Love your channel! I'm more of a cinematographer, but I desperately need to understand audio gear. As a solo shooter I need good audio and this channel has been invaluable
This was a splendid video Curtis! As a production sound mixer and boom op in Phoenic, Arizona, your advice is 100% correct, for there are so many factors that lead to choosing a specific microphone for a job or scenario.
I’ve been using an SM58 + 2i2 for recording audiobooks & UA-cam videos for 5 years, and still have not outgrown that combo. It is very forgiving, especially if you add a Cloudlifter or FEThead.
More than anything, you are a DAD! You are caring, knowledgeable, experienced, generous, thoughtful, and enthusiastic! Congratulations in achieving that place in the world where you not only lead others, but provide them with the best reason for following you... to become something like you...a human being in full. If only our other leaders in this world had DAD's like you, this world would be a better place. This channel is more than just about audio-video tech. Thanks for your teachings! Now let's find the tech that reinforces the message of who we are and wish to project to the world.
@@curtisjudd we know! but you are actually a dad, not just reproductively, but spiritually. there is a lot of heart and soul in your videos. commendable and its own reward! much success in 2025!
Thanks Curtis. Such good advice. I'm an experienced stills amateur, with some basic sound knowledge trying to up my game with video. So many aspects to learn sound, lighting, storytelling, editing. I now own a lot of pretty good kit and could usefully do a lot more practicing to improve my skills level. You remain my 'go to' for all things sound. I haven't yet done one of your courses, but may well consider doing so. I joined a UK amateur cine club to help gain some experience, which helps to some extent. I think your YT channel is an excellent resource which offers insight and a voice of reason, without the hype and BS so prevelant elsewhere. I don't ever recall you referencing anything as a "game changer" which so many other YT 'voices' are prone to say far too frequently (and incorrectly) IMO. My issue is finding enough time to get sufficiently 'good enough' at the various multi-disciplines necessary to make good content. So much to learn. I'm probably weakest in story telling and video editing. In truth im possibly better tnan most novices at videography, sound and lighting but still have a way to go. I suspect I could manage to do a basic video, technically OK, but it would probably prove to be 'pretty' but boring - 'chewing gum' for the eyes/ears. I have always had more ambition than my reach. I feel in time, with a lot more practice and project work, that I might even become quite good. Its easy to be intimidated by excellent quality videography seen elsewhere. But I have to keep reminding myself it was likely done by an experienced team with a reasonably healthy budget. I guess im just frustrated by the slow rate of progress. I'm excellent at 'seeing', composition and stills (having won many awards for stills work). Maybe my mistake is attempting to learn and do everything? Trying to run before I can walk? Practice, time, training, seeking feedback and opportunities to collaborate and assist should all help. Meanwhile I keep absorbing your perspectives on sound. You promote yourself as 'sound and light'. I see a lot of sound stuff, but very little on lighting. Is that a reflection of your YT output or is the YT algorithm biasing my offered vids to sound?
It may be useful to narrow your focus, at least for a bit. “Bubblegum” for the eyes and ears are useful projects for building production and post technical skills. I found partnering with a director to make short films useful. They focused on story and vision and editing, I focused on capturing sound and post mixing. I used to cover more on lighting but lighting videos don’t seem to garner much interest from the audience here, quite possibly because my lighting designs aren’t as “cinematic” as many would like and I’m not as skilled a gaffer as I am in sound.
I started with at 2020 with presonus audiobox 96, than i upgraded to the deity s mic2 with m-audio air 6, than a bought a 890 dollars mic SHURE ksm42 with the rodecaster pro2, i thought the ksm42 will be the end game for me, but it sounded terrible on my voice, so i turn back to the deity smic2, and finally i bought the shure sm7b,and it's so good on my voice and my workspace...i wich i had the knowledge i have sooner 😢...but it's a journey i should passe through ❤. Thx judd i lurned a lot from you,and i still.
Thank you so much for this video. It really gives people a place to start. I've been watching your videos for years. It may be time for me to finally put all the great information you've been putting out to work. Thank you for all you do!
i have a shure mv7 plus mic, its pc performance not so good for the money it makes, i also have a dlz creator xs, will the mic need a motu sound card?or will it do the job or dlz creator xs?what do you recommend?also what cable should i buy for the mic? is it usb and xlr... kinda disappointing from the mic... thanks a lot
Curtis, I've been following you since ~20,000 subs, and you have no idea how much you have helped me, so I'm dropping by to say THANK YOU. I love your videos/channel. I'm still using my Audio-Technica AT2005USB from way back, and it was bought with your recommendation. I used it with USB for a while until I was able to afford a decent XLR interface. I haven't had the need to change the microphone all those years. We don't need to spend like crazy, we need to spend smart. THANKS! I wish you an awesome 2025!
I’m still working with a Rode Podmic. When you combine it with a DBX preamp, you get a really nice sound for not a lot of money (around 250 dollars for both). That’s a hundred less than a Shure SM7B with the added bonus of being able to control sibilance etc. Just my two pence if anyone is after a decent sound on a budget. EDIT: I write this without watching the video first haha. It still stands though. Good budget set up for beginners imo.
I don't know what is the best microphone. But i do know which is the best audio UA-cam channel...yours. It's always good to see you how keep going at that level after all these years with your precise, calm and elegant style. Cheers Curtis and congrats... and happy 2025.
In audio as we learn we always think of things as upgrading. As I got more experience with all the elements (placement, product, recorder, recording environment, post production), I found I over bought and under utilized. I am back down to what others would consider basics, but I produce better sound that when having all the high end stuff. Current UA-cam production audio is AT875R to a Mixpre 6 to Adobe Audition.
As a director cinematographer editor this is best advice, period . thank you. what you say about audio gear is true about cameras and any other gear. its the experience,willingness to think out of box,common sense and not to swayed by marketing gimmicks makes you a better audio guy or filmmaker . always grateful for your wise suggestions and guidance.
Recently, my work hired a film crew to make some video biographies for our website. The guys did a great job and, now, I have a pro benchmark to hear what my voice can sound like. Now, with my existing gear, I am going to try to emulate that sound.
“the best camera is the one that's with you” likewise “the best microphone is the one that's with you”, forgetting that fact, people like me constantly buy these one after the other, rather than improving the skills!
