How Do You *Not* Sound Like You’re In A Tunnel?

 

I record absolutely everything — Girl In Space, the Write Now podcast, and all of my lines and roles for other shows — with my basic Blue Yeti USB microphone. And one of the questions I’m asked most frequently is, “Sarah, how do you not sound like you’re recording beneath a highway overpass?”

I firmly believe that you do not need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on recording equipment. You can create an amazing, professional-quality show with relatively inexpensive equipment like the Blue Yeti as long as you understand how to record with it.

Get Rid Of The Echo

Hard surfaces and sharp angles are the worst of the recording culprits. Get rid of them with curves and soft, absorbent surfaces. 

I have a large piece of audio foam that I’ve removed ALL angles from by forming it into a semicircle. I also have a foam windscreen atop the mic itself (the little foam hat), as well as a cheap folded towel on my desk to further absorb sound/echoes.

You may also want to have something behind you as well — a hanging duvet, moving blanket, bunch of t-shirts on hangers, whatever you have access to. I don’t have this, because my body blocks and absorbs all sound coming in and out of what I’ve dubbed my TUBE OF PODCASTING.

Sometimes my cat, Midori, joins me… and while she makes an excellent sound dampener, the purring, sound of constant movement, and coating of cat hair really cancel out any benefits.

Here’s a real-life picture of my setup:

Get Close To The Mic… No, Closer!

Most people record way too far away from their microphone.

Ideally, your mouth should be about a fist’s space away from the mic when you speak into it, and the gain on the mic (the dial on the back, if you’re using a Blue Yeti) or your recording software should be adjusted so that when you speak at that distance, the sound registers around -12dB.

And if you’re using a Blue Yeti, you should be talking into the front of the microphone, not the top.

Monitor Yourself

Be sure to wear headphones while you record to get a good feel for how you sound. If you’re following the above two tips, your voice should sound up-close and velvety to your ears.

Questions?

I love to help both new and established podcasters find success in podcasting. Type your questions in the comments below and I’ll do the best I can to help you out!

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