The Pro Audio Suite

AP records the same voice through four very different microphones and sends the files around without revealing what they are. George, Robert, Robbo and a bunch of trusted audio ears rank them purely on what they hear. Then the mics are revealed. The result is a pretty good reminder that price, reputation and specifications only tell you so much. What matters is how a microphone actually sounds on the voice and for the job you need it to do. And just to make the point beautifully, Robbo put the overall winner dead last. LIBSYN FULL DESCRIPTION It's time to Guess...

Is there actually such a thing as the best voice-over microphone for women? It sounds like a simple question, but once the Pro Audio Suite starts pulling it apart, things get much more interesting. This week, George, Robert, and AP look at why choosing a microphone based on whether the talent is male or female probably misses the point entirely. What matters far more is what the voice is actually doing. Is it bright or dark? Sibilant? Mid forward? Deep and chesty? Does it have a lot of mouth noise? And does the microphone complement those characteristics, or simply exaggerate...

How do you build a voiceover audition setup when the room is tiny, space is precious, and you really don't want to pull the whole thing apart every time you're finished? AP's daughter has moved into a share house in Melbourne and needs something permanent enough to give her consistent audition audio without taking over the room. The gear is already pretty capable: a RØDE NTG3, CEntrance MicPort Pro, Porta Booth, TwistedWave, Source Connect and a trusty old pair of AKGs. The question is how to put it all together so it actually works. That gets the guys talking a...

Do voice actors really need in ear monitors? They offer excellent isolation and can sound fantastic, but they can also feel uncomfortable, create an unnatural sense of pressure, and make it harder to hear your own voice unless your direct monitoring is set up properly. In this episode, George, Robert, Robbo and AP look at when headphone isolation genuinely matters, including WALA sessions, radio interviews, music driven reads, remote recording, pickups and situations where headphone bleed can end up permanently embedded in the recording. They also consider the complete opposite approach. Rather than blocking everything out, could lightweight open headphones...

What is the cleanest way to connect several microphones, preamps and audio interfaces without constantly crawling behind the rack? AP starts with what sounds like a simple question about expanding the line-level inputs on his Audient iD44. That sends the team down a glorious rabbit hole involving passive switchers, mic splitters, USB converters, matrix routers, the Heritage Audio Synth Buddy, ESI interfaces, Broadcast Tools, Source-Nexus and the Passport VO. Eventually, one decidedly old-school solution keeps winning the argument: the humble patchbay. The team discusses quarter-inch, Bantam and TT patchbays, normalled and half-normalled connections, passive mic splitting, phantom power, transformer isolation...

The Neumann U87 may be one of the most recognisable microphones in the world, but does that make it the right microphone for voiceover and animation? This week, the team digs into the reputation, sound and real world value of the U87. Andrew is considering one for Somerset's animation work, which sparks a much bigger discussion about why certain microphones become industry standards and whether producers genuinely require them. We compare the U87 with alternatives including the Neumann TLM 103, TLM 193, U89, Sennheiser MKH 416, Microtech Gefell models and the Austrian Audio OC818. The conversation covers: • Why animation studios sometimes record with bo...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, the crew dives into the weirdly perfect world of AI fixing AI. Robert shares a corporate video job about AI adoption that was, rather beautifully, rescued by AI audio cleanup. Robbo jumps in with his own tale of a big corporate shoot where the lapel mics were fitted, but somehow the camera mic was what got recorded. Enter Source Elements ReGen. The team talks through where tools like ReGen sit in the real world of audio post. Not as a first choice, not as a magic button, but as a serious get out...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, George brings out a little show and tell with the SSL One, SSL's compact single mic preamp interface aimed squarely at the same world as the Scarlett Solo and other simple home studio boxes. The team gets into what actually matters for voice actors and home studio users, including physical gain knobs, direct monitoring, high pass filters, 4K mode, USB-C connections, headphone control, auto gain, clip protection, and why simple interfaces are sometimes the best interfaces. There is also a little live testing with Twisted Wave, a quick look at Source Elements Recorder...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, the crew dives into one of the biggest traps in audio production: trusting what you think you're hearing. Robbo talks about working in an unfamiliar studio and being reminded how much your room, routing, monitoring chain, headphones, templates and habits shape the way you work. The conversation moves into headphone mixing, crossfeed, SPL monitoring, virtual control rooms, Sonarworks, Waves room emulation, EQ Mac, old school graphic EQs, and the fine art of not destroying your mix because your room has a 120Hz attitude problem. There's also a proper old school tangent involving INXS...

