Terry Daniel’s Recording Studio

Here’s a brief tour of Terry Daniel’s studio.

Terry Daniel2009-09-01T14:07:23-06:00

55 Comments

Steve Genrich September 1 at 5:59 pm

This is fun and informative stuff!
I’m still in the process of getting together studio equipment and now have some great ideas.
Christina Fadala September 1 at 6:41 pm

Great looking studio. What was this space used for before it was your studio? Where is it located?
- Terry Daniel September 1 at 6:44 pm
  
  Hi Christina,
  
  Thanks for the kind words. It was just open space before I added a wall with some sheet rock. The studio is in Minneapolis.
Susie Austin September 2 at 9:30 am

love the reel to reel of your last show on the wall!
Monica September 2 at 9:44 am

Wow! How much does all this equipment run up to? I really want to do something like this. The voice overs and singing is what I like to do, but I only use the basics that include usb mic,wavepad sound editor,mix pad,sound recorder,my toshiba laptop. Any suggestions?
Shawn Maroney September 2 at 9:48 am

Hey Terry, great setup!
Is that a picture of Bruce Campbell?
I attended the Fan Expo in T.O. hoping to get a picture with him. Not a chance! He was so busy, and you had to pay to have your picture with him. Even at $35 a picture, he had no problem selling out his meet and greet, photo time.
Jim Westcott September 2 at 1:14 pm

Terry, I noticed in your studio tour video that you were using the TLM 103 into a DBX 286A. I wonder if you can send me a screen shot on your setting so that I can compare my settings or mirror yours.

Thanks,

Jim W
- Terry Daniel September 2 at 1:29 pm
  
  Hey Jim!
  
  No problem at all! Give me a day or so to get that to you. Thanks for the comment. :)
Dale Droski September 2 at 2:10 pm

Great video Terry. Thanks for the tour and info!
Steven Bird September 2 at 8:25 pm

Thanks for sharing. I’m no animal guy Terry, but I was wondering does your best friend in the world ever interfere with your recordings with barking? :-)
- Terry Daniel September 2 at 8:35 pm
  
  Hey Steven,
  
  Once in a while her bark will interfere. For example, if the UPS guy comes around. :)
Darren Caves September 9 at 1:49 pm

Thanks for the link Terry. I appreciate getting your stuff. Its always helpful to “see it”. Great room by the way. Do you mind telling me what type of speaker you use?

Thank you,
Darren
TracyB September 14 at 7:50 am

That’s a great video–love your space and your pup!
Justin Phillips September 17 at 10:48 am

hey man!

great tour! – love the dog too! I agree with you Adobe is the best! Remember the old version SAW 32? (going back a little bit there)

JP
Wayne Nelms September 24 at 6:44 am

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the tour. Looks great.

Wayne
rick September 28 at 12:45 pm

Hi Terry

Great video tour of your studio. I was just wondering you did’nt mention anything about the speakers. Do you have any suggestions.

Rick
- Terry Daniel September 30 at 1:08 pm
  
  Hi Rick!
  
  I use M-Audio monitors. They’re perfect for the space but they don’t exactly provide the huge thump that I sometimes want. :)
Neal October 9 at 1:07 pm

Thanks for the tour and thanks for the fine work you have done for us. More to come in the not so distant future. I had a question…those little figurines that you have on top of the dbx processor…where did you get those?

Neal
Gary with Birthday Lawn Card Rentals (Canada) October 9 at 1:50 pm

Terry, thank you for doing such a great job on our company voice recordings. We have recieved a lot of very possitive comments. We truly appreciate your talent. All the best and we will be in touch for any more needed voice talent. Gary with Birthday Lawn cards Edmonton, Alberta Canada.
Paul Maisonneuve October 9 at 9:45 pm

Terry, good stuff. That’s really cool from a non-audio geek’s perspective – LOL, Thanks for everything you’ve ever done for me and Ed. Hope to need you again soon! Keep up the great work!

Oh, yeah – give more time to the Guiness clock next time ;-)

Paul
Christina Fadala November 9 at 10:38 pm

Great Guinness clock. Does your microphone pick up any ticking sounds???
- Terry Daniel November 10 at 7:56 am
  
  Thanks Christina!
  
