The Allure Of Microphone Preamps For Voice Over

How do you justify spending thousands of dollars on a high-end preamp for a voice-over? What could a preamp possibly offer to be worth the cost? I’ll show you in this video. When you increase a preamp’s gain, it does something almost magical. It’s subtle but powerful, and in this video, you will have the opportunity to visually see it in action. ‪@UniversalAudio‬ ‪@waves‬ ‪@fabfilter‬ ‪@SoftubeStudios‬
A custom processing preset by Lenny B for voice-over is a series of plugins explicitly tuned for your voice, in your room, and on your microphone. To compete in today's voice-over world, you must ensure that your demos and auditions are extraordinary. Voice-over artists at every experience level from all over the world are fighting to win work. However, if you don't have a professional sound, you will lose out to someone who does. Custom voice-over processing presets can take your audio presentation quality to the level necessary to compete with the pros. Instead of taking it upon yourself to tweak parameters like EQ compression, DeEssing, and saturation, you can hire a professional voice-over audio engineer to create it for you. Once you have the custom preset on your system, you have "The Sound" every time you press the record button.
Submit Your For Voice www.lennyb.com/get-your-voice...
Training Courses www.lennyb.com/training-courses
Website www.lennyb.com
Equipment Referenced In This Video
Scheps Omni Channel by Waves: waves.alzt.net/15ZNma
Avalon 737 UAD Plugin: bit.ly/38VmZGZ
Universal Audio Apollo Twin sweetwater.sjv.io/zNxjVm
Neumann TLM 103 Microphone sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZQ6ZL
FabFilter Pro-Q 3 EQ sweetwater.sjv.io/Qyj6XY
Softube Saturator (Free): www.softube.com/saturationknob
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, Waves, and Amazon.

[@thejonathandoan]

This is a great way to show harmonics and saturation in action! Thanks for the video.

[@RoySFord]

Wow! Such an EXCELLENT tutorial on saturation and pre-amps! Love it Lenny!

[@InfraredVisuals]

Wow this is actually incredible to see it visually, I used to think saturation adds up more high-end frequencies lol but now this makes a ton of sense. Thank you Lenny.

[@PromoMIAR]

Thanks Lenny. Well explained.

[@ConsumerTeamPete]

You’re a talented teacher Lenny!

[@BradsGonnaPlay]

Just recently found your channel and just wanted to say you’re doing it so much better than a lot of the people on here when it comes to No-BS explanations.

[@HeyLennyB]

Thanks BradsGonnaPlay. I appreciate that.

[@dereklanevo]

Good stuff! Thanks for taking it down to basics for us.

[@RegisBladeStudios]

Fantastic way to explain saturation. So glad I saw this!

[@lorenz3152]

Great explanation. Perfect choice of words. Thank you.

[@2sanctuarylab]

Excellent discussion......Good refresher for working producers.....

[@AntonSwanepoelTravel]

Amazing video. Well explained. Thank you.

[@sdecario5736]

Thank you for the visual of what different preamps look like

[@PaulMDiaz]

Subscribed, love what you are doing on your channel, good stuff.

[@robertduvall7392]

Great video! Thank you!

[@chantduplantier9871]

Excellent overview!

[@rarebirdjones]

Thanks Lenny B

[@Hasan3pm]

I really liked Scheps omni plugin because it's multitasking one. Thank you for your recommendation 😊

[@dwaynekendrick_]

Great Video Thanks

[@cantenopeisland7863]

Lenny, this was not only helpful and insightful but it's also the most well explained and superbly communicated audio-anything video I've seen on KZbin. And I've seen a ton of them. I've owned a UAD Apollo Twin X for a year now. I have a bunch of plugins and pres (Unison) that I experiment with, near endlessly, for my podcast and VO work. I love tinkering and trying, but I never conceptualized the differences between pres in a convincing way until I saw this. Thank you so much for making this accessible.

[@HeyLennyB]

Thanks for taking the time to write. Your kind words illustrate exactly why I do what I do on KZbin! 👍

[@cantenopeisland7863]

@@HeyLennyB delighted by your response, Lenny. But really, thank YOU!

[@guzmanBroadcast]

Incredible video, l learn a lot of this about voices

[@cmd_f5]

Nice. Kazrog put an Avalon plug out last year, its excellent. Good sound and demo.

[@sam24bit]

Really appreciate this video Lenny, this was an eye opener and I have tested out some trial plugins modelled after preamps and the harmonics does do some magic.

[@HeyLennyB]

Cool. I'm glad I may have inspired you a bit. Let me know what you find!

[@sam24bit]

@@HeyLennyB Acustica Audio Cream2 channel strip.

[@GameOverJesse]

This was great

[@asianguy6174]

I like the tangibility of hardware. I don’t like opening up a plug in. Knobs are right there.

[@cristianjorgechuraflores392]

excellent content! I was wondering what other add-on is as good as avalon for voice-over, since I only record voice-over and use audient, I don't have apollo.

