It's hard not to comment on your videos. They are so good, each one of them. You have truly cracked the code of quality content. I'm 15 seconds in and I already have a solid overview, no nonsense no time wasting. It's pure, relevant information flow. Thanks Curtis, I hope you are doing well.
"It doesn't have to be pro.". So true. But what we can see in your videos (and some other ones, of course) is the way you respect your audience. We can see the investment and the input you dedicate to your videos, whether long or short, in-depth or global. And this is what matters : respecting the audience. This is what I learnt in my first years acting, no matter what you must perform because they came and pay for this. Here, it's the same. And we can easily see who doesn't care and press record without much attention to the final "product". We have to thank you for that constant (extra) dedication Curtis, and I do.
Curtis. Thank you so much for all the videos. All super helpful and straightforward… and for going the extra mile in this one by wearing a sound blanket!
Excellent info on audio. It seems that audio is the "make it or break it" half of audio/video projects. It'll draw the crowd in or drive them away. Get this right and they'll be much more likely to be sticking around to view what you're presenting. Thanks for the pointers Curtis.
i bought a Audio-Technica AT4053B last year just from watching your video on mics, over and over. Also bought a slightly used 416 a while ago for $800, but i now realize i can't use it indoors because of the rear node picks up reverb from a standard low 8' interior ceiling. It was not an easy decision for the 4053. Once i bench-tested it, i was amazed. I never imagined it would sound so good. Up until this point, i was strictly a lav guy. Now, i want to disregard all my lavs. Mic proximity was my mantra. Now, i see why so many interviews (60 Minutes, etc.) use a dialog mic on a boom pole, and the lav, if there is one, is probably hidden as a back up. Trying to imagine what i'd do if i had two people in an interview; I'd have to buy another 4053. The 4053 was not an intuitive decision, which is why it took so long for me to pull the trigger. Now, i actually feel more confident that my dialog will be superior, together with proper mic'ing technique. Looking at this now from months of video viewing and study of books and articles, it recently dawned on my that this is not rocket science. You just have to do what you're told by the professionals and don't try to mess around with stupid stuff. Take time to do the proper set up, perhaps experiment with different mics if needed, and check your work before you call "action." Sometimes beginners miss the whole point of conveying information from person to person through the medium of video, talking heads or interviews. Unless you're into reading lips, the dialog is the whole story. Absent dialog, you're looking at pretty pictures at best. Couple of other things that are basic: 1. Wear cans and listen carefully to the audio, especially for things you're not expecting and from sources you don't see in the frame. Be aware of the ambience all around you. 2. Also, be sure to record at least 30 seconds of "room tone" for later patching in post. You've helped me immensely. Many thanks.
I love love love my AT 4053b. Others must love it as well, because someone stole mine, as well as a lot of other gear. I guess we just think everyone on set is kind, caring, and honest. Sadly, that is not true.
Great video, Curtis! This was very helpful as a small creator trying to learn more about sound! Looks like I'm guilty of some of these mistakes myself 😅 Would love to see a complete guide from you on how to process the audio inside FCPX, how to normalize, and compress it, levels, etc. I'm even down for buying a guide from you or something like that 😂 Keep up the incredible work, cheers! 🙌🏼
Superb video, thanks again Curtis. I’ve learned many of these techniques from snippets of your other videos but to have it all summarised like this in a convenient video is great. This is my new goto that I’ll be pointing people towards when starting with audio.
I am a Korean user. I'm watching it with subtitles. Your videos are always comfortable and good. Even for sleeping. After worrying while setting up Vlog RUclips, for zoom f3, tentacle track e, sync, and recording specific sounds, JOSEPHSON C42 (not much known, but looking forward to it. Shipping) And we are also preparing for streaming. Thank you so much for the information as always. Also, please ask for more diverse content such as an appropriate SD card for field recorders, auxiliary batteries, and high-end xlr cables. thank you. with google translate
Oh, and giving up ultra sync is because I think mobility is very important for vloggers, so I decided to choose a tentacle to sync quickly with my cell phone while just connecting, and this felt very advantageous. I haven't actually done it yet (equipment delivery), but as a result of watching the video and learning, it is judged that the mobility will be a little less because everything is connected with ultra sync (camera, body microphone, field zoom f3). track E is going to be used by purchasing the izotope element plug-in and simply editing it. I haven't tested it yet, but I hope it comes out useful.
Well I wasn't expecting I love you. I mean you clearly do by answering all of what must feel like an avalanche of questions in the comments. Come on people show Curtis some love. Click those affiliate links and buy his courses!
