Budget Audio Gear: Bargains or Bollocks?|The Pro Audio SUite
Release Date: 03/17/2025
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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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 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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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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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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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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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'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 comes to user knowledge, advocating for painfully obvious product instructions, especially with mics like Rode’s NT1.
Headphones: Still the Achilles Heel?
- Consensus emerges around headphones as one area where low-budget options haven't improved as dramatically as microphones. The crew reckons that decent studio cans rarely dip below the $100 mark without significant compromises in sound and build quality.
- Austrian Audio gets a shout-out for their entry-level headphones offering decent quality, but it's noted that paying a little more generally delivers much better audio.
Interfaces and Converters:
- Robbo's downsized rig is highlighted, having moved from larger interfaces to compact solutions like the SSL2 and the Centrance PASport VO.
- An important insight shared is that cheap interfaces often share internal converter chips with much pricier gear, meaning the sonic differences can be surprisingly subtle.
Bargain Finds and Bargain Fails:
- Andrew points out the rise in cost of entry-level interfaces from brands like Focusrite, thanks to feature-creep.
- The group chats about bargain-basement gear flooding Amazon, discussing surprising finds like a $30 dual XLR-to-USB-C interface cable.
- Robbo humorously advises caution, noting that certain inexpensive gear—particularly cables and mic arms—can still be absolute rubbish.
Chinese Clones and Cheap Accessories:
- George brings up affordable Chinese-made hardware like camera mounts and mic arms, now significantly cheaper yet surprisingly robust compared to premium brands. The "magic arm" clamp is a notable budget win.
- However, the consensus firmly recommends against skimping on headphones and cables. Quality connectors from Neutrik and Mogami cables are touted as essentials worth investing in.
Plug-ins: Stock vs. Premium vs. AI
- Debate surrounds stock plug-ins vs premium offerings, questioning the necessity of higher-priced plug-ins from brands like FabFilter.
- Healthy skepticism about AI-enhanced plug-ins and noise reduction is expressed, particularly regarding Adobe Podcast's AI noise reduction.
Emulators & Mic Modeling:
- Opinions split on whether mic emulation is beneficial or just a feel-good factor. Townsend Sphere and Antelope Audio's mics spark a conversation about whether emulated models truly rival their inspirations.
Final Thoughts:
- Cheaper gear today often does punch above its price tag compared to the past, especially microphones. But there remain clear lines where quality is non-negotiable (headphones, connectors, and build quality in general).
- Ultimately, the episode reinforces the idea that good engineering practice and knowledge still win the day, regardless of budget constraints.
It’s another lively, opinionated, and informative chat from Robbo, Andrew Peters, George "The Tech" Whittam, and Robert Marshall, brought to you by their sponsors Tribooth and Austrian Audio.
If you're keen to catch the full flavour and all the banter, check out the episode at theproaudiosuite.com.
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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