Content Creators Seeking Better Audio
Content creators, particularly podcasters and streamers, are struggling with inadequate audio quality and limited recording capabilities using basic USB setups. They are seeking advice and solutions for upgrading to XLR systems to improve sound, enable multitracking, and accommodate guests, often facing challenges with compatibility and portability.
SOURCES (60)
“Dynamic mic technique can help a lot. Try using a compressor to even out the levels, but be careful not to squash it too much. For reverb, a de-reverb plug-in might help reduce that metallic sound. I've had some luck with iZotope RX for things…”
“The specific Shure mics that you mention have a USB out, so in theory you could just plug them directly into the computer. But, if you got a little mixer (I have a relatively old, but perfectly serviceable Zoom P4) you can plug all the mics into there and do the mixing with the dials on that device which is easy to adjust live if one of the guests is more quiet / louder than you expected. I would also specnd some time in Premier figuring out how to record all the audio tracks and video tracks li”
“In my (amateur) experience, de-plosive works great on individual incidents of noise, but not as an easy fix for the whole track. It needs to be used carefully or it will wreck your audio. As others have said, fix plosives with mic placement, it's so much easier than editing it later. I use mouth declick, dialogue isolate, phase when the vocal track is asymmetrical, and loudness normalization. The spectral editing is excellent when I need it, but it's easier to just do a second take. RX i”
“Thanks for the replies. I’m going to try adjusting the gain down and go from there.”
“Also cant do much about my room.. if that's a huge part of it I can sell this and get a SM7...”
https://reddit.com/link/p098ixu/video/ruw2ktxdxyfh1/player Here ya go!
“Woah this is really in depth! thanks so much, I will give this a try. Also would it be worth getting the SM7dB again in that case? I just couldn't make it sound like everyone else even with that mic for some reason. I really like the kms for the clarity so thought that was the better pick...”
“Deplosive specifically should always be used with a lot of caution. It’s easier to solve with good mic hygiene. Automated solutions almost always cut bass. Izotope cleans clicks like nobody else. Thats the primary utility imo.”
“The sound you’re describing is a combination of voice, mic, room, and mixing. For instance, if you don’t have a deep, rich voice, no amount of EQ is going to change that. Trying to add low frequencies to make it sound like it is just going to make it sound boomy. If you’re recording in a poorly treated space, that condenser mic is going to pick up more of the room’s reflections, making your voice sound thinner. More than anything, you’re asking for a bright and clear mic to sound more like an SM”
“Around 3-5 inches when I’m closer sounds much better but then plosives are a problem”
“Haven't used it myself but have heard good things about the Ferrite app for editing audio on iPad.”
“I do agree that digital clock drift can be a problem with multiple USB mics in one room. The fix is easy, though. Cut out the sections when the other person isn’t speaking. Even if there is no drift, we’re dealing with mic bleed, which has the same fix. I was just clarifying because you didn’t talk about digital clock drift. Some people might read the original response as using two USB mics in the same room is always a problem, but never a problem with XLR.”
“The other commenter is right, mic input is the first line you should work on. Look into correct mic technique for your specific type of microphone. Is it dynamic? How close are you to the microphone? Do you have a pop filter? Honestly, the base audacity functions are more than enough for beginners. Learn what they do and some default initial settings. Noise reduction for silences, compression and normalization for volume, eq adjustments for richness of your voice, etc.”
“Just to clarify, this isn't something that applies only to USB mics – it applies to XLR mics just the same.”
“It is tempting to solve every audio problem by buying a new microphone or processor. However, echoes, hard surfaces, traffic, fans and poor microphone technique can limit even expensive equipment. Simple changes such as moving closer to the microphone, recording away from bare walls, softening reflective surfaces and monitoring a short test may improve the result before any major purchase is necessary. Which inexpensive change made the biggest difference to your podcast audio? Was there any equi”
“Just get a docking station, something with enough ports and stable power. If you have money to burn you can go for a CalDigit TS4, but honestly for what you’re doing I wouldn’t recommend it, way overkill. I use a regular usb-c dock, the baseus 15 in 1 one. Has 2x HDMI (4K), USB-C 10Gbps, a bunch of USB-A, ethernet, SD/TF, and a Qi2.2 wireless pad on top for your phone. 160W total output so your laptop charges too. More than enough for your setup.”