Thanks, going to reference this and take time to read up on each item. The thing that gets me the most is your mention of excessively loud background music as well as when they switch from dialog to music where it's a vast difference. I do wonder if they have their computers set to automatically adjust the audio and don't realize it... There's a problem when I have to adjust my headphone volume throughout a video. 😅
Hot tip for your freezer that I use with my fridge when I'm recording. You can get a smart plug for it and instead of unplugging it, you can shut it off with your phone and also set it to turn back on with a timer. So even if you forget it'll come back on before it gets too warm inside.
I don't have a huge budget or a lot of room to build a dedicated room for doing voice overs but need to do some voice recording now and then. What I have been doing is that I bought a bunch of sawn wooden square planks at about 5ft 9 in length. I am going to use those to build a frame for a sound booth. I am going to screw it together so I can take it down when not in use as I don't have the space for a permanently built one. As it is that height, I'll have to sit when doing voice recordings. I was unable to get any longer planks that would ship to my location, so had to make do or might have built it a little taller so I could stand while doing the recordings. To cover the sides and top of the booth, I bought 4 acoustic blankets and 4 large acoustic foam panels which are 2 inch thick per panel, which I might place behind me and behind where the microphone will be pointing away from. I can just use this for as long as I need it and take it down again until the next time and put it back up again.
Thanks for this Curtis. I've just started making videos and am aware I don't have the right equipment yet. I have a new microphone (lavaliere) with audio recorder arriving today so am looking forward to trying those out. I'll be recording in wind much of the time so hope what I've ordered will suffice when it comes to maintaining quality in windy conditions.
These are great tips! One more I would add what I see a lot of RUclipsrs do is rely on too many plugins. Try and get it live and not hack it in post. Otherwise you risk sounding all weird and distorted or your voice loose character / soul and just sound like everyone else 🙏
Most videos like this would have so much verbal padding, because everyone is so afraid of people clicking off. You on the other hand list the topics (and basically the core information) right at the start. The irony? I watch these videos till the end, because 1) I know it's relevant; 2) Now that you have given out the basics, I know the rest of the video will contain useful tips I don't want to miss.
Thx Curtis for the Vid, i Got it pretty much nailed, but often (evrytime) struggle with levels.... I have to use a program for this. LUFS, loudness, Volume.... Can't seem to figur that out properly. But hey!, I love you to man ❤️, I think this is the first time you've ever said dat... So thank you.... Hahah, greetings from the cold Copenhagen in Denmark
Great summation, Curtis. I've been trying to integrate these into my productions for some time, with plenty of your tutorials helping along the way. I've made a particular effort the last few months, especially when it comes to final normalization for RUclips. Room treatment continues to be a challenge. I did make some acoustic panels 3 years ago, but I think blankets are more adaptable -- my next investment. Now if I could just get the blasting and construction in neighbourhood to stop! 😀
A great tip I heard and use a lot when on locations, if you need to turn off/unplug a Refridgerator or Freezer, put your car keys inside it, that way when you got to leave the location if you forget to plug it back in youll soon be reminded when you can't get into your car. Saves an angry client or location.
Oh, we love you, too. My main problem is (living in an efficiency apartment) is that the neighbor’s dog starts barking loudly every time someone walks by her door. And since it is a long hallway, people walk by a lot. They also like to stop and chat, often right outside my door. By the way, after your recent video I did buy the RE20. I also bought an EVO16 and a rack. Amazing how much background noise I heard on a channel I subscribe to listening to it through the EVO16 and my Sennheiser HD 280 pro headphones. His channel has always had background noise, such as his dog trying to get his attention, but with the EVO16 I also heard a baby cry, as well as every time he was clearing his nose and other sounds I had never noticed before. That said, to me the worst thing many RUclipsrs do is not about sound, but about a ridiculously lit green screen with some random photograph in the background and parts of their hair randomly appearing and disappearing because the green reflects from the green screen and forms a green halo around their hair and it changes as they move their heads. To top it off, the light in the photo does not match the light in the video, and all that because most people don’t have a clue how to light a green screen and how to light themselves in front of it.
Curtis, I am looking for a shotgun mic with these two high on my list, Sennheiser MKE 600 and Rode NTG-5. Is the NTG-5 significantly better? I would appreciate any light you can shine to help with my decision. Primarily (maybe exclusively) attached to Zoom F3. Camera is Canon 5D IV. Mostly for stationary talking head video in a mostly quiet carpeted room while attached to a microphone arm or similar. Occasionally mounted on camera to record interviews at small events with many people talking all around (i.e. lots of background noise/chatter.) Occasional use outdoors to record various sounds.
