Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with audio and microphone

What is the best Electronic News Gathering microphone for my Zoom H4n on a $150 budget? Also, critique suggestions I've already received.

DumbPoet — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:37:34 -0800

What is the best Electronic News Gathering microphone for my Zoom H4n on a $150 budget? Also, critique suggestions I've already received. I decided to purchase the H4n after this post, which nearly changed my mind.

Now I'm looking for the perfect starting microphone to round out my kit.

Priorities

Price: $150 or less

Purpose: Conducting interviews in locations ranging from very noisy (Stadium crowd) to very quite (office). The mic will serve as my vocal track while I collect ambient noise with the H4n's onboard mics.

Style: Cardiod or Shotgun, dynamic or phantom powered.

Advice I've Received So Far

"If I could only have one microphone, it would be hard to decide between my MD46 and ME66, which are the two I probably use the most. I think for audio-only reporting (where you're not worried about whether the mic appears on camera), the MD46 would probably win. It's excellent, and durable, and you'll probably still be using it 30 years from now if you stay involved in the business.

Now in all fairness, I should say that the Sennheiser E835 is almost exactly the same microphone as the MD46; acoustically and electronically they are pretty much identical. The only real difference is that the MD46 is physically longer and heavier, and therefore it is easier to use as a hand-held interviewing mic. But either one would work fine from a sound perspective, and the E835 is a lot cheaper, even more so if you can share the cost of a 3-pack with a couple of your friends."

Is the Sennheiser E835 really that similary to the MD64? If so, do the E8* series (The e845, for instance) grow in quality for my purposes as their series number rises?

Webcam recording softwrae

gocubbies — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:36:47 -0800

I need to record myself giving a presentation for school. My laptop has a built in webcam and microphone. What free Windows software would you recommend for this task?

EV RE50N/D-B mic + Olympus LS-10 recorder = hollow, tinny sound

BugsPotter — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:03:19 -0800

Recordings made using an ElectroVoice RE50N/D-B microphone with my Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder sound quiet, tinny and hollow. Why could this be? I have an Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder and a ElectroVoice RE50N/D-B microphone which I use to record interviews for a show I do that airs on a college radio station. When I transfer the audio from the recorder to my MacBook, the audio sounds hollow, tinny and very quiet. However, the strange thing is, if I shift the balance on the internal speakers to the left or right (not centered), it sounds much much better. Recordings made with the Olympus LS-10's internal microphone (without the EV mic) sound just fine. This same problem existed with another EV mic that I used, so I don't think it's the particular mic I'm using now.

For a while I thought this could be a problem with my MacBook, but then I played one of the interviews on the air and it sounded the same. The audio sounds fine on some computers though. So, basically, I'm at a total loss. Anyone have anything like this happen before or have any thoughts as to why it could be happening? Thanks!!

Should I buy a suspension mount for my Blue Snowball microphone?

Ian A.T. — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:27:33 -0800

I'm about to start recording an audiobook / podcast. I've settled on Blue's Snowball microphone, and thanks to previous questions here I know that a pop filter is vital. Should I also buy the Snowball's suspension mount? I'll be recording with the microphone on my desk or possibly my kitchen table. On my desk is an external hard drive, which I'll of course be unplugging during recording, though I should point out that my desk backs up to an exterior wall. I'll also be the only speaker on the recording, if that matters.

It's not terribly expensive and there are bundles available, so I don't mind spending the extra money if it'll improve the quality of my recording. Will it?

Mic level vs. Line level FIGHT!

knowles — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:50:00 -0800

How do I build a microphone preamp for a Macbook Pro? Oh hai. I just recently learned that the 3.5mm input on my MBP (core duo, 2.16ghz, 17in) is not actually a 3.5mm mic in, but a 3.5mm stereo line-in. What's the simplest circuit I can build to remedy this? What about more complex ones?

I bought a Zalman ZM-MIC1 and assumed that it would work out of box, not knowing that I would need some kind of preamp. I have soldering skills and a decent understanding of what electronic components do, how do I get the mic output up to line level for like six bucks at Radio Shack?

If you're so inclined, explain what is making the loudness happen and suggest cool modifications for this circuit as well.

