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Microphone Technique for PodcastersThe fastest way to learn about your microphone is to turn it on and record some tests. Try different microphone positions and speaking styles, and see what sounds good. Chances are, you will also hear things that you don't like on those recordings, so here are some tips for polishing the voice recordings for your podcast: Testing, Testing, 1,2,3...When you record your tests, listen for the position where the microphone best complements your voice. This is the microphone's sweet spot. Make some notes so that you can find and use this position each time you record. If you want to record a dry vocal (a recording with minimum ambiance), most microphones perform best when your mouth is about six inches away. You may notice your microphone capturing the sounds of your lips smacking, as well as breath noises. You can often lessen these noises by pointing the microphone slightly up towards your nose, or down towards your chin. Sometimes, speaking off-axis (slightly to one side of the mic) can also help. When all else fails, have a glass of room temperature water to cut down on mouth noises. The easiest way to solve popping B's and P's in your recordings is to use a pop filter. Many broadcast microphones already have built-in windscreens, but I find that they usually are not enough to catch all of the plosives and sibilance. Using a pop filter when close mic-ing cleans up the sound without a noticeable loss in sound quality. For those with a DIY bent, a pop filter is cheap and easy to make. Clear Your ThroatGetting a good sound is only half of a quality recording; the other half is the person doing the speaking! First off, if your voice is sounding rough or gravely, drink some room temperature water or hot tea with honey. Many voice over artists warm up their voices for a couple minutes before recording; a simple way to do this is to sing like an opera singer for a few minutes. Sounds silly, but it works. Most voice recordists also stand up when they deliver their lines. This allows them to breathe deeply from their diaphragm (chest), and helps them deliver a more energetic performance. If you use a script, figure out how you will avoid paper rustling when you turn pages. Since I stand while I record my podcast, I use a music stand to hold my outline. This allows me to back up from the mic a bit on sections where I raise my voice for emphasis. |
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