Here's my current favorite approach to the Shure SM7B. Use the fat windsock. Set up the mic level, and level with your mouth, so that you speak into the axis of the mic. Position your lips 2 fingers away from the foam. Speak at an ever-so-slightly-forceful conversational volume. And follow the other directions in the video (other than distance). If you are not worried about the visual aspect of the mic placement, this arrangement gives the richest signal, with the best signal-to-noise ratio. Move closer, and you start getting a little wind noise in the sock, and proximity effect (for my low voice) becomes a bit much. Move farther way, and the signal-to-noise starts to fall, but the proximity effect becomes less boomy. The arrangement I described is a very nice balance point of the many factors.
My study walls are lined with thousands of books, it's a great acoustic environment but it also has noisy equipment racks. My new studio sounds terrible by comparison, even with quilts and heavy blankets on the walls. Perhaps I should move all the bookshelves to the studio...
Hello curtis , thanks for the video, Iam searching for lav mic to use with rode wireless go 2 , I tried sure and rode lav but I want bright and loud voice, is rode lav 2 is bitter ? or any other bitter mics?
From a cinematic point of view, when the microphone is close to the person, is the microphone pointing 90° perpendicular to the ground (or pointing at the ground in other words) or is it pointing at the person's mouth?
@Curtis I know we can do loudness normalisation in post. But what if we're doing live streaming or Zoom Meeting, we need to turn up the gain much higher right? But I notice when I turn the gain up I start hearing ambient noise if I set it to a level where people from the other side can hear me. I use the MKH50 and the Audient ID4 Mark II interface. Is there a way for me or is there a standard practice when people add digital gain to their microphones?
Good video and advice as always Curtis, thanks mate. On a related subject, treating one’s room to block out unwanted sound…I use a dynamic mic (for narration) and to be honest, unless there’s a cop car speeding past outside or something, I cant hear any noise at all. Should I still soundproof my recording area regardless? Also, mic isolation shields…gimmicks or worth having?
Here's something I struggle with all the time (well, way too often); a DO who basically ignores the boom operator. If I don't have a monitor, which is almost always, I cannot tell when the mic is in the frame. Please work with me, and tell me before we shoot, when my mic is in the shot, OK? I get very, very, very tired of DPs not doing that, even when I ask, then getting angry when a take is ruined because the mics in the frame. Spend 30 seconds, work with me when I ask how close I can get, OK? I can line up with something on the wall, or a tree or building outside. If the DP does this, then we actually save time. I won't stomp off set if you yell at me because the mic is visible, but I will grumble at you under my breath.
Do you set your gain so that your microphone can almost NEVER clip? For example, I like to set my gain so that when I'm speaking normally, I'll be around -12dB, as recommended in this video. But when I scream or laugh, I may hit -6dB, and if I laugh or scream REALLY loud, then it's almost going to be a guarantee that my microphone will clip. Should I be turning my gain down even lower so that I NEVER clip? Or is what I'm doing fine, and I should just be more mindful and move away from the microphone when I'm going to yell or laugh (though, the latter isn't particularly predictable, haha.) Thanks!
He's recording to a Sound Devices 888 recorder. They record in a 32 bit float format (high-capacity) with double analog-to-digital converters. I won't get into the details of how it works here, but it means that input clipping is virtually impossible. (~60dB headspace -- you'll blow out your microphone cap first) As for you, I'd recommend setting a 3:1 compressor at -6 dB instead of adjusting gain. That way, any intensity above -6 dB will require 3 dB of energy to equal 1 dB in the recording. This shouldn't happen often, just at high laughs, coughs or the like. But that way you're safe.
@@Andreas-ov2fv Hi there, The way I've got things set up is I have a Shure SM57, plugged into a MOTU M4. The gain is set to 3 'o clock, and I have the microphone right up against my mouth. At that gain level, I will be hitting around -12dB as mentioned earlier. When yelling, it can hit -6dB and above. If screaming out the top of my lungs, it's almost going to be a guarantee that it will clip. From there, my method of post-processing my voice is using plugins through EqualizerAPO. I use an Expander to reduce background noise such as my PC fans, air conditioner, etc. On top of that, I use a Noise Gate, to completely shut off any type of sound when things get quiet. Finally, I like to use a plugin called CHANNEV by Analog Obsession, which has a slew of features such as a De-esser, Compressor, Limiter, EQ, emulated Mic-pre and tape saturation. Just a couple of things to spruce up the way I sound, making it sound more "vintage" but I like to be subtle with it. I do have the compressor set to 3.0:1, and that makes it so that if I previously would've hit -6dB, I now hit -12dB, so the same volume as when I'm speaking normally more or less. It can make it above that to say -10dB or -11dB. But average around -12dB all the time. The reason I'm typing all this is so you can get a better understanding of the way I've got things set up. My compressor only reduces the already clipped signal, instead of preventing clipping in the first place. I believe the only way for me to prevent clipping when screaming or laughing really loud would be to either purchase and connect a hardware compressor to my interface, or to just reduce the gain even further and boost in post. Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just trying to get the best sound that I can out of what I have, haha. Thank you for your comment. I didn't realize how much of a beast the Sound Devices 888 is. :D
If your recorder or interface doesn't have an analogue limiter, and you have a tendency to get REALLY loud and clip, then gain down a touch and give yourself a bit more headroom.