Wedding Ceremony Microphone Setup

blueplasticfish — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:47:03 -0800

What type of microphone setup would work for an outside wedding ceremony? I saw this link here, but it wasn't quite as detailed as I am looking for.

I'd like some suggestions on how to mic a wedding ceremony. There will be 90 guests setup in a quiet outdoor setting. I have been to a ton of weddings but have never noticed how they setup the mics during the ceremony.

Would a lappel mic on the minister/officiant be able to pick up what the bride and groom are saying? I am thinking wireless is definitely the way to go, but I want to avoid anyone having to hold a mic or pass a mic around. I also want to avoid having to put a mic on the bride if at all possible.

Any suggestions? Your help is always much appreciated.

Is there a cable that connects audio output (DVR) to audio input (MacBook)?

flowerofhighrank — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:01:25 -0800

can I go directly from my earphone plug on my digital voice recorder to the microphone port on my Mac laptop? I bought my SECOND digital voice recorder without a USB port for transfering files. Is there a cable I can buy that would connect the earphone and microphone ports? Help me before I buy the wrong thing again!

Sound system gonna bring me back up, yeah...one thing that I can depend on

ostranenie — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:03:00 -0800

AudioEngineerFilter: I'm now in charge of a medium-sized (50 people) auditorium and the sound output system is okay, but the wireless mic system is limited to two mics (a handheld and a lavalier), and it needs upgraded...and quick! The room is a large round table which will have the guests/participants sitting around. The requirement is to capture everyone's voice with a wireless mic and broadcast it right back out to the room. There are speakers everywhere.

We have one lavalier mic that transmits instantaneously and causes godawful feedback if you're anywhere near any of the speakers, and one handheld with a slight delay (100ms?) that has virtually no feedback unless you're on top of the speaker. I was thinking we could buy some kind of omnidirectional wireless microphones that sit quietly in strategic locations around the round table, picking up whatever anyone is saying and transmitting it over to the mixer, feeding it back into the system - enough for everyone to hear, but not enough to feed back into the mic. I'm also inclined to introduce a delay inline so there would be less feedback (amateur that I am). But I don't know who to buy from and what to get!

Any suggestions? Can you recommend a delay and a set of wireless omnidirectional mics (and a receiver)? I have a nominal budget of $1000, but it can be more if it needs to. Thanks!

How to hear my microphone in my headphones

philosophistry — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:38:00 -0800

How can I hear instantaneously what I'm recording with my microphone. Basically I want to sing into my mic, and hear what I'm singing into my headphones.

I tried the Microsoft Hardware Test app in the control panel, but there's a delay.

There's got to be a simple way to do this, but unfortunately it's impossible for me to find the right terminology to google for.

Please recommend a Belden alternative for my XLR cables

Your Time Machine Sucks — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:54:14 -0800

I'm about to make a bunch of XLR cables. I have everything but the cable and I'm hoping for some brand advice. I'm good for heatshrink and Neutrik connectors. My question: what is some great mic cable that I can buy in bulk in Europe for a tolerable price? Belden is expensive here. Those who solder your own, share your favorite brands (also sources) if you don't mind! I'm in Berlin, Germany if it matters. Thanks!

How to audio record a meeting with 20 people in it.

davidvan — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:42:09 -0800

Best setup for audio recording meetings with 20 people in them? I need to audio record a series of meetings. Meetings will take place in an echoey conference room, with about 20 people sitting around a conference table.

I'd like to use my laptop to do the actual recording - but am open to other ideas if there are better options. Similarly, I figure I'll use Audacity - the open source software app. - to do the recording. This way, the sessions will result in digital files that I can send off for transcription.

So the core question is, should I attach a microphone (or multiple microphones...) to the laptop? and if so, what kind?

thanks very much.

How to record a sing-along choir track without a pile of headphones?

cortex — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 09:10:17 -0800

Lo-fi group recording: how can I record a 6-8 person sing-along choir cleanly if I don't already own a bunch of headphones and splitters? Imagine this: I have a track of a song-in-progress, and I'd like to add to that a track of half a dozen or so people singing a part. (See also: clapping a part.) It's an untrained group of friends and family—they don't know how to work as a group, and may have essentially zero musical training, but they can sing along to something with a little practice.

So I can't hum a reference note, wave a baton, and get an a capella performance out of them: they'll need to hear the track they're singing to.