The team breaks down what "acceptable audio" really means for voice actors recording from home, from reflections and noise to mic placement, editing, clothing rustle and using reference recordings.

What actually counts as acceptable audio when you're recording voiceover from home? That question came up after Robbo spoke with a group of aspiring voice actors in Perth. The advice was simple enough, don't overprocess, don't gate everything, and send clean raw audio when asked. But one student asked the thing every beginner wants to know: how do I know if what I'm recording is actually good enough? In...

Apple has not always been known as the bargain option, but the latest Apple Silicon Macs might be changing that conversation. In this episode, the team gets into the surprising value of the M4 Mac Mini, why even a base model can be serious overkill for many voice actors, and how smaller machines like the MacBook Air and MacBook "Neo" style systems compare for remote sessions, Source Connect, Pro Tools, and travel rigs. The conversation also wanders into classic Pro Audio Suite territory, including old Macs that refuse to die, running Linux or Windows on ageing Apple hardware, right to...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, things go gloriously off the rails. AP has been rebuilding his studio, and is talking reclaimed timber and custom desks, George is showing off weird vintage Apple gear, and somewhere in the middle, the boys fall down a rabbit hole involving Korg M1s, old ISDN boxes, retro synths, ancient Macs, and why audio people can never throw anything away. There's also a surprisingly deep discussion about why the physical studio environment matters creatively, why a tidy desk changes your mindset, and how modern workflows are reshaping how studios are built and used...

What happens when audio is so bad… even the best plugins can't save it? In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, we're joined by Michael "Gomez" Pearce-Adams from Waves Audio to talk about Voice Regeneration, a new AI-driven tool designed to rebuild poor-quality dialogue into something actually usable. And this isn't just noise reduction or EQ… it's a complete rethink of how broken audio gets fixed. We dig into: Why this will never be a plugin How AI is actually "rebuilding" voice recordings Real-world use cases, from podcast disasters to phone interviews What this means for audio engineers and post...

TwistedWave has dropped updates that feel like they were built for anyone smashing through a pile of auditions or VO edits every day. George walks through what's new in 32.3 and 32.4, including the ability to apply a Batch directly to your currently open file and map that Batch to a single keystroke. That means you can normalise to a target level, then apply a processing stack, all in one hit, without the old multi step workflow. Then there's the new Repair tool, a quick "auto heal" style fix for little clicks, mouth noises, and short waveform anomalies. Select the problem area...

Loopback is one of the most common and misunderstood problems in home studios. In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, the team breaks down how the new Nexus Suite, specifically Nexus Review, makes it dramatically easier to capture system audio, create proper mix-minus setups, and send playback to clients without complicated routing. If you have ever wrestled with UA Console routing, virtual drivers, Chrome output quirks, or Mac system audio conflicts, this one is for you. We cover: • Why traditional loopback setups get messy fast
• The UA console routing method and its limitations
• How Nexus Review captures system...

In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, the team dives into some major shifts in the audio industry. Audio Tonics has acquired DPA, Austrian Audio, SSL, Harrison and more. What does this wave of consolidation mean for boutique brands and the future of innovation? Then we unpack the developing Native Instruments insolvency proceedings. With Kontakt, iZotope, Plugin Alliance and Brainworx under that umbrella, what could this mean for producers, composers and post professionals? And does this reignite the subscriptions versus perpetual debate? We also wander into: • Neumann U47 reissue rumours
• The real value of vintage microphones
• Why old mu...