Help: Does anyone know if there is a podcast solution for a two-camera shot that switches when the person talks? So that there is no editing required. Is there software out there? iPhones welcomed.
Well if you have your computer in the same room you WILL get noise. Cos you can't record if you turn off the computer, right? Kinda beats the purpose. THen you can use NVIDIA's noise cancel program it works VERY well.
Hey Curtis, what is the best way to record a lets say a pastor of a church and he is at least 10 ft away and when he talks sometimes his mic goes out and when it does you can barely hear him / her? The mic on my camera is pretty good but when it comes to whispering type kind of sounds / dialog i have the hardest time recording them.
One more suggestion: avoid noisy puffy jackets when you record 😅
Haha, Even the Pros sometimes screw up 🤭, it's just life 🍷
I'm guessing you actually own some clothes based on its quietness? :)
Haha! I just found that out the hard way. Nice, colourful jacket -- can't wear it while recording.
Yes! And noisy jewelry, or rubbing on that blanket stretched over the desk. I have to have a little checklist in my studio.
It's hard not to comment on your videos. They are so good, each one of them. You have truly cracked the code of quality content. I'm 15 seconds in and I already have a solid overview, no nonsense no time wasting.
It's pure, relevant information flow. Thanks Curtis, I hope you are doing well.
Came down here to write the exact same thing. Thank you, Curtis!
"It doesn't have to be pro.". So true. But what we can see in your videos (and some other ones, of course) is the way you respect your audience. We can see the investment and the input you dedicate to your videos, whether long or short, in-depth or global. And this is what matters : respecting the audience. This is what I learnt in my first years acting, no matter what you must perform because they came and pay for this.
Here, it's the same. And we can easily see who doesn't care and press record without much attention to the final "product".
We have to thank you for that constant (extra) dedication Curtis, and I do.
All your content is phenomenally good! Thanks!
Thanks Bernard 👍
I'm really impressed with Auphonic. Makes getting a good dialogue sound much easier!
👍
Thank you Curtis, you’re my encouragement for 2023.
Just want to say how much I love your videos and how wonderfully helpful they are. Thank you.
Thanks 🙏
Even though I already knew all these tips it's a pleasure to watch your videos because of the impeccable audio quality.
👍
Curtis, thank you for recalling the sound blankets here!
👍
Curtis. Thank you so much for all the videos. All super helpful and straightforward… and for going the extra mile in this one by wearing a sound blanket!
LOL
Thank you to you and your family for the hours of great content. Your generosity and expertise are making an impact!
Thanks so much, Linda 🙏
Stellar concise, actionable advice! Kudos for consistently hitting a high bar, Curtis.
Thanks, JR.
This is wonderful! Thanks as always, Curtis - blessings to you!
Thanks and same to you, Tray.
Tx youve been very helpful thru out the years wishing a great 2023
Thanks and same to you!
Excellent video yet again Curtis - outstanding as always. Thanks for the room treatment tips.
Thanks, Derek. 🙏
You deserve the highest respect for your explanations, always 💯
👍
Another outstanding video Curtis... Thanks for all your help. Happy New Year!
🙏
Thanks for this Curtis! You are one of the most genuine RUclipsrs on the platform. ❤
Thanks Joey.
Excellent info on audio. It seems that audio is the "make it or break it" half of audio/video projects. It'll draw the crowd in or drive them away. Get this right and they'll be much more likely to be sticking around to view what you're presenting.
Thanks for the pointers Curtis.
👍
i bought a Audio-Technica AT4053B last year just from watching your video on mics, over and over. Also bought a slightly used 416 a while ago for $800, but i now realize i can't use it indoors because of the rear node picks up reverb from a standard low 8' interior ceiling. It was not an easy decision for the 4053. Once i bench-tested it, i was amazed. I never imagined it would sound so good.
Up until this point, i was strictly a lav guy. Now, i want to disregard all my lavs.
Mic proximity was my mantra. Now, i see why so many interviews (60 Minutes, etc.) use a dialog mic on a boom pole, and the lav, if there is one, is probably hidden as a back up. Trying to imagine what i'd do if i had two people in an interview; I'd have to buy another 4053.
The 4053 was not an intuitive decision, which is why it took so long for me to pull the trigger. Now, i actually feel more confident that my dialog will be superior, together with proper mic'ing technique.
