Set The ART Voice Channel For Great Voice-Overs

I’m going to walk you through how I set the A.R.T. (Applied Research And Technology) Voice Channel, a tube microphone preamp, and channel strip for great-sounding voice-overs. In this video, I walk you through each section of the A.R.T. Voice Channel microphone processor and show you how to achieve a big, professional voice-over sound using this device. With the explanation in this video, you will learn how to improve the voice-over sound with any microphone. Here is what makes this video a little different. I don’t simply tell you what the controls do; I illustrate for you what to listen for when you’re adjusting the controls so you can set this unit to sound great on your voice by setting it up yourself. I take the technical explanations and break them down into non-technical terms so that even a beginner will understand. Learn how to set the mic preamp, compressor, de-esser, EQ, and expander/gate.
Here are my thoughts on when to use a channel strip like this one versus using plugins to process your voice-over. I prefer plugin processing if I need the absolute best quality from the recording. But, if I need a processed voice recording sound in a LIVE situation, like streaming or video calls, these channel strips can be a good choice. When it comes to voice-over, I don’t use a channel strip and post-processing with plugins simultaneously.
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▬ Equipment Links ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
A.R.T. Voice Channel Tube Microphone Preamp and Channel Strip
sweetwater.sjv.io/baYV9B
Lenny's microphone used in this video: Roswell Mini k87
roswellproaudio.com/lennyb
Lenny's Preamp used in this video: Neve 1073spx
sweetwater.sjv.io/an924j
Lenny's Interface used in this video: Apollo X6
www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...
▬ About Lenny B ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
I help content creators make a stronger connection with their audience. Voice-over artists, actors, musicians, and performers worldwide come to me to help improve their production quality, expand their influence, grow their audience, win more auditions, and get more work. Some of the links on this page are links to affiliate websites, and I receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. My affiliates include Sweetwater, Roswell Microphones, Gik Acoustics, Waves, and Amazon.
#audioproduction #voiceover #voiceoverartist #voiceactingadvice #voiceactingadvice #acoustictreatment

[@jmartinianovlogging1482]

Thank for making your time on this Sir!!!

[@BobHarperProductions]

Nice Lenny. Great job! I picked up mine for VO a couple years back and the guy at Sweetwater highly recommended a Gold Lion tube to replace the stock version. When I did the swap-out I heard a discernable improvement! Ah, but then I read a very obscure article online (I was never able to find it again, sorry) about a guy who was convinced he had found a GREAT tube for it. Well, I bought that tube for another 30 bucks or so but before switching out, I recorded a few lines with the Gold Lion installed. I then did the swap and recorded the same lines again. (I believe with either a TLM 103 or maybe the 416) I listened to play back and knew immediately that the obscure article's author wasn't kidding! To be sure I wasn't tainted in perception due to having spent ANOTHER 30 bucks on a tube, I brought my wife in the studio and played both tracks a couple of times. After the first pass she said, "I like the 2nd one better." I played both again and she quickly replied half way through, "Definitely the second!" With that said, the tube was a JJ ELECTRONICS: ECC--83s! It's been in there a couple years now and still doing it's thing. BTW, an interesting side note, when I was working with noise floor testing, the ART, with this JJ, beat the numbers of a brand new, tubeless Focusrite ISA One. Because of some "not-so-liked" early offerings, ART sadly got a really bad wrap fast but I'm convinced now that this is one of the best channel strips out there regardless of the lower price! At 600 it's still a steal! (I love the sound too with that JJ tube) I've done some source connect sessions with a couple large studios and the one engineer said, "Great sound man." (If I told him it was going through an "ART" I'm sure his opinion would have been different. '-) Brand snobbery is prevalent throughout the audio world. Heck, back in the day, I recorded a spot and the engineer in Philly loved the sound of my voice and said, "You use a U-87 Neumann don't ya?" I said, "Yeah, how'd ya know?" He chortled, "It's not my first paper route." Well, truth be told, I did HAVE a U-87 but hated it on my voice. The spot was recorded on a 421 Sennheiser dynamic. He He He.

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi @BobHarperProductions, Thanks for the info! How difficult was it to swap out the tube?

[@BobHarperProductions]

@@HeyLennyB Quite easy if memory serves. There's about 8 screws that hold the lid. Remove the lid and you'll see the tube. SORRY, PREVIOUS REPLY WAS INCORRECT. (I was thinking of a different preamp) With the ART, I seem to recall (2) screws that hold down the cage covering the tube. Just unscrew those (2) screws on either side of the small cage and pull up. You'll see the tube and it can be pulled out gently. The only thing to be careful of is to be sure to unplug the unit and wait a minute or so just in case any capacitors haven't fully drained any stored current.