In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, the team digs into a large-scale remote recording with Robert Marshall, capturing a full orchestra and 100-plus voice choir performing Handel's Messiah inside a church. Robert breaks down his microphone choices, including Neumann KM184s, Austrian Audio CC8s, Schoeps mains, and why ORTF still delivers a convincing stereo image in complex acoustic spaces. We also talk about spot mic placement for piano and soloists, blending ambience naturally without artificial reverb, and the realities of recording live with zero second chances. The conversation drifts into mobile recording rigs, spinning-disk backups, FireWire laptops, r...

A fascinating piece of gear quietly surfaced ahead of NAMM, and it sent us down a deep rabbit hole. In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, the crew digs into the Carno Sepia system, a digitally controlled, fully analog modular hardware platform that feels like a modern reimagining of the 500 series concept, minus the knobs. We unpack how it works, who it's really for, and whether this kind of hybrid approach is genuine innovation or just another expensive way to chase "analog purity." Along the way, we talk NAMM expectations, Sweetwater leaks, digitally controlled analog routing, redundancy, reliability fears...

2025 has been a big year for The Pro Audio Suite, so this episode is a full end-of-year wrap up with Robbo, Andrew Peters, George "The Tech" Whitham, and Robert Marshall. We look back at the biggest moments, the most downloaded episodes, the conversations that sparked the most reaction, and the industry shifts that actually mattered. From the launch of the PASport VO and real-world use cases, to persistent Source-Connect confusion, to the realities of AI in voiceover and audio production, this episode ties together the themes that defined 2025 for working audio pros. We also talk gear myths, room realities, video...

This week the team dives into one of the strangest mics we've ever had on the show.
A client of George's sent through a full placement test of the Aston Element, the active moving-coil oddball with its own made-up technology name, the Rydion capsule. Aston claims it blends the bottom end of a dynamic, the clarity of a condenser, and the smoothness of a ribbon. Big call. We compare it directly against a 416 and a TLM103, and the reactions in the room say everything.
Does it punch above its weight?
Is it just a quirky USB-era gimmick?<...

This week we're digging into the skills that used to define the studio, back when audio wasn't just about tools and tech but the craft behind the session itself. Punch-ins, drop-ins, reading along with yourself, directing talent, matching pitch on the fly, using feel instead of formulas… so much of this has disappeared from the modern workflow. Robbo, AP, George and Robert swap stories from the tape era, pick apart why many of these skills are fading, and talk about what VO talent and engineers can learn from the old way of doing things. From casting realities to coaching blind sp...

Breaths — they're natural, emotional, and sometimes downright necessary. But should they always stay in your voice tracks? This week, the crew dives into the great de-breathing debate, inspired by a post from voice actor Toby Ricketts on how breaths act as "unseen punctuation." Robbo, AP, George the Tech, and Robert Marshall discuss when removing them improves clarity and when it strips away the performance. Along the way, they touch on AI voices, happy accidents, and the fine art of keeping things human — from Sting's laugh on Roxanne to Chad Smith breaking a drumstick mid-take. They also chat about Austrian Audio's new...

Finally! Apple’s latest iOS 26 update gives users control over which mic their iPhone or iPad apps use. Whether you’re recording with AirPods, a PASport VO, or your favourite external mic, you can now select your input per app — a massive leap for voice actors, podcasters, and mobile content creators. The team also unpacks the new AirPods Pro 3 and their surprisingly usable mic quality, adaptive noise reduction, and hearing-aid features. As always, the conversation goes off the rails (in the best way) with plenty of laughs and gear talk. 🎙️ In this episode: Choosing your mic per app in iOS 26 AirPods Pro...

This week, the crew takes a hard look at reflection filters — those curved bits of foam and metal you often see sitting behind microphones. Do they really make your recordings sound better, or are they just clever marketing? George “The Tech” Whittam, Robbo, Robert Marshall, and Andrew Peters break down what reflection filters actually do (and don’t do), why they often make voiceovers sound worse, and what to invest in instead if you want to improve your room sound. From the SE Electronics RF-X to the Aston Halo, the team compares designs, materials, and real-world results — and offers smarter, more effec...

