Everyday VOpreneur® Podcast with Marc Scott
Episode Title: Gear Recommendations for Your Santa List with George the Tech
Release Date: November 21, 2024
Guest: George “The Tech” Whittam
Main Theme: The ultimate holiday tech wish-list for voice actors—with expert studio gear, software, and acoustic treatment recommendations for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond!
Episode Overview
Marc Scott sits down with renowned tech consultant George “The Tech” Whittam for a fun and information-packed episode all about the best studio gear, software, and tools to consider for your VO business this holiday season. They break down microphones, interfaces, acoustic treatments, software, and splurge-worthy gadgets, offering recommendations at every price tier, as well as practical, field-tested advice from two lifelong gearheads.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Power of Holiday Deals and Building Your Studio
Timestamps: 00:55–04:53
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday are prime opportunities for studio upgrades, with many voice actors tending to make big gear investments at this time of year.
- Marc and George banter about the influence of advertising (“the power of FOMO”) and using “Santa Visa” as a method to justify gear purchases.
"The vast majority of my large studio purchases have happened around this time of year..." – Marc, 03:54
2. Microphone Recommendations for Every Budget
Timestamps: 04:53–16:11
Affordable Alternatives to Industry Standards
-
Audio-Technica AT875R – The “stunt mic” for the Sennheiser 416:
- Sub-$200, rugged, and impressively similar in sound to the classic 416.
- More travel-friendly and much cheaper, but not a lookalike—and that’s a good thing!
-
SSL Connex Advanced USB Microphone – The “stocking stuffer” mic:
- Four-capsule USB mic (once $200, now $69!) with background noise removal and group pickup—great for family storytelling around the holidays.
- Not pro-studio, but “you’ll find uses for it.”
“I legitimately didn’t even know that they made microphones. I thought they only made interfaces.” – Marc, 08:31
Road-Ready & USB Recommendations
- Rode VideoMic Go II – Highly portable, surprisingly full-sounding USB mic.
- Great for auditions on the go, vlogging, or as a backup.
- Works with any device: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android.
- “One of the very few USB mics I recommend for voice actors.” – George, 09:15
Broadcast-Quality and Pro Choices
- Earthworks Ethos
- A broadcast/podcast mic for the SM7B crowd, but “remarkably better and in really every way.”
- “It just sounds amazing.”
- Rode NTG5
- Voice similar to the 416, but half the price.
- Austrian Audio OC818
- Flexible, pro-level mic (around $1200), “Neumann alternative,” dual-capsule output and versatile polar patterns.
“If you’re looking at a TLM103 at the same price point, I would say look at the OC818.” – George, 15:19
Caution: Counterfeit Markets
- SM7B knock-offs abound online (“all you will find are knockoffs, fake, counterfeit…”).
3. Audio Interfaces: Options Beyond the Basics
Timestamps: 16:11–34:10
Creative Connectivity & Networking
- Marc describes using Focusrite Rednet X2P (audio over Ethernet/Dante) to bridge his booth and studio PC—a lesser-known but highly reliable “pro” solution for complex spaces.
Standard Home Studio Interfaces
- SSL 2
- Intuitive, under $200 (“all the knobs on the top... just such a user-friendly professional looking interface”).
- Universal Audio Apollo
- “Juggernaut” for those who need real-time processed headphone monitoring—especially former radio pros.
- Reliable, but likely overkill for VO artists who don’t need live processing.
- Rodecaster Series
- Duo and Pro 2: For podcasters, trainers, streamers, and anyone who needs sound pads and bells/whistles.
“The Apollo is for people who are addicted to headphones.” – George, 24:06
“You use headphones as part of your costume. If your voiceover character is announcer, put on the headphones.” – George, 25:14
New, VO-Specific Option
- CEntrance Passport VO (Co-developed with The Pro Audio Suite Podcast)
- Analog simplicity for the “two-mics-in-the-booth” crowd, with physical mic switching, mute button, dual-USB drivers (for simult. DAW/Zoom/SourceConnect), internal safety track and compression.
- “This is the FUBU of audio interfaces—For Us, By Us.” – George, 32:54
4. Acoustic Treatment: From DIY to Pro
Timestamps: 34:10–47:21
- Service Note: George recommends an acoustic tune-up consult to avoid wasted money and get custom advice for your space (see show notes for links).
- Affordable, Visual Solutions:
- PET felt panels (hexagonal, decorative, great for flutter echo/reverb—not so much for bass).
- Effective Booth Panels:
- ATS Acoustics (US) and Prime Acoustic London Panels (Canada).