The mic you have with you is a good place to start. Once you learn to make decent recordings with that, there are legitimate reasons to upgrade from there, but you'll be better equipped to make a decision that makes sense and improves or expands what you can do.
I help a friend who's High Schooler wanted to start a Video Podcast setup for Christmas. His Dad has money and the son was asking for $$$. His Dad gave me a totally workable budget. (He already had a FX30 talked down from a FX3) so I went with a RCDuo for the interface. For the Mic He has the beginnings of a great Studio space. I have a leftover Earthworks Ethos that I sold him for "openbox" price and yes it a very nice mic but I wanted him to know with this mic he has to get his room acoustics better. I also got his 4 Sound blankets but I told him he has to work on in for two months on his own before I come in and assist him. I got him the Elagto Prompter because I want him to learn how to use a prompter because all Pro use a Prompter these days. No podcast really needs a Neumann U 87 Ai with Shelford Channel Strip (what he asked for)
I totally agree with what you said here as there are so many variables when choosing audio equipment. It took me a long time to find the best audio equipment and microphones and acoustic treatment that suited for what I wanted. The first mic I used for voice recording years ago was a Samson C01U microphone but I didn't like it as it was a bit noisy. I switched to a Rode NT1-A and Scarlet 2i2 and the mic was terrible on my voice, the recordings sounded too bright and harsh and no amount of EQ could fix it. I then bought a Neumann TLM 102 as I liked how it sounded on some peoples voice. It didn't work for me either as the high frequencies a bit harsh on my voice. I have a Sennheier ME66 & K6P and it didn't sound great on my voice either so I used it to get audio recordings of birds with Tascam DR-100 MK II and a Tascam DR 701-D and it worked fine for that. The next microphone I tried was a 2016 Rode NT1 as it has a flat frequency response and microphones that boost high frequencies in some ways can make my voice sound a bit harsh. I found it too flat sounding and couldn't get the clarity I wanted. The next microphone I tried was a Sennheiser MKH-416 and tried it for bird call recording and I found there was too much noise when I used it with the Tascam recorder in quieter situations. I did find the mic was the first one I have used that suited my voice. I now use it with a Sound Devices MixPre 3 II and Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones and I like it for recording voiceovers in my treated room. I also have a Rycote HC-22 which I use sometimes in places where I know it probably won't pick up interference. Switching audio recorders from the Tascam DR 701-D to the Sounddevices also helped me get cleaner and better recordings from the microphones I use due to the much cleaner preamps and warmer sound it produces.
What I understood from my little experience, in front of which I bow to your deep professionalism, I say that there is no better microphone than the other, that is, it depends on the type of voice of the person. Obviously your profession allows you to use an infinity of microphones adapted to the situation (location, surrounding noises, voice timbre of the person) that I can't have since I only have 5 microphones (all for the video but no podcast). I got a lot of valuable information from your videos. Thank you.
I went down the rabbit hole before I bought my my first setup. Just for gaming, but a setup that will (hopefully) stay with me for a very long time and can be used for other things in the future. I went with the Neumann TLM 103 microphone, MOTU M2 audio interface and DT990 headphones. LOVE this setup!
Shure Beta 58a düşünüyorum sm58 yerine denedinizmi aralarındaki farkları sizin görüşünüz nedir ? Süperkardiod yalıtımsız ev stüdyomda daha iyi olucağını düşünüyorum
"If they don't know all the factors about your situation, do not trust that answer." Majority of all the health professionals are dismissed from here on. 😉
I have learn to mix and record in profesional headphones , monoaural, balance eight tracks, creating récordings with great sound quality. And I always believed in my ears and the cultural heritage of learn of the Classic recordings that I admire of all generes of músic.
If I'm living in a well-acoustically-treated room, my answer to the "what's the best microphone" question would be the Beyerdynamic DT-797 which is a headphone that has a condenser microphone. But because I temporarily live in untreated space, I either have to use an expander in my Behringer MDX2600 (I have a MIC2200 mic preamp) or go with a dynamic microphone that is less sensitive. Now if only Beyerdynamic would make a version of DT-797 headphone with a dynamic microphone. That would be nice. I do have a Rodecaster Duo, but the noise gate is very abrupt regardless of which threshold I set it to and that is due to the fact that even if I am in a quiet bedroom at my family's house, my condenser microphone can still pick up background noise while using my Rodecaster Duo. And this is even though I have set my levels correctly. Of course, as you mentioned in the video, it depends on your skill and context. Even the Neumann U87 AI won't help you improve your speaking and personally, I'm bad at this. It does take practice even when positioned correctly on front of a camera (actually, I have a webcam; one day I'll get me a real camera but even a real mirrorless or DSLR camera won't help me either). So yeah, your gear does not matter if you are struggling with what type of content you are trying to create. For me, I'm planning on doing video reviews and game commentary/let's plays of video games. And of course, even if you have the skills to do a video such as a podcast or video review, I do believe it's important to have the right gear as well. If the noise gate with an infinite to 1 ratio does not work for you in a Rodecaster Duo or a Tascam Mixcast 4, you might have to invest in an outboard preamp and MDX2600 Composer Pro XL or do audio editing in post and bypass the noise gate in the Rodecaster Duo/Pro II. That kind of defeats the Rodecaster's internal processing, does it? Of course, it's important to get your recording right from the source. No amount of processing can fix your bad recording. It all comes down to having the right gear and the skill to do it, but then the gear won't matter if you lack the skills to do recordings. Of course, for my use-case, I would have to use outboard gear for voice processing when I'm on a Teams call or a Zoom meeting.
I have novices ask me the very same question, and I agree whole heartedly with Curtis. I have also used the car comparison and the "horses for courses" equivalent. The sam approach applies to virtually all items of audio equipment, Take time to learn the pros and cons of what you have and use that to inform of where you might be able to improve. Also experiment with what you have.. you never know, you might find a new approach that becomes the next big step forward.
Spot on. I agree with all of this. I’m an Audio guy and I still use the SM58 for Podcasting with convenience in sub-optimal recording environments. Because it’s the right choice for the situation not most expensive. Sounds great every time. It’s the skill that matters.
