Improving Your Audio Part 1: Getting to Know Your Mic
Streamlined Media
Helping growth-oriented companies eliminate the guess work and burdens of creating digital content with Artificial Int
Good audio quality is a podcaster’s bread and butter, so we’re going to spend some time exploring how to improve your audio over the next couple of weeks.
First up… Let’s Talk Mics!
Which one should you buy? What’s the best setup? How about the proper technique to get the most out of your audio?
1. Buying the “Right Mic”
Since the mic is akin to the podcaster’s sword in battle, it’s understandable people tend to get stuck in the “analysis paralysis” phase of buying one.
Hopefully, this puts your mind at ease.
The best mic for your podcast… is the one you decide to buy!
That’s it. It doesn’t take an expensive, award-winning mic to get you the audio you need. Ideally, anywhere around the $100 - $200 range will work just fine.
The only thing you may want to note is whether you want a Condenser Mic or Dynamic Mic.
Here’s the difference between the two.
A Condenser Mic will be best for picking up quieter vocals in a studio setting. They have a wider frequency of pick up and, in some cases, offer a better sound quality if you need a little boost.
A Dynamic Mic is excellent at picking up more robust vocals that give a louder output. It won’t provide you as clear of a sound as a Condenser, but Dynamic Mics tend to work better for podcasters, and they’re a little cheaper.
All-in-all, you can go ahead and experiment with the two to find out which you like better, but if you don’t have the time or money, then your best and safest bet will be the Dynamic.
If you’re still stuck on where to get started, take a look at Podboxx. Podboxx offers literally EVERYTHING you need to get your show up and running, from a mic, boom stand, pop filter, and headphones - to an intro and outro, cover art, podcast launch guide, and more for WAY under market pricing.
2. Find Your “Sweetspot”- Play with Your Mic Placement
I say “play” because, honestly, you need to make the process fun, so it doesn’t feel so tedious.
That said, everyone has different mics and different rooms. You need to find what works best for you. (We’ll get into room setups in a later post)
Now that you have your mic, here’s a tip to get you started: try an indirect mic placement*.
That means putting your mic off-center, away from the direct line of your voice. This technique can help take the edge off of any “plosives” (those hard B and P popping sounds from your mouth).
Another thing podcasters need to be mindful of is “finding their sweet spot.” That’s how far your mouth is from the mic. For podcasts, you’re going to want to get yourself 2 to 3 inches from your mic. It’s important to note you need to stay as consistent as possible with your distance while recording.
3. Get Your Hands Off it!
The mic, I mean! It seems simple, but it needs to be said. You hear it in a lot of podcasts. The host will be in the middle of speaking and then move the mic. Suddenly, you hear springs setting off, creaking sounds, and light popping.
Those sounds nearly impossible to remove in post-production. So if you want to sound like a professional, make sure to utilize the correct mic techniques and keep them in mind while you record.
It might take a bit of practice, but in no time, you’ll have it so ingrained in you that you won’t even have to think about it!
4. Mind Your Surroundings
Moving a bit beyond the mic, make sure to keep everything quiet! Nothing worse than having your guest overshadowed by the neighbor’s dog who thought NOW would be the best time to end your whole career.
While you’re at it, be mindful of the little things:
Anything that can cause annoying micro distractions should be taken care of before and during your recording process.
If you’re serious about getting into the podcasting game, it may be time to upgrade your area. Next time, we’ll get into how you should set up your room/studio!
For the full article, head over to streamlinedpodcasts.com
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