If you’re looking for the widest frequency response, least noise, and overall best sound, then the best condenser microphones are what you want. It’s the choice of recording professionals for singers, solo instruments, and spoken voice. To a large degree, that depends on the application, and your budget and personal taste. There are hundreds of …
It would seem like the race to create the ultimate Blogging/Podcasting Microphone to capture these lucrative markets is still in its infancy. I must say, there sure is plenty out there for all budgets to get excited about. I recently reviewed the Samson Technologies Q2U, which I felt was hard to beat for its price …
The iPhone entered our world in 2007 and life hasn’t been the same since. It was ahead of its time and despite Android protestations it still is. It didn’t always have a microphone. As it evolved into an all-singing and dancing communication tool it acquired one. Basic at first, but now quite sophisticated, the mic …
Top 9 Best External Microphones For iPhone in 2023 Read More »
Choosing the Right Condenser Microphone Among all microphone types, condenser models provide the widest frequency response, lowest noise and distortion levels, and the most accurate overall sound. For these and other reasons, they’re the preferred choice for vocalists and solo instruments. And they work well for recording large ensembles, such as orchestras or choirs, as …
Only those in the music recording industry know how important it is to have the right cables in place to ensure the best sound reproduction. Most ‘normies’ don’t get involved in such nuances. But when you work and operate in a professional recording studio environment, everything needs to be perfect. Getting the right audio ports …
Samson Technologies started in 1980 making wireless microphone systems. Today they are an industry leader in both consumer and professional audio. In 2005 Samson Technologies introduced the first professional USB microphones for use by musicians, broadcasters, and podcasters. They have since grown to a worldwide enterprise and industry standard in USB microphone technology in less …
This is a particular kind of mic that has very specific uses. It is not just ‘another mic.’ However, to decide on the Best Boundary Microphones, you need to appreciate what they can do. So how does it work? It is a mic that works by using the variable pressure caused by sound waves. This …
Microphones have come a long way since they first arrived. The first one was invented in 1876, in what can only be described as a rather rudimentary form. They developed gradually, and the first dynamic microphone came in 1931. Before that, though, was the first condenser mic in 1916, while the first ribbon microphones were …
USB mics have grown massively in importance over the last decade. Industries like blogging and vlogging, YouTube commentary, and voiceovers have been made possible by their creation. Of course, their quality is not as high as their Dynamic and Condenser rivals, but they do a job and do it well. However, there are similar problems …
How to Reduce Background Noise on a Blue Snowball Mic? Read More »
Shure was founded in 1925 in Chicago as a manufacturer of parts for radios. It has grown to become one of the most recognized microphone manufacturers in the world. The range of microphones they produce covers the complete spectrum of requirements. From studio to stage, there is a Shure mic that will do the job. …
Ever since what might be termed as the rise of popular music in the late 40s, there has been this quest to make a great microphone. Companies have pushed each other to achieve this, but only a few stand out. Shure is one of those. Can you pick one of the Best Shure microphones? Not …
I was introduced to the Audio-Technica range of microphones in the late 1990s by the legendary engineer and producer Phil Ramone. While working on the George Michael album “Song’s from the Last Century,” Phil Ramone suggested that George try an Audio-Technica microphone on his voice. Finding the right microphone for George always proved quite a …
We’ve got another great article for all you electric guitar players today. Most players I know are constantly looking for their perfect sound. Strings, pickups, picks, amps; you name it, we tried it in various combinations. Once you find the sound that’s just right for you, how do you preserve it? One tool that will …
Top 8 Best Microphones For Recording Electric Guitar 2023 Read More »
Gaming enthusiasts already know how good the HyperX Cloud Alpha gaming headset is. It’s one of the most popular and best gaming headsets in the eyes of the pros. It’s a comfortable fit, features amazing sound quality, and gives you lots of audio options. But sometimes, users complain about the mic not working properly. Are you experiencing …
Are you looking for a way to take your performance skills to the next level? Whether you are a singer, a musician, a comedian, or another type of performer, practice makes perfect. It takes a thousand hours to perfect a skill, and you need to put in the hours to become a professional. Performing at …
The increase in computing power brought new opportunities, both personal and business. But there was one important thing that was lacking. The ability to be able to plug a mic straight into a laptop or computer without using an interface. However, the creation of the USB microphone solved that problem. They are plug-and-play devices, and …
A microphone, on the face of it, seems like a simple thing. It is just a piece of equipment that makes audio signals from sound waves. It might be technical in its process, but you get your mic out of the box and plug it in, and it works. Not quite as simple as that, …
