Audio Setup Guide: Microphones, Positioning, and Room Treatment

Audio quality can make or break your content. Viewers will tolerate mediocre video, but poor audio causes them to click away. Here’s how to capture professional-quality audio for your screen recordings.

Microphone Types

Different microphones serve different purposes. Understanding the types helps you choose the right one.

USB Microphones

USB microphones are the easiest option for most creators. They plug directly into your Mac and work immediately.

Recommended options:

• Samson Q2U: Versatile, affordable, works as USB or XLR
• Blue Yeti: Popular choice with multiple pickup patterns
• Rode NT-USB Mini: Compact with excellent sound quality
• Shure MV7: Hybrid USB/XLR with professional sound

XLR Microphones

XLR microphones require an audio interface but offer better sound quality and more flexibility.

Benefits:

• Better preamps in dedicated interfaces
• More microphone options
• Professional-grade signal path
• Expandable setup

Lavalier Microphones

Lav mics clip to your clothing and are great when you need to move around or keep equipment out of frame.

Microphone Positioning

How you position your microphone matters as much as which microphone you use.

Distance

Position your microphone 6-12 inches from your mouth. Too close creates proximity effect (boomy bass), too far picks up room noise.

Angle

Angle the microphone slightly off-axis from your mouth to reduce plosives (harsh “p” and “b” sounds).

Pop Filters

Use a pop filter or foam windscreen to further reduce plosives. This is essential for close-miking.

Room Acoustics

Your room’s acoustics significantly affect recording quality.

Common Problems

• Echo: Hard surfaces reflect sound, creating echo
• Reverb: Large, empty rooms have noticeable reverb
• Background Noise: HVAC, computers, traffic

Solutions

1. Acoustic Panels: Absorb reflections from walls
2. Thick Curtains: Reduce reflections from windows
3. Rugs and Carpets: Absorb sound from floors
4. Bookshelves: Books are natural sound diffusers
5. Portable Vocal Booth: Compact solutions for small spaces

The Closet Trick

Recording in a closet filled with clothes provides natural sound absorption. It’s not glamorous, but it works.

Recording Settings

Configure your audio settings properly:

Sample Rate

Use 48kHz for video production. This is the standard for video and provides excellent quality.

Bit Depth

24-bit recording provides more headroom and dynamic range than 16-bit.

Levels

Aim for peaks around -12dB to -6dB. This leaves headroom for peaks while maintaining a healthy signal level.

Multiple Audio Sources

Often you’ll want to capture both your microphone and system audio (for software demos).

PixelRecorder handles this elegantly:

• Record your microphone as a separate stream
• Capture system audio independently
• Sync everything with embedded SMPTE timecode
• Mix in post-production for maximum flexibility

Audio Monitoring

Always monitor your audio while recording:

• Use headphones to hear what you’re capturing
• Check for background noise before long recordings
• Verify levels aren’t clipping (going into the red)

Post-Processing Tips

A little post-processing goes a long way:

1. Noise Reduction: Remove constant background noise
2. EQ: Gentle adjustments to enhance clarity
3. Compression: Even out volume levels
4. Normalization: Bring audio to standard levels

Conclusion

Great audio doesn’t require expensive equipment. With the right microphone, proper positioning, and attention to room acoustics, you can achieve professional results. Combined with PixelRecorder’s multi-stream recording and timecode sync, you have complete control over your final mix.