“i run a similar setup and the buzzing is almost always the interface sharing a bus with a bunch of other crap plug the scarlett straight into one of the laptop's usb-c ports, that alone cleared up noise for me. everything else can live on a powered hub, just make sure it has its own wall plug and isn't trying to sip power from the laptop for two hdmi monitors you'll want a hub that specifically says it supports dual display, some of them only mirror or do weird resolution stuff on th”
“A better hub that has external power will probably fix most of your issues. I like to keep my interface plugged directly to the computer to avoid any interference issues. The rest of that stuff should do fine. Look for a USB-C hub that isn’t powered by the computer. You may be able to find one with two HDMI ports 3-4 USB-C and a couple USB-A.”
“To second what Johannes wrote about the mics - RE-20 can work well as a podcast and radio mic but will be a terrible choice for a commercial voiceover mic”
“I've using a Zoom L8 for 2 years now without any problem. I've using it to record podcast and i'm using a SanDisk Extreme 180mb/s SDXC V30I 10 for that purpose since the beggining. A month ago i had a huge problem: one of the audio files of the sesion was completely lost. I was with a big new client, we recorded 3 podcast sessions and the last one produced a wav file of 60MB but with no sound at all. I tried everything that says online and i couldn't retrieve the information. No”
“Hello everyone, I am putting together my first serious audio setup and would appreciate some advice before purchasing everything. My main goals are: - Solo podcasting - Radio-style broadcasting - Commercial voice-over and advertisements - YouTube, TikTok and Instagram content - Livestreaming with OBS - Learning audio production and microphone technique I want to buy reliable equipment that I can use for several years. I am not necessarily looking for the cheapest setup, but I also do not want to”
“It’s a great mic. I literally bought a second set for my friends, yesterday, as it’s on sale on Amazon.”
“Haven't used that specific unit, but worth asking your manager if the goal is live multicam mixing vs. just recording clean multitrack for podcasts, since a lot of studios buy the hardware switcher when they really just need separate high quality tracks per person to edit after the fact. If it's the latter, that's the exact gap Riverside fills without the extra hardware in the loop. Disclaimer: I'm part of the Riverside team, so take my angle with a grain of salt.”
“You can also try using the audio set up button to make sure your host is selected as “MME” and then under the same button select playback device and then choose your audio output”
“Gotcha. If you’re using an iPhone, I’d recommend getting something like the Rode Go instead. It’ll be easier to sync in post since you can run the audio directly into the phone. Adobe’s software is decent and is simple, so don’t fret it too much. The important thing is to work on capturing good audio up front so that the software isn’t doing all the heavy lifting.”
“Hi everybody, my manager is looking to invest in a video mixer for some studio shows and podcast recordings and we’re looking for the best bang for our buck. Does anyone here have any experience with the extreme iso G2 since it’s relatively new and can tell me what it’s like to use on a daily basis? Pros, cons, shortcomings, realistic workflow etc submitted by /u/hahanobother [link] [comments]”
“Yes, thank you. I the last paragraph I noted there is a Rode PSA1+ on FB Marketplace for a good price. This had me thinking about the Rode setup. I can use the Snowball for now and grab a USB Podmic when I find a deal sometime down the road. But as I am just getting started, I am concerned about spending cash on an untested venture.”