Looking at this now from months of video viewing and study of books and articles, it recently dawned on my that this is not rocket science. You just have to do what you're told by the professionals and don't try to mess around with stupid stuff. Take time to do the proper set up, perhaps experiment with different mics if needed, and check your work before you call "action."
Sometimes beginners miss the whole point of conveying information from person to person through the medium of video, talking heads or interviews. Unless you're into reading lips, the dialog is the whole story. Absent dialog, you're looking at pretty pictures at best.
Couple of other things that are basic: 1. Wear cans and listen carefully to the audio, especially for things you're not expecting and from sources you don't see in the frame. Be aware of the ambience all around you. 2. Also, be sure to record at least 30 seconds of "room tone" for later patching in post.
You've helped me immensely.
Many thanks.
Thanks, Tom.
I love love love my AT 4053b. Others must love it as well, because someone stole mine, as well as a lot of other gear. I guess we just think everyone on set is kind, caring, and honest. Sadly, that is not true.
Always nice to have a refresher course! Good reminders here
👍
Great video, Curtis! This was very helpful as a small creator trying to learn more about sound! Looks like I'm guilty of some of these mistakes myself 😅
Would love to see a complete guide from you on how to process the audio inside FCPX, how to normalize, and compress it, levels, etc. I'm even down for buying a guide from you or something like that 😂
Keep up the incredible work, cheers! 🙌🏼
🙏
That EQ scooping trick is nice. Never thought about trying that. Will definitely add to my workflow. Thanks.
👍
Superb video, thanks again Curtis. I’ve learned many of these techniques from snippets of your other videos but to have it all summarised like this in a convenient video is great. This is my new goto that I’ll be pointing people towards when starting with audio.
Thanks. 👍
So many great tips here Curtis. Thanks for compiling this ultimate resource. 🙏🏻
Thanks, Gary.
Really tight organized video covering the basics. 👍
👍
Thanks for the video! Always good to know these things
👍
We love you too Curtis, i bought my Oktava because of your videos, and i'm very happy with it. Thanks
Just the best channel about sound.
Thanks and happy recording!
Goooood!!! So important information.
To get the better sound We don't forget basic.
Yes, the basics. 👍
Excellent video, short, sweet, and right on the money.
👍
Superb video as usual. Thanks so much.
Thanks.
Love it!
🙏
Curtis is the man. Hands down.
🙏
Awesome video Curtis
👍
I am a Korean user. I'm watching it with subtitles. Your videos are always comfortable and good. Even for sleeping. After worrying while setting up Vlog RUclips, for zoom f3, tentacle track e, sync, and recording specific sounds, JOSEPHSON C42 (not much known, but looking forward to it. Shipping)
And we are also preparing for streaming. Thank you so much for the information as always.
Also, please ask for more diverse content such as an appropriate SD card for field recorders, auxiliary batteries, and high-end xlr cables. thank you. with google translate
Oh, and giving up ultra sync is because I think mobility is very important for vloggers, so I decided to choose a tentacle to sync quickly with my cell phone while just connecting, and this felt very advantageous. I haven't actually done it yet (equipment delivery), but as a result of watching the video and learning, it is judged that the mobility will be a little less because everything is connected with ultra sync (camera, body microphone, field zoom f3). track E is going to be used by purchasing the izotope element plug-in and simply editing it. I haven't tested it yet, but I hope it comes out useful.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Well I wasn't expecting I love you. I mean you clearly do by answering all of what must feel like an avalanche of questions in the comments. Come on people show Curtis some love. Click those affiliate links and buy his courses!
🙏❤️
Thanks Curtis for this video. I'm sure it will help those who are just getting into sound.
👍
Have an amazing new year Curtis...
You, too!
Thanks, going to reference this and take time to read up on each item. The thing that gets me the most is your mention of excessively loud background music as well as when they switch from dialog to music where it's a vast difference. I do wonder if they have their computers set to automatically adjust the audio and don't realize it... There's a problem when I have to adjust my headphone volume throughout a video. 😅
👍
New subscriber here 👍👍👍👍 what a great channel. I think I am gonna learn a ton from you :)
Thanks for coming by, Paul. 👍
Hot tip for your freezer that I use with my fridge when I'm recording. You can get a smart plug for it and instead of unplugging it, you can shut it off with your phone and also set it to turn back on with a timer. So even if you forget it'll come back on before it gets too warm inside.
Good idea.
I don't have a huge budget or a lot of room to build a dedicated room for doing voice overs but need to do some voice recording now and then. What I have been doing is that I bought a bunch of sawn wooden square planks at about 5ft 9 in length. I am going to use those to build a frame for a sound booth. I am going to screw it together so I can take it down when not in use as I don't have the space for a permanently built one. As it is that height, I'll have to sit when doing voice recordings. I was unable to get any longer planks that would ship to my location, so had to make do or might have built it a little taller so I could stand while doing the recordings.