Fantastic advice thanks Curtis. For podcasts that involve interviewing remote guests, I believe there's a massive switch-off factor (within 30 secs) if the guest's mic setup and placement is sub-optimal. I've seen so many world experts being interviewed and they are "unlistenable". So a 2025 question might be "How to guide a remote guest for the clearest audio?" We've all seen guests using a cheap wired Apple Earpods (that place the mic near the mouth) sound way better than guests using fancy expensive mics that are too far away from their mouth. Of course, if they are in a reverberant room, everything is worse. FYI, I use a Heil PR 40 and Rodecaster Duo (new and I'm still learning how to use it) in a sound-deadened bedroom. As you suggested it would be great to do some 2-way tests with one or two of your other followers. (If interested please reply.) Curtis, thanks so much for your informative, helpful and honest podcast. I look forward to every episode. Greetings from Brisbane down under.
I have grow in a dificult enviroment and I have learn to be adaptative to hard conditions that start with a good listener an it finish with a deft producer.
Holy smokes, Curtis. I'm smiling. 58 years taking pictures and dealing with interview audio. Lately I'm finding that "simple gear can do decent work" is valid across the arts. I can do less post on EOS R6 CR3 RAW photos, and I love them. For ALL video, the iPhone 16 Pro and Apple ProRes LOG are fine. And in a pinch, the 16 Pro's built-in mics (or Shure MV88+) plus Izotope Ozone Elements are fine for informal music performances.
I never see a day I part with my two SM58s. I recorded a lot of stories using the mics and will always love them...even though I mostly use an SM7B these days. (I'm in a sometimes noisy apartment, and both mics do well with eliminating background noises. [Kind of to your point about one's situation. I'm afraid a condenser mic would pick up too much that I might not notice when recording.])
LOL... I have been listening and following this a few other channels long enough to know what the answer was. Always solid advise here. No hype, shilling or inflated egos, just unbiased real world useful information.
Hey cool, my first mic was a Rode NT-1A as well…I then started looking for a “better mic” and ended up buying the TLM 103….a great mic but just picked up the mice running under the neighbors house….my voice sounded good on it but I had a real hard time getting it to fix into my mixes….then after a few years of knowing what type of sound I like….i bought the Sony C-80…and let me tell you…it is the absolute mic made for my voice and desired pitch and tone I’m looking for. It has a real strong mid low range and a very forward mid high range both in the clean sections of those. So my $500 mic is actually better than my $1200 mic. Not because it is a better build quality but because like you said…it fits the job.
Great advice! I'm starting to tell me just get any microphone you like the look of and start from there. I've counted around 1,000 mics at B&H. As you said, any microphone used correctly will work. I'm also telling people that it's not bad to have a few microphones. A dynamic (like that Shure SM58), a condenser, a shotgun, etc. Cooks have many knives. Gardeners many spades. You and I have many mics! :) It's a shame most people are afraid of this stuff. Even if you buy a mic and end up using a different one there will come a time when you're happy you have that first mic in your drawer.
Curtis I learned to much from you man! I appreciate your time. I was thinking about upgrading my microphone but I will work on my skills instead of upgrading the microphone myself. Cheers and wish you the best in 2025!
4:44 Very good recommendation for a mic cable. Most beginners will cheap out and get a $7 Amazon cable that says "Premium" in the title. Then they wonder why they have audio buzz and cell phone hits. Choosing a quality cable like the Canare will sound clean and quiet for a lifetime pretty much.
Hi Curtis i have requested for You, please review comica VM40 Wirless Shotgun mic, And please compare it with mic such as mke 416 and mke50 , and Please share your thoughts.
Will a Shure sm11 work with a zoom f2? Someone said their Shure sm58 wouldn’t work with it, and suspected it was because the Zoom provides 2.5v of power that messed with the Shure.
Great video Curtis Judd! I have a question. I'm a filmmaker and I usually use the Rode Wireless Pro or DJI Mic 2. But I'm thinking about buying the TASCAM FR-AV2 and I'd like your recommendation on a shotgun mic to mount on a boom. I'm looking for something that's easy to operate and not too complicated. Greetings from Mexico
Don’t trust what I say (I don’t know enough about the particulars of what you’re doing), but I’d look at a RODE NTG3 or Sennheiser MKH416 if that’s the budget you have. If not, consider a DEITY S-Mic 2 or 3.
For recording sounds at any given moment, the mic you have is always better than the one you think you should have. I'd say if you decide on an XLR mic and an interface over a USB mic for podcasting or streaming, and you have a strict budget, try the Behringer XM8500 dynamic mic w/ 25' cable for $34 and with the Fifine SC3 (includes some fun effects) for $45. Do your part with these, and nobody is going to complain about your audio.
Thanks Curtis, good advice. Unfortunatly there is not any single person around me, that is used in audio recording. I think I have to figure it out myself, with the help off some experienced UA-cam guides ;-) .
What is the best mic. This was my exact question this afternoon. I played with six of my pencil-shaped mics on a boom stand recording into a Zoom F2. Wanted a small and easy setup. Mics ranged from 15 to 300 dollars. What was evident: all of them sounded fine, some needed a little EQ though. 300 dollar shotgun of course shined out of rhe box, 15 USD mic had some weak RF interference (not unusable with some treatment in post), good OG Rode VideoMicro sounds great when you add a bit of low-end boost :) Moral: even an inch or a few degrees of angle difference has a huge impact. The bottom line is: the best microphone is always the one you have access to :)
Really nice you brought it up. Just to ask that question reveals that you are not experienced at all. All that things you brought up what’s make a mic good it’s also your room that have impact the sound. Especially for a mic as U87 that’s required a treated room because it will bring up everything as reflection etc. :) But it’s also about the experience to know :)
Curtis...unfiltered...just laying the smackdown and dropping bombs. Your answer is THE answer. Most of us don't realize it until after we've purchased microphone #19. I think ultimately, we get gadgetitis (I know I did) and we have this incessant need for bigger/better/faster/more. And then when our favorite "influencer" has a certain piece of gear, you want to understand why and end up buying it. Ultimately, I think it leans heavily in favor of wants versus needs and use case(s) but more importantly, as you indicated, good mic technique.