Ever wondered what those strange wooden grids on studio walls actually do? In this week’s episode, the guys dive into diffusers — how they work, when to use them, and why your small booth might not be the best place for one. We also chat about the brand-new Austrian Audio CC8 Supercardioid — the latest addition to their small-diaphragm condenser range — and how it performs in real-world sessions. From quadratic and skyline diffusers to the mysterious Fresnel-style designs, we break down what each type does to your sound, and why diffusion is often misunderstood. George shares insights from a beautifully treated garden-s...

Levels mysteriously rising and falling with no changes in your setup? In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, we go hunting for those dreaded signal-chain gremlins. From flaky TRS connections that drop a balanced leg and cause sudden 6 dB losses, to patchbay switches that “moved themselves,” to the quirks of send/return jacks on interfaces like the Audient iD series—we unpack the common culprits behind random level swings. We also share a practical, step-by-step troubleshooting method called binary reduction: change one thing at a time, ideally from the middle of the chain, and halve your suspect list with every...

This week the guys take a quick dive into one of the biggest factors that can make or break your booth sound: the room itself. From walk-in wardrobes to DIY blanket forts and even apartments in Rome, we talk about what really matters when it comes to room size, shape, reflections, and treatment. Spoiler alert: bigger isn’t always better, but dead is definitely good. Thanks to our sponsors TriBooth (use code TRIPAP200 for $200 off) and Austrian Audio – making passion heard. Edited by Andrew Peters. Mixed by Robbo. Recorded via Source Connect with tech support from George “The Tech” Whittam. Got your...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, the team dives into a question every engineer, producer, and voice actor has wrestled with: is outboard gear still worth the space and the spend? From vintage LA-2As and Neve compressors to Avalons, VariMus, and the rise of clones and plug-ins, we break down: Whether classic hardware really goes up in value Why collectors, commercial studios, and voice actors see things differently The surprising role of AI in modeling old gear When plug-ins are “close enough”… and when they’re not Tales of gear that doubled in value (and some that didn’t keep up...

We’re busting some of the biggest myths still floating around VO and podcast studios. From noise gates that wreck your takes to USB mics that promise “pro quality” but rarely deliver, we cut through the nonsense and share what actually works. In this episode: Noise gates: why they usually cause more harm than good Noise reduction: AI vs old-school fingerprint NR USB mics: when they fail and why they’re limiting Expensive mics: shiny gear doesn’t fix a bad room Coaching: how much do you really need once you’re working? Booths & acoustics: why treatment matters more than a box, and w...

George heads out on a time-sensitive PSA to capture wild VO lines at an actor’s house — and rebuilds a lean, one-case kit on the fly. We dig into what made the rig work, why he chose an onboard recorder for redundancy, mic choices (NTG-4 vs NTG-5), and a stack of road-tested tips from our early days hauling DA-88s, DATs and Franken-booms. What we cover: Packing everything into a Pelican 1510 (laptop, interface, mic, stand, boom) Primary vs backup: PortCaster with onboard record + laptop DAW Why the NTG-4 worked (once the low-cut was off) and when the NTG-5 is nicer Quie...

Ever been caught in a panic when Source-Connect 3 won’t talk to Source-Connect 4? You’re not alone. In this week’s Pro Audio Suite, the team dives into the Source-Connect Bridge—what it is, why it exists, and how it can save your session. Robbo shares a real-world case of a talent stuck between versions, Robert explains how the Bridge works behind the scenes, and George breaks down when it’s the best option (hint: travelling VO talent on Windows, we’re looking at you). We also get sidetracked on long VO sessions, Apple’s memo banning typewriters in 1980, and why agencies s...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, the team open up their plug-in folders and share their favourites — from free finds to trusty old processors and some surprising new AI tools. Robbo kicks things off with TDR Nova, a free dynamic EQ/multiband compressor that’s perfect for VO artists working in home studios. Robert digs back into his bag of tricks with Waves C4/C6, still unbeatable for multiband control after all these years. George brings Acon Extract Dialog to the table, showing how modern AI can pull voices cleanly from noisy recordings. Along the way, we debate noise redu...

