Voice Over Tech:  Do We Even Need Mixing Boards Anymore?

Well, the short answer to that is, yes and no. Dumb, huh? It’s true, though. With the introduction of computer-based digital editing stations and all the terrific programs and add-ons that go with it, Detroit voice talents must ask themselves, “Is there really a need for all the other equipment?”

It really depends on what you are working with when doing Detroit voiceovers. If you’ve got a good USB mic and a good sound card in your computer that can adjust to handle various input levels, and your software has all of the necessary processing dynamics and effects built right in, then conceivably, you wouldn’t really need one. (Tech article compliments of Detroit Announcer.)

I’ve found my primary use for a mixing board these days is really nothing more than to be able to adjust the input levels of devices going in to your editing/mixing computer. I’ve got several outside devices, such as DVD/CD players, voice effects processors, equalizers, etc. Most computer sound cards don’t have as many channels as I would need for all those devices and some of those devices have different input levels than others. So for me, it’s crucial to have that mixing board to even out all the varying input levels and to funnel all the sound into one channel going into my editing computer. Albeit, all I really needed for my Detroit voice talent business was a small one with 8-10 input channels and just a few output channels. It only cost about $100 and has worked well. (Hope you're enjoying this Detroit Narrator technical piece.)

It wasn’t until I upgraded my Detroit voice over and audio editing software and saw all the stuff that came with it that I realized the old standard mixing board may be going out of style. In fact, some programs have a “virtual” professional mixing board built right in. And if these same programs have all of the same processing and effects capabilities that the physical equipment does, then heck, why buy all that other stuff?