Podcasters Fighting for Better Audio

“For walking videos, audio matters more than the camera, because wind and footsteps ruin a recording faster than a slightly soft picture does. A small wireless lavalier mic with a furry windscreen clipped near your collar will sound much cleaner than the phone mic, and the Yeti won't be practical outdoors. For stability, a phone gimbal is the usual solution, and a simple handheld grip with a wrist strap is a cheaper option if you hold it low and walk with soft steps. Most phones also have a s”

“First check the original screen recording in your phone's gallery, because that tells you where the problem is. If your voice is missing there too, the recorder didn't capture the mic that time. That often happens after a phone or app update changes the microphone permission, when another app such as game voice chat or a call takes over the mic, or when Bluetooth earbuds are connected and the phone switches to a different input. Check the recorder's mic setting, the app's microph”

“[ Removed by Reddit ] [re: Best microphones for podcasting in a noisy room without spending $400?]”

“the zoom h1essential is decent for the price but you gonna need one for each person if you want separate tracks, that adds up quick have you looked at the tascam dr-10l its a body pack recorder with a lav included and runs on a single AAA battery, no phone app but you set your levels once and it just works [re: Podcasting with Lav mics]”

“Depends on the kind of content you’re doing. 99% of what I do I use my iphone(16) as a camera and my airpods(pro 3) as a mic and it does plenty well, but I’ve also got a GoPro hero 8 I got off marketplace for $100(for motorcycle content mostly) and a cheap tripod off amazon. For software programs like Davinci resolve, obs, and audacity are free, even CapCut desktop is decent for basic edits. That’s basically all I can offer at a base level without knowing anything about the content ur trying to”

“bit late to this thread but I'm currently stuck on AT2040 vs sE Electronics DCM6 as my main mic for talking head videos, youtube, Instagram etc. long-form content mostly. From the reviews I've seen, I think dcm6 has a more open and natural sound, and AT2040 has that sort of radio voice element. I (30M) have a low, calm voice with natural body and weight, slight rasp/grain, and a relaxed conversational delivery. Not especially nasal or sibilant. Could you please share some advice on which”

“What kind of budget microphone should I use? Was considering using this as my income for vanlife but will need a solid condenser mic from what I read. My current mic apparently has too much feedback [re: Babel Audio]”

“Wow this is gold! Thank you so much for your pro advice! [re: what is the simplest way to get good quality audio for remote recordings?]”

“Thank you so much! [re: Can't get any of the wirless lav mics to sound good?]”

“Wear headphones (for remote recordings) and tone down the mic gain. You need to stay close to the mic and you need the mic to pick up only you, not sounds across the room (like your co-host or reverb from the walls). [re: Need Help Fixing Mic Bleed!]”

“Tape sync! Phones are great for a local recording if positioned at face height [re: what is the simplest way to get good quality audio for remote recordings?]”

“I use the free version of Zencastr, after 4 years or so, no issues. [re: what is the simplest way to get good quality audio for remote recordings?]”

Do you have a link?? [re: Wireless Lav Mic Recs]

“never thought about how much the wall behind the speaker could affect the audio, definitely gonna keep the mic positioning in mind! [re: Need Help Fixing Mic Bleed!]”

“Hi! I need a fairly inexpensive wireless lavalier mic set that will fit both USB-C and Lightning ports, as well as the ability to do earphone monitoring. I am on a very modest budget. Thank you! submitted by /u/Green-Impression1908 [link] [comments]”

“the "gets worse as the recording goes on" + "not synced" part is the giveaway imo. normal bleed between two mics 2ft apart is only like 2ms off, you hear it as a slightly hollow/phasey sound, not a double voice. a double voice that drifts further apart over time is almost always two recordings with different clocks layered on top of each other. so check your edit. are you filming too and the camera audio is still on under the rodecaster audio? or are you pulling both a stereo”

“I have the same pair and they're been great for calls. The mic isn't studio quality but people can hear me clearly even with background noise. [re: Best head set for a noisy environment!]”

“I’ve been using OBS for awhile and the one thing I feel like I can’t get right is how my mic sounds. I have used various filters and end up changing things every few months due to not liking the result. Even with research I don’t completely understand how to order the filters for maximum output or to remove noises like background AC. Could I get some tips to improve my learning and usage of such settings? submitted by /u/RedYama98 [link] [comments]”

“Yes I am [re: My audio is too quiet but I'm already close to my mic and gain is up high]”

“Oh I know that Scarlett, my buddy uses it for his setup. That mic, according to a quick Google, is a condenser mic. Are you using phantom power? [re: My audio is too quiet but I'm already close to my mic and gain is up high]”

“This is the right answer. Search youtube for normalizing audio. I used Audacity and Zencastr when I first started, should be no problem [re: My audio is too quiet but I'm already close to my mic and gain is up high]”

