4 ms·

Any tips for good mics? Any good options that are not immediately in front of your face?

bbatha 2y ago
You'll want some kind of shotgun mic. The rode videomic2 is a good budget option. It has a standard 3/8" thread you can use with a desk boom.
- jcims 2y ago
  I've been using one for a few years now and am really happy with it. Every now and then (once every 1-2 weeks) it drops off of the list of inputs on OSX but unplug and plug it back in usually fixes that.
- j45 2y ago
  Sennheiser MKE-600 is next up for me. have a graveyard of other mics that don't sound as well for my voice. Listen to a bunch of the shotgun mics on youtube and see which your voice might sound the best with.
aroch 2y ago
I’m a fan of Saramonic’s MV2000 (https://saramonicusa.com/sr-mv2000-large-diaphragm-usb-studio-microphone-with-magnetic-tabletop-stand-headphone-out-and-multi-color-led-for-computers-and-mobile-devices/ https://saramonicusa.com/sr-mv2000-large-diaphragm-usb-studi...) is an affordable, good quality cardiod mic. Frequently available for $50 and supports live headphone pass through if that’s your jam.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
kstrauser 2y ago
I bought a Yeti Blue a while back, and several people commented positively on its sound quality. I'm pleased with it, especially given its decent price: it's not a bank-breaker for being such a huge upgrade over the built-in laptop mic. As a bonus, it has a hardware mute button on it. Now I usually leave my Zoom unmuted, and use the button to toggle whether my coworkers can hear me. It's more convenient than clicking the Zoom button or finding the keyboard shortcut.
- minimaxir 2y ago
  The main issue with the Yeti Blue is that it's 15 years old: although microphone tech doesn't evolve as much over the years, it's still behind a bit (e.g. it does 48 kHz/16-bit audio while modern USB mics do 96 kHz/24-bit). It also uses a USB-mini connector which is very annoying. There are a few modern improvements on it, such as the Yeti X.
  - rpastuszak 2y ago
    hehe, I just posted a sibling comment about the same mic. I've been using it for 5+ years, and I don't think like I'm missing anything. I suppose I need to make sure to keep myself uninformed on the subject so I don't get an upgrade :) The USB connector is not an issue for me, because the mic is connected to a docking station/computer display. The sound quality hasn't been an issue yet, and I've used it to record some game assets, etc... Have you used Yeti X? If so, how does it compare to Blue in practice?
  - nosrepa 2y ago
    And boy does that mini-uab connector suck. The cable falls out all the time.
- j45 2y ago
  Had a yeti nano, pretty good. Still the condenser mics are too sensitive at times.
- alabastervlog 2y ago
  Basically any mic that's widely recommended for entry-level YouTubers (outside search engine spam, those don't count as real recommendations) will be a giant step up from laptop or headphone mics, enough that most people who just want to sound good on video conferencing probably don't need to spend more. The Blue Yeti is exactly that kind of mic, to the point that it's kind of a cliché. Shotgun mics popular among low-budget filmmakers (think: people who shoot local commercials, little indie films and shorts, and, when desperate for cash, weddings) would also be a good and fairly cheap way to go, though they may require other hardware to function.
minimaxir 2y ago
I use the Elgato Wave:3, which is more table-level: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3-black https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3-black The software is also surprisingly useful, and includes a mixer and real-time-audio effects which are expensive to do outside of the software on macOS.
- Pet_Ant 2y ago
  I use an Elgato Wave XLR $200 so that I can upgrade my microphone separately; I'm not a fan of hybrid/integrated devices. I use it with an Audio-Technica AT2035 $200 and a Elgato Low-Profile Microphone Arm $100.
Spunkie 2y ago
IK Multimedia iRig Stream Mic USB, it sounds great, has a built in audio interface, pop filter, direct monitoring, mixing, light up mute button, and all for under $100. Def use the mic with a pair of wired headphones/earbuds to use the live/direct monitoring feature. My team used to have a lot of issues with people mics being too loud or too quiet without realizing. Getting everyone on that mic and specifically using direct monitoring has solved that issue.
j45 2y ago
Try a Sennheiser, maybe like a mke-600. Once you see how you can laser focus on your voice, hard to go back.
rpastuszak 2y ago
