Blog
True love for great sound unites us.
Blog How-To How to improve your microphone quality with 5 easy steps
Feb 24, 2022 • 7 min read
Thomas K. TobiasI like words.
Your microphone sound is not quite there?
In this blog, you’ll learn 5easy things that will improve your overall microphone and recording quality. You’ll hear the difference right away, and they are super easy to implement.
Check out our blog "How to improve video chat audio", if you are not using an external microphone at all.
Let’s get started.
1. Upgrade to XLR
You are using the microphone from your notebooks and wonder why you don't sound like your favorite streamer or musician. Well, nothing beats an XLR microphone for professional recording. These studio-quality microphones capture most things you listen to—music, podcasts, news, movie scores, and ads. Andyou don't need to spend thousands of dollars on professional-quality equipment.
If you are an audio aficionado, consider buying an XLR microphone and an audio interfaceand close the chapter.
Get this to upgrade to studio quality
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Recording
- Streaming
- Vocals, spoken word
- Acoustic instruments
- Amplifier
Compare Find dealer
2. Learn how to use your microphone
Music videos tell us we should be as close to the mic as possible. BUT there’s one thing to consider if you’re aiming for better intelligibility and higher clarity.
For best results, keep the right distance to your mic.Usually, that’s between 15-30 cm (6-10 in).
Mind the plosives
Always use a pop filter for vocal recordings. Plus, the proper distance helps to reduce plosives. Plosives occur when someone inexperienced is using a mic and talks about a certain Peter Piper who picked a peck of pickled peppers. Repeat the sentence while holding your hand in front of your mouth and you'll know what a plosive is - a powerful burst of air.
What happens if you'retoo close?
Between 15-30 cm (6-10 in), you’ll get a natural sound. Increase the distance and your voice will sound thinner.When you get closer, yourvoice sounds fuller but less precise.
Btw, the fullness or bass boost comes from the so-called proximity effect.
Also, try to keep the distance to your microphoneconsistent (!), and try to avoid moving around too much while recording.
More freedom with RAY
If that sounds too restricting, there is a special microphone that solves this particular problem. We have developed a microphone with autofocus for your voice. It measures the distance from the microphone and adjusts the tone and level of your voice automatically. Check out more about RAY and the autofocus feature on the product page.
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Autofocus for your voice
- MUTE by Distance
- MUTE button
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Autofocus for your voice
- MUTE by Distance
- MUTE button
- Recording
- Streaming
- Vocals, spoken word
Compare Find dealer
3. Set the gain in the right way
“I can’t hear myself. I probably need to crank the gain on my audio interface.” Meh, maybe you're wrong.
Cranking the gain too much may lead to clipping (digital distortion), makingyour recordings basically useless. Plus, usually the gain level is not a problem (unless you use certain low output dynamic microphones).
Check your headphone output first before you crank the gain.
After checking your headphone output, set the microphone gain.
Here’s how you set the gain correctly.
- Create an audio track in your DAW.
- Turn on the monitoring function and sing or speak the loudest part you want to record.
- Turn up the gain in your computer settings or on your audio interfaceandset your gain so that the louder parts hit around -10 to 12 dB LUFS. Learn more about gain staging.
- If that sounds too complicated, make sure that the input level meter on your audio interface stays in the green zone (find the exact figures in the manual).
- If it is not loud enough, remember to check your headphone output.If for some reason the headphone output is already cranked to the max, only then you might want to boost the output of your DAW.
Autosetup sets the gain for you
A few modern interfaces have made it very easy to set the perfect gain levels. Our two audio interfaces have Autosetup features and many additional useful functions to get the perfect sound. Check them out!
- Streaming
- Recording
4. Consider your room and your recording environment
Before you hit record, always check for background noise. This can becomputer fans, an annoying sibling, whatever disturbing sound you can remove, the better and cleaner your recordings will be.
The room you’re recording in heavily influences the quality of your recordings.
A microphone records everything it can, also your room and everything that’s in there.
If you’re recording vocals or instruments at home, aim for a dry sound. Dry refers to the influence of your room or how audible your room is on the recording. Snap your fingers or clap your hands to hear the reverb of your room. The shorter it takes to ringout, the drier it is.