[@BobHarperProductions]

One more thing, when working with tubes try not to get your fingers on the glass part. A little rag or such will suffice. Like little analog lights, the oil residue from our fingers may reduce operating life. It's very minimal but a guy told me it's true.

[@davidgadowvo]

Oh Lenny. Thanks. Great to see this. Have one I’ve been sitting on for years. Might move it into the chain again…

[@HeyLennyB]

@davidgadowvo, that's great to hear!

[@TartanKiwi]

Been contemplating getting one of these to use with my Lauten Atlantis FC-387! I have this theory that the +10db switch on the mic used alongside a good preamp like the A.R.T would just SING. the +10db switch on the Atlantis will give more character from the mic into the preamp and then on top of that the tube preamp would then further just give some meat onto the audio in a lovely warm way

[@RolandDobbins]

I used one for about a year before I switched to a UAD Apollo TwinX Quad. It’s a good unit. Unfortunately, the EQ is semi-parametric, as you noted.

[@FrostS1de]

Вот бы этот ролик вышел лет так 5 назад, когда этот замечательный прибор был на руках

[@HeyLennyB]

Я понимаю это чувство. У меня был один, я продал его, затем пожалел об этом решении и купил его снова. Спасибо за просмотр.

[@ClaudioPerin]

Hi Lenny, I have this Art Model. Your "tutorial" was amazing to dive in my preamp. Now a question for you: I have a MKH416 and an AT4053B. Which one do you best recommend for my Voice Over?

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi @ClaudioPerin. It's difficult to answer because those are both great mics. I might lean toward the MKH416. However, the mic that sounds most natural and best to you is the one you should use. I expect that they will both sound good if the ART is dialed in. Thanks for watching!

[@ainursery]

Great video, as usual! You really deliver great quality! Thank you for that! ❤ Are you certain that the de-esser is actually working? Even after you have set up the de-esser in the video, there still are some pretty harsh and offending sharp s sounds. For me it sounds like it's in 10k and up. Both on my TV speakers and Beyerdynamic 770 DT Pro 😮

[@HeyLennyB]

I don't disagree. I noticed that (at least on my unit) the DeEsser isn't as effective as let's say the DBX 286s. I think it's beacuse the DeEsser is only making the compressor work harder.

[@AR-bj5et]

Have you ever had the chance to try out a Millennia STT-1? I know that's not something everyone just has sitting around or can grab easily to try out but I loved the detailed walkthrough of this strip I was wondering how that would compare as a similar feature-packed strip, albeit much more expensive

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi @AR-bj5et, the #Millennia #STT-1 is definitely on my radar. I've seen them and met the #Millennia folks at the NAMM convention. I'll put it on my list. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@skottmellins4584]

Hi Lenny, this video is absolutely stunning. One question please... I went toyour site, and I'd like to know if you are making a course bundle for your courses, and how much is it please ? Thanks

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi, @skottmellins4584. I am working on creating bundles now, and they should be available soon. Can you tell me which courses you're interested in? In the meantime, I can create a custom bundle/discount for you.

[@skottmellins4584]

@@HeyLennyB Hi, Thanks for your response and sorry for the late answer. For now, I will only need the one about EQ, but I was asking that for the future just in case. In fact, I have some problems fo now, to connect my art voice channel to my imac and my audio interface and I cannot take any lessons until I find what's going wrong in my setup. I think that all the Apple's lastest operating system updates, prevent my audio interface from communicating properly with my imac.

[@davidgadowvo]

One more comment related to this. What would you say to someone criticizing this unit because you need to record “clean” audio … and do the processing post voicing..?

[@HeyLennyB]

It's my opinion that every client is different. There are very few rules these days because you can be working on/delivering to a number of different platforms. I prefer to communicate and find out exactly what the client wants. If you can't get clarity on what the client wants, offer both. Split your signal, record with and without the tube pre, then deliver both options. That's what I would do.

[@josephmcgregor6959]

I may have missed the episode, but what about that Voxbox?

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi @josephmcgregor6959, No you didn't miss it. I haven't done it yet. I'm going to do a Manley VoxBox hardware walkthrough soon. Thanks!

[@skillfulwebdesign]

I need your help with this! 😄👍

[@HeyLennyB]

Hey Bro, you know where to find me. Happy to help.

[@CloroxBleach-gz6cb]

Is there a budget hardware alternative to this?

[@HeyLennyB]

I think the DBX 286s or the Behringer UV1 are your best options. I have videos on each.

[@davidgadowvo]

These have gone up to about $600 USED now…

[@brokenhero6828]

Buy mine for cheap 😔