Let's be honest, we write audio for videos mainly for UA-cam. All that is needed is the absence of strong flaws, such as those that occur during clipping. We also want sound without echo and reverberations. But these things boom mics pick up only in bad rooms, and lavalier mics pick up only in very bad rooms. Noise... I think that almost all discussions of noise in reviews and comparisons of microphones and recorders are far beyond the level that is important for UA-cam. It's like comparing a Hasselblad X1D and a Fuji GFX, when the end product is Instagram photos. I would guess that the median of how people listen to UA-cam is through MacBook speakers. Those who use quality headphones may hear noise from some h4n, but will they pay attention to it ? I doubt it. Let's say you bought recorder A, which is a little noisier than recorder B - will this have any impact on the quality of the final video? Will it interfere with your artistic or narrative goals ? N E V E R !!!
I’m not saying gear doesn’t matter, just that when starting out, one can start with simple gear and LEARN to use it for getting the best results. Also, some here are producing professionally, and in those cases, some of these issues may matter.
@@curtisjudd When I watch UA-cam about video and audio, I get the feeling that there is some kind of layer of professionals between UA-cam and big Hollywood-level productions. At least that's how these creators position themselves, that they are doing something that is more serious than UA-cam, and that's why they need all these Sennheisers, and REDs. But I still don't understand what they do and where I can watch the content of these professionals.🙃
I more or less made a similar video but based around SM7B… I was messaging another content creator who was using the SM7B but their audio sounded awful, they agreed that it is not sounding good and they had no idea why… So many potential issues from a fake mic to incorrect setup at many points along the audio chain… There’s no “best” anything… “best” under certain circumstances but a lot of the time it’s preference also…
People often ask me what is best between Mic A B and C which in itself becomes a long explanation of... use case, Tone of voice, treated or untreated room, do you need noise rejection, indoor or outdoors? For me the Rode NTG5 sounds better as a shot gun mic in studio than the MKH50 yet everyone says MKH50. Reason: The bass tone sounding muddy with my voice depending on placement while the Rode NTG5 is more predictable especially when not being completely stationary. When working as a background actor the production chose the NTG5 over the MKH50 themselves calling the NTG5 the safer bet due to the more neutral tone. For known talent with previous experience using a given mic is it is easy to say Mic A or B.
This is a great channel, with first hand, honest info. Same for this episode. Please, keep up the great work in 2025! I do get the 'right' microphone problem, My first 'good' microphone was a sE 2000, from a pack in 2013 or so. I still like its siblings, the 2200, and the T2. I followed a few 'best microphone' advises before that one, that just didn't fit me.
The best microphone is simple, it’s the Sanken CS3E. It’s great indoors and outdoors and worth every penny. Ever since I got that microphone a couple years ago I’ve sold all the other ones and that’s all I use and it’s always fantastic audio quality. I bought it after I heard that Quentin Tarantino‘s sound recordist use that microphone more than anything else.
Same question I'm asked about photography camera gear, which my usual answer is "if you're starting from scratch, have passion and want to improve, but not buying something you'll want to upgrade in 6 months, I'll buy used a 250$ Canon 6D, a 70$ Ef 28-105 f3.5-4.5 and a 30$ Ef 50 f1.8 so with just 350$ you'll be good enough to learn, but also good enough to shoot a wedding, as I did my first one with exactly that kit many years ago. And if you get tired of it, you can resell all of it without a single dollar of penalty". But then, they always end up buying something new, more expensive, and with a crappy kit lens, just to tell me after some months that they don't like camera photography, phone pics are better, easier and faster, and they have resold the kit for less then half the money they paid for it...
Is a TLM 103 straight into a C70 set on "Auto" (and 1080p) ridiculous, or what? The sound was better with the MixPre3, but I doubt anyone on UA-cam notices, and the new set-up is super easy. P.S. The Shure KSM32 is very fantastically great.
That's why I felt confused when Bandrew said a certain mic didn't sound great. All mics in his videos sound great, or at least decent, unless he deliberately makes them sound bad (and sometimes he fails 😀). It's obvious that knowledge, room treatment, and mic technique define almost everything in the world of recording.
It's like the photography equivalent. And the answer is: "The best one is usually the one you have access to when you need it." Learn how to use it and you'll know what your needs are.
When a mic emphasizes the s-lauts it means the frequency response is not flat. So by definition I would not consider that a good mic. Why are Schoeps considered good? Because they are pretty flat and have a very consistent pickup pattern across the frequency range. Those are good mics in an absolute sense. A SM58 is not a good mic as well. Can it be very usable and suited to a specific task? For sure. Thousands of recordings prove that. I bought a pair of CC8, which are pretty close to a good mic and still quite affordable. That pair is quite versatile and can be used for most typical recording needs. No, I can not make a Blumlein or MS recording with it, but you can use it for voice or any instrument or stereo recordings and it does sound pleasant, IMO better in that regard than a KM184, which can sound harsh sometimes. Again because not being flat enough. And yes, I am aware the CC8 is not perfect in that regard as well, but it is close enough normally and does not break the bank. I would in general advise to take a closer look at SDC and not only looking at LDCs, because of the inherent downsides they have. When you do not need/ want the frequency dependent change in pattern and/ or the lowest possible self-noise I think SDCs are normally the better mics.
I think there’s still value in having a beginner podcaster start with a dynamic vocal mic because most will record in untreated spaces, and because of the lower sensitivity of the dynamic mic, work a bit closer to the mic, increasing their signal to noise ratio. But of course an SDC can work too. They’ll just learn the lessons a different way.
The best illustration of what you're discussing here is the ubiquity of the Shure SM7b. Hundreds of wannabe streamers and podcasters buy it, but they have no idea how to use it and most of them have muddy audio (at best). In the VO world, I've seen brand-new wannabe VAs with no credits to their name shell out a thousand dollars for the Sennheiser MKH416, just because that's what pros are "supposed to use." No amount of money will fix a lack of skills or experience.
Only way is trying them out. In my case the sm7b was not got for narration. A cheaper Sennheiser dynamic e835 was. far better. A small condenser better than a large Condenser, because of the specifics of my room. Now I own the Sennheiser plus an SE electronics SE8 small condenser. I have a darker voice and a not perfect but accousticly acceptable room. The Sennheiser 835 makes an excellent job for just a hundred Euros., and the SM7 b couldn’t compete (for my voice).
Standard answer to every question: “It depends”.
Yes!
Love your channel! I'm more of a cinematographer, but I desperately need to understand audio gear. As a solo shooter I need good audio and this channel has been invaluable
🙏
This was a splendid video Curtis! As a production sound mixer and boom op in Phoenic, Arizona, your advice is 100% correct, for there are so many factors that lead to choosing a specific microphone for a job or scenario.