- For small booths: panels should be thick/dense to control mid-lows.
- Custom Innovations:
- VEO Acoustics Kit (vocalbooth.com + George): Three strategically placed panels that “completely change the way your booth sounds.”
- Portable & Travel Solutions:
- TriBooth: Collapsible, self-contained acoustic treatment “booth” for travel, hotels, secondary studios, vacation homes, even for those in wheelchairs (new version/2.0 coming soon).
“It is very, very well done in that regard.” – Marc, 43:10
“Everything is where it needs to be, so it feels like a proper home [booth].” – George, 43:09
- Silver Series Vocal Booth:
- Entry-level soundproof booth, turnkey with lighting, ventilation, etc.
5. Software & Plugins for Voiceover
Timestamps: 47:21–56:30
- Cyber Monday deals make this the best time for audio software purchases.
- Noise Reduction & Restoration:
- iZotope RX11: “Dialog Isolate” now trickled down to the Standard edition; simple, powerful single-slider repair. (Wait for sales!)
- Hush Audio app (Mac Silicon only): Standalone denoiser for impossible noise situations (“pull a rabbit out of my hat” fixer).
- TDR Nova (“free, but not easy”): Flexible for compression/EQ/de-essing.
- Bertom Denoiser Classic (also free, powerful but complex noise removal).
- Trends:
- Expect AI-powered mouth de-clicking and breath removal tools soon.
- Subscription-based plugins are common; look out for hassle-free, perpetual license options.
“The RX11 standard... dialog isolate... That’s its killer app.” – George, 54:29
“The days of CDs, buy it, install it, own it forever...” – Marc, 48:38
6. Splurge-Worthy + Non-Essential, Totally-Cool Gear
Timestamps: 57:18–63:29
- Ultra-wide monitors (49-inch and similar) for immersive DAW/operating room setups.
- AR/AI Glasses as booth displays:
- George suggests trying these as virtual monitors in the booth—less glass, less acoustic reflection, seamless script/DAW visibility.
- Examples: Meta Ray Ban, Apple Vision Pro (expensive “ski goggles”), and independent AR glasses ($300–$500).
- “You throw your DAW up on your glasses, walk into your booth... it’s right there in front of you.”
“Dang it, George...” – Marc, on realizing the AR glasses could eliminate the need for a physical booth monitor, 61:50
7. Service Offerings for Making Sense of New Gear
Timestamps: 63:29–67:31
- Soundcheck: The “no-brainer” baseline assessment service (submit dry & processed files for pro feedback).
- Tech setup and support: Custom help (especially for Apollo, Passport VO, etc.), Windows or Mac setups, via George and team.
- 911 Tech Support Hotline: On-call, live dispatch for urgent studio emergencies (424-226-8528, Option 9).
“I get herded thousands of voiceover actors’ audio... I’ll give you a great baseline.” – George, 64:16
8. Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On FOMO and Deals:
“'Tis the season to be FOMOed on things you didn’t need to FOMO about before.” – George, 03:48
-
On Buying Mics:
“If you really are in the market for buying a Shure SM7B... all you will find are knockoffs, fake, counterfeit.” – George, 12:17
-
On Apollo Interfaces:
“The Apollo is for people who are addicted to headphones... That’s what you do—radio people.” – George, 24:06
-
On AR/AI Glasses:
“Now you throw your DAW up on your glasses, walk into your booth, it’s right there in front of you.” – George, 60:56
-
On Service Philosophy:
"Just because it was more expensive doesn’t mean it’s better." – George, 64:16
“No other audio interfaces have a mic switcher built in...” – George, 29:12
Resource Links & Additional Support
-
Full Gear List & Links:
georgethetech.ms -
Noise/Acoustic Services:
- Acoustics Tune Up Service
- Custom Audio Presets
- Soundcheck
-
Emergency Support & Consulting:
- 911 Tech Support Hotline: 424-226-8528, Option 9
-
TriBooth:
tribooth.com -
CEntrance Passport VO:
centrance.com/passportvo -
Podcast Channel:
George The Tech Podcast (formerly VOBS)
Final Thoughts
This is a must-listen (or in this case, must-skim) episode for any voice actor planning a thoughtful holiday studio update—or those just looking for new tech to drool over. George “The Tech” delivers practical wisdom, honest gear reviews, and a host of creative ideas for taking your work and workspace to the next level heading into the new year.
Santa Visa at the ready? Shop smart, and get real-world support for every new purchase!
For more, visit: vopreneur.com | georgethetech.ms