Whether you’re recording a podcast, live-streaming Fortnite, or trying to sound great in a job interview, your microphone technique is critical. Poor microphone positioning will make even a great mic sound muffled, distorted, or just plain bad. If you want professional audio quality and, more importantly, want to be comfortable while recording your podcast, we’ve got some best practices to help with your next recording.
This article is based in large part on Episode #005 of Creating The Greatest Show featuring special guest Liam Gousios and Host Casey Cheshire. Liam blew our minds with how many podcasting audio best practices he covered. You’re going to want to give it a listen.
Picking the Right Spot to Position Your Microphone
Before we dive in to the nitty gritty details of angles and how close to you your mic needs to be let’s touch on your space. When you pick where you’ll record you want to think about how noisy the area is. If your mic is too close to something noisy like a fan or air conditioner, you run the risk of picking up unwanted background noise that no amount of positioning will fix!
READ MORE: How to Choose the Right Podcast Recording Space
Should I Hold My Microphone?
No. You definitely want to plan on using a boom arm. A boom arm holds the microphone securely and allows you to move it in three dimensions. The boom arm makes it very easy to position the microphone correctly while maximizing your comfort throughout your podcast recording. Whether you’re sitting or standing you can move the microphone to you.
There are tons of boom arm options for positioning your microphone. You should think about your surroundings while recording and how you record best. Will you be standing or sitting? Will you always be recording in the same space? Some boom arms clamp to your desk while others utilize a freestanding floor stand. Pick what will make you the most comfortable and this will lead you to recording the best-sounding audio possible.
“You want to move the mic to you, not move yourself to the mic”
Liam Gousios, Episode #005 of Creating The Greatest Show
We’ve got a boom arm recommendation to get you started.
READ MORE: How to Choose The Best Podcast Gear to Get Started
READ MORE: Finding The Right Podcasting Location
How to Position Your Microphone and Yourself When Recording a Podcast
Yes, we’re spending a lot of time talking about comfort but it cannot be overstated. If you are uncomfortable it will trickle down to audio quality. You’ll find yourself struggling to stay in that uncomfortable position for the duration of your podcast, even if you’re having a great conversation with your guest. If you try to move to a more comfortable position while recording, it can be visually and audibly distracting for both your guest and audience while also disrupting the framing of your video.
If you’re hunched over or you don’t have enough room to move, the audience will be able to both see and hear that you’re in discomfort. When you’re leaned over too far or curled up, you take shallower, rapid breath. That causes you to speaks unnaturally which distracts from what you’re saying. Positioning yourself well by sitting upright will let more air into your chest allowing you to speak comfortably and sound great.
How Close to My Mouth Should I Position My Microphone?
The distance between you and your microphone is key to recording amazing audio. If your microphone is too far away, you’ll sound distant and muffled. Your microphone will also miss the lower frequencies of your voice if it is positioned too far from you. Don’t make it harder for your podcast audience to hear you.
If you position your microphone too close you can end up with distorted audio, clipping, or lots of plosives. Your voice can also sound very bass-heavy. Because of this, you don’t want to position yourself right over your microphone.
For optimal audio quality, start by making a fist and placing it between your mouth and your microphone. The distance between your mouth and your microphone should be roughly a fist to six inches. This will capture your voice clearly and accurately, without muffling or distortion.
READ MORE: How To Choose The Right Podcast Microphone
Always Record Test Audio When Positioning Your Microphone
There’s an easy way to see if your microphone positioning is successful. Record some test audio! On the play back you’ll be able to hear if your microphone placement needs to be adjusted. If your voice doesn’t sound natural, try changing your seating position or the distance the mic is from your mouth. Like so many things about creating a great-sounding podcast, trial and error work. With some testing and adjustments you’ll be able to achieve great podcast audio before you record and release episodes to your audience.
Microphone Placement: Why Where Your Mouth is Matters
Your microphone placement is part personal preference, part situational. You can position your microphone directly in front of your mouth, a little to either side, or slightly above or below your mouth. That is to say, your microphone should be just about anywhere but directly in front of your mouth. This will cut down on the impact of harsh air bursts that the microphone will pick up
For example, Liam mentioned that his off-center microphone preference allowed him to look at the computer screen in front of him. However, when he read lines for a scripted podcast in a recording studio, he preferred to have the microphone come down from above.
As another example, Casey mentioned that he prefers to place the mic below his mouth. This lets him see his computer screen, capture great audio, and avoid any visual distraction from the mic being in his line of sight.
Should I Angle my Podcast Microphone?
When setting up your mic position, it’s important to think about the angle of the mic in relation to your mouth. You want the microphone to be roughly at a 45-degree angle from the center of your face. This position ensures that the center of the microphone is not too close to your mouth. Plosives can be at their worst when speaking head-on, directly into the microphone capsule. Angling your microphone lessens the impact of the harsh sounds created by plosives.
READ MORE: How to Improve A Room’s Sound Quality
You’re Ready to Position Your Microphone
By following these tips, you can position your microphone for optimal podcast audio quality. Just remember to position the mic at a distance of about six inches from your mouth at a 45-degree angle to your face. Find a quiet spot with no background noise. With the right microphone position, your podcast episodes will sound amazing. Good luck with your recording and happy podcasting!
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