👍🎥🎙️
I’ve been using an SM58 + 2i2 for recording audiobooks & UA-cam videos for 5 years, and still have not outgrown that combo. It is very forgiving, especially if you add a Cloudlifter or FEThead.
👍🎙️
My favorite mics cost a lot more than the SM58 and only sound a little bit better for voice work. It's amazing how good that mic is.
@ It’s the same guts as the SM7B which cost 4X more!
The best microphone was inside of us all along
LOL
More than anything, you are a DAD! You are caring, knowledgeable, experienced, generous, thoughtful, and enthusiastic! Congratulations in achieving that place in the world where you not only lead others, but provide them with the best reason for following you... to become something like you...a human being in full. If only our other leaders in this world had DAD's like you, this world would be a better place. This channel is more than just about audio-video tech. Thanks for your teachings! Now let's find the tech that reinforces the message of who we are and wish to project to the world.
I am literally a dad. And thanks for the kind words 🙏
@@curtisjudd we know! but you are actually a dad, not just reproductively, but spiritually. there is a lot of heart and soul in your videos. commendable and its own reward! much success in 2025!
Exactly!! 😀
Thanks Curtis. Such good advice. I'm an experienced stills amateur, with some basic sound knowledge trying to up my game with video. So many aspects to learn sound, lighting, storytelling, editing. I now own a lot of pretty good kit and could usefully do a lot more practicing to improve my skills level.
You remain my 'go to' for all things sound. I haven't yet done one of your courses, but may well consider doing so. I joined a UK amateur cine club to help gain some experience, which helps to some extent. I think your YT channel is an excellent resource which offers insight and a voice of reason, without the hype and BS so prevelant elsewhere. I don't ever recall you referencing anything as a "game changer" which so many other YT 'voices' are prone to say far too frequently (and incorrectly) IMO.
My issue is finding enough time to get sufficiently 'good enough' at the various multi-disciplines necessary to make good content. So much to learn. I'm probably weakest in story telling and video editing. In truth im possibly better tnan most novices at videography, sound and lighting but still have a way to go. I suspect I could manage to do a basic video, technically OK, but it would probably prove to be 'pretty' but boring - 'chewing gum' for the eyes/ears. I have always had more ambition than my reach. I feel in time, with a lot more practice and project work, that I might even become quite good. Its easy to be intimidated by excellent quality videography seen elsewhere. But I have to keep reminding myself it was likely done by an experienced team with a reasonably healthy budget. I guess im just frustrated by the slow rate of progress. I'm excellent at 'seeing', composition and stills (having won many awards for stills work). Maybe my mistake is attempting to learn and do everything? Trying to run before I can walk? Practice, time, training, seeking feedback and opportunities to collaborate and assist should all help. Meanwhile I keep absorbing your perspectives on sound.
You promote yourself as 'sound and light'. I see a lot of sound stuff, but very little on lighting. Is that a reflection of your YT output or is the YT algorithm biasing my offered vids to sound?
It may be useful to narrow your focus, at least for a bit. “Bubblegum” for the eyes and ears are useful projects for building production and post technical skills. I found partnering with a director to make short films useful. They focused on story and vision and editing, I focused on capturing sound and post mixing.
I used to cover more on lighting but lighting videos don’t seem to garner much interest from the audience here, quite possibly because my lighting designs aren’t as “cinematic” as many would like and I’m not as skilled a gaffer as I am in sound.
Curtis, your lessons are such a blessing, and you, as a teacher, are always so encouraging and empowering. Thanks for sharing!
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I started with at 2020 with presonus audiobox 96, than i upgraded to the deity s mic2 with m-audio air 6, than a bought a 890 dollars mic SHURE ksm42 with the rodecaster pro2, i thought the ksm42 will be the end game for me, but it sounded terrible on my voice, so i turn back to the deity smic2, and finally i bought the shure sm7b,and it's so good on my voice and my workspace...i wich i had the knowledge i have sooner 😢...but it's a journey i should passe through ❤. Thx judd i lurned a lot from you,and i still.
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Thank you so much for this video. It really gives people a place to start. I've been watching your videos for years. It may be time for me to finally put all the great information you've been putting out to work. Thank you for all you do!
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Thank you.
Great info as usually
Happy New Year Curtis
Happy new year! 🥳
My dear! Wise words, as always! Thank you, Curtis! A wonderful New Year to you and your family. Greetings from Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
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you're awesome I love your channel! I have lots of mics, I just picked an NTG4+ and I'm in love with it
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Huge agree, this is a great video man, thanks for putting it out.
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Another great one - happy new year 😀
Happy new year!
i have a shure mv7 plus mic, its pc performance not so good for the money it makes, i also have a dlz creator xs, will the mic need a motu sound card?or will it do the job or dlz creator xs?what do you recommend?also what cable should i buy for the mic? is it usb and xlr... kinda disappointing from the mic... thanks a lot
Awesome wisdom being shared here, Curtis. That's why your channel Is one of my go to when it comes to audio. Thank you for sharing.
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Curtis, I've been following you since ~20,000 subs, and you have no idea how much you have helped me, so I'm dropping by to say THANK YOU. I love your videos/channel. I'm still using my Audio-Technica AT2005USB from way back, and it was bought with your recommendation. I used it with USB for a while until I was able to afford a decent XLR interface. I haven't had the need to change the microphone all those years. We don't need to spend like crazy, we need to spend smart. THANKS! I wish you an awesome 2025!
Thanks and happy new year! 🎉
Thanks for another year of education and quality content!
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I’m still working with a Rode Podmic. When you combine it with a DBX preamp, you get a really nice sound for not a lot of money (around 250 dollars for both). That’s a hundred less than a Shure SM7B with the added bonus of being able to control sibilance etc. Just my two pence if anyone is after a decent sound on a budget. EDIT: I write this without watching the video first haha. It still stands though. Good budget set up for beginners imo.
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Excellent video Curtis!
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I don't know what is the best microphone. But i do know which is the best audio UA-cam channel...yours.
It's always good to see you how keep going at that level after all these years with your precise, calm and elegant style. Cheers Curtis and congrats... and happy 2025.
🙏 Happy new year!