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Christian, my absolute favorite is the Scheps Omni Channel by Waves. There are many channel strip plugins, compressors and EQs that offer a "vibe" to your voice-over recording. Much of the "vibe" comes from how you set these processors. The best thing to do (in my opinion) is to learn how to use the tools like EQ and compression. Then the world of plugins opens up and you can begin to try different styles/flavors. Hope that helps.

[@russiangrammar]

Really interesting, thanks Lenny! At around 8:00 I hear some sort of overtone (?) when you switch to heavy harmonics, about a fifth above the core tone (it may have been there with even harmonics, too). Is that normal with a pure tone, but something you don't normally perceive with a voice?

[@HeyLennyB]

I believe that's all a factor of the saturation itself. Consider that the amount of saturation in these examples were over applied to illustrate my point. You probably wouldn't get such overtones when used less.

[@MikeG-js1jt]

Yes, the omni-channel is great, however, be forewarned, there is a fairly steep learning curve to use it effectively.

[@mediamannaman]

Well, this was very rich information. Thank you from a novice! I came here from your, "The Best Voice Over Gear For A Professional Sound On A Budget" video, where you recommend the DBX286s processor for voice over work. Keeping in mind that this is new to me (so I may have missed it in your explanation), I do not see a "saturation" knob on the DBX286s, so how would I adjust saturation on that box - just by turning up input gain and adjusting the output gain?

[@HeyLennyB]

The DBX 286s isn't really designed to add saturation. Yes, it would be using the gain knob, but driving that unit doesn't really result in the most pleasing type of saturation. DBX has some other hardware (Tube preamps) that can do that job better.

[@mediamannaman]

@@HeyLennyB- Hmmm. Well then, saturation must not be that important for voice over work or you wouldn't have recommended it in your other video. I'm upgrading from a USB mic and I picked the DBX 286s (and ordered it with your link) based on your recommendation. Hopefully it will provide me with all I need to record a professional voice over.

[@asianguy6174]

@@mediamannaman a dbx has other important features, such as noise gate and compression.

[@eraloves3751]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@crazyKurious]

Lenny how do you process your video. It just sounds amazing.

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Siddharth, I usually use the UA AMS Neve DFC Channel strip or the Waves configuration. It's the same setup that I offer for my custom preset service. Check out the "configuration options" on this page: lennyb.com/support

[@andymacc]

Very intuitive to see it graphically like this and now better understand what I’m hearing or preferring, as I go between UA or indeed Softube emulations. Would you say valve type emulations, boost more lower mids whilst transistor types boost higher or, is the valve just causing some added distortion in a more musical way on the higher?

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Andy, in my experience, valve/tube emulations are second or even harmonic distortion that offers more tight, lower warm thickness. Transistors tend to offer third or "odd" harmonic distortion and sound a bit more "nasty."

[@andymacc]

@@HeyLennyB Thanks Lenny!

[@sfrecaps]

I really wish you could do a video with Slate Digital plugins and the Rode K2 tube microphone. :)

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Cut To The Chase, I have the Slate virtual mix rack often. I'll put it on the list. Send me a sample of your K2 and we'll see what kind of sound we can get. bit.ly/Submit-Your-Voice

[@sfrecaps]

@@HeyLennyB Sounds like a great idea. I’ll do a recording asap and send you.

[@larrytallant8144]

I have a DBX 286s and wonder if you can help me “dial in” the various options for my voice over business.

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Larry, I can help. Thanks for reaching out. Please email me at [e-mail] and we'll continue the discussion.

[@saltypancreas5866]

Hello I commented on your sm7b microphone voice over video I asked what program you use, I replied my question was do you have a great alternative for windows as I do not have a Mac

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi, I'm not sure if you got your answer. This video has some suggestions regarding recording programs available for Windows. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGmyoICjgNOUjZY

[@saltypancreas5866]

@@HeyLennyB thanks I’ll check it out

[@ConsumerTeamPete]

Is soft tube a UA plug in? Couldn’t find on waves

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Peter, Thanks for the kind words. Softube is the brand, Saturation is the plugin. There's a link to the free plugin in the description of this video. Thanks!

[@somewhatbased.]

Lovely! The UA site keeps mentioning the Avalon is exclusively for UA hardware...surely the plugin can just be used with anything right?

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Vox On Viz. The Avalon UA Plugin can only be used if you have the UA hardware. But, for example, you can use the plugin in logic, but the actual DSP happens on the UA hardware. So in order to use the UA Avalon plugin, you need to own an Apollo. Hope that helps.

[@somewhatbased.]

@@HeyLennyB I see, thanks a lot. I'll look into it, I love the sound!

[@somewhatbased.]

@@HeyLennyB So now would you suggest to purchase a physical Avalon V5 and plug that into an interface OR something like the Apollo Twin X QUAD and purchasing the Avalon 737 Plugin?

