Episode Details

Episode 148, June 30, 2014

John Melley on Marketing VO

George on noise reduction on the mic side

Dan will talk about normalization

0:00:44  Show opens

0:02:26  What is wrong with this picture?  You CAN snowmobile the beaches of Puerto Rico.

0:04:13  Microphone choice affects exterior noise.  George discusses.

Band-aids are common, but if you can eliminate the noise from the source.  Use a mic that rejects noise.  Mics not good at this: omni-directional mics.

0:05:32  Cardioid mics are the most common VO mic tend to pick more of what’s in front.  Supercardioids and hypercardioids tend to have a more limited pickup pattern and will pick up less noise.

0:06:37  Shotgun mics are the first that come to mind that do reject background noise, but they’re not miracle solutions.  They pick up a “node” of what’s behind the mic.  

0:07:26  These mics are more sensitive, that means more sensitive to noise in their pickup patterns.  So, positioning these mics is key.  

0:07:56  George shows dead zone for his AT-875R shotgun mic. http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT875R-Short-Shotgun-Microphone/dp/B000BQ79W0

 He goes on to say it’s one of the most affordable shotgun mics around $150.

0:08:39  Dan’s mic is the CAD-E100S.  It looks like a typical cardioid.  It’s a super-cardioid that reflects the style of a shotgun mic.  See sample at http://alturl.com/6xq26

0:09:36  If you have severe noise issues, then you can lean toward a dyanmic mic, Shure SM7B for example.  See sample at http://www.fullcompass.com/product/270444.html?gclid=COihtKqnpL8CFQGmaQodWU4A_g

0:10:12  This mic is designed to be used very close.  

0:10:35  Another way to solve the issue is to use a ribbon mic and using it sideways and speaking over the top of it.  This is just a way to “think outside the box.”  

0:12:46  Dan joins the conversation.  

0:14:16  Break

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