In audio as we learn we always think of things as upgrading. As I got more experience with all the elements (placement, product, recorder, recording environment, post production), I found I over bought and under utilized. I am back down to what others would consider basics, but I produce better sound that when having all the high end stuff. Current UA-cam production audio is AT875R to a Mixpre 6 to Adobe Audition.
Sweet! Yes, simplify!
As a director cinematographer editor this is best advice, period . thank you. what you say about audio gear is true about cameras and any other gear. its the experience,willingness to think out of box,common sense and not to swayed by marketing gimmicks makes you a better audio guy or filmmaker . always grateful for your wise suggestions and guidance.
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Every time I hear your sponsorship message, I think to myself, "finally, an ad I can get behind." (Not sure why I think this every time, but I do.)
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Recently, my work hired a film crew to make some video biographies for our website. The guys did a great job and, now, I have a pro benchmark to hear what my voice can sound like.
Now, with my existing gear, I am going to try to emulate that sound.
That’s great!
This is great advice!
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Curtis, thank you for real world advice that is fit for people who live in the real world. I appreciate your wisdom.
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Great. Thank You.
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This was the best advice I ever heard!
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“the best camera is the one that's with you” likewise “the best microphone is the one that's with you”, forgetting that fact, people like me constantly buy these one after the other, rather than improving the skills!
The mic you have with you is a good place to start. Once you learn to make decent recordings with that, there are legitimate reasons to upgrade from there, but you'll be better equipped to make a decision that makes sense and improves or expands what you can do.
I help a friend who's High Schooler wanted to start a Video Podcast setup for Christmas. His Dad has money and the son was asking for $$$. His Dad gave me a totally workable budget. (He already had a FX30 talked down from a FX3) so I went with a RCDuo for the interface. For the Mic He has the beginnings of a great Studio space. I have a leftover Earthworks Ethos that I sold him for "openbox" price and yes it a very nice mic but I wanted him to know with this mic he has to get his room acoustics better. I also got his 4 Sound blankets but I told him he has to work on in for two months on his own before I come in and assist him. I got him the Elagto Prompter because I want him to learn how to use a prompter because all Pro use a Prompter these days. No podcast really needs a Neumann U 87 Ai with Shelford Channel Strip (what he asked for)
Posh starting point 👍
Smart choice with the FX30!
100% agree with this, same goes for so many things in videography, lighting, cameras etc...
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PREACH!
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I totally agree with what you said here as there are so many variables when choosing audio equipment. It took me a long time to find the best audio equipment and microphones and acoustic treatment that suited for what I wanted.
The first mic I used for voice recording years ago was a Samson C01U microphone but I didn't like it as it was a bit noisy. I switched to a Rode NT1-A and Scarlet 2i2 and the mic was terrible on my voice, the recordings sounded too bright and harsh and no amount of EQ could fix it. I then bought a Neumann TLM 102 as I liked how it sounded on some peoples voice. It didn't work for me either as the high frequencies a bit harsh on my voice.
I have a Sennheier ME66 & K6P and it didn't sound great on my voice either so I used it to get audio recordings of birds with Tascam DR-100 MK II and a Tascam DR 701-D and it worked fine for that. The next microphone I tried was a 2016 Rode NT1 as it has a flat frequency response and microphones that boost high frequencies in some ways can make my voice sound a bit harsh. I found it too flat sounding and couldn't get the clarity I wanted.
The next microphone I tried was a Sennheiser MKH-416 and tried it for bird call recording and I found there was too much noise when I used it with the Tascam recorder in quieter situations. I did find the mic was the first one I have used that suited my voice. I now use it with a Sound Devices MixPre 3 II and Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones and I like it for recording voiceovers in my treated room. I also have a Rycote HC-22 which I use sometimes in places where I know it probably won't pick up interference.
Switching audio recorders from the Tascam DR 701-D to the Sounddevices also helped me get cleaner and better recordings from the microphones I use due to the much cleaner preamps and warmer sound it produces.
Thanks for sharing your journey so far!
What I understood from my little experience, in front of which I bow to your deep professionalism, I say that there is no better microphone than the other, that is, it depends on the type of voice of the person. Obviously your profession allows you to use an infinity of microphones adapted to the situation (location, surrounding noises, voice timbre of the person) that I can't have since I only have 5 microphones (all for the video but no podcast). I got a lot of valuable information from your videos. Thank you.
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Great advice!
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I went down the rabbit hole before I bought my my first setup. Just for gaming, but a setup that will (hopefully) stay with me for a very long time and can be used for other things in the future. I went with the Neumann TLM 103 microphone, MOTU M2 audio interface and DT990 headphones. LOVE this setup!
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Good Information Sir.
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i started with sm58. bought a more expensive mic (sm7b). felt absolutely 0 difference because i'm 0 skill
Those 2 mics are SO close in sound.
Shure Beta 58a düşünüyorum sm58 yerine denedinizmi aralarındaki farkları sizin görüşünüz nedir ? Süperkardiod yalıtımsız ev stüdyomda daha iyi olucağını düşünüyorum
I haven’t used it, unfortunately.
"If they don't know all the factors about your situation, do not trust that answer." Majority of all the health professionals are dismissed from here on. 😉
LOL! Yes, I have to give my doctor as much contextual info as possible.
I have learn to mix and record in profesional headphones , monoaural, balance eight tracks, creating récordings with great sound quality. And I always believed in my ears and the cultural heritage of learn of the Classic recordings that I admire of all generes of músic.
Nice!
If I'm living in a well-acoustically-treated room, my answer to the "what's the best microphone" question would be the Beyerdynamic DT-797 which is a headphone that has a condenser microphone. But because I temporarily live in untreated space, I either have to use an expander in my Behringer MDX2600 (I have a MIC2200 mic preamp) or go with a dynamic microphone that is less sensitive. Now if only Beyerdynamic would make a version of DT-797 headphone with a dynamic microphone. That would be nice. I do have a Rodecaster Duo, but the noise gate is very abrupt regardless of which threshold I set it to and that is due to the fact that even if I am in a quiet bedroom at my family's house, my condenser microphone can still pick up background noise while using my Rodecaster Duo. And this is even though I have set my levels correctly.