To cover the sides and top of the booth, I bought 4 acoustic blankets and 4 large acoustic foam panels which are 2 inch thick per panel, which I might place behind me and behind where the microphone will be pointing away from. I can just use this for as long as I need it and take it down again until the next time and put it back up again.
Neat - happy recording!
Happy New Year Curtis!
And to you, Marga!
Thanks for this Curtis. I've just started making videos and am aware I don't have the right equipment yet. I have a new microphone (lavaliere) with audio recorder arriving today so am looking forward to trying those out. I'll be recording in wind much of the time so hope what I've ordered will suffice when it comes to maintaining quality in windy conditions.
Wind will be the thing you'll need to watch for. A fur cover or hiding the mic under your shirt are the best strategies I've found.
These are great tips! One more I would add what I see a lot of RUclipsrs do is rely on too many plugins. Try and get it live and not hack it in post. Otherwise you risk sounding all weird and distorted or your voice loose character / soul and just sound like everyone else 🙏
👍
Most videos like this would have so much verbal padding, because everyone is so afraid of people clicking off. You on the other hand list the topics (and basically the core information) right at the start. The irony? I watch these videos till the end, because 1) I know it's relevant; 2) Now that you have given out the basics, I know the rest of the video will contain useful tips I don't want to miss.
👍
Thx Curtis for the Vid, i Got it pretty much nailed, but often (evrytime) struggle with levels.... I have to use a program for this. LUFS, loudness, Volume.... Can't seem to figur that out properly. But hey!, I love you to man ❤️, I think this is the first time you've ever said dat... So thank you.... Hahah, greetings from the cold Copenhagen in Denmark
👍
Great summation, Curtis. I've been trying to integrate these into my productions for some time, with plenty of your tutorials helping along the way. I've made a particular effort the last few months, especially when it comes to final normalization for RUclips. Room treatment continues to be a challenge. I did make some acoustic panels 3 years ago, but I think blankets are more adaptable -- my next investment.
Now if I could just get the blasting and construction in neighbourhood to stop! 😀
👍
A great tip I heard and use a lot when on locations, if you need to turn off/unplug a Refridgerator or Freezer, put your car keys inside it, that way when you got to leave the location if you forget to plug it back in youll soon be reminded when you can't get into your car. Saves an angry client or location.
👍 I've done it. It works.
Oh, we love you, too. My main problem is (living in an efficiency apartment) is that the neighbor’s dog starts barking loudly every time someone walks by her door. And since it is a long hallway, people walk by a lot. They also like to stop and chat, often right outside my door.
By the way, after your recent video I did buy the RE20. I also bought an EVO16 and a rack. Amazing how much background noise I heard on a channel I subscribe to listening to it through the EVO16 and my Sennheiser HD 280 pro headphones. His channel has always had background noise, such as his dog trying to get his attention, but with the EVO16 I also heard a baby cry, as well as every time he was clearing his nose and other sounds I had never noticed before.
That said, to me the worst thing many RUclipsrs do is not about sound, but about a ridiculously lit green screen with some random photograph in the background and parts of their hair randomly appearing and disappearing because the green reflects from the green screen and forms a green halo around their hair and it changes as they move their heads. To top it off, the light in the photo does not match the light in the video, and all that because most people don’t have a clue how to light a green screen and how to light themselves in front of it.
Hopefully that RE20 is working well for you.
@@curtisjudd Right now I am in ICU, but it will be my main mic once I get back home.
@@RustyTube I hope you have a good recovery. 🙏
@@curtisjudd Thanks. It's congestive heart failure.
Hi Curtis 👋🏼 just wondering what’s for that orange net at the connectors of mics and xlr cables? Thanks!
I provides a little cushion so that when the metal XLR connector swings free and hits my graphite boom pole, it won't damage the pole.
2:46 What boom pole and mic clip is that? Your linked video didn't appear to be that setup.
K-tek Avalon and a Rycote in:vision shock mount.
Curtis, I am looking for a shotgun mic with these two high on my list, Sennheiser MKE 600 and Rode NTG-5. Is the NTG-5 significantly better? I would appreciate any light you can shine to help with my decision.
Primarily (maybe exclusively) attached to Zoom F3. Camera is Canon 5D IV.
Mostly for stationary talking head video in a mostly quiet carpeted room while attached to a microphone arm or similar.
Occasionally mounted on camera to record interviews at small events with many people talking all around (i.e. lots of background noise/chatter.)
Occasional use outdoors to record various sounds.
