Source Connect is the industry standard for remote voice recording, delivering top-quality audio streaming and technologically advanced backup features.
Established in 2005, it revolutionized the remote recording environment by replacing outdated phone line connections with the internet, and it remains one of the most used remote recording platforms today.
To access Source Connect, users can subscribe monthly ($35) or yearly ($385) for a standard talent package.
Alternatively, you can pay a one-time fee of $650 for a lifetime license.
The standard package comes with several features, including 160 kbps per channel, and is often used by voice actors working from their home studio.
The Pro and Pro X packages introduce additional features like auto-replace, RTX mix-review mode, and up to 256 kbps per channel.
The Pro X also includes surround and multichannel connections.
These plans are substantially more expensive at $105 per month or $1,495 for a lifetime license with Pro and $170 per month/$2,490 lifetime with Pro X.
Before you spend any money, you can test out any Source Connect subscription for up to 15 days to determine whether it meets your needs.
Source Connect is a convenient, affordable recording method that has become increasingly popular in the voice over industry.
Keep in mind that both Source Connect and Source-Nexus Free (below) can connect to ISDN systems through the Source Connect ISDN bridge.
2. What are the benefits of Source-Nexus?
The benefit of using Source-Nexus, the free version Source Elements offer, is that it delivers an easy, browser-based way to direct voice actors remotely without requiring any downloads or subscriptions.
You may know it by its previous name, Source Connect Now.
Source-Nexus is only compatible with Google Chrome (or Chromium-based browsers), but guests can join using other browsers, like Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
You can even run it on iOS with some audio limitations.
Since it runs through your Chrome web browser, it doesn’t require any downloads or installations.
Source-Nexus is free to use, and you can set up free guest accounts to connect with voice actors at no additional charge.
One downside is that it’s missing features like auto-restore, auto-replace, and remote transport sync, which are available with the regular Source Connect suite.
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3. What makes ConnectionOpen a good choice for remote voice over direction?
ConnectionOpen is a good choice for remote voice over direction as it combines high-quality, low-latency audio with broad DAW compatibility and flexible pricing.
It also offers screen sharing as well as video calling via webcam.
Designed for voice actors, musicians, and other professionals who depend on professional-level recordings, ConnectionOpen can be used on your desktop or by downloading the ConnectionOpen app on your iPad.
There is also an app for iPhones, but not for Android devices.
If you only need to record on a single day, you can get a 24-hour pass for just $10.
Each of the premium subscriptions is also available as a seven-day free trial.
The Basic ($15 per month/$150 per year), Standard ($30 per month/$300 per year), and Pro ($90 per month/$900 per year) plans all come with unlimited use of the ConnectionOpen platform.
The key difference between them is the number of day passes you receive.
While you won’t need a day pass to access ConnectionOpen yourself, you will need one to enter a session with anyone who isn’t a subscriber.
Basic doesn’t come with any day passes, while Standard comes with 10 and Pro comes with 30 passes.
Other than that, there are no differences between the ConnectionOpen subscription tiers.
4. Why choose IpDTL when recording voice overs?
Professionals often choose IpDTLwhen recording voice overs because this remote broadcasting service combines modern internet-based recording with support for traditional ISDN and phone patch connections.
In short, it offers the best of both worlds.
First, you can easily call ISDN users without having to get an ISDN line yourself.
Furthermore, IpDTL also supports phone patches for voice sessions.
These aren’t as common as they once were, but it’s still good to have the flexibility.
Subscribers can even get their own ISDN number, which makes IpDTL virtually indistinguishable from a traditional ISDN system, while also offering a number of additional features.
Aside from an internet browser, all you’ll need to use IpDTL is a USB microphone or an audio interface.
IpDTL also offers a basic day pass, but these cost a full $20 compared to just $10 with ConnectionOpen.
Alternatively, you can get a three-day free trial for $1, which is much cheaper than a day pass, but still less convenient than ConnectionOpen’s seven-day trial.
Furthermore, IpDTL’s subscription pricing is more complex than we’ve seen from other providers.
You’ll need to answer four different questions to get a quote. These are:
- What features do you need?
- How many remote audio connections do you need?
- How many usernames do you want?
- Do you want to be listed on their voice talent search?
5. How does Google Meet work for directing voice actors remotely?
While Google Meet is most often used for conventional meetings, the fact that it provides an easy way to communicate and collaborate means it can also be used for directing voice actors remotely.
It’s a convenient option for clients and voice actors who already use Google Meet and other Google platforms.
Unlike some other platforms, Google Meet is available on both iOS and Android.
Participants can join meetings through their web browser, through the Google Meet app, or by calling the meeting’s dial-in number on their cell phone or landline.
If you don’t have a Google Workspace subscription, keep in mind that you’ll be limited to one hour of time for meetings with three or more participants.