Of course, as you mentioned in the video, it depends on your skill and context. Even the Neumann U87 AI won't help you improve your speaking and personally, I'm bad at this. It does take practice even when positioned correctly on front of a camera (actually, I have a webcam; one day I'll get me a real camera but even a real mirrorless or DSLR camera won't help me either). So yeah, your gear does not matter if you are struggling with what type of content you are trying to create. For me, I'm planning on doing video reviews and game commentary/let's plays of video games.
And of course, even if you have the skills to do a video such as a podcast or video review, I do believe it's important to have the right gear as well. If the noise gate with an infinite to 1 ratio does not work for you in a Rodecaster Duo or a Tascam Mixcast 4, you might have to invest in an outboard preamp and MDX2600 Composer Pro XL or do audio editing in post and bypass the noise gate in the Rodecaster Duo/Pro II. That kind of defeats the Rodecaster's internal processing, does it? Of course, it's important to get your recording right from the source. No amount of processing can fix your bad recording. It all comes down to having the right gear and the skill to do it, but then the gear won't matter if you lack the skills to do recordings.
Of course, for my use-case, I would have to use outboard gear for voice processing when I'm on a Teams call or a Zoom meeting.
If it fits your voice, then it's good. 👍
I have novices ask me the very same question, and I agree whole heartedly with Curtis. I have also used the car comparison and the "horses for courses" equivalent. The sam approach applies to virtually all items of audio equipment, Take time to learn the pros and cons of what you have and use that to inform of where you might be able to improve. Also experiment with what you have.. you never know, you might find a new approach that becomes the next big step forward.
Yes! Learn 👍
Spot on. I agree with all of this. I’m an Audio guy and I still use the SM58 for Podcasting with convenience in sub-optimal recording environments. Because it’s the right choice for the situation not most expensive. Sounds great every time. It’s the skill that matters.
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Fantastic advice thanks Curtis.
For podcasts that involve interviewing remote guests, I believe there's a massive switch-off factor (within 30 secs) if the guest's mic setup and placement is sub-optimal. I've seen so many world experts being interviewed and they are "unlistenable". So a 2025 question might be "How to guide a remote guest for the clearest audio?"
We've all seen guests using a cheap wired Apple Earpods (that place the mic near the mouth) sound way better than guests using fancy expensive mics that are too far away from their mouth.
Of course, if they are in a reverberant room, everything is worse.
FYI, I use a Heil PR 40 and Rodecaster Duo (new and I'm still learning how to use it) in a sound-deadened bedroom. As you suggested it would be great to do some 2-way tests with one or two of your other followers. (If interested please reply.)
Curtis, thanks so much for your informative, helpful and honest podcast. I look forward to every episode. Greetings from Brisbane down under.
Yes! It might be worth buying and shipping wired EarPods to guests if they don't have anything else.
Finally the honesty ❤😊
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I have grow in a dificult enviroment and I have learn to be adaptative to hard conditions that start with a good listener an it finish with a deft producer.
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Holy smokes, Curtis. I'm smiling. 58 years taking pictures and dealing with interview audio. Lately I'm finding that "simple gear can do decent work" is valid across the arts. I can do less post on EOS R6 CR3 RAW photos, and I love them. For ALL video, the iPhone 16 Pro and Apple ProRes LOG are fine. And in a pinch, the 16 Pro's built-in mics (or Shure MV88+) plus Izotope Ozone Elements are fine for informal music performances.
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Sm58 is very forgiving and the sound is stellar❤
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I never see a day I part with my two SM58s. I recorded a lot of stories using the mics and will always love them...even though I mostly use an SM7B these days. (I'm in a sometimes noisy apartment, and both mics do well with eliminating background noises. [Kind of to your point about one's situation. I'm afraid a condenser mic would pick up too much that I might not notice when recording.])
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LOL... I have been listening and following this a few other channels long enough to know what the answer was. Always solid advise here. No hype, shilling or inflated egos, just unbiased real world useful information.
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Hey cool, my first mic was a Rode NT-1A as well…I then started looking for a “better mic” and ended up buying the TLM 103….a great mic but just picked up the mice running under the neighbors house….my voice sounded good on it but I had a real hard time getting it to fix into my mixes….then after a few years of knowing what type of sound I like….i bought the Sony C-80…and let me tell you…it is the absolute mic made for my voice and desired pitch and tone I’m looking for. It has a real strong mid low range and a very forward mid high range both in the clean sections of those. So my $500 mic is actually better than my $1200 mic. Not because it is a better build quality but because like you said…it fits the job.
👍 So nice when you find one that fits
Great advice! I'm starting to tell me just get any microphone you like the look of and start from there. I've counted around 1,000 mics at B&H. As you said, any microphone used correctly will work. I'm also telling people that it's not bad to have a few microphones. A dynamic (like that Shure SM58), a condenser, a shotgun, etc. Cooks have many knives. Gardeners many spades. You and I have many mics! :) It's a shame most people are afraid of this stuff. Even if you buy a mic and end up using a different one there will come a time when you're happy you have that first mic in your drawer.
Dive in and learn! 👍🙌
Great video
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Yes I would say that's really good advice.
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Curtis I learned to much from you man! I appreciate your time. I was thinking about upgrading my microphone but I will work on my skills instead of upgrading the microphone myself. Cheers and wish you the best in 2025!
Happy new year!
OMG I knew the first sentence Curtis would say... :-) Love your stuff... My mic is best for my voice as I learned from Mr. Judd.
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4:44 Very good recommendation for a mic cable. Most beginners will cheap out and get a $7 Amazon cable that says "Premium" in the title. Then they wonder why they have audio buzz and cell phone hits. Choosing a quality cable like the Canare will sound clean and quiet for a lifetime pretty much.
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Could it be a zoom f3 instead a focus or motu for a podcast? Or a Focus/Motu is better?
Sure, a ZOOM F3 can be fine as well, especially if you already have it.
Thank you Curtis
Hi Curtis i have requested for You, please review comica VM40 Wirless Shotgun mic, And please compare it with mic such as mke 416 and mke50 , and Please share your thoughts.
I’m sorry, I cannot review it because it does not have user replaceable batteries.
@curtisjudd oh man!
Will a Shure sm11 work with a zoom f2? Someone said their Shure sm58 wouldn’t work with it, and suspected it was because the Zoom provides 2.5v of power that messed with the Shure.
No, the SM-11 is a dynamic with XLR output - needs a LOT of gain, more than the F2 can supply. (nothing to do with the plug-in power).