“Thank you! So if my audio quality is good but just quiet, it's fine to leave it be and continue fixing it in post? [re: My audio is too quiet but I'm already close to my mic and gain is up high]”

“Thanks! I didn't realize different interfaces had different abilities when it comes to gain. The mic I use is a Zoom SGV-6 Vocal Microphone and my audio interface is a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4. [re: My audio is too quiet but I'm already close to my mic and gain is up high]”

“glad i came upon your advice brother, very happy with the quality for 75 USD~. cheers! [re: Choosing a USB dynamic mic for YouTube voiceovers (PodMic USB vs MV7+ vs MV6) - no interface]”

“O that’s because it’s a static image. I always tell people record yourself too. It’s more engaging to the audience vs a static picture.now 100% just do audio if you only are going down the static image route but other wise turn thag cam on haha I promise you can get great numbers if you do the marketing and scheduling right. For the last 28 days on YouTube it’s an extra 10 million views and 32 million impressions for the month so it’s pulling in new eyeballs all the time. Plus it’s way easier to”

“Nice. The next thing I would stress-test is the boring failure path: a 12-15 minute tab recording with mic plus camera, a couple accidental clicks that should not become zooms, one private value to hide, then cutting a middle section and exporting. If that cleanup loop still feels predictable, local-first becomes a much stronger pitch than just auto-zoom. I would also make it very obvious where the raw files live and how to delete them, because that is the trust question people have with screen”

“You don't need a full studio to get started! A quiet room, some soft furniture, and keeping the mic close can make a big difference. We also built an iPhone app called Audio Cleaner AI that helps remove background noise after recording. You can try it here: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6773258793?pt=127166631&ct=Reddit&mt=8 Hope it helps! 😊 [re: Asking about podcast recording setup]”

“the lightning to usb adapter needs to be the one that also has a charging port, the basic camera adapter doesn't supply enough power for most mics [re: Zealsound Z5 Microphone to IPhone 14 Pro]”

“Hello everybody, I’ve been making youtube videos for a while and still really struggle with audio. I aim for -12 LUFS for my long form youtube videos and have a limiter setting of -1db. I usually crank the volume up on the clip, track, or bus to achieve this. I like the loudness of it, however, I feel like it is not as professional sounding as I would like. It DOES raise the volume but I wonder if I’m approaching this the wrong way. When I click on popular youtubers’ “stat for nerds” on their vi”

“Good quality audio at the time of recording will save you editing headaches later on. [re: What do you wish you knew when you first started?]”

“What about microphones? [re: Good Walmart Budget Camera To Start With?/Microphone Replacement?]”

“For wireless, the Yealink HA64 Pro and HA68 Pro are two of the best we've tested for situations like yours. For wired, I'd look at the Discover D712U or EPOS Impact 860. If you go with the EPOS, I'd definitely consider the optional over ear cushions for better comfort. One thing worth keeping in mind is that no headset microphone will block 100% of background noise. Performance depends on the headset, the type of noise, and how loud it is. Also, don't confuse ANC with microphone”

“Blue Yeti is always a solid choice. [re: Looking for microphone advice]”

“Sadly, I tried moving my phone various distances from my mouth, as well as recording slightly above my forehead, etc. All the tricks, including putting a pencil partially over the mic. I also toggled with Audacity's de-esser after watching several tutorials specifically about dealing with sibilance. Nothing worked, not even the slightest bit, which really frustrated me. I did further research and learned that some people just have a really sibilant "s" that it's difficult to fi”

“If you are looking for a great dynamic XLR mic at a great price the Heil Sound PR40 (used by Bloomberg and Sirius XM) is on sale right now for $50 off. That means it's only $329 until December. If you are a female podcaster I would highly recommend the PR 30 (also on sale) for only $249. The PR 30 has less low-end compared to traditional broadcast sounding microphones and often lets female voices sound more true to themselves. Both mics have loads of rear rejection, so they are not going to”

“First, as much as I hate to say it, if you are using a computer to record, Røde Connect which allegedly can record two sets of Røde Wireless mics and also their USB studio mics. It pains me to mention this. I'd much rather suggest using a dedicated recorder and 3.5mm to dual XLR or 1/4" TS breakout cables from the two receiver packs. https://rode.com/en-us/apps/rode-connect Multiple USB mics are a path of pain and anger and suffering. Røde at least stands behind Connect. Maybe look at R”

“Start with the room before blaming the mic. Wireless lavs won't magically hide a hard, echoey room, HVAC, computer fans, traffic, or other background noise. If the source already sounds muffled or reverberant, endless EQ isn't going to turn it into great audio. Try recording in a softer, quieter room first, then experiment with mic placement. Even moving the lav a few centimeters can make a surprising difference. And something as stupidly simple as putting a towel on the table you're”

“Hi, could someone suggest which mic is the best out of these for youtube channel content creation? grenaro series digitek 101 or 105 hollyland dji 128 please suggest best quality and best value for money submitted by /u/No-Platypus-3846 [link] [comments]”

“then i would go for a sm7b. it kind of sounds dull and lifless without eq but pretty great with eq according to your voice. but to use it optimally you will need enough gain. but then it is like a well-behaved sm57/sm58.”