A dry recording has many advantages:
- Your voice or instrument will sound more direct
- Your overall recording quality will improve
- You can later apply reverb (room sound) or any other effectsmore effectively
There are different options to achieve a dry sound at home.
- Keep the optimal distance to your mic.
- Look for a room with furniture, bookshelves, etc. (absorptive)
- Sing or play in the direction of an absorptive material rather than an empty wall
Check out our blog aboutacoustic treatment for recording and mixing.
5. Use the polar pattern (directivity) of the microphone to your advantage.
Even if your mic position options (or room options) are limited — you can use the directivity of your microphone to your advantage.
Most XLR and USB microphones come with a cardioid polar pattern.You cannot go wrong using cardioid for most recording applications.
A cardioid pattern is sensitive to sound coming from the front and is less sensitive to sound coming from the back of the mic.
It is easy to get a dry signal with a cardioid pattern. Everything behindthe microphone will be dampened, e.g. a noisy fan from our computer, so make sure you use your microphone position to your advantage.
By the way, if something seems strange, always check if you’re speaking into the right side of the microphone. With some models, it is often not clear where the capsule you need to talk into is located. Best to check in the manual.
6. Use plugins to improve your voice, like EQ and compression
Once you make sure your recordings will sound as clean as possible, you can refine them with fantastic effects after recording.
Compressor
A compressor reduces the dynamic range of a signal fora more consistent listening experience.The quietest parts of your signal will appear louder by reducingthe loudest parts.
Starter settings for a classic vocal sound: 4:1 ratio, 80 ms attack, 20 ms release - adjust the rest according to your input gain. Just screen the presets until you find something you like. Trust your ears.
EQ
An EQ boosts or cuts specific recording frequencies to tweak your sound according to your preferences.
You can use an EQ to shape the sound of your recording and give it more presence, more clarity. Here's a great video on YouTube with an interestingtake on EQing
Reverb
A reverb adds space to your recording ranging from subtle to extreme.
If your vocal recording sounds too dry, it can sound weird, especially in a musical context. Add reverb to create the feeling of space and dimension. Again, try some presets first and tweak the parameters to your liking. But be aware, too much reverb makes your voice sound weak, and also intelligibility of your lyrics or speech will suffer.
If you want to start recording guitar, check out our blog "How to record electric guitar at home"or "How to record acoustic guitar".
We can support you
If you have any problems getting your microphonesound right, contact us via email or via our social media channels. We'll be glad to support you.
Our bestselling microphones
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Recording
- Streaming
- Vocals, spoken word
- Acoustic instruments
- Amplifier
Compare Find dealer
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Recording
- Streaming
- Vocals, spoken word
- Acoustic instruments
- Amplifier
Compare Find dealer
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Low-cut
- PAD
- Perfect match technology
- Condenser
- Cardioid
- Low-cut
- PAD
- Perfect match technology
- Recording
- Streaming
- Vocals, spoken word
- Acoustic instruments
- Choir
Compare Find dealer
- Condenser
- Multi-pattern
- Seamless polar pattern
- PAD
- Low-cut
- Dual output mode
- Perfect match technology
- Condenser
- Multi-pattern
- Seamless polar pattern
- PAD
- Low-cut
- Stereo
- Perfect match technology
- Dual output mode
- Cardioid
- Supercardioid
- Wide Cardioid
- Omni
- Figure of 8
- Recording
- Vocals, spoken word
- Acoustic instruments
- Drums & percussion
- Amplifier
- Choir
- Bass
Compare Find dealer
Written by
Thomas K. TobiasI like words. Hi, my name is Thomas, and I lead the content team.I like words, sonext to managing the team, I loveto create scripts for videos, blogs, product pages, ads, poems, cool slogans, andfarewell card texts. I enjoy psychedelic jam sessions but only feel at home playing in Dorian mode.
Drop me a messsage
- Related stories
Microphone polar patterns What is gain staging? 5 easy ways to improve your audio recordings at home.
Related stories
by Thomas K. Tobias • 4 min read
by Brian Fisher • 5 min read
by Thomas K. Tobias • 5 min read
2 years LEWITT
guarantee
30 day money-
back guarantee
Delivered from
Austria
Safe & Secure
payment
Your preferred
payment method
Compare
Remove all
Buy from our partners