But I don't have 6-8 pairs of headphones, nor the splitter hardware to run them through.

I could play the song into the room through a monitor, but I don't want the backing track bleeding significantly into the choir recording.

So: clever tricks? Alternate routes? Good bleed-management compromises, if I monitor? And should I just pick up a bunch of super-cheapo headphones, and if what's a good route for splitting out to 8 or so pairs of 1/8" jack phones?

Need wireless microphone advice!

beammeup4 — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 23:04:39 -0800

Recommendations for wireless inexpensive microphone combos for small church. I'm looking for some recommendations for the best wireless microphone combos (handheld and lavaliere), or the best wireless system in which I can purchase an additional handheld or lavaliere and use it with the receiver with not a lot of fiddling around.

We're a small church and want to keep our expenses low, so I'm looking into other options besides Shure's SM58 combo $800 system.

Extra props if you can tell me the best place to buy it online or over the phone!

Help me find a clip-on microphone for my officiant to wear at my wedding.

pantufla — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:35:40 -0800

Help me find a clip-on microphone for my officiant to wear at my wedding. I'm looking for a reasonably priced small microphone that can be clipped to one's lapel for my officiant to wear at my wedding ceremony. I'd like to spend around $100 if possible. Sound quality just needs to be ok as the ceremony will only last about 20 minutes. I'd like to plug the microphone cord into an amplifier. Thanks!

How can I record speech in stereo?

featherboa — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 04:53:32 -0800

Oh, how I wish I could record in stereo, but as things stand, it's looking like it's going to have to be a mono-podcast. Help me get into both channels. So, I'd like to start podcasting, and I've been experimenting this week, but at the moment I can only seem to record in mono (coming through the left channel).

I'm using an old Peavey dynamic mic from my days as a singer, which has an XLR cable to 6.3mm jack, which in turn is plugged into a 6.3mm to 3.5mm converter, that goes into an iMic which is stuck in the USB port of my iBook G4 (OS 10.3.9). I've tried Garageband and Audacity, but nothing gets recorded in the right channel. Even though I've told it to record in stereo.

Is it something in my set-up that's causing the problem, and are there any get-arounds? Is there some way I could copy what's in the left to the right to give the impression of stereo sound? Would it work better if I went through my amp and then to the imic's phono input?

I'm not that technically skilled and I've only ever used Audacity to trim recordings down, so this is a bit beyond my capabilities, but I want to learn!

What's a good, cheap outdoor mic?

aaronetc — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:55:41 -0800

What's a good microphone for recording audio of outdoor TV interviews? I'm working with a local alt. weekly on a video podcast covering the local music scene, which we plan to produce on the cheap (for both pragmatic and aesthetic reasons). I'll be shooting it on a Sony Cybershot and a Sony analog camcorder, both of which record decent-enough audio when there's no significant interference, but they're not going to cut it for any interview or intro segments that take place outside, and won't be ideal for indoor segments.

I don't have much money to spend, but I'd like to get some kind of boom or shotgun mic that I can easily attach to a) the camcorder, or b) digital storage. My current laptop doesn't have audio-in, but the one I plan to buy in the next couple months will, and I think it would be fine to just record to the laptop if necessary. It doesn't need to be too fancy, but it should be relatively easy to operate since I probably will have just one production ~~assistant~~ intern.

Recording voice over demo on the cheap: USB or pre-amped mic?

StrangeTikiGod — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 09:25:06 -0800

I'm trying to determine the best bare bones microphone system for recording a basic voice-over demo cd for the smallest financial outlay possible. Is there a tremendous advantage to USB mics over 1/8" mics? Can I get decent quality without having to buy a preamp, or is phantom power the only way to go? Can a USB headset give me CD quality audio, more or less? right now I'm leanind toward something like this Plantronics USB headset, but I'm definitely open to suggestions.

I'm guessing noise-cancellation is a must, but are there any drawbacks to just getting a USB Skype-type headset and trying to sweeten the audio after it's recorded? It doesn't need to be anything really fancy, just functional enough not to sound like crap.

This'd all be running on a pretty solid XP SP2 pc with a ton of hard drive space and 1 GB RAM, so my computer can take pretty much anything I tried to throw at it, right now.