It sort of depends on one's voice and it is really hard to quantify the difference. I can't say that one is universally better than the other.
Good information to remember
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Here's my current favorite approach to the Shure SM7B. Use the fat windsock. Set up the mic level, and level with your mouth, so that you speak into the axis of the mic. Position your lips 2 fingers away from the foam. Speak at an ever-so-slightly-forceful conversational volume. And follow the other directions in the video (other than distance). If you are not worried about the visual aspect of the mic placement, this arrangement gives the richest signal, with the best signal-to-noise ratio. Move closer, and you start getting a little wind noise in the sock, and proximity effect (for my low voice) becomes a bit much. Move farther way, and the signal-to-noise starts to fall, but the proximity effect becomes less boomy. The arrangement I described is a very nice balance point of the many factors.
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My study walls are lined with thousands of books, it's a great acoustic environment but it also has noisy equipment racks. My new studio sounds terrible by comparison, even with quilts and heavy blankets on the walls. Perhaps I should move all the bookshelves to the studio...
Perhaps so
Curtis, question about the mixpre. Are those kashmir preamps active only in advance mode, or in basic mode as well?
Active in all modes. It’s just a fancy name they give their preamps.
Thanks. Bad audio also makes it hard to concentrate on what's being said.. Your mind drifts easier.
Indeed!
Thank you.
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Hello curtis , thanks for the video, Iam searching for lav mic to use with rode wireless go 2 , I tried sure and rode lav but I want bright and loud voice, is rode lav 2 is bitter ? or any other bitter mics?
Not much different than the original. Mostly better built.
From a cinematic point of view, when the microphone is close to the person, is the microphone pointing 90° perpendicular to the ground (or pointing at the ground in other words) or is it pointing at the person's mouth?
More toward the mouth or chest or head in general, depending on the sound you want.
@@curtisjudd thanks very much
@Curtis I know we can do loudness normalisation in post. But what if we're doing live streaming or Zoom Meeting, we need to turn up the gain much higher right? But I notice when I turn the gain up I start hearing ambient noise if I set it to a level where people from the other side can hear me. I use the MKH50 and the Audient ID4 Mark II interface. Is there a way for me or is there a standard practice when people add digital gain to their microphones?
For live sound, often we use compression and noise gates/expanders, or noise reduction processing to make cleaner sound.
@@curtisjudd Means I need a different interface, perhaps something like the Mackie DLZ Creator
Good video and advice as always Curtis, thanks mate. On a related subject, treating one’s room to block out unwanted sound…I use a dynamic mic (for narration) and to be honest, unless there’s a cop car speeding past outside or something, I cant hear any noise at all. Should I still soundproof my recording area regardless? Also, mic isolation shields…gimmicks or worth having?
I'd just stick with your dynamic mic and keep recording. I'd opt for a sound blanket before an isolation shield.
@@curtisjudd thank you. It’s too easy for novices like myself to buy kit they don’t need.
what was the video 6:41 about in this video is that about waterproof mic
That was the Shure Duraplex, I believe: ruclips.net/video/X2WfhvDvOuQ/видео.html Or possibly the Twinplex: ruclips.net/video/U6Axg0iP6wg/видео.html
i'm struggling in finding sound blankets in europe. any brand to suggest easy to buy EU/italy? thanks!
Not that I know, sorry about that.
Here's something I struggle with all the time (well, way too often); a DO who basically ignores the boom operator.
If I don't have a monitor, which is almost always, I cannot tell when the mic is in the frame. Please work with me, and tell me before we shoot, when my mic is in the shot, OK?
I get very, very, very tired of DPs not doing that, even when I ask, then getting angry when a take is ruined because the mics in the frame.
Spend 30 seconds, work with me when I ask how close I can get, OK? I can line up with something on the wall, or a tree or building outside.
If the DP does this, then we actually save time.
I won't stomp off set if you yell at me because the mic is visible, but I will grumble at you under my breath.
Yes, and it is important to learn lens focal lengths so you can just ask for that.
8:25 i love you too curtis
♥️
Loudness in post? Not working if you do real time stream etc
Than you have to compress in real-time.
Do you set your gain so that your microphone can almost NEVER clip?
For example, I like to set my gain so that when I'm speaking normally, I'll be around -12dB, as recommended in this video. But when I scream or laugh, I may hit -6dB, and if I laugh or scream REALLY loud, then it's almost going to be a guarantee that my microphone will clip.
Should I be turning my gain down even lower so that I NEVER clip? Or is what I'm doing fine, and I should just be more mindful and move away from the microphone when I'm going to yell or laugh (though, the latter isn't particularly predictable, haha.)
Thanks!
