Podcast/Zoom Mic Setup 16Jun23

MLC loaned me a very capable Audio Technica AT2020 condenser mic and I cabled it into my station in Summit. I have noticed how podcasters have a sound that likely differs from their raw voices, plus one should compensate for any anomalies in their microphone freq response. Below I show my "podcasting" setup, including the AT2020 and settings through Audacity to adjust my speech in real time (or on recordings) and compensate for the mic. The issue with condenser mics in general is that they are sensitive to background noise like fans and typing. If you cast while having these things in the background then a dynamic mic might be a better choice ~ the condenser is more responsive and sensitive for sure however. For my voice I use several settings to get to sound like the "coolest kid on the planet." First apply noise compensation (I used MuseFX's Noisegate here), next apply compression (Apple's own AUDynamicsProcessor here) and finally adjust the response curve with some EQ (here I show Apple's AUGaphicEQ - roll off lows below speech, boost lower base, attenuate the muddy base @ 150Hz-200Hz and boost highs). There are other ways to do these things with other plug -ins or apps, for real time or recordings, but doing these three things will definitely kick up your voice. Adjust the last EQ step for your own mic's curve and your own voice's needs. The AT2020's response is very flat. I'm using a tripod now; we'll see if a boom is needed.

Update 03Jul23 ~ No Boom Needed... I returned a nice quiet boom setup for this mic as the desk tripod was fine, especially given my use of a condenser mic. Condensers pick up everything and can do so from some distance, depending on gain ~ the AT2020 grabs my voice fine. Were I to be using a dynamic mic, I'd likely have preferred the boom in order to get it closer to my face... MLC uses dynamic mics as he's always typing while casting and the condenser would grab too much background noise.