Audio Gear Microphone Advice?

[Chrissie]

Ive been told several times to change the external mic for my videos.

But I'm not sure what to get?

Some people have said to get the Yeti microphones, but I'm sure these are for computers. I need one for my recordings. The video camera I use is the latest Sony ZV-1. I have bought an external mic and connected it to the camera shoe. However when i'm editing a video the audio can be clear, and then grainy, and then sound like my voice is echoing off the walls so it is not a consistent through range of audio. I try to edit the sound as best as I can in Davinci Resolve.

So what would everyone recommend. I don't want cheap, but I don't have buckets of money. So a mid range mic...?

 

[SILTHW]

Moving to the Gear Discussions board.

If you want to improve the on-camera mic, you have two choices - a shotgun mic or a lav mic. For shotgun, look at Deity or RODE. They come in many price points. I recommend the RODE VideoMic NTG or the Deity D-3 if they are in your target price range.

Lav can be wired or wireless. I think the option people often overlook is getting a decent LAV with an extension cable and connecting it directly to the camera. This is a very inexpensive option and significantly improves quality. The next option is to go wireless. I don't have a hard recommendation here, but both RODE and Sennheiser make simple wireless LAV setups for single users.

 

[Sofie Sagacitas]

am using a conference microphone, record the whole room actually
was also a little cheap, but for now am glad with it

 

[Pete A Turner]

Ive been told several times to change the external mic for my videos.

But I'm not sure what to get?

Some people have said to get the Yeti microphones, but I'm sure these are for computers. I need one for my recordings. The video camera I use is the latest Sony ZV-1. I have bought an external mic and connected it to the camera shoe. However when i'm editing a video the audio can be clear, and then grainy, and then sound like my voice is echoing off the walls so it is not a consistent through range of audio. I try to edit the sound as best as I can in Davinci Resolve.

So what would everyone recommend. I don't want cheap, but I don't have buckets of money. So a mid range mic...?

You should improve your sound...this always means more time, more money...but it's inevitable. Yeti's are decent serviceable mics. Rode makes decent mics as well. I always suggest using a headset mic. Here's why...you want the best sound you can get each time. A headset allows you, and any guests to move around without thinking about working your mic. I use Shure SM35s and they sound great. Another benefit to the SM35...it listens to you, not the echos etc. The Shure SM7B is always a winner...you cannot go wrong with it.

If you're editing video...you should also edit sound. You must run compression etc to get the sound quality you want. There are a few other notes on this...but the bottom line is this. A great mic is affordable. A great mic worked poorly will sound terrible.

I'm glad to chat to get you more specific advice. Don't follow the pack on sound...get the set up that works for you. It's do able...and it doesn't have to be expensive.

 

[Chrissie]

Thanks for all your help guys. S

 

[Pete A Turner]

what did you decide? did it work?

 

[Chrissie]

No I don't know what to get for my zv-1 . Can I use a blue yeti mic for the camera ?

 

[Pete A Turner]

No I don't know what to get for my zv-1 . Can I use a blue yeti mic for the camera?

If you're asking me...don't get a yeti or rode products. They have good mics...but you need to understand the best mic for your situation. It doesn't take a LOT of money on mics to get something that will do the job...but know the limitations of the mic and what it's designed to do. I like Shure mics. I have a lav, a SM7B, and SM35 headsets. for what I do, I can find a solution to most problems with these mics. If you're in a room that's giving you too much bounce, echo, background noise you need a mic that is focused on your mouth...(that's NOT a Yeti)

Reach out on Sweetwater...nobody does this better than they do. They want you to succeed and know more about mics than you do--lean hard on these folks and they will help you fix your sound. Don't ask for a brand...ask for the mic that is the best compromise for your situation.

 

[Chrissie]

It's very difficult my channel overall doesn't get any attention so would getting better audio really make a difference ?

 

[liftoffvideo]

Hi Chrissie,

Obv question, what's your budget?

Under $50 USD:

Lavalier: Boya by-m1 amazon choice $14.95 SALE price now, cable is 20 feet long so can plug into to camera and move around if required.
Shotgun: Takstar SGC-598 amazon choice $22 SALE price now SALE price now

If you have a larger budget then look at some of the more expensive microphones mentioned.

Hope this helps, Patrick

 

[Pete A Turner]

Hi Chrissie,

Obv question, what's your budget?

Under $50 USD:

Lavalier: Boya by-m1 amazon choice $14.95 SALE price now, cable is 20 feet long so can plug into to camera and move around if required.
Shotgun: Takstar SGC-598 amazon choice $22 SALE price now SALE price now

If you have a larger budget then look at some of the more expensive microphones mentioned.

Hope this helps, Patrick

I think getting a mic that works, even an inexpensive one is often the best way to go...don't let a mic hold you back from creating. However, sound is important...if not this project the next one or the one after that. Something to consider...If you spend a bit more on a mic...something that you can grow into, you won't have to worry about mic'ing for a while.

I'd like to add this about Lav mics...get an inexpensive one to start, using it to learn how lavs behave in your space-is smart. Lavs are incredible in the correct setting...it could be you have to modify your space to make a lav work (ie spend money) OR it could be, again, getting a better mic is actually the best path. This btw is normal...we all drive ourselves crazy trying to sort out the next piece of gear.

 

[Drscottbland]

IΓÇÖd like to second what pete is saying that knowing the type of mic and the settings is actually more important than brand. I bought a yeti blind but it was probably the wrong call for my living situation. That thing picks up EVERYTHING. Literally everything. Not ideal in a loud apartment

 

[Pete A Turner]

IΓÇÖd like to second what pete is saying that knowing the type of mic and the settings is actually more important than brand. I bought a yeti blind but it was probably the wrong call for my living situation. That thing picks up EVERYTHING. Literally everything. Not ideal in a loud apartment

Smart advice here...