[@HeyLennyB]

If you are recording only voice over, I'd suggest the Apollo. This way you can (demo and) purchase tons of different preamp plugins like the Avalon. I'd say that purchasing hardware might be something to consider if you were tracking/recording instruments to produce music. That's my take on the matter. Hope that helps.

[@somewhatbased.]

@@HeyLennyB Thanks so much! I'm going to be getting your EQ course soon and really appreciate all the info! That makes a decent amount of sense regarding utilizing other DSP's in the future with the UAD hardware. Thanks!

[@radzhkapoor3742]

Why don`t you use Fabfilter "Saturn"? Don't like it?

[@HeyLennyB]

Hey Radzh. I LOVE the Saturn 1 and 2. I don't incorporate it as much because, except for audio nerds (like you and I) most aren't willing to spend so much for plugins. Fabfilter is pretty boutique relatively speaking. I think the Pro Q3 is one of my favorite plugins... and I have a lot of them.

[@radzhkapoor3742]

@@HeyLennyB Thanks for answer. Saturn sounds lovely for me.

[@sannamati4571]

Does nebula have good emulations?

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Sanna, I am familiar with Acustica audio but I haven't anything other than the free plugins they have. I have a few clients who use them and seem to be happy. I tend to focus on the Waves plugins mostly for voice over because they are very affordable and sound great. What are you looking to use specifically?

[@mreddieau]

What physical pre-amp hardware interface do you recommend?

[@HeyLennyB]

Hey Steve, can you tell me first a little about what your goals are? Is it for voice-over only? What mic are you using? Once I understand a little more about your direction, I'd be happy to make some suggestions. You can take this conversation to email if you'd prefer. [e-mail]

[@mreddieau]

@@HeyLennyB I've sent you an email, thanks Lenny

[@sancochitomusica4369]

I wish to know the answer to !!! Pls 🗞☀️⚠️ I want to record vocal only voice for Rap hip hop Regueton pop salsa i have a Neumann tlm 103 Apollo twin quad Mac computer 💻 I want to add a preamp to my studio to take vocal to the professional level !? Please wish one do You Recomended ? Thank you 🙏🏻

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Sancochito, The answer to your question is "which ever preamp sound the best to you." I would start with the any of the UA preamp plugin that you own and then use the trials of the other available UA preamps to compare. All of the UA preamps will take your audio to the professional level. It's a matter of which one you think sounds the best. It's an artistic choice. I hope that helps.

[@TrapBoiFuse561]

Damn just learn something for the week

[@GilbertoMzD]

What do you think? dbx286s or Art Tube mp Thanks!

[@HeyLennyB]

Hi Gilberto, I've used both so I'd be happy to offer my opinion. But first, can you tell me exactly would it be used for?

[@GilbertoMzD]

@@HeyLennyB Sure! Is for live streaming, I have a Zen Go but I love the sound of analog audio. I already have the Art Tube MP but the dbx looks great. Thanks!

[@HeyLennyB]

Ah, so you need realtime processing. I'd say the "tube" sound is probably what you want. I know the Zen Go has on board DSP. I'm pretty sure that you can get the "analog sound" with the correct processing with the Zen Go effects. My issue with your concept is that unless you're using a high end tube compressor, the DBX or ART units are not of equal specs to the Antelope. Send me an example of your raw voice (no processing) using only the Zen Go and I'll send you an example of what your processed voice can sound like. I'll make sure to add some of that analog goodness. Thanks!

[@TheSpeedyr6]

So neve is good?

[@HeyLennyB]

Neve is one of the major players when it comes to preamps and other audio equipment.

[@danielnacrur1155]

Bom video. Mas não concordo com a ideia que o som dos pres de interface sejam limpos. Na verdade é um som pobre, com timbre desagradável Naturalmente, usar um emulador melhora um pouco. Mas o som fica muito distante do real. É igual a tentativa dos alquimistas de transformar chumbo em ouro. Mas pelo menos nos quesitos técnicos os pres de boas interfaces tem qualidade: baixo nivel de ruido e distorção, boa resposta de frequencia e boa dinâmica. Mas ter a coisa real é muito melhor. O legal dos plugins é a praticidade, e a possibilidade de conhecer as caracteristicas e sonoridade (aproximada) dos equipamentos reais. Assim voce consegue ter uma ideia de qual hardware é melhor pra voce e compra-lo depois

[@user-ch7yu6ig5o]

I think there a naked king hiding. Many things in sound world are existed in physical world but not existed in production world. There a many of thing not existed in both words and it's just makeup-ed (maked-up). I guess people who "hear" just waiting some kid from "naked king" who told them that king is actually naked. And people just keep pretend that something existed and something there. And AI can be perfect guy who did one button super-sound plugin, with no need expensive rusty-machines that pretend that they do some magic. Well maybe it's just me - deaf. Or maybe I am just that kid who seeing that king actually naked.

[@KevinGenus]

250hz sounds like a B