Using source connect, ipdtl, isdn, and other solutions for live voiceover recording sessions

Live direction is quite common in the world of voiceover. Oftentimes, producers and audio engineers want to interact with the talent live, and offer feedback/creative direction on the fly. This is generally the best case scenario for everyone involved; it helps the voiceover talent nail the read by getting immediate feedback, and it allows the rest of the team to continue their work instantly, since they will receive the source material they need during the recording session. This means faster and better productions all around.

One might assume that, in order to conduct a live recording session with an audio engineer and other stakeholders, you’d have to be in the same location. However, that assumption is incorrect. These days, there are a variety of technologies available which allow producers, audio engineers, voiceover talent, and others to attend recording sessions remotely. The most common technologies used are:

• Skype / Zoom / Facetime / Telephone

• ipDTL

• Source Connect

which remote recording solution should I use for voiceover and dialogue production?

The answer to this question will likely be decided by the client, instead of the voiceover talent. Many voiceover agents, for instance, only work with talent that have access to a paid version of Source Connect. Other clients may prefer to meet up on Zoom, while the voiceover artist records the session on their end. Whatever method is preferred by the client, any of these solutions will work. Let’s discuss each option in a bit more detail, so you can decide what works best for you.

Skype / Zoom / Facetime / Telephone

There are many different virtual meetings apps available, and they are all relatively easy to use. You and your clients will likely be familiar with them, and getting a meeting set up is trivial. However, these various apps have one major caveat that may prevent some clients from using them. That caveat? Bad audio quality. These apps are notorious for having low quality audio, and an engineer working with a remote voiceover artist will not be able to capture professional quality audio through meeting software. Instead, the voice actor has to record the session on their end and send the audio after the meeting is over.

That being said, this solution is very common when working directly with clients. But, if you’re working with a studio or production house, you will probably use a different connection type as a voiceover artist.

ipDTL

ipDTL is a remote recording solution that has roots in the early 1990’s. Back then, if you wished to record remotely, you need a specific system called ISDN. The ISDN system was essentially a hard-wire connection between the voiceover talent’s home studio and another professional studio. It was very similar to a telephone line you might have had in your home back then. Instead of having a phone on either end, though, you’d have a different device called a codec. This codec box was an expensive piece of kit, which would essentially connect your microphone to the other studio. The whole setup would behave as if your microphone was IN the other studio, and you were recording there live.

ISDN has, at this point, been replaced by other available technologies. However, some studios continue to use the technology every day. While the ISDN system was robust and extremely reliable, it was also expensive and usually only available in higher-end studios.

So how does this relate to ipDTL? Allow me to explain. ipDTL is a browser-based remote recording solution. You don’t need a codec like you did with ISDN. And here’s the kicker: it can actually allow your studio to connect to another through ISDN, acting as a bridge to this much older tech. So, these days, if you want to do an ISDN session with a big studio in LA or New York, you can just fire up ipDTL instead of paying tons of money for an ISDN line and codec (or some plane tickets). ipDTL also allows participants to share video feeds during the session, which can help when voiceover talent need to be directed remotely. Pretty cool stuff.

source connect (now, standard, pro, pro x)

Source Connect an extremely popular remote audio collaboration solution, similar to ipDTL in some ways, that allows remote users to connect with each other in real time to record audio. Compared to other solutions, Source Connect seems to be the solution of choice for professional studios working on high end productions. Some agents will even require that their voice roster have a paid version of Source Connect to be on the roster. Many of the auditions they present to talent have Source Connect capability as a requirement, or traveling to a nearby studio. This is because production houses and engineers working on these high-value projects want to have control over the audio, and they want to get it instantly. The whole setup behaves as if the talent is in the same studio as the engineer.

There are multiple versions of Source Connect, and they all serve different users. Let’s explore the various versions:

• Source Connect Now - This is the free version of SC. The rub here is that the audio is a bit lower in quality as compared to paid tiers of Source Connect. It’s kind of like an audio version of Zoom, if you want to make the comparison. Or, you could say it’s like a glorified phone patch. This free version is limited to 128kbps quality, which is about the same as you would receive with an ISDN line. The most important thing to consider: most agencies and clients that ask for Source Connect capability will require that you have a paid version of the software.

• Source Connect Standard - This version is recommended for VO talents. It allows for Remote Transport Sync (RTS), ADR mode for Automated Dialogue Replacement, a Source Stream option, ISDN bridging, and more. It allows you to record and monitor remote audio in real time. Many would say this is the standard, so the name is appropriate.

• Source Connect Pro - Boasting all the features of the Standard version, SC Pro provides a higher ACC bitrate, multiple connections, secure VPN mode, advanced network settings, and more. The feature set provided by Pro is most useful for studios that need to connect to voice talent remotely.

• Source Connect Pro X - Available only on macOS, SC Pro X boasts all the previously listed features, and includes additional features needed to work with 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound audio. It allows for 3, 4, 5, or 6 channels of audio up to 1344 kbps 7.1. So, for voiceover sessions, it’s likely overkill.

make sure your internet connection is up to the task

For all of these solutions, there are a few things we must consider to ensure the best possible experience. All of the aforementioned options rely on a stable and fast internet connection for a good experience. If your internet is slow, or if you’re on Wi-Fi, your virtual meetings will be choppy and hard to follow. Even worse, if you’re trying to conduct a Source Connect or ipDTL session, your slow internet or Wi-Fi could result in choppy or glitchy audio. That’s a big no-no as a professional.

Make sure your internet speed meets the minimum requirement of whatever solution you’ve chosen for your studio. Reasonably fast broadband internet, with good upload and download speeds, should suffice. Furthermore, make sure your connection is hard-wired. Using Wi-Fi for a remote session is a recipe for disaster, so save yourself the trouble. Wired connections are faster and more stable than Wi-Fi connections, full stop.

Conclusion

When choosing a remote recording solution, remember that your client or agency will often dictate which solutions are preferred. If you do a lot of work with agencies or high end studios, you’ll probably need Source Connect. But, if you’re working directly with a client, then a Zoom call might be all you need. I recommend having a mix of solutions available, so that you’re prepared for any kind of session that comes your way as a professional voice over talent.

Have questions about remote connectivity options, or other home studio considerations? Drop me a line and we can set up a free 15-minute consultation today.