I paid $80 in 2015-2016ish

“As long as you aren't right up against a wall and/or have at least minimal acoustic treatment (or at least not completely bare walls and floor) it isn't too bad. The AT875r is pretty short so it isn't affected as badly by comb filtering as longer shotgun mics. It's still technically best in a treated space, but it's still good in a less than perfect environment. For reference here's an episode from a podcast I used to host, I used the AT875r in a mostly untreated room pos”

“I actually never considered a shotgun. Someone suggested an AT897 as well, i'll look at some recordings tests and order one of these two and try it out. Though i'm kinda worried for a comb-filtered sound as i'm recording in my bedroom”

“I'd suggest looking into the Audio Technica AT875r. It's a shotgun mic, so you'll get the sensitivity and clarity that you're used to, but it's highly directional so it isn't going to pick up background noise nearly as much as your other options.”

“I like the quality & economy of my Shure SM57, Electro-Voice EV50/B & RE10. My Audio-Technica AT897 shotgun mic has good side rejection and reduces specific noisy things like fans. The rest is up to you, to deal with environmental interference. That means maximizing sound deadening with more blankets and door seals, mic technique to avoid plosives & sibilance. Try popping your Ps against the palm of your hand and avoid placing the mic there. Definitely point your mic at your mouth in”

“Definitely put a little effort into picking your microphone, but a baseline professional unit (not the cheapest thing you can buy on Amazon) will get you going no problem. Reliable mics don’t go obsolete like iPhones, so it’s reasonable to save a little for one you’ll hang on to. After that you can really make the rest work on very little with free software and using what you already have to help dampen noise in your environment. That’s when it switches from equipment to craft. It’s not stupid i”

As far as I know, the only MPC OSs that are capable of recording and transmitting Poly AT from the pads are the JJ OSs. This would be a heavyweight functionality to…

“you could try to make the rode audio warmer through eq, subtle saturation and using a bus with mixing paralell compression through an opto compressor under”

“SM57's are bulletproof. Theres a reason musicians have used them for decades.”

“You know that there are different lav mics for iphone/mac and for android/pc, right?”

hi there, on amazon, you can find for instance djmic mini for good price, i use my self that..i like it. There are sites for background noice reduction or complytely remove it...…

“I actually just tested it myself with my phone and it's crystal clear. Prior when making this post the subject who will be recorded was using their phone and had it on them. I didn't have the mic under the clothes or anything. And we also tested it recording to the device. Super weird. I guess it'll take trial and error.”

“The inconsistent takes are a useful clue. Rather than changing EQ again, record three short tests with the same sentence, same room and processing off: mic held still in front of you, clipped where you normally wear it while sitting still, then clipped while turning your head. Keep the distance as consistent as possible and listen to the untouched files. If only the turning/clipped test goes muffled, investigate placement or clothing contact first. If the stationary test varies too, keep that fi”

“Yeah, that's exactly why I'm frustrated. It has to be something I'm doing. I tried recording to the phone as well recording to the receiver itself. Some takes sound decent and others sound unusable. For example I just got the saramonic ultra for the lav mic attachments and I've tried it with and without. Without sounds better but each take is inconsistent”

“Unless you are doing something like placing them under clothing, upside down, etc, the only reason a muffled issue could carry over across every brand of mic would have to be something else in your chain/setup. Have you tested the mics on a different recording device? Speaking directly into them while in your hand? Record into a different program? I'd definitely suggest some troubleshooting steps because this sounds like it goes beyond the microphones if every one you try is sounding bad - t”

“My room is definitely not treated. I just bought the Sarasomic ultra soo I think that's the limit of my budget on these things.”

What’s your budget? Cause $400 Senny Lavs in a treated room sound great.

“I have tried every big brand of wireless lav mics that you can use with your phone and I cannot get a single one to sound good. I have tried recording to the phone, to the devices themselves, have done endless EQing, etc and they all sound super muffled. I have seen countless people use them while shooting with an iPhone and it sounds phenomenal. What am I doing wrong? submitted by /u/SaltFun6310 [link] [comments]”

submitted by /u/Beautiful_King2236 [link] [comments]

“I meant it as they didn’t give any sort of range to work with. Audio equipment especially is such a black hole that can go in a million different directions. If they said “hey we’ve got $200 to work with” or something that could help people dial it in. It would as also 3am and I was on Ambien so it might have come across in a way it wasn’t intended.”