Testing, testing, 1, 2!
Getting started with microphones and audio recording devices is an exciting step towards producing high-quality audio for your podcasts, music, or other creative projects. In this comprehensive beginner's guide, we'll explore essential concepts, recommend affordable equipment and software, and discuss the importance of acoustic treatment for optimal sound recording.
Understanding Microphone Types
There are 2 main types of microphones that we will be talking about in this guide. The first is dynamic microphones, and the second is condenser microphones. While there are a few others, these 2 are the most commonly used and have many different applications.
Let's start with dynamic microphones.
These are said to be highly durable and robust. They suit recordings that are in noisy
environments and handle recording loud sounds. Often, you will find many of these mics surrounding a drum kit in the recording studio and because of their durability, they are a go-to mic for many live sound engineers. When things get loud on the stage, the dynamic mic allows for better separation in the mix.
While podcasting, you may choose this type of mic for outdoor interviews where there is a lot of ambient noise e.g. markets, festivals, or loud nature sounds.
On to condenser microphones.
These mics are precision instruments and are highly sensitive. You may think you're in a perfectly quiet room, but once you record through one of these, you'll start hearing creaks and cracks, your computer fans, and all sorts of noises around you. Condenser mics are perfect for voice and instruments that have a lot of dynamic range and delicate sounds.
You'll find these to be the most commonly used mics in podcasting. When you're in an acoustically treated studio with controlled environmental sounds, these mics will give the clearest and best sound quality you can hope for. We'll talk more about acoustic treatment later.
Choosing the Right Microphone for Your Needs
There is a huge range of microphones out there and they can all serve a purpose. When you know what a microphone's recording quality sounds like, you can make better choices about where and when to use it. This isn't always easy, mics cost money and many people can't afford to go out and buy a dozen microphones to test. If you have a friend who will lend you one for a day or even if you can get to a store that has a range you can test, this will be important to find the right mic for your tone of voice. Failing that, you can always find a heap of reviews online and some YouTube reviewers that give some great comparison testing.
So as we discovered earlier, the 2 main types of microphones are what you need to look for. Outdoors, use dynamic, indoors, go condenser (unless you're in a noisy environment). There are some other factors to think about when choosing a microphone and other recording equipment.
If you're traveling a lot, you may want to keep your equipment count to a minimum, these mic recommendations might fit your needs.
USB microphones don't require any other hardware to function except a laptop or computer.
Rode NT-USB
Audio-Technica ATR2500X
Blue Microphones Yeti 3-Capsule
Field recorders or handy recorders are battery-powered hand-held devices and some offer a wide range of functionality.
Zoom H4n
Tascam DR-05X
Mobile Phone recording attachments are becoming more and more popular and really cut down on equipment storage room.
Zoom AM7 (Android)
Zoom iQ6 X/Y (iOS)
Rode Vlogger Kit Universal Edition
If you're planning a studio approach to your podcast, you may find you need some extra equipment. Some of the aforementioned products may suit your need, but you'll probably be wanting microphones with XLR connectivity and you'll be needing an interface and computer.
Some simple setups may include,
Interfaces
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2 speakers)
Focusrite Scarlett Solo (1speaker)
Zoom PodTrak 4 (4 speakers [all-in-one])
Rode RODECaster
Tascam Mixcast
Microphones
Rode NT2-A (condenser)
Shure MV7 (dynamic)
Rode PodMic (dynamic)
Samson CL8A (condenser)
Recording Software and Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs)
This is where the magic happens! All the editing and polishing of sound happens here and takes your raw recordings to the final product stage, ready for your listener to enjoy.
There are a lot of options and it's hard to say which program will work best for you. Mostly, these programs work quite similarly to each other, but their layouts and some functions vary in ways, that, some people find preference and an easier workflow in one program than others. Thankfully, these programs offer "Lite" versions, often indicated by "LE" at the end end of the name, and allow you to test their functionality before committing to purchase.
If you're at the beginning stages of your podcasting journey and looking for some free software to get you started, there are 2 great options. For PC, you can use a free software called "Audacity". If you're on iOS, "GarageBand" is a great free software to get you started.
While most software is offered with an "LE" version, the full license can be very expensive. If you're on a budget and the free software doesn't give you enough functionality, programs such as "Reaper" or "Studio On Prime" will offer some advanced features and flexibility without breaking the bank.
Importance of Acoustic Treatment
Have you ever stood in an empty room and clapped your hands? Walked through a long tunnel that had smooth walls? Sang in the shower? If so, you've noticed the echoing of the sound as it bounces around the room. These are called reflections. In the same way that we use curtains to lessen the brightness or completely cut out the light in a room, we have ways to lessen and cut out the sound reflections in a room. I'm sure you've never heard a podcast where the host sounds like they're on the toilet. It would be a distracting and unpleasant experience for the listener.
Sometimes the recording environment can't be helped. If you're required to interview someone at their location or if you're required to attend an event (festival, market, etc.) then you're not going to have much control, but there are ways to minimize noise and reflection that we'll discuss later.
The acoustic treatment of your studio/recording space should be in your control and you should do your best to minimize both reflections and background noises. There are plenty of ways to create DIY panels, or you can buy professional panels, depending on your budget. If you have moving blankets (or any heavy fabric), they can be used to absorb sound and minimize reflections. Bookshelves are great for use as diffusers, which scatter the reflections.
If you have the budget, you could invest in microphone shields that sit on your mic stand and absorb your voice at close range, directly behind the microphone, eliminating room reflections instantly. Remember, there are many factors to consider when treating your recording space, which include, the size of your room, the type of microphone you're using, the level of ambient/background noise, your budget and how you feel about the level of distraction that may or may not be present in your recordings.
Mic Placement and Technique
Knowing your microphone is going to help you a lot! There are different patterns and zones that different microphones capture sound from and different sensitivities that each mic has. Hopefully, this adds some elements to consider when addressing our earlier topic "Choosing the Right Microphone for Your Needs".
There are a few things you will want to avoid capturing in your recordings. These are:
Plosives - Bursts of air that hit the microphone when the speaker says words containing "P", "T", "B" and "F".
Nasal-sounding voice - This is directly related to the direction the mic is pointing.
Mouth noise - Pops and clicks made by saliva and the movement of the tongue.
Proximity effect - The closeness of the speaker to the mic can cause a booming in the low end, which can destroy clarity.
Mic placement can help you avoid most of these issues. Placing your microphone in such a way that the diaphragm points past the speaker's mouth, but the speaker's voice still travels through the polar pattern of the mic will eliminate plosives and mouth noise. If you have a shotgun mic, which has a super-cardioid pattern (I've tried to avoid too much technical terminology so far to not cause too much confusion[super-cardioid means it is extremely directional]) pointing the mic downwards toward the speaker's chest from just above their head and about an arms width away, will avoid all of the above-mentioned problems.
Much of this will come down to practice and experimentation. Try to be intentional and conscious of the microphones and your setup. Take notes and observe all of the things you like or dislike from your recording so you can make changes as you go along.
This video by SoundGuys is a great place to start for finding mic placements and techniques that will work for you.
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