Whether you’re a YouTuber with a drum channel, a teacher, a recording artist, or an audio engineer, I’ll assume you’re probably reading this because you need to mic a drum kit. Let’s also assume you already have some great close mics for the toms, snare and hi-hat, and that all-important kick drum. So what’s left? …
You have probably noticed that some mics will need more gain from a preamp than others to get to the same signal level. Therefore, some mics are more sensitive than others. But, what is microphone sensitivity? Let’s find out… Let’s Look At What Microphone Sensitivity Isn’t The first thing to clear up is that the sensitivity …
There are very few microphones that are specially designed for recording ASMR videos. In fact, nearly any microphone can be used as an ASMR mic, as long as you can whisper into it, that is. But as with everything, some are better than others. So, let’s take an in-depth look at the best ASMR microphones …
Top 8 Best ASMR Microphones for the Money in 2023 Read More »
If you want to establish when speech recognition first appeared, you could argue it was when Thomas Edison created the phonograph in 1877. In reality, if we are talking about speech recognition as we understand it today, it came much later. However, finding the best mics for speech recognition wasn’t an issue until quite recently. …
I am frequently asked, “How Much Do Microphones Cost?” The simple answer to that is anything between a few dollars and time to sell the car. There are probably better questions to ask before you get that far. They might be, ‘What am I going to use it for?’ And, “How much do I want …
Micing up a drumkit is easily one of the most challenging parts of music production. How many mics do you need? Which kinds? Where should you put them for the best results? And don’t even get started on the processing and the mix. However, after years of recording drums with different setups, I can let you …
Not too long ago, professional filmmakers and photographers would have scoffed if you told them you’d be able to make short films with a device that can fit in your pocket and a laptop. Some have put forward that the smartphone should be named the 8th wonder of the world. They are fantastic little things. …
Let’s face it, the majority of our communications are now online. Not only our communications but our entertainment as well. The gaming industry is pretty much 100% online. And one of the most popular online platforms is Discord. However, to get the most out of Discord, you will need a microphone. There are tons of …
With increased computer power and the creation of the first practical DAWs in the 1990s, recording changed forever. Before then, if we wanted to record anything, it had to be done in a recording studio. And that costs money, often a lot of it. Back then, we never dreamed we would be able to do …
Whenever you buy a mixer, a preamp, or even certain microphones, you will have seen the word ‘Gain’ written on it. It is a strange control that often does not have any numbers or level indicators. So what is microphone gain, and how does it affect mic signals? The gain control is an electrical circuit …
What Is Microphone Gain And How Does It Affect Mic Signals? Read More »
Selecting the right polar pattern always needs to be taken into account when choosing the best microphone for your needs. You need to consider how you want the mic to pick up the sound, and very importantly, where the mic is going to be used? Microphones are often designed with a specific purpose in mind. …
As technology has advanced, it has brought with it new possibilities. And from these has emerged a whole new industry. In the good old days, the only people you heard commenting on news or current affairs were news broadcasters. But all that has changed. Now we have news, opinions, current affairs, travel blogs, personal blogs, …
Wherever you are, if you are using a mic, there will be the risk of some background noise. And that applies if you are using mics for vocals, drums, guitars, an orchestra, or just some outside recording for a vlog or Youtube channel. And it can easily end up being a big problem. Therefore, you …
There’s not much you can say about the Neumann U87 microphone that hasn’t already been said. Often referred to as the holy grail of mics, it is found in every major studio in the world. And you have heard it on countless recordings; in fact, it is estimated that more number one chart hit vocals …
For those who have been around music and recording for more years than we wish to remember, things have changed. They have changed beyond what we could ever have imagined. Now, we have computers with mics that directly plugin for recording at a decent quality. One of those mics is made by a company called …
Have you ever wondered why your voice sounds so horrible on the headset that came with your smartphone? You may think it’s because the mic on the headset is crummy. Sure, it probably is, but that’s not the whole story. Bob Dylan recorded multiple albums way before smartphones came along. Yet, he sounds better than …
Here is something that is going to ruffle a few feathers in some quarters. Whether you love it or whether you think it’s a musical con, the facility of Auto-Tune is here. And it isn’t going anywhere. Auto-Tune is not a new trick. It’s been around for quite a while, since 1997. On vocals, I …
Here is an interesting topic, but I will need to lay down some parameters before I begin. First off, what exactly do I mean when I say the best vintage microphones? Well, many of the microphones that could be considered ‘the best’ are no longer available. Microphones go back a long way, and many have …
