s amazing and there’s a very good free version. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWWanHqfdrScrZY

[@astralaudio101]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Thanks for passing on your knowledge. 🛸

[@andyzamboknee]

Where'd you get that rackmount on the outside of the booth? hand made?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Yes! As a matter of fact it is. Built it in my garage with hand tools. Ordered the rack rails from Amazon. Thank you for noticing.

[@MarkVO]

This is fantastic! I've been eyeing Studiobricks as well but the price is a big consideration (unless I can find it used). Would you ever consider getting a larger one at some stage?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thanks Mark! I do think about someday getting a larger booth but then I always come back to the thought that in a few years I’d like to retire and move out of L.A. and this booth would be easier to move. And it really does everything I need so wanting a larger booth is probably just me wanting to be able to mount more mics in here. LOL.

[@MarkVO]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff You do like your mics! To be fair if I could I'd probably get many of those as well. Space is certainly a big consideration.

[@crazyKurious]

Anothet fantastic video. Mark, where were you hiding all these days 😅. I still remember your old video where you spoke about setting up a 9000 USD rig using UAD, and thats when I bought a Twin. But you are a beast. 😂 PS: I was using the Plugin alliance implementation of SSL and its a lot more smoother and subtle compared to UAD, would love your thoughts

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thank you! Why I came back to making videos years after that one-off first vid about making that rig is a whole other story I’ll tell at some point. I agree the PIA SSL I have is better than the UAD 4000e. I default to the UAD because it’s easier to implement but I’m looking at options like MainStage to possibly include the PIA consoles I like too. I have to try the SSL 9000J again because I think it’s a good middle ground I’m between the 4000e and Neve 88rs

[@crazyKurious]

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff guess what, I have been using it on Mainstage ( thanks to you for introducing me to that hidden gem), I make a ton of educational videos and VOs for my alma matter and junior kids and I already delivered like 3 live sessions using your method of mainstage + UAD and people literally asked me how I sound so good, clear and musical, lol. Thanks a million to your dangerous mind 😅.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@crazyKurious Now that’s a testimonial. That is so awesome! I’m thrilled to hear you found your groove with it. Now let’s see what voodoo this thing is capable of.

[@tobbe8287]

Nice, but don't you get any back issues sitting there all day?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

No. Haven't had a problem. I also have a chair with halfway decent lumbar support.

[@ryvlaw]

Why did you re-do the panels yourself? Doesn't the booth come with installed ones?

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

I bought the booth second hand. It came with some foam but I wanted something a bit more robust. The panels I built are much more dense, filled with rockwool, and the low end is tighter than before with just foam.

[@tinylittlefilms3043]

Did you get a boxy sound with just the foam?@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@tinylittlefilms3043 Yes, which is why I custom built my own acoustic panels filled with rockwool to help with that.

[@tinylittlefilms3043]

Thank you Mark. I figured there may be some complications if there was just foam. The booth looks great! Would you say it sounds better than an acoustically treated room from you experience? @@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

@@tinylittlefilms3043 A well treated slightly larger room would sound more natural. There are still some things with a booth this small that you have to deal with. The booth is just the most soundproof environment I have, so I can work without interruption whether it’s the army of trash trucks on collection day, the sound of the cutting the lawn or, as we have quite often here in LA, helicopters coming over the house. It’s just more expensive to fully and properly treat and soundproof a room than get a booth.

[@LAGATASPAIN]

🤑? 💰??????????