Can I boost the line-in feed on my laptop?

Brian James — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 16:17:18 -0800

PC Audio: How can I boost the audio coming in through my laptop's line-in? I'm recording classes using a single boundary microphone connected to my laptop. On playback, the speaker is audible and intelligible, but I have to max out my volume controls and questioners can't be heard.

Is there a way, on my laptop, to boost the line-in signal? I have maxed out the mic volume control, and I don't seem to have any kind of Mic Boost or AGC function on my soundcard. (A SOUNDMAX Digital Audio, if that matters)

I have a feeling the "correct" solution here is to get a microphone preamp, but those that I have seen on the interweb are pricey ($200 and up), and my classes just aren't worth it. I'm seeking a cheaper alternative.

MXL 990

ludwig_van — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 08:41:43 -0800

I dropped my MXL 990 condenser mic. The grill is slightly dented and the capsule inside has come loose. Can I repair it myself? Can I get it repaired in London? I'm a clumsy idiot, and I shouldn't have left my mic out on the stand, and I shouldn't have left the cable where I could trip over it. That said, can anyone tell me how to fix it, or recommend a repair shop in London? I don't have a soldering iron or any specialized tools, and I'm located in New Cross.

The best microphone for recording vocals?

stagewhisper — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 10:13:06 -0800

Can anyone recommend a high quality, reasonably priced, project studio microphone specifically for vocals? Are preamplification and compression as important as the microphone? My partner has been compiling information on microphones via the usual search engines and web sites specific to home recording equipment reviews, but he's now looking for recommendations based on personal experience. His studio is running Pro Tools, for what it's worth.

Best Mic for Recording a Discussion?

jeresig — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 17:53:08 -0800

I'm clueless when it comes to audio recording - what's the best way to record about 1-2 dozen people, in a larger room, having a roundtable discussion? A little background: I'm going to be helping to run the local Social Computing Club this next year. The primary purpose of this group is to discuss new technologies - and then to build applications using them, later. Due to conflicts with assignments and other classes, members, frequently, are unable to attend - but would still like to keep up on the discussions. So, I'm going to be setting up a Podcast of the weekly talks and posting them - but that isn't the hard part. I've hit a wall concerning which microphone would be best suited to record our discussions.

A couple stiuplations:
- Even though there may only be one person talking at a time - it will be infeasible to be constantly moving the microphone. This is due to the fact that the discussions are very much conversational in nature - with the occassional presentation.
- Some form of a stand, to hold the microphone, would be nice.
- It may be possible to position everyone within a 12" radius of the microphone, itself.
- The discussion will be taking place in a larger room, although there is very little echo.
- My budget is anywhere from $50 - $100 - but may be flexible to $120.

What I've done so far: I just purchased a Cardioid condenser mic based upon a number of positive reviews. I have done some testing and it seems to only pick up audio within 3ft of the front of the microphone - which is acceptable for a desktop recording (or for recording music, I assume) but not really what I'm looking for. If there was some way to amplify its recording capabilities, that might be acceptable - but, ideally, I'd like something that could record from any direction.

I then looked at a couple different Omni-directional microphones (omni = any direction, I assume?) but they seem to be either incredibly cheap handhelds or wildly expensive clip-ons. I'd hate to shell out a lot of money (again!) for something that may not even suit me.

Where would I begin to look for something of this nature? What is this type of microphone called?

48 or 12 Volts for my condenser mic?

goodnewsfortheinsane — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 17:01:50 -0800

MicrophoneFilter: Should I connect my MXL 990 condenser mics to preamps providing 12V or 48V of phantom power? I recently purchased a pair of MXL 990 capacitor mics, as well as an Audiotrak MAYA 1010 audio interface. The MAYA provides 12V of phantom power, and I also have a small mixer with two channels of 48V phantom. The MXL 990 info sheet specifically states:

IMPORTANT - This unit requires phantom power at 48 volts, +/- 4 volts.

I can, of course, steer on the safe side and just use the mixer's preamps, but I know I'm going to use more mics/inputs for a project soon and the MAYA's preamps will come in very handy.

So what I would like to know is: does it matter which preamp I use? More specifically, is there any influence of the phantom voltage on the signal quality or is it merely a matter of "it works or it doesn't"?

