How To Set Up Your Microphone

What To Look For…

Each microphone is a bit different, so I recommend Googling your specific mic setup and watching tutorial videos for setting your mic up properly in order to capture the best audio.

However, in general, you ALWAYS want to keep your input signal peak between -12db and -6db.

This will typically provide the best signal to noise ratio. It will also assure that your source signal has enough peak room to stay out of the clipping range.

“Clipping” is when your audio input overloads the mics capacity, and it causes terrible audio quality and those nasty digital clicks and pops.

You always want to avoid clipping (i.e. where the microphone gives you a RED warning read), so make sure you lower your input settings to avoid this at the loudest points of your content.

TIP: Practice testing your vocals first before hitting record, and make sure during testing you get as loud as you’ll get during the actual recording.

Every mic has an audio signal meter that looks like the image above. This is where you can measure your audio input levels and adjust them as needed.

You can also adjust your audio in post-production, but it’s best to first adjust your levels during recording so you can save time in editing and make sure your files are capturing the best audio possible.

TIME SAVING TIP:

When you’re ready to hit record, I also recommend ALWAYS stating first that “This is [your name] filming [name of video]” before jumping into the actual content.

Why?

Because when you are ready to batch upload your audio files, you will want this quick summary of what the audio file includes AT THE BEGINNING of the file (for when you’re previewing them during upload) so that you can be fast during the importing and renaming of your audio files.