I've been using this one for the past +5 years, and I'm quite happy with it: https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/streaming-gear/yeti-premium-usb-microphone.html https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/streaming-gear/yeti... It works better if you're really close, but .5-1m away still sounds fantastic (I work from a 3x4m sized room, with some outside noise). Cons: it's quite big
fructose 2y ago
I work in high end professional audio services for conferences, events, etc in Silicon Valley. The Ferrari of headset microphones in the industry is currently the DPA 6066 - the vocal nuances, timbre, and precision of the 6066 is that of a finely tuned instrument. Note that this is a mic only, you'll need something over or in ear to monitor audio from Zoom, Webex, etc. Agree that the best mics for speech are headsets that tightly control the position of the mic.
- alabastervlog 2y ago
  > DPA 6066 These are about $1,000 and look (though looks may be deceiving) shockingly easy to accidentally destroy, to save anyone wondering a Google.
- paulcole 2y ago
  What is the Honda Civic? Relatively cheap, reliable, good enough for daily use for the overwhelming majority of people?
  - hammock 2y ago
    Shure BRH440 ($400) or Countryman H6 if you want the low-profile style ($500)
  - 0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
    Not that I am qualified beyond the reviews I found, but I picked up a Shure 58 for $100. Supposedly used by many musicians and can be dropped/abused without issue.
  - __mharrison__ 2y ago
    See my response to parent comment.
  - roumenguha 2y ago
    Samson Q2U
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
patrakov 2y ago
The one built into a Logitech C922 camera. Works best when there is some sound-absorbing material in the room, such as carpet on the floor, tapestry on the wall, sofa somewhere, and so on.
dist-epoch 2y ago
The further away the microphone, the better acoustics and less ambient noise you'll need.
dspillett 2y ago
I've been finding the pickup on my bluetooth bone-conduction headphones to be surprisingly good enough. I tried it as I found them convenient & comfortable for calls on my phone. People don't notice the difference when I'm using them rather than the company-provided wired over-ear headset. Though that might say as much for the company provided mic as it does for the BC ones!
__mharrison__ 2y ago
I have a Blue Yeti, an AudioTechnica BPHS1 (headset), a Fifine 688 (cheap Shure SM7B competition), and a Behringer C2 (pencil mic). I have also used "professional equipment" sent from studios for me to record with. The professional equipment sounds the best, but the audio device alone (sans mic) was $1200. These days, I use the pencil mic with a Scarlett device. It sounds good enough for my recording needs (I post-process everything regardless). It is out of camera, and pencil mics (or shotgun) are what pros use in camera studios. If you don't mind having a big mic on camera, the Fifine is a lot of bang for the buck. If you are a brand person, go for the Shure. A headset is great for minimizing sound when talking with others (say for a podcast interview), but I have yet to find one that is comfortable for using all day (I'm often teaching day-long courses).
- yrxuthst 2y ago
  I use a BPHS1, in my case I found that replacing the ear pads with 3rd party gel pads greatly improved the comfort for long meetings.
  - __mharrison__ 2y ago
    I replaced my pads with microfiber ones. The pads don't cause me pain, the top of my head hurts after 4 hours or more.
- guappa 2y ago
  I don't think anyone is going to blow 1 month of their salary to sound better on zoom.
  - __mharrison__ 2y ago
    Are you referring to the $1200 audio device? Yes, that is expensive. It is meant for professional recording. The average software salary in the US is about $10k a month. Few spend that much on audio equipment.
    - LtWorf 2y ago
hammock 2y ago
Pencil mic/ shotgun mic is what you want. Rode Videomic is the most accessible one you will find. They are highly directional (hypercardioid). The reason you sound tinny from your laptop is because a) they are not very directional (beamforming helps but it's not enough) and b) the lack of directionality is made up for by too much autogain thus picking up the room. The "podcaster mics" will work too but they are designed to be pulled up to your face. If you don't want the mic in camera then you will not get great results with them.
J_Shelby_J 2y ago
see my thread here. the last posts from me are what I've been using.
microtonal 2y ago
Can't edit my original message, but I just wanted to say: thanks for all the suggestions! I'll research all of them.

