How to create your own podcast #1: Let’s talk microphones
Microphones are one of the most essential part of your podcasting set up. But throwing money at it and buying a really expensive one won’t necessarily get you the best sound on your podcast straight away.
So, let’s look at the basics.
Dynamic or condenser – which microphone is best for making my podcast?
There are many different types of mic, so what’s the right one for you?
A dynamic mic is a better bet for podcasters, especially if you’re thinking of recording your podcast at home or in your office.
The other main type is called a condenser, these are usually used in professional studio set-ups.
So what’s the difference? A dynamic mic is less sensitive than a condenser mic, which means you get a lot less room echo and other incidental background sounds.
So why do people bother with condenser mics? They pick up every little detail of your voice, which means they sound richer, but you’ll need a soundproof room to get the best sound from them. So, if you’re creating a podcast on a budget, a dynamic mic will mostly be the one to go for.
How much should I pay for podcast microphones?
How long is a piece of string! Like most tech, you can spend as much or as little as you want, but for about £120 you can get a decent USB mic which plugs directly into your PC or Mac. I’ll talk more about recording kit to help with creating your podcast in another post.
What other equipment might I need for producing my podcast?
1. A microphone stand
Another essential is a mic stand. If you try to record just holding your mic in your hand you can get unpleasant sounds as your hand moves as you speak and it’s all too easy to get inconsistencies in how far you are away from your mic. A simple tabletop mic stand will set you back about £15.
2. A pop shield
Once you’ve got your mic and stand and you’re happy with them, I’m afraid it’s still not time to record your fist episode. Even dynamic mics suffer from ‘mic pop’. This is where your breath, mostly from Ps and Bs hits the diaphragm of the mic directly and causes a breathy pop. It especially happens if you get close to the mic. The result can be uncomfortable for people to listen to as it causes a spike in bass frequencies which sounds horrible and loud, especially on headphones, which is how most people listen to podcasts.
The solution is fairly simple, buy yourself a pop shield. They attach to your mic, and usually look like a circle with a bit of material stretched over it. They’re really effective at stopping mic pop and are well worth buying. Mostly they cost just over £10.
What about where I record my podcast?
You’ve chosen your microphone and set up your stand and pop shield… but we’re still not ready to record. How far you are away from your mic is very important too. Too far away and you’ll sound distant, too close and you’ll sound uncomfortably close in the ear of the listener. The goldilocks zone is usually about 4-6 inches (10cm – 15cm) away from your pop shield.
Finally, let’s talk about the room you record it in. In reality, most of the rooms in your house are probably acoustically dreadful. They’ll likely be a little too echoey which you may not notice when
you’re in the room, but for your listeners it will be far from ideal. You could think about trying to acoustically ‘deaden the room’. If you’ve got the cash, you could think about professionally soundproofing it. But if you’re on a budget, a few duvets placed on the walls or even over your head will do just fine.
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