 

[BensTechLab]

@Chrissie, There's a lot of chat here about mics, but not much about how you use it! I've heard YouTube videos with a $1000 Sennheiser MKH416 that sounded TERRIBLE - because the room was empty, concrete floor and mic far away from the presenter.

Rule #1 - Get the mic as close to your mouth as you can without it interfering with your shot. There are all sorts of boom arms (Rode PSA1) and C-Stands and other arms to rig it up for you. If you don't have the space or don't want to rig up something to hold the mic closer to you than the camera is.... then use a Lav mic, its easier (it will be closer to your mouth and get better audio because of that). However, if you are willing to rig up something to hold your mic a good condenser mic boomed overhead will sound better than any Lav mic.

Rule #2 - If your room is echoey, you can add soft stuff to the room to dampen the echo. Professional audio absorbing panels are nice, but pricey. Regular Ikea area rugs, curtains, couches, pillows and blankets also work! They don't have to be in the shot either. You could hang a blank behind your camera to try and soften up the echo off the wall that you are speaking into. Get creative. If you're floor is a hard floor, buy an area rug. I saw one YouTuber here on TubeBuddy who took their childlrens mattresses off their bed to thrown in the corner of their office, behind camera, when filming! Basically free!

Do the above first, THEN buy a more expensive mic. But I know lots of very successful YouTuber's that have mics well under $100. I personally use the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro which is not under a $100, but was the best to cover a lot of possibly uses for myself (indoors and outdoors, fixed in office, plus mobile on camera).

 

[tthayer]

I use the Rode Video Mic Pro + and the rode lavalier go for use with my wireless DJI Pocket 2 connection. The sound is clean and I have to do very little cleanup on it.

 

[Randomlifestylevlog]

We use a Rode Video Mic Go for our Canon M50 but if you are at a desk recording audio on a live stream there are loads. Ive seen many Youtubers using the Shure Sm7b.

 

[eljthejod]

Ive been told several times to change the external mic for my videos.

But I'm not sure what to get?

Some people have said to get the Yeti microphones, but I'm sure these are for computers. I need one for my recordings. The video camera I use is the latest Sony ZV-1. I have bought an external mic and connected it to the camera shoe. However, when I'm editing a video the audio can be clear, and then grainy, and then sound like my voice is echoing off the walls so it is not consistent through range of audio. I try to edit the sound as best as I can in Davinci Resolve.

So what would everyone recommend? I don't want cheap, but I don't have buckets of money. So a mid-range mic...?

A razer seiren mini is one of the easiest options to recommend. it has already well balanced out of the box as well as having inbuilt shock mount and its only 50 bucks.Waaay way better than the snowball. Alpha Gaming channel has a very good review on it.

 

[eljthejod]

@Chrissie, There's a lot of chat here about mics, but not much about how you use it! I've heard YouTube videos with a $1000 Sennheiser MKH416 that sounded TERRIBLE - because the room was empty, concrete floor and mic far away from the presenter.

Rule #1 - Get the mic as close to your mouth as you can without it interfering with your shot. There are all sorts of boom arms (Rode PSA1) and C-Stands and other arms to rig it up for you. If you don't have the space or don't want to rig up something to hold the mic closer to you than the camera is.... then use a Lav mic, its easier (it will be closer to your mouth and get better audio because of that). However, if you are willing to rig up something to hold your mic a good condenser mic boomed overhead will sound better than any Lav mic.

Rule #2 - If your room is echoey, you can add soft stuff to the room to dampen the echo. Professional audio absorbing panels are nice, but pricey. Regular Ikea area rugs, curtains, couches, pillows and blankets also work! They don't have to be in the shot either. You could hang a blank behind your camera to try and soften up the echo off the wall that you are speaking into. Get creative. If you're floor is a hard floor, buy an area rug. I saw one YouTuber here on TubeBuddy who took their childlrens mattresses off their bed to thrown in the corner of their office, behind camera, when filming! Basically free!

Do the above first, THEN buy a more expensive mic. But I know lots of very successful YouTuber's that have mics well under $100. I personally use the Deity V-Mic D3 Pro which is not under a $100, but was the best to cover a lot of possibly uses for myself (indoors and outdoors, fixed in office, plus mobile on camera).

I second this. Having a "perfect mic" regardless of its price and or brand will be completely pointless if the recording room isn't well treated and or the mic is not an a boom arm. The mattress idea really works perfectly.

 

[eljthejod]

It's very difficult my channel overall doesn't get any attention so would getting better audio really make a difference?

not necessarily but I would highly recommend it. Not a very expensive one though. A good inexpensive one, like a razer seiren mini for 50 bucks. The moment someone stumbles upon your channel they will appreciate it, A LOT.
That being said, I remember fans of H20 delirious asking him to return to his older bad mic as they missed it or something.
PS; I am not a razer sales person.

 

[Doug B]

I was on the waiting list for the Rode Go2 and just got shipping confirmation. Yay! This will be for my ZV-1.

 

[Toxic Sugar]

How far away are you from your mic?
I personally like my Rode shotgun mic, but I recently purchased the Rode Wireless Go so I can do some decent sound when I go to CES next year.

If you're not too far away from your mic, then I would suggest to go with a shotgun. Just be careful when ordering from places like Amazon. Amazon is chock full of counterfeit products (i've unknowingly purchased counterfeit items before from there!) so if you're going to make an investment into sound equipment, I'd strongly suggest against buying through Amazon, unless it's the actual company's Amazon shop.

Also, try not to go too cheap with your mic. Several years ago, I learned this the hard way...

You can find Rode shotguns second hand for under $50 if you wanted to try it out without fully committing to a new one.