Ultimate Home Recording Studio Setup

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[@tonymagnier9846]

Would be great if you could do a new updated version of a tour around your home setup, Bill, especially in your new house.

[@fazbell]

Very smart video. It's like talking to an engineer that uses terminology that the "average Joe" can understand. Well done. With 40 years in broadcasting, I never encountered anyone who could explain things without sounding like a nuclear physics professor.

[@investorart58]

Thanks Bill! I am a full member of your program and have just contracted with Mike Hathcote for lessons. Note - I am a a guitar player - I'll bet everyone would have enjoyed hearing you play for about 30 seconds.

[@krakenjoques]

I've gotten a really valuable tip out of this simple studio review, thanks for making helpful content

[@charliegregory4148]

Roland is famous for having a high learning curve in general. Great products too! 🎸😎

[@Sasha0927]

Very cool tour. I wish I'd seen this back when I was fretting about my home studio set-up. At least I won't be dropping those kind of numbers on interface plug-ins! 😅

[@KernRamsdell]

Nice tour, clean setup. Love the fact that you included plugins too. Nice job!

[@charliegregory4148]

Its about what My comment would have been if Yours hadnt poped up 1st. Bills the greatest👍👍🎸😎

[@richardkaulfers9850]

Listening to your demos on your website is reassuring. The medical authoritative was good, I can tell you enjoyed that one.

[@samuelfleming3894]

Loved the studio tour...awesome video Bill!

[@PeterWhiteVoiceTalent]

Thanks, Bill. Nice upgrade!

[@vtdave121]

Nice video Bill! Great to see where all the "Magic" happens!

[@mr.melody5225]

Great video Bill. I was always curious about your setup. Thanks for sharing.

[@paulussantosociwidjaja4781]

Wow, you are a Roland and Fender Roland VG user - awesome! I still have my historical Roland VG-8 even though I use my Boss GP-10 more often. You make me even more curious, Bill.

[@Eric-Thomure]

Love the set up! Someday I hope to get there. I watched your 'studio on the cheap' and it was super helpful. Quick question...I noticed you sit to do your auditions. My vocal coach insists that a person should never sit while recording (with the exception of audiobooks). Do you find it restricting at all to sit? What is your response to that line of thought?

[@PaulKBisson]

I recently watched your earlier studio setup video where the AFEX was in use. This video is a nice linear progression. I'm following your example and hope to get a TLM 103 soon. I'm currently using an MXL990 (used it for everything, including Restaurant Stakeout) but I really need to raise the bar.

[@TheCosmicCretin]

Thanks for sharing this, Bill. Very helpful!

[@chazdog789]

Thanks for sharing Bill… Great video...

[@smokeyjoetn]

Awesome video Bill! Still looking for one during one of your actual sessions. Thanks for doing all the vids for us...a huge help!

[@freedomeagle1967]

Hi Bill, Love the Video! How is the whisper room cooled? Thank you in advance.

[@pfi343]

Hello Bill.Love the video. What do you use for reading script?.

[@walterbortz2001]

Thanks for the info Bill. Looking forward to seeing you in November!

[@zacrashid]

Perfect video, like the new set up, got similar set up, with the help from your videos. Used Apogee Duo, for while, picked up a low buzz, replaced with basic Presonus. i will hopefully get an same interface.

[@Kubitechmultimedia]

Nice Vid!!!

[@pauldouglas1024]

Awesome video.

[@howard33072]

Hello, I have a question. If your computer & audio interface are all on the outside of the booth, what are you plugging your headphones into to hear yourself while recording or during playback while on the inside of the booth?

[@trevorcroftmedia3810]

Thanks for the tour! Two follow-up questions regarding your mirrored setup inside and outside the Whisper Booth: are you cabled or wireless for the monitor, mouse, and keyboard? If you are wireless, are there any interference concerns?

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

+Trevor Croft Yes, I'm cabled for the mouse, monitor, and keyboard.

[@markgillman7637]

+Bill DeWees - Hello! Building a studio (CR & booth). Buying an iMac. Received my Apollo Twin Duo & LDC's last week. Do you use a USB extension cable for the booth's keyboard & mouse WHILE your Magic Keyboard is connected in the CR to Bluetooth on the MacBook? I had planned to sneaker-net the keyboard from the CR to the booth, but this is easier. Thoughts? Thanks, Mark Aaron Gillman ().

[@ysiddiqui]

I was just watching the upstairs closet version earlier today again, so it was great to see this one pop up... love the setup..is all the material that you work on on the monitor, or do work off hard copy as well?

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

+Wing Chun Kung Fu I work exclusively off of the computer monitor...no hard copy

[@macfaerie]

Bill, I'm watching this video and realized that I have no idea what you are talking about? I have an advanced knowledge of computers and computer programs. However you seemed to get very "tech-e" with the boxes next to your computer and by your guitar. And when talking about your Whisper room. Should I know all of these "tech-e" terms before I consider getting into Voiceover?

[@chrisvoiceactingvoiceover1431]

25,000 now.....well done, Bill!

[@rowellmedia]

Thanks for the videos Bill! Great stuff! What do you use to mirror your setup to the booth? Is everything connected at the Henge Dock?

[@rmellersh]

I liked the video a great deal but I have a question. If your chair squeaked during a recording session surely that would ruin it so is the chair not just as important a piece of equipment as the mic or the monitor? What chair do you have and what characteristics would you look for? I ask these things because of my own experience, I just replaced my main chair and when that arrived it squeaked and had to be replaced but is now all ok. Again, but, it occurred to me that it is taken for granted, if one sits for long periods one would need to have a pretty good chair. What is your thoughts on this?