“Thank you. I have tested the Snowball with my iPhone as the camera. I think it was iMovie I tested it with. The iPhone is mounted on a type of magnetic tripod with a light attached. They seem to function well together. I do not have experience EQing or treating sound. Others have mentioned Adobe Podcast Enhance. While the test on their page demonstrates its usefulness, I am concerned about developing the proper skill to use it (I haven't yet looked into it). I get nervous because it's un”
“You will likely need to get a boom arm or mic stand for the Podmic USB. From what I understand you should have better audio. The Rode Podmic USB should have 24 bit depth compared to the Snowball, and the Podmic USB should have a sample rate of 48kHz compared to the Snowball’s 44.1kHz. Bit depth allows you to clearly record more varied volume, and 48kHz will better align with video. You can also continue to use the Podmic USB if you eventually end up getting an audio interface.”
“Focus on content first, then gear. That said, I have both mics and can confirm that the podmic is the better of the two. If you stick with the Snowball, focus on good mic technique, and get a good pop filter. Staying close to the mic is critical for good sound. In post, EQ it and possibly use some additional software for background cleanup. Also, if it’s old, make sure it functions properly. That’s definitely the safest way to ensure you don’t actually need something else, too. Oh, and if you’re”
“"If I were to stay with the Snowball, what can I do to maximize the sound quality?". Try putting some snowball audio through Adobe Podcast Enhance (freemium). (IMO err on the side of loud & compressed audio to feed to Adobe Podcast enhance).”
“I'm curious because audio seems to become surprisingly complicated once you start adding more gear. Whether you're using a USB mic, XLR mic, audio interface, mixer, or multiple PCs: What's the most annoying part of your audio workflow? Is there a piece of hardware or software you wish you didn't need? What's one thing that takes longer than it should? If you could magically fix one problem in your audio setup, what would it be? I'm not looking for gear recommendations, I&”
“I’ve been working to put together a small podcast studio at my office. My current setup is iPhone 17 pro (Sony ZV E10 ii coming in tomorrow), 2 Shure SM7DB and a Scarlett 18i20 used for prior music production. I’ve been recording directly to Garage Band but having some audio consistency issues. I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out but I’m questioning if I should buy a RODECaster Pro II to use instead. Would there be any advantage to buying the Rode over my current setup? submitted by ”
“Hi guys. Bit of a frustration problem. I use the UMC404HD audio interface and record on OBS and for several months they worked great. Then one day as I went to record OBS no longer registered the mics. After updating obs suddenly all inputs and changed and outputs had appeared. Instead of all 4 on seperate channels, there are now only 3 groupings: 1-2, 1-4, 3-4. In and out. It is the exact same on a second laptop and on audacity. I did not touch the audio interface in between recording sessions”
“Audio is really important to most people. The room acoustics do not matter unless you are recording from far away. If you haven’t tried holding your iphone right up next to your mouth that might also be worth a shot. Easiest answer is to just get a mic. If you’re in front of the camera and want to use your hands get a lavalier mic (I would guess price makes a decent difference with these), and if you are just recording voice afterwards just get anything cheap and put your mouth right up to it.”
Get DaVinci Resolve. It has an audio sync function that works quite well.
“for around 50 i’d look at the boya by-pm500 if you can find it on sale. it’s usb, so no extra interface rabbit hole, and for a first podcast mic it sounds pretty clean as long as you stay close to it”
“If you're recording at home, you should be adding some noise reduction in post. Adobe has an enhancer. There are plug-ins for DAWs(Reaper, Cubase, Cakewalk etc) , one such plug-in as supertone Clear could serve you well.”
“Just curious how people recording at home deal with external noises with other people home. My current set up is a work station in my office with at my desk. I have put weather strips round my door, something that blocks the space under my door and moving blanket that covers the door as well. It blocks out a good portion of noise when the house is relatively quiet, but when my family is going about their daily lives I can still pick up a fair amount of noise. Is it worth building an isolation bo”
“A Zoom F3 may be what you're looking for (it records in 32 bit float so it's almost impossible to get a bad recording). https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/F3Zoom--zoom-f3-2-input-field-recorder (not an affiliate). Moderator Required full disclosure: I am the head of Podcasting at Podpage and the founder of the School of Podcasting.”
“you need a daw... aduacity is free... select the right setting after plugging in your mic, on your mic; select the right settings in audacity and you're good to go as far as i know. never used that mic but that's how to do it on a zoom h1 to record”
“Samson stuff is so hit or miss, had a C01U that died after like 8 months so I feel that pain. The Tascam DR-10L gets mentioned a lot in these threads, records to its own body pack so you're not tied to whatever wireless system you're running. Might be worth a look if you're cool with syncing audio in post”
“The Q2U is an excellent value, even at $100. Probably the best at that price point, IMO.”
“Just because they will have the same audio characteristics, impedance, gain structure, noise rejection, pickup pattern, etc... It not mandatory but it makes your life easier.”
“I had a yeti snowball already. It was certainly better than the controller or headset mic but a rabbit hole search on Google lead me to the ffine. I manged to get on in ebay for £35! I still need a stand/arm to get it sat closer but the sound quality is pretty good. I can post a link to my channel if that's aloud? The first couple of videos are with the controller mic, most recent with the ffine. I think there might be an early one using the yeti.”
“Thanks for the help! I have two XLR cables and will buy the p4next for the audio interface! So hopefully that's a good idea lol. You are right, stands are pretty cheap too. Is there a reason why someone should stick with the same mic if possible ?”
“If you are going to have two people doing it together in the same space, you want to have the same mic if possible. It makes it easier to get them to sound the same. If not the SM58 is a good choice. It's an XLR - are you set up for that with an audio interface? You will want a good quality cable, but she can hold it if you don't want to get a stand, although stands are cheap.”
“"Gain" just means the volume that's set for recording. The Blue Yeti has a knob on the back which controls gain. It should be quite low while recording; you boost the audio later in Audacity. As for cameras, I use a Canon M50, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for you. I reckon there are cheaper solutions that are more user-friendly. I'm sure someone will have a suggestion!”
“Careful with those all-in-one packages; they often come with proprietary software that can be a headache later. Honestly, just grab a solid, versatile USB mic to start. The main thing is getting decent sound into the computer cleanly, you can always upgrade other bits later without throwing out a whole setup.”
“two usb mics at the same time is basically a cursed setup, your mac will always favor one as the default input. aggregate devices rarely play nice with identical usb mics either, they fight for the same clock source. i'd stick with the blinks since they're actually designed to work as a pair. that static could be interference from your phone or a noisy usb port, have you tried recording to something battery powered like your phone to rule out the mac's usb noise?”
“if you dont want to buy more serious audio gear (audio interface + xlr mics) you also have the option to buy a mixer that can process 2 usb mics. something like the zoom podtrack p2. you could also use an usb-c-hub on your phone and connect one yeti into it and record 1 audio track on your video and record the audio track of your co-host on the laptop. after recording you can seperate the audio from the video and synchronize it with the other audio track (clap before recording to have a referenc”
“6 people is a lot in person. Since you just want to capture the room and it doesn’t matter what it sounds like, I’d probably go for the one of the Zoom H1’s and a couple of Boundary mics. Tape the boundary mics to opposing walls (with painters tape). You’ll get the whole room that way and won’t have to worry about people thumping the table or very loud dice. With the H2essential, if anyone is directly to either side of it, they will be very hard to hear. The other issues is how do you plan on sy”
“You effectively cannot record with multiple USB mics like that on the same computer/in the same room without a world of hurt. You need an audio interface and XLR microphones instead. Even Descript's audio recorder is more meant for a single input source, though you could get away with 2 channels (L/R) with the interface method.”
“The 87A is a condenser microphone. Different animal. If the SM7B sounds bad, you probably have a shit interface. I use a Rode Procaster with Klark CM-1 for a booster. Works great.”