How to Get Professional Level Sound From a Budget Microphone
By: Fourwind Films
Tags: Microphone, DIY Projects, Budget, Music Production, Home Recording Studio

By Andrea Green

Mic by Michael Rehfeldt, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Podcasting and DIY recording have been on the rise thanks to newer, more affordable technology making it possible to record your own podcast or music project. However, achieving a professional-level sound from home requires some strategy.

Whether you’re working on a podcast or dabbling in DIY recording for your band, music, or film project, or even going a step further to start your own record label, the quality of your equipment won’t always be up to par with professional recording studios. In fact, recording equipment is often the biggest contributing factor to the costs of a new recording label, and renting out a sound studio can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars per hour. The good news is there are ways to improve the overall quality of budget-friendly recording equipment. Here are some tips that you can apply to your future recordings.

Preparing Your Space for Recording

Preparing your space can drastically boost quality. There are a variety of ways you can go about this.

Soundproofing your room can reduce unwanted noise during recording sessions. A great DIY way to do this is using tape or weather stripping to seal off windows and doors.

Another option is using a microphone isolation box. Isolating your mic will go a long way when it comes to capturing crisp and clean vocals without going through the hassle of soundproofing an entire room. And while you can purchase microphone isolation boxes, opting to make your own may be worth it if you have the time to spare as it only requires a few easily obtainable materials.

What to Look for in a Budget Microphone?

It goes without saying that budget microphones aren’t created equally, but some mics can give you more value for your money. The amount you’ll want to spend may vary but somewhere along the lines of $80-$500 will work for high-quality home recordings.

You’ll want something durable, affordable, and reliable. Several mics fit this description. The Audio-Technica AT2020 and is a great option due to its affordability and pristine sound quality. If you’re looking for something a little more user-friendly, the Blue Yeti Nano USB microphone is also a good choice. The Blue Yeti Nano USB mic is a solid plug-and-play microphone that offers less versatility than the AT2020 but may be easier for people without any previous recording experience.

Fourwind Films can also vouch for the Sennheiser ME 66 Shotgun, Zoom L/R mic, and Sennheiser G3 wireless lavalier mic which they’ve used for their Feature & a short podcast and documentary projects.

Things to Note When Mixing

There’s a chance that the recording quality from a budget microphone may still be lacking even if you consider the previous tips. Luckily, you can also improve the quality of the recording while sound mixing using compressors and limiters.

Adding reverb and echo are other great ways to improve the overall quality of vocal recordings. Using reverb gives the recording a fuller and more natural sound. However, it’s important to note that overusing reverb can dampen the recording. It’s best to play around with reverb until you get the optimal result as there’s no one size fits all solution.

If there are other questions you want to be answered in a blog post, let us know at info@fourwindfilms.com or visit our website at www.fourwindfilms.com. Also, we work with a large, diverse community of crew and artists working in most aspects of the filmmaking process and are always happy to help make connections. And we are always building our community! Send us your work for review or feedback.