Garrison Keillor (former host of NPR’s Prairie Home Companion) wasn’t happy. He stepped out of my voice booth and gave me a look that could curdle milk.
The year was 1996 and a producer friend of mine had booked him for a session at my brand new studio on Houston Street in New York City.
Keillor was a famous radio star and I guess he was expecting the Ritz, but what he got was…my closet.
Yup, my first professional voice booth was in a closet in my office. I lined it with sound foam, even piped in acoustically dampened air conditioning. I was proud of my studio and frankly, it sounded pretty good.
But for a big, cranky, 6’4 inch dude like Keillor my cramped closet just wasn’t cutting it.
Too embarrassed to look him in the eye. I hid behind a closed door until the session was through, but I can still hear his muttered curses as he stomped off down the hall.
You probably won’t be hosting celebrities in your closet anytime soon. But a closet is still one of the best places to record from home, especially if you’re on a budget.
This week I’ve got a handful of cheap tricks you can use to do great recordings from home. One of them is even used on movie sets to record audio on the fly.
Watch It Here Now
After you watch the video, I want to know your thoughts. Was this helpful? Write to me in the comments box. I want to learn what’s on your mind so I can support you and share your best practices.
To your voice over success,
Susan Berkley,
Founder, The Great Voice Company
PS
The clock is ticking on my Great Voice Challenge starting Jan 5. Make 2017 your best year ever! I’ll help you start your voice over career step by step and you may even WIN a professionally produced voice over demo and training package worth $2,500!
Get details here www.greatvoicechallenge.com or call 800-333-8108.
Good practical advice. Thanx
Frank
You’re welcome, Frank!
I actually bought a few items that have proven very effective. These aren’t quite as cheap and readily at hand as clothes or moving blankets, but they’re still far less than a WhisperRoom, and work very well in my home office. At B&H Audio-Video I picked up a mic stand, two free standing sound absorbers and an sE Electronics Reflexion Filter. Total cost was well under $1000, and suitable for some critical projects I’ve done.
Keep up the great work! I look forward to finally meeting you in-person, possibly for this summer’s RS Immersion.
Great suggestions, David. Thanks for your comments. What is RS Immersion?
I’m interested to hear your views on soundproofing a corner of a room and sitting with your back to the corner and recording that way….thank you, I love all your blogs.
Thanks. Great suggestions for those of us trying to figure out the best and cheapest way to build that first home studio.
Do you still have your course/download on building a home studio available?
Thanks William. Our home studio course is at http://www.homestudiohowto.com Its on sale so you will get a great deal if you hurry! 🙂
Good morning Susan,
Great ideas! I’ve done the clothing and blankets but the pillows, good one! I have since turned my RV into my mobile studio. Works well.
Years ago, I turned a bedroom at my ranch into a studio. On launch day, went live on the radio and the cows started mooing! Made for an interesting few minutes.
-John, Host
Bizness Soup Talk Radio
John, that is SO funny about the cows! Thanks for sharing. I can only imagine. Susan
Great vidéo and very entusiastic a proch Tumbs up
Thanks for writing, Omar! Glad to have you aboard.
When you’re traveling, what equipment do you take with you?
Doris
Upperness, Erkek ve Bayan Spor Giyim Firması
Hi Doris, I bring a mac book air laptop, an apogee mic, a pop screen, a portable table stand, and high quality ear buds. Hope that helps! Susan