Porta-Booth Pro - Your Recording Studio At Home and on the Road

I’m actually reviewing several of the items I ordered from VoiceOverEssentials (via Amazon.com.) Specifically, they are the Porta-Booth Pro, the Porta-Stand and the VO: A1 microphone.I was faced with a relatively small room that I wanted to turn into an A/V post-production studio. I also wanted to be able to record pro-level voice overs, mostly for training videos. After dealing with and resolving some infrastructure issues (wiring, cooling, lighting, etc.) I turned my focus on audio. I analyzed the acoustics of the room and then treated it with Auralex panels. I then wanted that extra punch to be able to record top-quality audio voice overs. I looked at various solutions, mostly considering isolated sound booths and such. However, there were many issues that would need to be considered including space, cooling, lighting , cost, etc. Then I came across the Porta-Booth Pro. I liked the look of it and already knew how well Auralex worked in the studio and the Porta-Booth Pro’s interior is lined with it. So, I decided to give it a try and I’m glad I did. The Porta-Stand has a nice small footprint and is ideal to hold not only the Porta-Booth Pro, but also a shelf to hold pre-amps, mixers, recorders, etc. The stand is black and non-obtrusive. The height of the shelves can be adjusted in just a couple of seconds. That is a real plus when recording different folks. It also comes with a few hooks that you can use to hang headphones. But back to the Porta-Booth Pro. It is very cleverly designed and portable (coming with a nice carrying case.) Obviously this was well thought out and likely evolved from previous versions. There are Velcro-type straps in each corner that helps stabilize it and keep it square. There is a zipper in the back, through which you can run cabling. There is also a mesh material that is stored in a zippered pocket on the top of the Porta-Booth Pro that you can use to help reduce rear ambient noise. I haven’t personally used that feature, as I have no ambient noise issues. And, the cherry on top is that they include a small clip-on LED light that is perfect to illuminate copy that you keep in the interior of the Porta-Booth Pro. Again, it seems obvious to me that they tweaked their designs based on user feedback.So, how does it sound? Well that’s the best part. I found the VO: 1-A to be a nice, clear mic without a lot of coloring. I tried it both with and without the Porta-Booth Pro and I can tell you that the Porta-Booth Pro makes a material difference. I also tried it setting it in different positions within the Porta-Booth Pro and my standing at a variety of distances from the mic. I found that the most pleasing sound (subjective of course) came from placing the mic slightly more than halfway in the unit and keeping my mouth the typical extended thumb-to-little-finger distance. I found that I also tried it with my (much more expensive) Schoeps CMC641 mic that I typically use for interior shots in video recording. I believe that the VO: 1-A compares favorably for voice over work.Lastly, I’d like to give kudos to VoiceOverEssentials’ customer service. I sent a couple of emails with questions and they responded quickly and professionally. Can’t ask for better than that.So there you have it. I now have my Porta-Booth Pro setup as a permanent fixture in the corner of my studio. It’s not overwhelming large, has a nice professional look, works well and didn’t break the bank. All in all, I rate it tops for value. (and no, I am not affiliated with the company whatsoever)

I love my Porta Booth Pro!! I mean this Booth is a Godsend~ I'm a voice-over artist and singer and was always trying to use 'stuff' to insulate my recording area, but it was never enough to eliminate the ambient sounds and was also time-consuming. I just finished some recordings and they turned out Wonderfully! Now, I am ecstatic that I can simply walk up to my Porta Booth Pro and address a recording session/script at any time and the process simply works without a problem! It even includes a 'Fleece audio hood for noisy environments', which augments the security of a totally sound proof recording space.For someone with little space to build a designated hardcore booth, The Porta Booth Pro is IT, as far as I'm concerned and my musician/composer friend (with a critical ear) heartily agrees: "The recording is perfect, you're set go!" -- Since I like to record standing, I set up the Porta Booth Pro easily and quickly, using a tripod-type music stand and boom--I used the ABS (Adjustable Boom Stop) to lock down and stabilize the Booth via the boom to the stand. Another option, is to use the Porta-Sound Stand or a wall shelf for recording in a standing position. It comes with accessories too, one of which further secures and supports the Booth, when using a mic stand/boom set-up. The Porta Booth Pro can also be supported on a tabletop if one wishes to record seated. I like the mobility of the music stand/boom style set-up for recording because I can move it to any location in the house and/or take it with me anywhere and set up within minutes!Most of all, I LOVE the design of the Porta Booth Pro because of the high technical recording quality it delivers every time, and the ease of transporting it where ever and when ever you're ready to record. All in all, it is totally cool! I know it has made all the difference for me in my recording sessions~ I appreciate and thank VoiceOverEssentials for designing such an efficient recording environment for the home studio!

The Porta-Booth Pro does a very good job of filtering out ambient sound, although it isn't able to eliminate everything (including a noisy-ish laptop off to one side). It's still a good idea to set it up with something behind you to dry the sound as well (I set it up with a bookshelf behind me). The soft "hood" also does a surprisingly good job of eliminating even more noise or room effects when needed.What has been a pleasant surprise is its ability to concentrate and direct the sound to the mike, due to its "bandshell" shape. Those with particularly big voices may find the sound a little "thick". In any case, each voice artist or singer should experiment with the mike placement within the Porta-Booth Pro to get the best sound, and you may find that you need to place different mikes slightly differently, that is, a little further in or out. Another thing to keep in mind is that, since you should place the mike's diaphragm centrally, it's a little small to accommodate some of the longer mikes, for example a mike shaped like a Neumann U87.Although it's a little larger than I expected, given that it was billed as being the size of carry-on luggage (it's a tad bigger), it doesn't weigh very much and it's quite flexible when it comes to setting up with diverse types of stands or on a table or even shelving. Overall, it's a great option for recording on the road and very good and affordable solution at home if you don't want to sink a lot of money into a sound booth or acoustic conditioning.