Read It Like You’re Dead Inside?! - VO Direction Gone Mad | Pro Audio Suite
The Pro Audio Suite
What’s the weirdest direction you've ever received in a session? "Read it more magenta"? "Give me rage, but lean toward anger"? "Sound like a potato"? In this week’s episode of The Pro Audio Suite, Robbo, AP, George, and Robert dive into the hilariously bizarre world of VO direction that makes absolutely no sense… and yet somehow still happens every day. Pulled straight from Robbo’s viral LinkedIn thread, this episode is packed with laugh-out-loud moments, real-life war stories, and a bit of therapy for anyone who's ever heard: “That was perfect. Let’s do one more.” 😵💫...
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Building Doors with Christy Harst | The Pro Audio Suite
The Pro Audio Suite
This week, The Pro Audio Suite breaks tradition — and smashes a few stereotypes along the way — as we welcome Christy Harst to the show. Christy is a voice actor and founder of Building Doors, a grassroots movement dedicated to creating opportunities for women in male-dominated sectors like sports, automotive, gaming, and tech voiceover. After years of hitting roadblocks, Christy decided to stop waiting for the industry to change — and started building her own doors. In this wide-ranging, real, and sometimes confronting conversation, we dive into: The harsh realities facing women in...
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Mass Matters: Booth Design Lessons from NAB | The Pro Audio Suite
The Pro Audio Suite
Title: NAB 2026 Recap: Booths, Bridges & Broadcast Breakthroughs Description: We’re back from NAB — well, two of us are! George and Robert hit the Las Vegas show floor to scope out the latest in broadcast tech, while AP and Robbo keep the audio nerd banter flowing. In this episode: A deep dive on ultra-high-end ISO booths like MECART and the pros/cons of serious soundproofing The rise and practicality of Cousteau Block acoustic systems The origin story of SourceConnect and how it revolutionised VO and remote workflows The surprising legacy of SourceNexus, and how it changed...
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R70xA Headphones – Worth the Hype? | The Pro Audio Suite
The Pro Audio Suite
In this week’s video episode of The Pro Audio Suite, AP's got his ears on the new Audio-Technica R70xA headphones, and the team dives into a full-blown can convo. He shares his first impressions after two weeks of use — lightweight, comfy, and eerily similar in tone to the Hi-X65s. But how do they really stack up against other studio staples like the KRKs, Austrian Audio Hi-X55s and 65s, Sennheiser HD280s, and even some vintage Audio-Technica ATH2s? From comfort and design quirks (hello magnetic straps and mystery cables) to 470-ohm impedance madness, gear abuse stories, and which cans...
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VO Atlanta 2025 — The Ultimate VO Conference?|The Pro Audio Suite
The Pro Audio Suite
In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest and most talked-about voiceover events on the planet — VO Atlanta. Andrew, George, Robbo, and Robert break down the experience from every angle: Is it still the king of VO conferences? What's changed post-pandemic? Who should (and maybe shouldn’t) be booking flights for next year? The good, the bad, and the “interesting” from this year’s event Tips for getting the most out of VO Atlanta if you go in the future Plus, a little side chat about conferences in general — when are they worth it, when are they not, and how they...
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Budget Audio Gear: Bargains or Bollocks?|The Pro Audio SUite
The Pro Audio Suite
This week's episode of The Pro Audio Suite dives headfirst into the world of budget audio gear, exploring whether cheaper equipment has actually improved or if it's still just average kit with fancy marketing. Here are some key highlights and insights from the discussion: Budget Gear: Better or Still Rubbish? Robustness & Quality: The crew revisits the Rode NT1’s evolution—from early plastic models to today's sturdy iterations. They ponder its surprising collectability today. User-Friendliness: A cheeky chat unfolds about how budget gear manufacturers should assume nothing when it...
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Vanguard Microphones: Behind the Sound with Derek Bargaehr - Part 2
The Pro Audio Suite
We’re back with Derek Bargaehr, co-founder and chief designer at Vanguard Microphones, for Part 2 of our deep dive into the world of boutique microphone design. In this episode, Derek opens up about what really drives sound quality — from component selection to the subtle tweaks that can make or break a mic’s character. We also get into the realities of manufacturing in today’s world, and why Vanguard is so passionate about keeping the ‘human touch’ in their mics. If you love gear talk and want to know what separates the good mics from the great ones, don’t miss this. A big...