You'll want some kind of shotgun mic. The rode videomic2 is a good budget option. It has a standard 3/8" thread you can use with a desk boom.

jcims 2y ago
I've been using one for a few years now and am really happy with it. Every now and then (once every 1-2 weeks) it drops off of the list of inputs on OSX but unplug and plug it back in usually fixes that.
j45 2y ago
Sennheiser MKE-600 is next up for me. have a graveyard of other mics that don't sound as well for my voice. Listen to a bunch of the shotgun mics on youtube and see which your voice might sound the best with.

aroch 2y ago

I’m a fan of Saramonic’s MV2000 (https://saramonicusa.com/sr-mv2000-large-diaphragm-usb-studio-microphone-with-magnetic-tabletop-stand-headphone-out-and-multi-color-led-for-computers-and-mobile-devices/ https://saramonicusa.com/sr-mv2000-large-diaphragm-usb-studi...) is an affordable, good quality cardiod mic. Frequently available for $50 and supports live headphone pass through if that’s your jam.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

kstrauser 2y ago

I bought a Yeti Blue a while back, and several people commented positively on its sound quality. I'm pleased with it, especially given its decent price: it's not a bank-breaker for being such a huge upgrade over the built-in laptop mic. As a bonus, it has a hardware mute button on it. Now I usually leave my Zoom unmuted, and use the button to toggle whether my coworkers can hear me. It's more convenient than clicking the Zoom button or finding the keyboard shortcut.

minimaxir 2y ago
The main issue with the Yeti Blue is that it's 15 years old: although microphone tech doesn't evolve as much over the years, it's still behind a bit (e.g. it does 48 kHz/16-bit audio while modern USB mics do 96 kHz/24-bit). It also uses a USB-mini connector which is very annoying. There are a few modern improvements on it, such as the Yeti X.
- rpastuszak 2y ago
  hehe, I just posted a sibling comment about the same mic. I've been using it for 5+ years, and I don't think like I'm missing anything. I suppose I need to make sure to keep myself uninformed on the subject so I don't get an upgrade :) The USB connector is not an issue for me, because the mic is connected to a docking station/computer display. The sound quality hasn't been an issue yet, and I've used it to record some game assets, etc... Have you used Yeti X? If so, how does it compare to Blue in practice?
- nosrepa 2y ago
  And boy does that mini-uab connector suck. The cable falls out all the time.
j45 2y ago
Had a yeti nano, pretty good. Still the condenser mics are too sensitive at times.
alabastervlog 2y ago
Basically any mic that's widely recommended for entry-level YouTubers (outside search engine spam, those don't count as real recommendations) will be a giant step up from laptop or headphone mics, enough that most people who just want to sound good on video conferencing probably don't need to spend more. The Blue Yeti is exactly that kind of mic, to the point that it's kind of a cliché. Shotgun mics popular among low-budget filmmakers (think: people who shoot local commercials, little indie films and shorts, and, when desperate for cash, weddings) would also be a good and fairly cheap way to go, though they may require other hardware to function.

minimaxir 2y ago

I use the Elgato Wave:3, which is more table-level: https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3-black https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/wave-3-black The software is also surprisingly useful, and includes a mixer and real-time-audio effects which are expensive to do outside of the software on macOS.

Pet_Ant 2y ago
I use an Elgato Wave XLR $200 so that I can upgrade my microphone separately; I'm not a fan of hybrid/integrated devices. I use it with an Audio-Technica AT2035 $200 and a Elgato Low-Profile Microphone Arm $100.

