I am trying to pick the best microphone, for the best voiceover quality, and I’m having a really hard time picking one. Way too many options. Could someone send me a quick recommendation and save me some time and anguish about this decision? Thanks a ton.
I have a naturally high pitched voice and I love my Blue Yeti. Also I recommend a pop filter for it too because it picks up everything if you are a popper like I am
Just got my pop filter. What a difference. Priceless. Thanks.
Lots of folks in the eLearning business use the Blue Yeti (myself included). It’s a great microphone and works exceptionally well. Good quality sound as well. Its main advantage is that you can set it for a variety of situations. For example, I mostly use it for my single voice, so I put it in the cardioid mode, which is appropriate for a single speaker. You can set it for the omnidirectional pattern for picking up sound all around you. The bidirectional mode is great for two people talking in an interview format and then stereo mode, which might be more appropriate for recording music or perhaps 360-degree video.
Here is a useful tutorial: https://raelyntan.com/blue-yeti-microphone/
As a musician I have tested the Blue microphones before buying the two Shure ones (USB PG58 and a stage microphon) which I use presently. I know some people proclaim Blue to be the best but I don’t like the sound at all (maybe because I am a woman, and needed perfect sound in that frequencies part, also useful for my flute recordings). It is very difficult to keep the ‘sweet spot’ correctly, you absolutely need to shield background noise and a pop filter is a necessity. I was agreeably surprised by the Plantronics sound quality, and it doesn’t need those protections. However will never use it for flute music, only for VO and online training.
Choice of a microphone is so subjective, lot depends on the quality you expect and the budget you have. Best way is to test them, and see which output sound and features you like most. Do not rely on ‘lot of people use that’, because you don’t even know who started to launch that message that Blue is the best…
I have this one:
Plantronics Blackwire C720-M Microsoft Lync USB headset
Hi there!
I record voice over for YouTube videos since a while, and my favourite is the Rode NT USB (it is about 150€).
As a second, cheaper option, the BOYA BY-M1 is a great alternative. It is a lapel mic, price around 20€, with very good quality.
Andrea
Thank you for your responses. Yes, the number of choices are overwhelming and with the advanced technology of audio and video recordings, it is hard to understand all the technicalities. Thank you both for your help.
Which type of tutorials do you need to add VO to? I am using several microphons, and some high-quality headsets (have a Plantronics, of the type used in call centers) can be an alternative because they are always at the same distance of your mouth, you can use it even if you move your head. I have a Shure USB microphon as well, but you need to be more careful to set it up at the correct distance and to isolat from background noises (more than the headset). Quality is better, but use more critical. Have to tell that I mostly record in Audition, not in Captivate. Much easier to improve the clips.
Thank you, Lieve. I like recording my voice standing up and moving around a little, so I guess a headset would do the trick. I will check out the Plantronics for sure. Do you have a specific model you use? Thanks, Agnes
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