For a majority of my life, I have had a passion for music. After a few years of music school and studio training, I wanted to be a music producer and own my own studio. While recording bands, however, I focused on the vocals more than the instrumentation and I have always been fascinated with harmonies. So after I have done some work in overdubs and voiceover projects, I decided that I want to start my own overdub production company. I would want to offer clients services like overdubs, voiceovers, vocal or small band demos, radio edits, jingles, and TV commercial audio. I have done some research on studio spaces, equipment, and supplies and even though overdub studio space is smaller, I still need the top-notch gear to compete with other regular studios. In this post, I will discuss a major necessity in overdubbing, which is the microphone.
There is no such thing as “the perfect vocal microphone,” but it depends on the person’s voice to select the perfect microphone for the perfect sound. I know that condenser microphones are the most common vocal microphones but other types, like ribbon or condenser microphones can fit the voice for the complete sound. One of my favorite microphones is the Neumann U87. This microphone has multiple polar patterns and has a large diaphragm. I like to set the microphone on omnidirectional because it receives fewer delays. Tim Crich that the microphone “picks up the complete sound field…plus it has no proximity effect” (Crich, 2004). Another microphone I like is the Electro Voice RE20. This microphone is commonly used in radio station but it still gives that vintage sound. The RE20 is also resistant to proximity effect and “is smooth across a wide spectrum of frequencies” (Sweetwater.com, 2011).
There are plenty other microphones to work with in an overdub studio but the Neumann U87 and the Electro Voice RE20 are the most common. My goals of having an overdub studio will take time and a decent budget but with hard and smart work ethics, my business will be worthwhile.
