Studio • • 5 min read
Studio Tour: The Gear I Actually Use
A look at the microphones, booth, and workflow behind the files I send to clients.
By Jarred Cannon, a voice actor based in Richmond, Virginia.
While I keep my booth stocked with classic studio gear such as a Neumann TLM103, a Sennheiser MKH416 and a UA Apollo Solo (running a wide range of UAD plugins, namely CVOX), I also rely on some gear of my own choosing!
The AudioTechnica 4047MP and 4050 hold a special place in my heart. I adore the super clean top-end of both microphones and I really love the vintage body of the 4047! This is my go-to microphone for longform narration, but it is easily capable of handling everything thrown at it. Did you know it was used on the English dub of FF7 Remake as well as Dragon Ball Super! Before Super, the 4050 was used for the English dub as well! I firmly believe these are two of the best microphones ever made, and are both underrated and ridiculously good for voiceover work.
I have a number of custom microphones that I think really push audio to the next level! My HulaCow Kahuna (with an Arienne Audio K87 v3 and a UTM5087, using a 180pF de-emphasis capacitor) sounds absolutely stunning. I have a modified Aston Spirit running a Flat K47 from Arienne Audio, which is an extremely versatile combination! Speaking of versatility, my sE Electronics T2 with the v3 Arienne Audio K87 is monstrously capable, and is potentially my favorite of the 3!
Before I record, I read the script for subtext, mark the turns, and make notes about pace and direction. Those choices guide the breaths, cadence, and emotional center of the read.
During remote sessions, I keep the script, chat, and any visual references in front of me. Clients can direct through Source-Connect, Zoom, Teams, or Discord. If they don’t need to join live, I can usually send clean files within hours.
Afterward, I deliver the format and naming scheme the client asks for. I can include processed takes, raw audio, or both, so the editor has room to work.
Want to hear the booth on your own copy? Send me a few lines and tell me what you’re after.