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Vanguard Microphones: Behind the Sound with Derek Bargaehr - Part 1
The Pro Audio Suite
In this first part of our two-part interview with Derek Bargaehr, co-founder and chief designer at Vanguard Microphones, we dig into the nuts and bolts of what goes into designing a modern microphone that stands out in a crowded market. From capsule choices to ribbon designs, Derek gives us the lowdown on how Vanguard approaches innovation, sound quality, and the all-important ‘vibe factor’ every engineer is chasing. Whether you’re a gear junkie, a home studio tragic, or a working pro wondering if that next mic purchase should have a Vanguard badge on it, this is the episode for you. A...
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Elevate Your Audio: Two-Way Recording with PASportVO
The Pro Audio Suite
This week on The Pro Audio Suite, it's down to just AP and Robbo as they dive into a hands-on session showcasing the PASportVO—the ultimate audio interface designed specifically for voice actors and podcasters. In this special video episode, the guys demonstrate exactly how easy it is to set up and use the PASportVO for crystal-clear two-way podcast interviews and directed voiceover sessions with clients. From connection tips and best practices to a live demo of its seamless functionality, this episode is packed with practical advice to elevate your remote recording game. Check out the video...
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The Voice of a Generation: David Kaye on The Pro Audio Suite
The Pro Audio Suite
In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, we sit down with one of the most recognizable voices in the industry—David Kaye. Whether you know him as Optimus Prime, the voice of countless movie trailers, or his extensive video game and animation work, David’s journey is one for the books. From his radio roots to discovering the power of simply being himself behind the mic, David shares invaluable insights into the craft of voice acting, the evolution of home studios, and the unexpected lessons he learned along the way. We talk character voices, the nuances of delivering an authentic read, and...
info_outlineThe Sennheiser 416 has become an industry-standard tool. Being a “shotgun” mic (or in tech terms a super-cardioid) the microphone is really sensitive in a very narrow space, in a line extending straight out from the tip. For this reason, it is often used on film sets where the mic needs to be a little farther away from the actor’s mouth (so it’s not in the frame), and the production team wants to capture the actor’s voice without capturing background noise in the room. These qualities also make it extremely versatile for use in home voiceover studios!
But who first decided a Shotgun would be great for Voice Over, and why is it now an industry standard?
Find out on next week's episode of the Pro Audio Suite.
A big shout out to our sponsors, Austrian Audio and Tri Booth. Both these companies are providers of QUALITY Audio Gear (we wouldn't partner with them unless they were), so please, if you're in the market for some new kit, do us a solid and check out their products, and be sure to tell em "Robbo, George, Robert, and AP sent you"... As a part of their generous support of our show, Tri Booth is offering $200 off a brand-new booth when you use the code TRIPAP200. So get onto their website now and secure your new booth...
And if you're in the market for a new Mic or killer pair of headphones, check out Austrian Audio. They've got a great range of top-shelf gear..
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“When the going gets weird, the weird turn professional.”
Hunter S Thompson
Summary
In this episode of Pro Audio Suite, we delve into an intriguing story about a paranoid voiceover artist who disliked using the booth, even in a professional setting. His preference to sit in the control area led to an unconventional solution - using a 41 six instead of the customary large diaphragm U87 microphones. This switch, made by one of the floor guys, not only satisfied the artist but also resulted in a unique sound that rapidly became the benchmark for what a voiceover should sound like. Don't miss this intriguing tale about breaking norms and setting new standards in the audio world, only on Pro Audio Suite.
#ProAudioSuite #VoiceoverEvolution #BenchmarkSound
Timestamps
- [00:00:00] Sneak Peek into the Pro Audio Suite
- [00:00:11] Innovative idea from the Brainstorming Floor
- [00:00:22] Emergence of 416 Sound
- [00:00:33] The Character of Voiceover Sound Revealed
Transcript
Speaker A: It's coming up. Coming up next, the Pro Audio Suite sneak peek. The story I heard was not like, I think he was a bit paranoid and he didn't like being in the booth because he thought people were talking about him. Right. And so he wanted to sit out in the control area. That's right. And he couldn't use a normal large diaphragm. Couldn't use a U 87 out there. Yeah. Every damn thing. So one of the guys on on the floor came up with the idea of using the 41 six. That's what I heard. Why don't you use this razor blade to record your voiceover? Yeah, it was probably a 415 or whatever they had at the time. Yeah, probably a T powered 415 at the time. Yeah. So that sound, for whatever reason, better, for worse, it's become the character of what a voiceover sounds like. It's become the word used. Robo, it's a benchmark. Benchmark, yeah. The Pro audio suite. Thanks to Triboos and Austrian audio. Listen now on your favorite podcast provider.