How to get quality audio?

  • Thread starter Thread starter scifiw
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scifiw

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Hi,

How can I record good quality audio? I'd like to record narrations for my videos, but I always have a little room sound on the audio.

I'm using Audio-Technica AT2020 USB microphone, I've got pop filter, and I also have a portable vocal booth. I use Adobe audition to record the audio. So I guess I should be able to record a relatively good sound quality. I'm aiming for an audio quality you can hear in those lynda.com videos.

Any suggestion is appreciated.
 
Forgive me as this stands the risk of derailing the hell out of this thread, what kind of vocal booth is it? Welcome to the board.:facepalm:
 
I'm thinkin that the USB mic is gonna be noisy.

Just guessin but that seems like a weak link in the chain.
 
I bet the folks at lynda.com use a high grade interface (probably what is recommended mostly on the board) and a good quality mic suitable for vocal work.

Not sure about the mic, but usually an interface (USB/Firewire) with phantom power (Presonus, Steinberg, Focusrite), and higher grade for audio capture. Mics, I am sure there are others here who can probably guide you better than I could on a good voice over mic.

One thing to note OP, just because it is web content, don't under estimate the studio quality of their gear. They are professionals.
 
My recent but very time limited experience with a USB mic has shown me that they are not as bad as I was expecting and that AT mic is surely going to be better than the 40quid model I am playing with?

Noise is relative. Yes, if you were reading a book you would need a very low noise floor and a USB mic is unlikely to cut it. But I listened to the intro video of Lynda.com and there was constant (and I thought rather irritating!) background muzak so mic amp hiss would be masked. The lady was also not by any means in a dry acoustic. I am also not sure that the lipsync was spot on so the whole thing could have been post dubbed?

Room effect can be tamed by heavy absorbent materials on frames which can be made of wood or push together 1.1/4" water pipe. You need one behind the mic (in front of you) and one behind you to stop room sound coming back into the mic's front. These need to be at least 2 feet above the mic and yourself. Favourite material for the home jockey is blankets and duvets.

None of this however will stop "noises off" . These can only be beaten by recording at unsocial hours and editing. Fortunately, editing is the prime purpose of AA!

Dave.
 
A $99 usb mic has 2 components in it:
A $40 mic and a $40 audio interface.

USB mics are for podcasting, not music production.
 
arcaxis said:
Another USB mic bashing thread :facepalm: ? Rather than bash a mic that might work OK for the intended application (or even singing), how about focusing on good vocal and mic technique, possibly a bit of room treatment, and getting the audio signal into the DAW at correct levels. There's been on this forum people that have bought good XLR mics and interfaces on recommendations from members here and then found themselves with no better quality than someone using a cheap USB mic because they simply lacked the skills to use it correctly. Not going to say a USB is going to be great, but if that's what someones budget would allow for an entry level setup, why not cut some slack and help instead trying to discourage someone from trying to use what they could afford. This is HomeRecording, not GS.

In another thread I wanted to try something for myself after a couple of threads dissing Line inputs on computers. I felt I got a reasonable recording for what it was. Soundcard Line inputs have $0.30 worth of parts and aren't worth a crap, right?
https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...niques/$50-mic-$60-mixer-line-desktop-371294/


Some AT2020USB examples...
Creating crisp Vocals - Adobe Audition CS6 Vocal Editing Tutorial - YouTube
Audio-Technica Basic Recording Techniques -- Voice Over Overview | Full Compass - YouTube
Sound Check: Audio Technica AT2020USB Studio Condenser Microphone Demo (HD) - YouTube
Click to expand...

I agree with all of this.
Post up an audio sample of what you're recording. If we can HEAR what you've got now, we can tell you what's likely to be the biggest source of problems for you.
 
"A $99 usb mic has 2 components in it:"
Now, c'mon Tim! Got be at least...
Capacitor cell, impedance converter/amp* A/D converter, PCB, USB socket.

*Might even be a DC-DC converter to get USB 5V up a bit?

I am not defending USB mics by any means and certainly think peeps should get a UR22 and decent SDC but we must be fair!

Oh! And my super cheapy Pro Sound also has a volume pot and, wait for it!........ A signal LED!

Dave.
 
We get lots of topics talking about room effect, noise and other problems but I wonder if these terms have become so common that they get applied to what are really mic technique problems. I wonder how many people speak into the rear of the mic, or even don't realise the mic is a side fire instead of end fire? Others simply miss the mouth. All these mistakes might be understood as room effect. What always mystifies me is that putting on a pair of headphones and moving the mic around usually sorts out the problem, or at least lets you tell what the problem actually is. I occasionally record in a venue where because if the building's shape, there is a kind if black hole. If you put a mic in this position which is roughly head height dead centre and about two feet in diameter, it is totally dead. The room sound totally vanishes! If you speak, you find it difficult to hear yourself. Once you know what is causing it you can move forwards or backwards just a bit and the sound suddenly changes back to normal. I wonder how people would describe this in words? "My microphone didn't work properly last night?"
 
All good points Rob,
but headphone monitoring might be difficult for the noob to set up* with a USB mic. He/she will first have to navigate the DAW/Windows settings and then probably find the latency is so high they go mad!

Might be moot here to say that getting a good result when micc'ing a gitamp is easier using cans. And noobs? Always buy "closed back" headphones. The open backed type are better ultimate quality but are bog useless for much else but listening!

*I shall have a dabble with my HP lappy in a bit....

Dave.
 
Heh!
Managed to get a echo on the recording! Done in Audacity since I reasoned that would be a good "noob fit"?

No matter. I could not see any easy way to get playback latency anything like low enough for sensible monitoring.

The MP3 clip is HPF'ed at 160Hz (Samplitude para'eq_) because the mic gives a spike at 100Hz and steeply rising LF "noise" below that, down to DC?

Apart from that I think the quality is not 1/2 bad for 40quid all up? Noise is on a par with a decent (but not Nakawhotsit) cassette machine.

Dave.
 

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