Right, so I've been recording some voice files for my Bison Steve mod and before I get too deep into recording them, I would greatly like a little feedback on the sound quality, volume levels and the overall sound of my voice and acting.

I'm not an actor either, so if you have any thoughts as to my attempt at acting please fire away. I basically want to know if I sound like s**t on a stick or not. So if I svck and the sound svcks PLEASE tell me – I wont be offended. In fact I would appreciate it as I would rather have NO voice acting than crappy, sub-standard acting. Not having any voice files won't exactly kill my mod, but having bad sound and acting I believe would. So please be honest with me – I'm looking for the truth.

BTW, the country accent is intentional. As a southern boy I do have a little drawl, but this is intentionally trying to sound more country.

So I have a dozen or so samples set up with the dialog on my server here: http://ypdesign.com/bison/voice_files.htm


(Recorded with an old SM-87 through a Behringer board with a little compression straight to PC. Somebody forgot to http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/U87SetZMT/ for Christmas....)

well, i like it. though some of the lines sounded like it had less emotion than the impression i got from the text. and the sound quality isnt bad at all.

The voice acting itself is good, you definitely don't svck.

The sound quality is decent, however there is a bit of popping (the sound of air hitting the mic when you talk)... you might want to consider getting a pop filter. You can get a cheap one for around $15, or you can make your own pretty easily if you're so inclined.

Good work. Cool voice acting but would need the ante upping in the sound quality stakes. Otherwise, very good indeed.

Kudos to you, Sir.

Definitely understand about the pops. The hard thing with using a SM-58 is the range of the mic. You have to be pretty close to the mic to get a nice fat tone out of it as it's primarily a stage vocal mic, not a studio condenser. (Like I said, Santa didn't bring me a U-87 for Christmas so it's all I got right now.) If I back off the mic, I have to turn the gain WAY up which causes hiss and more noise in general.

But unfortunately, getting that close also allows the P's, T's and B's to cause the pops, and unfortunately a wind screen does not work that effectively (especially with a SM-58) placed only an inch or so from the bulb of the mic. (I've been recording and writing music for over 25 years, so I definitely have some experience with this, lol.)

However, I've been looking around online and found a nice RODE NT1-A Studio Condenser for a very reasonable price. I think I might stop by a local music store on the way home and pick one up. It comes with shock mount, wind screen and everything! So, we'll see how it works.
Thanks for the replies, and I'll post the new files when I get them done.

You could also go with a USB condenser Mic or even try a Behringer B-2 Pro, it has 3 Pattern Switches, -10/- and Bottom roll-off switches, and is a LOT cheaper than the Rode NT-1,
I use it on all of my recording work, from Speaking Parts to Singing parts.
Just make sure your mixer has a +40v Phantom supply for the Mic

Thanks Occam! I actually also looked at a Shure PG27-USB, but decided to go with the RODE as it is supposed to be one helluva vocal mic for the money. The engineer I talked to said it was one of his best vocal mics for any price, even compared to the $3000+ and up you'll shell out for a U-87, lol. So I really wanted something that I could not only do my files for my mod with, but also record vocals if I ever start recording again. Already picked it up on my lunch break, and will try her out tonight.

Thanks!

Wow, that's actually pretty good. I think you're a better voice actor than the guy who made New Vegas Bounties, yet his is still fully voice acted and it is one of the most popular mods on the Nexus.

I also hate mods with no voice acting because I turn dialogue subtitles off. I prefer to not be able to anticipate what a character is going to say.

Cool. I wasn't going to suggest buying a good mic because of the cost, but if you're recording music too, that's a good investment.

Have fun

You're going to want a good mic whether it's for Mod Voice work, or for music vocal work.

Too often you'll get someone trying out for voice acting parts using a terrible PC gaming headset mic, that not only
picks up ALL of the 'Plosives" but also their Nose-Breathing, little brother or sister crying in the background,
along with the radio..... .

The only problem with the really good Condensor Mics is how sensitive they can be, I recorded one of the Space Shuttle Launches
with the Microphone inside my house, and it was pretty loud, to be fair, the launch makes the windows rattle here

When doing any VA parts or singing parts, I also have to wait until the next door neighbor lets her Cocker Spaniel in, because
it barks constantly while it's outside, and I really don't feel like Noise-gating and trying to process out a Dog Barking, so it's just easier to wait.
in any of my songs, or VA stuff.

You ain't kiddin! My neighbor just cranked up his lawn mower and I had to just practice lines for 30 minutes while he was playing, lol. (That's OK, I took $50 from him on the poker table last Saturday.) I had to move my computer away as far as the cords would let it, lol. And I still hear a little fan noise, but I don't think you'll hear it in the game mix.

But WOW! This mic is awesome! Check out the new samples: (same link)

http://ypdesign.com/bison/voice_files.htm

Sounds good. :foodndrink: