Your Advice Please...

Hey guys!

I help out around Envato, and am the editor of Nettuts+. I was wondering if I could steal a bit of your collective knowledge. While my question is not specifically related to music, it does concern the process of recording audio.

On to my question: I’m now recording visual intros for the screencasts that we post on Nettuts+. I generally record about five feet from my DSLR . What I’ve been finding, though, is that, in my recording room, the sound quality of my voice is less than optimal. I get a touch of echo, and my voice sounds like it’s a bit too far from the mic.

I’m using an Audiotechnica 2020 condenser mic that sits about a foot above my face. That way, it doesn’t show up on camera.

Do you guys have any advice on how I can get a more professional sounding result? Should I use a lavalier in order to get my mouth closer to the mic? Are there any software plugins that I could put the audio through to help boost and improve my voice?

All advice is immensely appreciated.

I’ve been thinking about getting this lavalier mic: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/650292-REG/Sanken_COS_11D_BK_COS_11D_Miniature_Omnidirectional_Lavalier.html

But then, I guess I’d also need to get a XLR -USB connector to hook it up to my laptop.

Hey Jeffrey,

I’m not a voice over expert, so take this for what it’s worth. The first suggestion I would make is to experiment with acoustically treating the room to try to reduce reflections. You can get very fancy with this and buy expensive acoustic foam, but you can also get decent results with just household materials like a couple of blankets on chairs to either side, on the floor if it’s not already carpeted, on the desk, etc. This probably wouldn’t look good on camera , but at least you could see if it makes a noticeable difference, and if so come up with a prettier solution.

I don’t have experience with the mic you linked to, but you probably will get better results with it since you’re closer to the source and can isolate it away from room reflections and other noises. Depending on the quality you’re looking for, it looks like there are less expensive options for lavalier mics, though.

I was wondering if a dynamic mic like a Shure SM7B (349 USD ) or even an SM58 (99 USD ) would be a better fit than the more sensitive 2020. However, neither one of these will be optimal either if you have to keep them 2 or more feet away. The SM7B especially needs a good preamp to boost the signal.

And yes, you would need an XLR to USB connector or interface for these mics and the one you mentioned. I haven’t tried it, but Blue makes one for about $60 if you’re going on the cheap: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Icicle.

—Joel

Hi Jeffrey,

I would try the lavalier mic or a boom mic. Sounds like the mic you are using is for close micing.

Hey Jeffrey,

I’ve worked in few documentaries before recording sounds; dialogues and sound effects. Two ways to get the best dialogue recording.

1. Recording using a Shotgun Microphone (Super Cardioid)

A shotgun microphone the RODE NTG -2 is a records in a super cardioid pickup pattern. That means you record less ambience and surrounding noises and only focus on the sound source you have the mic pointed at.

2. Recording with a lavalier Mic

A lavalier would work well for dialogues. I’ve no experience using that particular model you’re thinking of getting, but yes lavalier microphones are good for dialogues.

I particularly prefer to use shotgun mics though.

Hope that helped!

Thank you so much guys. This is really helpful.

Hey Jeffrey

To eliminate the room echo you can use a noise gate. I don’t know how familiar you are with audio DAW ’s and plugins, but if you sent me a little clip of dry audio I could process it for you to see if it’s the kind of result you are looking for, and if so I could let you know how to do it.

Let me know!

Hello jeffery way, it may be an option to do a voice over after recording. O not to film yourself but voice over a video related to the subject your talking about. You will not need to record far from your microphone.

If you don’t want then why not a shotun mic yes, usually arent they used to record the sound of a bee farting in a middle of a rave party? As long as you have a cardioid mic pointing at the source and not recording from your bathroom your sound should be good. Could we have a sample?