Spunkie 2y ago

IK Multimedia iRig Stream Mic USB, it sounds great, has a built in audio interface, pop filter, direct monitoring, mixing, light up mute button, and all for under $100. Def use the mic with a pair of wired headphones/earbuds to use the live/direct monitoring feature. My team used to have a lot of issues with people mics being too loud or too quiet without realizing. Getting everyone on that mic and specifically using direct monitoring has solved that issue.

j45 2y ago

Try a Sennheiser, maybe like a mke-600. Once you see how you can laser focus on your voice, hard to go back.

rpastuszak 2y ago

I've been using this one for the past +5 years, and I'm quite happy with it: https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/streaming-gear/yeti-premium-usb-microphone.html https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/products/streaming-gear/yeti... It works better if you're really close, but .5-1m away still sounds fantastic (I work from a 3x4m sized room, with some outside noise). Cons: it's quite big

fructose 2y ago

I work in high end professional audio services for conferences, events, etc in Silicon Valley. The Ferrari of headset microphones in the industry is currently the DPA 6066 - the vocal nuances, timbre, and precision of the 6066 is that of a finely tuned instrument. Note that this is a mic only, you'll need something over or in ear to monitor audio from Zoom, Webex, etc. Agree that the best mics for speech are headsets that tightly control the position of the mic.

alabastervlog 2y ago
> DPA 6066 These are about $1,000 and look (though looks may be deceiving) shockingly easy to accidentally destroy, to save anyone wondering a Google.
paulcole 2y ago
What is the Honda Civic? Relatively cheap, reliable, good enough for daily use for the overwhelming majority of people?
- hammock 2y ago
  Shure BRH440 ($400) or Countryman H6 if you want the low-profile style ($500)
- 0cf8612b2e1e 2y ago
  Not that I am qualified beyond the reviews I found, but I picked up a Shure 58 for $100. Supposedly used by many musicians and can be dropped/abused without issue.
- __mharrison__ 2y ago
  See my response to parent comment.
- roumenguha 2y ago
  Samson Q2U

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

patrakov 2y ago

The one built into a Logitech C922 camera. Works best when there is some sound-absorbing material in the room, such as carpet on the floor, tapestry on the wall, sofa somewhere, and so on.

dist-epoch 2y ago

The further away the microphone, the better acoustics and less ambient noise you'll need.

dspillett 2y ago

I've been finding the pickup on my bluetooth bone-conduction headphones to be surprisingly good enough. I tried it as I found them convenient & comfortable for calls on my phone. People don't notice the difference when I'm using them rather than the company-provided wired over-ear headset. Though that might say as much for the company provided mic as it does for the BC ones!

__mharrison__ 2y ago

I have a Blue Yeti, an AudioTechnica BPHS1 (headset), a Fifine 688 (cheap Shure SM7B competition), and a Behringer C2 (pencil mic). I have also used "professional equipment" sent from studios for me to record with. The professional equipment sounds the best, but the audio device alone (sans mic) was $1200. These days, I use the pencil mic with a Scarlett device. It sounds good enough for my recording needs (I post-process everything regardless). It is out of camera, and pencil mics (or shotgun) are what pros use in camera studios. If you don't mind having a big mic on camera, the Fifine is a lot of bang for the buck. If you are a brand person, go for the Shure. A headset is great for minimizing sound when talking with others (say for a podcast interview), but I have yet to find one that is comfortable for using all day (I'm often teaching day-long courses).

yrxuthst 2y ago
I use a BPHS1, in my case I found that replacing the ear pads with 3rd party gel pads greatly improved the comfort for long meetings.
- __mharrison__ 2y ago
  I replaced my pads with microfiber ones. The pads don't cause me pain, the top of my head hurts after 4 hours or more.
guappa 2y ago
I don't think anyone is going to blow 1 month of their salary to sound better on zoom.
- __mharrison__ 2y ago
  Are you referring to the $1200 audio device? Yes, that is expensive. It is meant for professional recording. The average software salary in the US is about $10k a month. Few spend that much on audio equipment.
  - LtWorf 2y ago

hammock 2y ago

Pencil mic/ shotgun mic is what you want. Rode Videomic is the most accessible one you will find. They are highly directional (hypercardioid). The reason you sound tinny from your laptop is because a) they are not very directional (beamforming helps but it's not enough) and b) the lack of directionality is made up for by too much autogain thus picking up the room. The "podcaster mics" will work too but they are designed to be pulled up to your face. If you don't want the mic in camera then you will not get great results with them.

J_Shelby_J 2y ago

see my thread here. the last posts from me are what I've been using.

microtonal 2y ago

Can't edit my original message, but I just wanted to say: thanks for all the suggestions! I'll research all of them.