Tag: equipment

After many years, STUDIO OGIEN has finally obtained an updated recording setup for its UTAU characters! We are excited to bring more OGIENOID voices to life with our new UTAU recording setup!

To clarify before we begin, we understand that some of the items we use in this list are a bit on the pricey end. However, we have spent many months saving money and taking advantage of payment plans to buy these pieces of equipment. We chose to invest in equipment with long-term usability. This way, we can create voicebanks with consistent quality for years to come. The following post acts as a record of our current equipment. Our hope is that this post can help our audience.

Microphone

Firstly, let’s begin with the item we are most excited about. The Electro-Voice RE20 is a microphone that has been a fan favorite for radio since 1968. It is STUDIO OGIEN’s first XLR microphone! We chose this mic for its true cardioid nature and smooth sound. Additionally, the RE20 is excellent for reducing background noise as well.

An XLR is different than a standard USB mic. Unlike a USB mic, an XLR mic does not plug straight into your computer. To sum up, XLR mics need more parts in order to work.

It is a pricier microphone, but it is easy to finance this mic with a payment plan.

Microphone Stand

Secondly, our new mic stand. This heavy-duty piece of gear is solid, sturdy, and heavy. This is great, as our setup demands a lot out of a mic stand! For the quality, it is a fairly priced piece. The included screw adapter also fits the RE20 perfectly.

Isolation Shield

In addition, we added an isolation shield to our setup. Isolation shields reduce the noise picked up via the microphone while recording. In short, by isolating your microphone from its surrounding environment, the shield enhances the quality of your voice and prevents distortions. For example, we use this shield to prevent unwanted noise from leaking into our recordings from less insulated walls.

Audio Interface

Further, we required a way to make our mic “talk” to our computer. In comes our audio interface. An audio interface is a tool that converts signals into a format your computer can recognize. The interface can also play audio directly to your headphones. We decided to go with the Focusrite Scarlett Solo for its ability to capture studio-like quality without the full studio! Another plus we love with this interface is the ease of use. On days we want to get to recording as soon as possible – it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

XLR Cables

XLR cables are the proper way to connect your audio interface and mic. In short, these cables act as a connector between various stage, audio, and video pieces of equipment. The connectors are circular in design and have between three and seven pins.

What About A Preamp/Mic Activator?

If you’ve been doing your research on a recording set-up, you may have heard the term “preamp”. To sum up, a preamp is a device that connects to your audio interface and microphone to help counter the inevitable noise the microphone will pick up. However, the microphone we have chosen for our newest set-up is one that has a built-in noise-canceling filter. This helps the microphone pick up your voice only.

During our initial testing, we discovered an odd issue with the RE-20 producing a high amount of background noise. Once we removed the preamp from the equation, we noticed an uptick in quality. After that, we concluded that the preamp was causing our samples to have a heavy amount of “engine noise”. We discovered that the cloudlifter was interfering with the RE-20’s built-in noise cancellation. As a result, we eventually excluded it from our setup.

Originally, we selected the Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator. It did not fit our needs, but depending on the microphone you choose, this may be a great addition to your own setup.

STUDIO OGIEN’s Previous Recording Equipment

Our original equipment began with a Logitech headset, and from there we quickly upgraded to a Blue Yeti. A decent USB mic, it served as a great starting point. Our Blue Yeti was used to record all currently released OGIENOID voicebanks (excluding HONOS OG04). In the end, we sold our Blue Yeti to finance the purchase of new equipment, so, going forward, no new OGIENOID voicebanks will use that mic.

Below is a breakdown of each OGIENOID and the equipment used for their recordings.

So, what do you think of our new UTAU recording setup? Please let us know your thoughts and advice in the comments!