Latency, it’s that tiny, annoying delay between what you say and what you hear back. In the studio, online, or even in your own headphones, it can trip you up, wreck your timing, and make you feel like you’re talking to yourself in slow motion. In this episode of The Pro Audio Suite, Robbo, AP, George, and Robert dig into: What latency really is (and why it’s not just a tech buzzword) How it sneaks into your recording chain The difference between “good” latency and “bad” latency Fixes you can do right now without buying a new rig When har...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, Robbo and AP pull apart one of the most alarming AI voice contracts we’ve ever seen. An offer of $2,500 USD for perpetual, irrevocable rights to your voice? Sounds tempting… but here’s why this could destroy your career. We dig into: The fine print that locks your voice away forever How AI voice deals strip away future earnings Why SAG-AFTRA and other bodies are pushing back The long-term cost of a short-term payday Before you sign anything, listen to this episode. Your career might depend on it. 🎧 Join the conversation: www.proaudiosuite.com ✅ Sp...

AI voices are popping up everywhere , from audiobooks to YouTube explainer videos, but SAG-AFTRA has just drawn a line in the sand. In this episode, the team dives into the union’s new “no contract, no work” order against companies using AI voice replicas without being signatories. We unpack: What the new SAG-AFTRA policy means for voice actors. Why YouTube is demonetizing AI-driven “headless” channels. The growing issue of AI-generated bands and synthetic music on Spotify. The human factor: Will art survive if AI takes over the creative process? Plus, a few old-school ideas about bringing back handwritten letters and board games...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, we pit two Austrian Audio mics head-to-head: the compact CC8 pencil mic versus the classic OC18 large diaphragm condenser — both run through the PASport VO interface. The results? Surprisingly close. AP takes the CC8 for a spin in his booth and on the road, while George and Robert weigh in on specs, noise floors, travel setups, shotgun myths, and why mic placement matters more than mic price in many situations. We also dig into the legacy of the Sennheiser 416, explore the quirks of mic voicing, and chat about some esoteric models only mic ne...

When Should You Process Your Audio—and When Should You Leave It Clean? Description:
This week on The Pro Audio Suite, we’re tackling a topic that trips up a lot of voice talent: processed voice over. What does “processing” really mean when a client asks for it? Should you send your files squeaky clean, lightly polished, or fully mastered? And how do you avoid overcooking your audio before it even hits the mix? George Whittam, Robert Marshall, Andrew Peters, and Robbo break it all down, including:
🎙️ What basic processing actually involves
🔊 The difference between a gentle clean-up and hea...

This week, the team tackles the most common myths about the Tri-Booth – the portable recording solution trusted by countless voice actors and audio pros. From misconceptions about its sound isolation, to confusion about setup and portability, we dig into what’s real and what’s just internet chatter. Andrew shares his first-hand experience using a Tri-Booth on the road, Robbo explains how it compares to permanent studio spaces, and George breaks down the physics of why it works (or doesn’t) in certain environments. If you’ve been considering a Tri-Booth or wondering whether it’s worth the investment, this episode will...

Ever watched Spider-Man swinging across the city and heard crowds gasping, yelling, or whispering in the background? Those voices don’t record themselves—loopers do that. In this episode, we meet voice actors who specialize in looping and learn how they bring background scenes to life.
They share stories from the studio, tips for aspiring loopers, and insights into why this small community is so important to every production. 🎤 In This Episode: What is looping, and why does Hollywood rely on it? How loopers are cast and directed The difference between looping, ADR, and Foley How voice matches work Why loo...

This week on The Pro Audio Suite, we're diving deep into a topic that sparks endless debate (and confusion) in VO forums everywhere: the noise floor. What does "-74 dB" even mean if you don't know how it was measured? And why are voice actors obsessing over numbers that might not matter? Join AP, Robbo, George The Tech, and Robert Marshall as they break down: What noise floor really is (and what it isn't) Why context, weighting, and window size matter RMS vs Peak vs LUFS – and why it all depends How your mic, preamp, plugins, and power can mess wi...