He's recording to a Sound Devices 888 recorder. They record in a 32 bit float format (high-capacity) with double analog-to-digital converters. I won't get into the details of how it works here, but it means that input clipping is virtually impossible. (~60dB headspace -- you'll blow out your microphone cap first)
As for you, I'd recommend setting a 3:1 compressor at -6 dB instead of adjusting gain. That way, any intensity above -6 dB will require 3 dB of energy to equal 1 dB in the recording. This shouldn't happen often, just at high laughs, coughs or the like. But that way you're safe.
@@Andreas-ov2fv Hi there,
The way I've got things set up is I have a Shure SM57, plugged into a MOTU M4. The gain is set to 3 'o clock, and I have the microphone right up against my mouth.
At that gain level, I will be hitting around -12dB as mentioned earlier. When yelling, it can hit -6dB and above. If screaming out the top of my lungs, it's almost going to be a guarantee that it will clip.
From there, my method of post-processing my voice is using plugins through EqualizerAPO. I use an Expander to reduce background noise such as my PC fans, air conditioner, etc. On top of that, I use a Noise Gate, to completely shut off any type of sound when things get quiet. Finally, I like to use a plugin called CHANNEV by Analog Obsession, which has a slew of features such as a De-esser, Compressor, Limiter, EQ, emulated Mic-pre and tape saturation. Just a couple of things to spruce up the way I sound, making it sound more "vintage" but I like to be subtle with it.
I do have the compressor set to 3.0:1, and that makes it so that if I previously would've hit -6dB, I now hit -12dB, so the same volume as when I'm speaking normally more or less. It can make it above that to say -10dB or -11dB. But average around -12dB all the time.
The reason I'm typing all this is so you can get a better understanding of the way I've got things set up. My compressor only reduces the already clipped signal, instead of preventing clipping in the first place.
I believe the only way for me to prevent clipping when screaming or laughing really loud would be to either purchase and connect a hardware compressor to my interface, or to just reduce the gain even further and boost in post.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just trying to get the best sound that I can out of what I have, haha. Thank you for your comment. I didn't realize how much of a beast the Sound Devices 888 is. :D
If your recorder or interface doesn't have an analogue limiter, and you have a tendency to get REALLY loud and clip, then gain down a touch and give yourself a bit more headroom.
Help: Does anyone know if there is a podcast solution for a two-camera shot that switches when the person talks? So that there is no editing required. Is there software out there? iPhones welcomed.
Haven't heard of anything like that, but it is a clever idea.
Well if you have your computer in the same room you WILL get noise. Cos you can't record if you turn off the computer, right? Kinda beats the purpose. THen you can use NVIDIA's noise cancel program it works VERY well.
And it sounds like talking into a pillow in most of the tests I've heard.
Hey Curtis, what is the best way to record a lets say a pastor of a church and he is at least 10 ft away and when he talks sometimes his mic goes out and when it does you can barely hear him / her? The mic on my camera is pretty good but when it comes to whispering type kind of sounds / dialog i have the hardest time recording them.
I'd solve the wireless dropout issue first. But as a backup, I'd plant mics closer to where he preaches.
@@curtisjudd Thank you so much for taking the time to write me back...Oh, oh ok... Good idea... Is there a mic you recommend for the job?
@@Warren1814 depends on your budget. DPA makes some nice, very small mics but they are pricey.
@@curtisjudd Do they have anything under $300?? Unfortunately that's my budget at the moment.
@@Warren1814 No. Consider the RODE NT5.
8:24: Nice Jedi move. 😂
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Great content. One other tip, avoid wearing noisy jackets. :)
Next time I'm going to wear a sound blanket.
@@curtisjudd great idea for a merch :)
I record near my kitchen, and I have forgotten to plug the fridge back in.
A few times.
Not a great move.
Indeed, no.
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QOTD: “Up your audio game… just a lil’ bit.” - C. Judd
Just a touch. 🤓
3:49 provides us with the first real evidence Curtis is not Super-Man!
?
@@curtisjudd Just a tongue-in-cheek compliment Curtis with you working behind the curtains in a regular basement sir.
@@mattcero1 😀
Is it just me or is your audio clipping?
Definitely not clipping.
Brilliant video. Another tip - don’t wear the clothing you’re using today 😁
Find a jacket that doesn't make as much noise so I don't freeze in this un-heated basement in winter at the top of a mountain.
@@curtisjudd us Scottish people use whiskey for that :D
@@UXXV my liver can’t. 🙂
Hey Curtis its 2023 now you need to update your Outro!
Done, thanks for the tip.
Another tip: don't wear jackets that make noise :D
I think I'll wear a sound blanket next time.
Is more of your audience interested in cm than inches?
Yes, most of them are outside the US.