Favourite Plug-Ins: Free Gems, Old Friends, and AI Tools
Release Date: 08/19/2025
Back to His Roots: George’s One-Case Location VO Rig
The Pro Audio Suite
George heads out on a time-sensitive PSA to capture wild VO lines at an actor’s house — and rebuilds a lean, one-case kit on the fly. We dig into what made the rig work, why he chose an onboard recorder for redundancy, mic choices (NTG-4 vs NTG-5), and a stack of road-tested tips from our early days hauling DA-88s, DATs and Franken-booms. What we cover: Packing everything into a Pelican 1510 (laptop, interface, mic, stand, boom) Primary vs backup: PortCaster with onboard record + laptop DAW Why the NTG-4 worked (once the low-cut was off) and when the NTG-5 is nicer Quiet-room...
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Source-Connect Bridge Explained
The Pro Audio Suite
Ever been caught in a panic when Source-Connect 3 won’t talk to Source-Connect 4? You’re not alone. In this week’s Pro Audio Suite, the team dives into the Source-Connect Bridge—what it is, why it exists, and how it can save your session. Robbo shares a real-world case of a talent stuck between versions, Robert explains how the Bridge works behind the scenes, and George breaks down when it’s the best option (hint: travelling VO talent on Windows, we’re looking at you). We also get sidetracked on long VO sessions, Apple’s memo banning typewriters in 1980, and why agencies...
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Favourite Plug-Ins: Free Gems, Old Friends, and AI Tools
The Pro Audio Suite
This week on The Pro Audio Suite, the team open up their plug-in folders and share their favourites — from free finds to trusty old processors and some surprising new AI tools. Robbo kicks things off with TDR Nova, a free dynamic EQ/multiband compressor that’s perfect for VO artists working in home studios. Robert digs back into his bag of tricks with Waves C4/C6, still unbeatable for multiband control after all these years. George brings Acon Extract Dialog to the table, showing how modern AI can pull voices cleanly from noisy recordings. Along the way, we debate noise reduction chains,...
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Latency: The Invisible Killer of Your Audio Flow
The Pro Audio Suite
Latency, it’s that tiny, annoying delay between what you say and what you hear back. In the studio, online, or even in your own headphones, it can trip you up, wreck your timing, and make you feel like you’re talking to yourself in slow motion. In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, Robbo, AP, George, and Robert dig into: What latency really is (and why it’s not just a tech buzzword) How it sneaks into your recording chain The difference between “good” latency and “bad” latency Fixes you can do right now without buying a new rig When hardware or interface upgrades...
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The $2.5K AI Voice Deal: A Lifetime of Regret
The Pro Audio Suite
This week on The Pro Audio Suite, Robbo and AP pull apart one of the most alarming AI voice contracts we’ve ever seen. An offer of $2,500 USD for perpetual, irrevocable rights to your voice? Sounds tempting… but here’s why this could destroy your career. We dig into: The fine print that locks your voice away forever How AI voice deals strip away future earnings Why SAG-AFTRA and other bodies are pushing back The long-term cost of a short-term payday Before you sign anything, listen to this episode. Your career might depend on it. 🎧 Join the conversation: ✅ Sponsors: 👉...
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AI Voices and SAG-AFTRA: What You Need to Know
The Pro Audio Suite
AI voices are popping up everywhere , from audiobooks to YouTube explainer videos, but SAG-AFTRA has just drawn a line in the sand. In this episode, the team dives into the union’s new “no contract, no work” order against companies using AI voice replicas without being signatories. We unpack: What the new SAG-AFTRA policy means for voice actors. Why YouTube is demonetizing AI-driven “headless” channels. The growing issue of AI-generated bands and synthetic music on Spotify. The human factor: Will art survive if AI takes over the creative process? Plus, a few old-school...
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CC8 vs OC18: The Mic Shootout You Didn’t See Coming
The Pro Audio Suite
This week on The Pro Audio Suite, we pit two Austrian Audio mics head-to-head: the compact CC8 pencil mic versus the classic OC18 large diaphragm condenser — both run through the PASport VO interface. The results? Surprisingly close. AP takes the CC8 for a spin in his booth and on the road, while George and Robert weigh in on specs, noise floors, travel setups, shotgun myths, and why mic placement matters more than mic price in many situations. We also dig into the legacy of the Sennheiser 416, explore the quirks of mic voicing, and chat about some esoteric models only mic nerds will...
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What Is Processed Voice Over? Cutting Through the Confusion
The Pro Audio Suite
When Should You Process Your Audio—and When Should You Leave It Clean? Description: This week on The Pro Audio Suite, we’re tackling a topic that trips up a lot of voice talent: processed voice over. What does “processing” really mean when a client asks for it? Should you send your files squeaky clean, lightly polished, or fully mastered? And how do you avoid overcooking your audio before it even hits the mix? George Whittam, Robert Marshall, Andrew Peters, and Robbo break it all down, including: 🎙️ What basic processing actually involves 🔊 The difference between a gentle...
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Tri-Booth Myths Debunked – What You Really Need to Know
The Pro Audio Suite
This week, the team tackles the most common myths about the Tri-Booth – the portable recording solution trusted by countless voice actors and audio pros. From misconceptions about its sound isolation, to confusion about setup and portability, we dig into what’s real and what’s just internet chatter. Andrew shares his first-hand experience using a Tri-Booth on the road, Robbo explains how it compares to permanent studio spaces, and George breaks down the physics of why it works (or doesn’t) in certain environments. If you’ve been considering a Tri-Booth or wondering whether it’s...
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The Hidden World of Loopers: Voices Behind the Scenes
The Pro Audio Suite
Ever watched Spider-Man swinging across the city and heard crowds gasping, yelling, or whispering in the background? Those voices don’t record themselves—loopers do that. In this episode, we meet voice actors who specialize in looping and learn how they bring background scenes to life. They share stories from the studio, tips for aspiring loopers, and insights into why this small community is so important to every production. 🎤 In This Episode: What is looping, and why does Hollywood rely on it? How loopers are cast and directed The difference between looping, ADR, and Foley How...
info_outlineThis week on The Pro Audio Suite, the team open up their plug-in folders and share their favourites — from free finds to trusty old processors and some surprising new AI tools.
Robbo kicks things off with TDR Nova, a free dynamic EQ/multiband compressor that’s perfect for VO artists working in home studios. Robert digs back into his bag of tricks with Waves C4/C6, still unbeatable for multiband control after all these years. George brings Acon Extract Dialog to the table, showing how modern AI can pull voices cleanly from noisy recordings. Along the way, we debate noise reduction chains, “less is more” processing, and why not every AI fix is the magic bullet people think it is.
If you’re looking for plug-ins that actually help (without emptying your wallet), this one’s for you.
🏷 Hashtags / Tags
voiceover, plugins, audio plugins, vst plugins, audio production, pro tools, audition, twisted wave, waves audio, izotope, acon digital, tokyo dawn records, tdr nova, waves c4, multiband compressor, de esser, noise reduction, clarity vx, source connect, home studio, podcast editing, pro audio suite
🙌 Credits
The Pro Audio Suite is proudly sponsored by TriBooth (use code TRIPAP200 for $200 off) and Austrian Audio — Making Passion Heard.
Recorded via Source Connect. Edited by Andrew Peters. Mixed by Robbo.
Tech support from George the Tech Whittam.
Got your own audio issues? 👉 JustAskRobbo.com