Do I need Source Connect?

These days, many of us (myself included) record most or all of our voice over content from the comfort of our own homes. We have our booths, microphones, interfaces, and everything else we might need within arms reach.

But sometimes, clients would prefer that we work out of a particular studio, or with a certain producer. For example, let’s say you’re working on some lines for a character in an upcoming video game. The game studio has likely chosen a specific studio to handle all of the audio on the production, and your voice is just a small part of that larger project. So if you don’t want to fly out to whatever studio that is, and record your lines, what are you to do?

In the past, voice actors would have used a technology like ISDN to create a connection with the studio over phone lines. ISDN is still being used today in some instances, but is largely being phased out by something newer.

What tech is that? Source Connect, of course.

What is Source Connect?

Source Connect came about in 2005. It uses high speed internet to create a high quality, real time connection between studios. That allows the studio you’re connected with to receive the audio from your mic as if it were a mic in their own studio. They can then apply the necessary adjustments (via their own preamps, compressors, etc.) to make your voice sound the way they want.

This type of arrangement also allows for live direction, so clients can hear you record as if you were all in the same studio working together. Furthermore, if you’re syncing to video, the studio can actually mix your audio with the client’s video in real time. Coupled with live direction, this lets the client make adjustments to the script or your delivery on the fly. Pretty cool, right?

Can’t we just use Zoom, or Facetime?

Here’s the thing. All of these video conferencing and chatting services make it super easy to connect with others, sure. But audio fidelity is often sacrificed to save on bandwidth during the calls. What does that mean for voice actors? It means the client might miss some of the intricacies at play with your voice when you perform.

That being said, live direction sometimes happens using these services. Typically, this is something you will see for smaller productions, if there isn’t another studio assisting with the project. I’ve used Zoom, Google Meet, and other services to connect with clients and get feedback on my delivery.

How do I get started with Source Connect?

In order to use Source Connect, you need to do the following:

• Pay for a license (~$650 at the time this article was written) or subscribe to the service for a monthly fee ($35/mo + a one time $75 fee). They do have a free trial available as well, if you want to give it a go before dropping that kind of cash.

• Grab the correct version for your operating system. They have Windows and Mac specific versions. Follow installation instructions provided by Source Elements.

• Make sure that you are using a hard-wired internet connection. Plug your computer directly into your router using the appropriate ethernet cable. This will reduce the occurrence of de-syncing or drop-outs. WiFi is a no go.

• Open up the app, log in with your credentials, and then set up the audio I/O.

• Once you’re all configured, you can add Contacts to your contact list in the app, and click “Connect” to get started. Or, you can use the messaging feature in the app to send text-based messages back and forth.

Need additional help?

If you want to connect with someone and test your audio, Source Elements has the functionality built into the app to do so. You can either use their automated audio test contact, or you can connect with a friend to test your connection.

If you want to connect with me on Source Connect, I’d be happy to do so. This would be most appropriate during a coaching session, where we can cover the basics of Source Connect setup and how to use it.