  It does not pick up any ticking sounds because my mic is powered by a preamp that has a noise gate setting in it. Pretty cool! :)
Nandoo Bhende November 10 at 9:43 pm

Great stuff and thanks! Can you suggest some other condenser microphones that work well for VO work.
- Terry Daniel November 11 at 10:50 am
  
  Hi Nandoo!
  
  Thanks for your comment and question. There are a number of great mics that work well. Go to http://www.sweetwater.com and check out the options. This is a great site for voice over artists! :)
Rob Elsass November 16 at 10:08 am

Terry, Thanks for the view. Wish I could keep my space so neat. Who does your housekeeping? LOL. I’d also appreciate a screen shot of your dbx processor. I’ve got one but haven’t quite figured the correct mix. Also, what are the general dimensions of your studio and how have you dealt with air-handler noise issues.
Thanks – Love the Lava Lamp!
Rob
Michael November 18 at 3:21 pm

Terry,
Thank you for the resources on your site. I have really learned a lot already (and I have a degree in broadcasting!)

You did not mention a sound card for your PC. Do you need a studio quality sound card or does the mixer or dbx serve as the sound card?

Also, does your setup give you studio quality and gives the clients the final recording, or do you still need to fly to studios to record at the clients studios once you win with your audition?

If you could elaborate on these points, that would be awesome! Thanks again!
Keith Schedler November 20 at 5:26 pm

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the studio tour. I am wondering if your computer is specially equipped for fan noise or does the noise gate in the preamp take care of that too?
- Terry Daniel November 20 at 5:34 pm
  
  Hey Keith!
  
  Thanks for the comment and question. Yes, the gate on the preamp pretty much takes care of any noise outside of 5ft from the mic.
Jack Josey November 23 at 3:59 pm

Hi, Terry,

You’ve got a great setup. Love your microphone!!!

Thanks for the tour.

Regards,
Jack Josey
Rick Jensen November 23 at 7:40 pm

Very nice setup. Coincidentally, I run my mic into an ART Tube Pre-Amp and then a dbx 266XL. Very happy with the dbx as well. Agree wholeheartedly re: Adobe. I segued right into it from Cool Edit Pro. SAW was the worst. Brrrrr!

Hey! You reminded me that I probably have some reel-to-reel from my days at 13 KELO in Sioux Falls!
Dan Nims November 30 at 1:30 pm

Thanks for the tour, Terry. I know some people refer to the panels on the wall as ‘sound proofing’ but they are actually for eliminating any reverberation in the room. Unless the walls themselves have been treated with a sound proof material, outside noises from the next room will seep through.

Looks very neat and tidy! Thanks for the many videos you have posted. You’re a good guy, Terry!

Dan
Dan Nims November 30 at 3:17 pm

One quick question: do you read your scripts from your computer monitor or do you print them and read from paper?
Greg Williams January 12 at 8:37 pm

Thanks Terry. My home studio burned up in a house fire a couple weekends ago (everyone got out safely), and I’m looking to reboot my operation. Your “walk thru” is a big help. Thanks for putting it up here.
Greg Williams
Robert Leach January 21 at 12:31 pm

Thanks for sharing, it looks like a nice place to work. Can you tell me why some of the LA talent use shotgun mics for promo and trailer work and Naumans like your for commercial work?
Jan Ochs April 9 at 3:39 pm

Hi Terry! Thanks for all of your great videos. I have been trying to put together a new studio for myself and often have trouble getting good sound quality and compatibility with different things. May I ask, what Operating System do you have on your computer….and what sound card do you use?

I currently have an Echo Mia sound card and use Windows XP Professional…but the Echo Mia has been discontinued and I’m at odds for a replacement! Thanks in advance for your response!
~Jan Ochs
Dave Hickman May 19 at 2:21 am

Hi Terry,

Love the video – it looks like a warm and inviting space in which to work. And I love the Guinness clock!