[@glider1b]

Hi Bill, great video showing us all your set up . I just have a question on your whisper room. Is it cool to work in when it gets hot outside? Where I live we can have long stretches where the temperature is over 100.

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

+Geoff Blanchard It has an exhaust system, but I don't use it as it generates too much sound. I simply keep the door cracked open a little bit (about an inch or 2) and it works just fine.

[@VoiceWriteMediaLLC]

Thanks, Bill. This is all good stuff!

[@Dracomies]

Which pop filter are you using? Is that the Pauly ton pop filter?

[@MARKMANNINGMEDIA]

Thank You as always Bill :) Marko

[@larsonbennett5903]

Bill, what's the brand of the pop filer you're using? It appears in the video that you're able to snap it into position. Nice gear all the way 'round, man. BTW, I've been torn between making a TLM 103 or Sennheiser 416 my next mic upgrade. Opinion? Thanks.

[@carrstream]

Hi Bill, This video is very timely for me. Do you no longer use the Lexicon Alpha now that you have the apollo twin? Thanks!! Michael

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

+carrstream I haven't used the Lexicon Alpha for several years now as they stopped supporting it with updated drivers. I used the 2i2 for a while and am now really sold on the UA Apollo Twin.

[@02mb]

+Bill DeWees If you have the money, the Twin is hands-down the most rockin' unit you can get. It's almost like it was built with voiceover in mind. Absolutely stunning piece of hardware, and as Bill says, it's all you need. It comes with several classic plugins (UA 610-B, LA-2A compressor, many others) which are good enough to get you great sound. I'm curious to try the API Vision and the Fairchild 660 to see what they sound like. Bill: The Aphex allowed you to talk off-axis and still sound like you were on-axis. Did you ever use that feature and, did you find a replacement in either of these plug-ins? My mic technique is to just stay at a 45 degree angle, about 4-6 inches away from the mic for most reads. Wonder what your mic technique is. All my best, and thanks for the tour! -Mike speakingofmike.com

[@theeyeofthestorm5718]

Thank you sir

[@ItsNickPowers]

Hey Bill! How do you deal with noise from your headphones? Mine the plastic rubs together especially if I'm moving a bit to emphasize a vocal delivery, and also if they aren't fully cupping the ears, doesn't sound bleed back into the mic? Love your thoughts here :)

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

+Nick Powers Official If my headphones were physically creating noise I'd try another pair. Actually I've conditioned myself to stay relatively still so I don't generate extra noise from clothes, headphones, etc. I just keep my headphones at a relatively low volume so as not to bleed over into mic. Better for the ears too! :-)

[@ItsNickPowers]

+Bill DeWees Thank you :) I actually had a good pair of Shures but over time they loosened up and started making a little creaky noise... maybe time for some new ones if I can tighten them back up. It's interesting because I sing too, and a lot of singers prefer very loud monitor headphone volume. Lower is good for VO, I agree.

[@DuncanCunningham]

Did you ever think about putting the monitor screen on the other side of the window so you get less heat build up in the sound booth, or is keeping cool not too much of an issue? or would seeing the monitor too difficult?

[@VOTECHGURU]

Gotta love the Apollo.

[@mortician6]

for the Apollo, do you only have the one? did you have to walk back in forth to get your gain level right on it or can you control it from the computer itself? I'm still a newbie using Avid Mbox Mini 3 which can't be controlled from the computer. thank you for the updated tour!

[@MichaelKendallMrMk619]

Is Av30 by M-audio good studio monitors for voice overs or overall use?

[@poorkidd]

LOL I got same lowrider!

[@joshblanchard3096]

Wow, that was a great tour Bill. I see you've upgraded computers since the ol' optiplex days. Are you still using the same ISDN set up? Thanks for taking us through a little tour of where the master works, you definitely have some great gear. It's nice to have something to strive towards. Keep up the great work Bill -Josh Blanchard www.TheVoiceofJosh.com

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

+Josh Blanchard I don't have ISDN anymore. AT&T no longer offers residential service in my neck of the woods and to get business ISDN is astronomically expense. I use Source Connect and phone patch for sessions. I have not lost any work as a result.

[@tomk3420]

Bill, you did not explain what the AFEX Master Channel does in conjunction with the Apollo.

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

+Tom K I actually replaced the Aphex channel with the Apollo. I retired the Aphex. I now do ALL processing through the Apollo using UA plugins.

[@dalesaudio]

Bill DeWees Hi Bill, thank for the our. Question: You regularly refer to using an NS1 noise reduction plug-in. Is the NS1 something you can run in real time through the Apollo, or is it strictly for post processing use in Audition?

[@mostafa275]

When you say your room tone is at -65dB, then what is the loudness of your whole clip? I mean the total/average RMS.

[@MichaelKendallMrMk619]

Is the Mxl 990 microphone good mic for voice overs?

[@brandonthomas9433]

Bill, which Apollo do you use, Solo or Duo?

[@VoiceCoach-BillDeWees]

+Brandon Thomas Solo

[@mortician6]

for the Apollo, do you only have the one?

[@02mb]

+mortician6 Just the one; that's all you need. It can be controlled from the included software.

[@JustinNathanielAdams]

I keep finding that VO artists are also musicians :)

[@LeonAllanDavis]

No trackball mouse? Hmmm...

[@mrlanders08]

It sure sounds like a VO artist these days is going to need to get up to speed on software and other gear.