Setting up a spoken word studio environment with a Mac

whatevrnvrmind — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 16:49:39 -0800

I have the latest PowerBook G4 and would like to set something up in my home to record spoken word. I'm looking for recommendations on preamps, microphones and maybe software. From what I have read GarageBand can record vocals just fine. Does anyone have any experience they could share on that subject as well? Cost isn't really an issue, but I don't need anything super fancy or complicated.

Need help picking a microphone for recording interviews

MiguelCardoso — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 04:32:47 -0800

I badly need a recommendation for an audio-recording instrument (and directional mike) for print interviews. Many thanks beforehand. [More inside.] I've been doing a series of interviews (of political leaders) and have been terribly hampered by the atrocious quality of the recordings, making accurate transcription impossible. I've used both digital and old microcassete recorders - all useless.

The magazine I work for is willing to invest in a proper recorder (and proper directional mike that will shut off ambient sound). I'm used to working with the old Nagra reliables (the E and the 4.2) but they're very expensive nowadays and I wonder if there's a better alternative.

I don't want or need "atmosphere" (they're printed interviews) - I just want to hear clearly what the interviewees say (and at least understand my own questions and remarks). Radio journalists always need a little "atmosphere" - I don't. At all. I provide the local colour - I have to!

Screwing the cost, does anyone know what options I should consider? As it will be used by other journalists, it needs to be robust (not to say indestructible) and simple to operate. I.e. no need for accurate positioning of the mike.

The interviews are long conversations - not question and answer - and so the transcription needs to have the same fluid format, reproducing the flow, with all its interruptions and interjections. In short, the recording should stick to the two people talking to each other and not miss a "nuance" - as it is often in the hesitations, intonations and inflections that the real substance is to be found.

Politicians - specially during an election campaign - are, of course, not free to say what they want but they do "betray" their messages by frequent "nuances" which indicate their truer feelings. Specially nowadays when they're all instructed and rehearsed to deliver the desired vote-bringing message - even the revolutionary socialists.

I've been to sites like http://www.transom.org and http://www.nagraaudio.com/pro/index.php but, not being technically minded, I'm baffled.

If there are cheap, reliable alternatives, they are also welcome as the main recorder could be used for "front page" interviews and other reporters could have their own, without all the hassle of sharing.

I'm sorry this is such a boring question, but it's important for me and I'd really appreciate some independent advice.

How do I connect a guitar and mic into a MOTO soundcard?

fishfucker — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 10:23:30 -0800

Guitarists and gearheads! I need assistance connecting an electric guitar and a microphone directly into a MOTU 828 soundcard. Here's the situation: parents are away on a week's vacation, and I've got an Ovation Breadwinner Limited solidbody electric (if it matters) whose signal I'd like to get directly into my computer, and hopefully monitor simultaneously. I am planning to add effects realtime via software, and at the moment, I play primarily rhythm -- lots of open chords. Soundcard wise, I'm using the original MOTU 828 (not the Mark II). Everytime I plug directly into the soundcard, the signal 1) doesn't seem to be hot enough (hope I'm using these terms correctly -- when I say hot, I mean the levels on the guitar are SUPER low, even when I use the gain on the soundcard) and 2) seems to lose a lot of top end. I also have a SM57 mic that, when DI'ed into the MOTU is SUPER-BASSY (to the point where anything one might sing/say into it is just about totally unintelligible: total Charlie Brown teacher here) -- this is with the MOTU gain cranked. (i don't think the bassy sound from the mic is due to any sort of feedback -- when I run it through my mackie it sounds semi-reasonable, but again, I'd rather not do that. I'll probably just be headphone monitoring the mic anyways once I get everything properly set.)

I've got a Mackie 1202vlz, but I'd prefer not to run through this board as it would 1) ruin my current synth setup and 2) generate some nice hum.

I'd prefer in price over perfection. If $100 can make a noticeable difference in my sound quality, it's worth it to me. If I have to spend $1000, I'm not interested. I have looked into this before and have heard that the Zvex Super-Hard-On is supposedly the shizz, but if there's a solution that's going to work for my mic *and* my guitar (and potentially an electric bass in the future), that'd be, well, awesome.

So what do I need? a new mixer? pre-amp? Solutions under $200 are key.