All the best,

Dave
D. Williams June 28 at 9:59 am

Appreciate that video Terry. That has helped me major. I’ve been looking around for the last week or so for some used mics and used mixers. I’m not ready to purchase quite yet. I’m waiting to move before I create my set up at home. But thanks again very helpful.
Arlen August 9 at 11:07 pm

Hi! Terry. I would appreciate your help regarding a problem I have with Adobe Audition3 which you are using. I seem to get a noticeable drop in sound while switching between Edit view and Multritrack view. I usually record my voice in Edit view but when I want to add music and switch to Multitrack view, there’s a drop in sound. Is there something I can do to maintain the sound level. Thanks,.Arlen.
- Terry Daniel August 10 at 7:30 am
  
  Hi Arlen,
  
  Thanks for the question. This happens to me too. Each track in the multitrack view has a volume button. Just bring the volume up on whatever track you need boosted before you mix it down. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks again! :-)
Andrea August 27 at 12:33 pm

Great video! The first mic that you showed, I have the same kind, is it ok to use that for voice too?
- Terry Daniel August 27 at 8:03 pm
  
  Hi Andrea,
  
  Dynamic mics are good for speaking at live events and for singing but I would only use a studio condenser mic for recording voiceovers. :-)
Howard Ellison October 5 at 9:17 am

Over here in Blighty, we economise a bit! No Auralex yet, but a duvet pinned to the wall. It goes back on the bed when work’s done. No Neumann, but a Rode NT1A condenser and the very sweet Safesound pre/processor. My wife and I even make do with a cat. It’s all quite homely – and how encouraging it is to see that your setup is too! Maybe that’s what gives home-based VO its edge – warm and friendly. Thanks for the tour Terry.
Eugene Dixon Dixon October 13 at 4:42 pm

Hi Terry,

Nice space you have there! I should send you a video of my booth, which is a lot smaller. I’m just starting out so it works well for practicing right now. I’m looking at building a booth in my garage sometime in the future. Love the site by the way.
gene dixon
- Terry Daniel October 13 at 4:44 pm
  
  Thanks Gene! Good luck with your studio as well. Keep us posted on your progress! :-)
Maya Kuper November 28 at 9:01 pm

Looks like it’s a USB mixer, so that serves as the sound card.
- Terry Daniel November 29 at 7:39 am
  
  Hi Maya,
  
  That is correct. And the mic itself is powered by the preamp.
Reda Coston January 11 at 5:24 am

Thanks Terry,

I am looking forward to checking out lots of products pertaining to my Talent Recording Studio. My business is AllStar Talent Production. So, this will be helpful in looking into NCH Software. I will also examine some extras and attend the college radio. I like the way they set up there Studio. However, They have nothing on the walls. So, I will double check the sound room and ask how they proofed it. Anyways. I looking to move forward since I am all done here. Thanks.
Thomas March 12 at 12:02 pm

Thanks Terry,
For sharing your studio with us.
I’m taking notes so I know what to get to start my own studio room.
Michael Vanover June 18 at 10:13 am

Hey Terry i have the exact set up as you except i use the adobie audition 1.5.thats thesoftware that works best for me…Now if i could find some voiceover work ill be in business…lol
Bob Payne July 6 at 3:23 pm

What would an economical and basic studio cost? Estimated not exact.
Thanks so much.
Bob
- Terry Daniel July 7 at 1:13 pm
  
  Hi Bob!
  
  You can start out with a USB mic, a good computer and some Auralex foam around your studio for less than $500.
Marge Castellanos September 14 at 9:22 pm

Hi Terry,
Liked your studio tour lots! I have a music recording program called Garage Band. If you’re aware of it do you think it would suffice for VO? I am able to do different tracks and inserts with it. I also have a Blue “Snowball” mike, any thoughts on that?
Thanks so much for your continued video clips and support. You give us newbies hope!
Thanks!
Marge
Dave Airozo May 28 at 7:10 am

The last time I saw this video I didn’t have a dbx 286a was just dreaming about one. Have since gotten one used on Amazon and have been struggling with settings for my set up with what I could find online. Got a good look at your settings and will be trying these out. Thanks for the re-post of this video Terry and have a great day.
David Medzorian May 18 at 6:57 am

Terry, I know you mentioned the necessity of using a studio condenser for voice-over work. I own both an Electro-Voice RE-20 and a Shure SM-7. What about them as a realize they are dynamic mikes?
Thanks.
- Terry Daniel May 20 at 4:56 am
  
  Hi David! Thank you for your comment. The RE-20 would suffice. It really works like a condenser mic. I used one in radio! :-)

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Terry Daniel’s Recording Studio

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