Free users also miss out on meeting recordings, AI-powered noise cancellation, and other premium features.
Google Workspace Individual introduces those features plus advanced tools for other Google services for $7.99 per month.
You can also start with a 14-day free trial.
Paid subscribers can access 24/7 online support for every application in the Google Workspace suite.
6. Is Zoom easy to use for remote recording?
Zoom is another video conferencing app that is easy to use for remote recording because it offers free meetings as well as some premium features.
The free plan supports meetings with up to 100 participants, though users are limited to just 40 minutes for each meeting.
Of course, you can create a new meeting after hitting the limit, but it’s rather inconvenient.
Additionally, while Zoom can work for small projects, it’s important to understand that, as it’s an app created for online live meetings, the audio in recordings can be compressed, reducing quality.
The Pro tier ($14.16 per license per month) includes 10GB of cloud storage along with unlimited AI note-taking, documentation, and clips, live chat support, user management, 30-hour group meetings, and other advanced features.
Business ($18.33 per license per month) increases the participant limit to 300 and adds scheduling, single sign-on, managed domains, and more.
Finally, Zoom also offers custom Enterprise solutions with unlimited cloud storage, participation of up to 1,000 people, a dedicated account manager, and all the features from Business.
With the Audio Conferencing add-on (starting at $100 per month), you can invite meeting participants through local dial-in, global toll-free calling, and automatic call-outs at the specified time.
7. How does VST Connect Pro work?
VST Connect Pro works by connecting voice actors and directors with low-latency, studio-quality audio and secure file sharing.
Developed by Steinberg, the globally renowned German musical software and hardware company, this fully featured, remote recording solution is used by both musicians and voice actors.
It is designed to work flawlessly with Cubase, Steinberg’s own digital audio workstation (DAW), though you can use your own studio DAW too.
Alongside broadcast-quality recording and secure file sharing, benefits include real-time communication between voice actor and director, and the automatic delivery of the recorded takes.
This latter benefit reduces the risk of losing files or dealing with confusion over which version is which.
The updated version is called VST Connect Pro 5, and you can update from the original version for a minimal cost.
Otherwise, buying VST Connect Pro 5 will set you back approx. $227.
8. SessionLink Pro
German-based SessionLinkPRO is another easy-to-use browser-based remote recording platform that delivers bi-directional studio-quality audio with low latency.
It also enables video conferencing, which makes it easy for directors to give live feedback as well as for clients to join recording sessions remotely in real time if they so wish.
For projects that require visual synchronization, such as dubbing and animation, SessionLinkPRO can also stream production video in high quality and in sync with the recording session.
Users can subscribe for one, six, or 12 months, with prices starting at approximately $45 per month.
However, if you’re still shopping around for the one that best suits your needs for remote direction, it is possible to request a free 7-day trial first.
9. What are the benefits of using Cleanfeed to direct voice actors remotely?
The main benefit of Cleanfeed is that, as a browser-based application designed for meetings, interviews, and content creation, it makes remote voice direction simple.
You can get unlimited time and connections for free, but there’s also a pro option with several additional features.
Cleanfeed Pro is available for $34 per month, with a discount of $22 per month for subscribers who only need it for personal use or up to $10,000 in commercial sales.
Pro subscribers gain access to extra features like email support, multitrack recordings, and channel mixing, along with audio optimization tools like echo canceling and higher bitrates up to 256 kbps mono or 320 kbps stereo.
Though free users should consider upgrading to the Pro tier if they want to produce high-quality recordings.
10. Are phone patches still popular as a remote recording option?
Phone patches have been a popular ISDN alternative for decades, but they’ve become significantly less common in recent years.
When you call a voice actor through a phone patch, they’ll connect their remote studio directly to the phone line.
This usually leads to better audio quality compared to simply speaking on the phone.
During a phone patch, the client typically provides feedback after each take and then waits for the talent to send them the voice recording from their home studio.
Of course, you can also receive a phone patch call through most VoIP services and use their recording features.
The key downside to phone patching is that it requires a dedicated receiver, which can cost hundreds of dollars depending on the specific model.
More and more voice actors are turning to solutions that integrate directly to their computers through a website or desktop app.
Final Thoughts
Outstanding audio quality isn’t always necessary for regular meetings, but it’s incredibly important when you’re producing a recording for a voiceover job.
You can try out most of these options for free, so don’t hesitate to test a few out and see what works for you.
With the right remote recording tool, you’ll be able to produce crystal-clear recordings with voiceover talent from around the world.
Like this article? Have any questions or other suggestions? Let us know in the comments.
2 Comments
Thank you for sharing an article on how to direct a voice actor remotely. Directing a voice actor remotely can be difficult. It is important to have a good working relationship with the talent and that they know what you are looking for in the script.
Thank you so much for your feedback!