@@curtisjudd ok thanks
Cool!🫶💯🔥🫡Thank You
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Great video Curtis Judd! I have a question. I'm a filmmaker and I usually use the Rode Wireless Pro or DJI Mic 2. But I'm thinking about buying the TASCAM FR-AV2 and I'd like your recommendation on a shotgun mic to mount on a boom. I'm looking for something that's easy to operate and not too complicated.
Greetings from Mexico
Don’t trust what I say (I don’t know enough about the particulars of what you’re doing), but I’d look at a RODE NTG3 or Sennheiser MKH416 if that’s the budget you have. If not, consider a DEITY S-Mic 2 or 3.
For recording sounds at any given moment, the mic you have is always better than the one you think you should have. I'd say if you decide on an XLR mic and an interface over a USB mic for podcasting or streaming, and you have a strict budget, try the Behringer XM8500 dynamic mic w/ 25' cable for $34 and with the Fifine SC3 (includes some fun effects) for $45. Do your part with these, and nobody is going to complain about your audio.
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Thanks Curtis, good advice. Unfortunatly there is not any single person around me, that is used in audio recording. I think I have to figure it out myself, with the help off some experienced UA-cam guides ;-) .
I’ll be here to help.
@@curtisjudd Great, thanks a lot.
What is the best mic. This was my exact question this afternoon. I played with six of my pencil-shaped mics on a boom stand recording into a Zoom F2. Wanted a small and easy setup. Mics ranged from 15 to 300 dollars. What was evident: all of them sounded fine, some needed a little EQ though. 300 dollar shotgun of course shined out of rhe box, 15 USD mic had some weak RF interference (not unusable with some treatment in post), good OG Rode VideoMicro sounds great when you add a bit of low-end boost :) Moral: even an inch or a few degrees of angle difference has a huge impact. The bottom line is: the best microphone is always the one you have access to :)
The little things can make big differences. 👍
Really nice you brought it up. Just to ask that question reveals that you are not experienced at all.
All that things you brought up what’s make a mic good it’s also your room that have impact the sound. Especially for a mic as U87 that’s required a treated room because it will bring up everything as reflection etc. :)
But it’s also about the experience to know :)
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I loved my motu m2 till one day the drivers went crazy on windows. Those preamps punch way above.
Sad 😔 have they fixed them? Can you use it in class compliant mode since it is just 2 inputs?
Curtis...unfiltered...just laying the smackdown and dropping bombs. Your answer is THE answer. Most of us don't realize it until after we've purchased microphone #19. I think ultimately, we get gadgetitis (I know I did) and we have this incessant need for bigger/better/faster/more. And then when our favorite "influencer" has a certain piece of gear, you want to understand why and end up buying it. Ultimately, I think it leans heavily in favor of wants versus needs and use case(s) but more importantly, as you indicated, good mic technique.
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Let's be honest, we write audio for videos mainly for UA-cam.
All that is needed is the absence of strong flaws, such as those that occur during clipping. We also want sound without echo and reverberations. But these things boom mics pick up only in bad rooms, and lavalier mics pick up only in very bad rooms.
Noise... I think that almost all discussions of noise in reviews and comparisons of microphones and recorders are far beyond the level that is important for UA-cam. It's like comparing a Hasselblad X1D and a Fuji GFX, when the end product is Instagram photos. I would guess that the median of how people listen to UA-cam is through MacBook speakers. Those who use quality headphones may hear noise from some h4n, but will they pay attention to it ? I doubt it.
Let's say you bought recorder A, which is a little noisier than recorder B - will this have any impact on the quality of the final video? Will it interfere with your artistic or narrative goals ? N E V E R !!!
I’m not saying gear doesn’t matter, just that when starting out, one can start with simple gear and LEARN to use it for getting the best results.
Also, some here are producing professionally, and in those cases, some of these issues may matter.
@@curtisjudd When I watch UA-cam about video and audio, I get the feeling that there is some kind of layer of professionals between UA-cam and big Hollywood-level productions. At least that's how these creators position themselves, that they are doing something that is more serious than UA-cam, and that's why they need all these Sennheisers, and REDs. But I still don't understand what they do and where I can watch the content of these professionals.🙃
@@dima1353I work at Webflow with the team that creates the education videos. You can find those on the Webflow channel here on UA-cam.
A used SM58 or knockoff, a good XLR cable, and a cheap interface or old Zoom H4n works perfectly well for most podcast spoken audio.
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It is all horse for courses. Thanks Curtis I leaned a lot from your vidoes.
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I more or less made a similar video but based around SM7B… I was messaging another content creator who was using the SM7B but their audio sounded awful, they agreed that it is not sounding good and they had no idea why…
So many potential issues from a fake mic to incorrect setup at many points along the audio chain…
There’s no “best” anything… “best” under certain circumstances but a lot of the time it’s preference also…
Agreed on preference as well.
People often ask me what is best between Mic A B and C which in itself becomes a long explanation of... use case, Tone of voice, treated or untreated room, do you need noise rejection, indoor or outdoors?
For me the Rode NTG5 sounds better as a shot gun mic in studio than the MKH50 yet everyone says MKH50. Reason: The bass tone sounding muddy with my voice depending on placement while the Rode NTG5 is more predictable especially when not being completely stationary. When working as a background actor the production chose the NTG5 over the MKH50 themselves calling the NTG5 the safer bet due to the more neutral tone. For known talent with previous experience using a given mic is it is easy to say Mic A or B.
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I learned a long time ago is the best microphone is the one you have - even if it's an iPhone just capture the audio with what you have.
That's a good place to start and learn!
I love the truthfulness in this video! ❤❤❤
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This is a great channel, with first hand, honest info. Same for this episode. Please, keep up the great work in 2025!
I do get the 'right' microphone problem, My first 'good' microphone was a sE 2000, from a pack in 2013 or so. I still like its siblings, the 2200, and the T2. I followed a few 'best microphone' advises before that one, that just didn't fit me.
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The best microphone is simple, it’s the Sanken CS3E. It’s great indoors and outdoors and worth every penny. Ever since I got that microphone a couple years ago I’ve sold all the other ones and that’s all I use and it’s always fantastic audio quality. I bought it after I heard that Quentin Tarantino‘s sound recordist use that microphone more than anything else.
Glad you found the one that works well for you! 👍🎙️
Is it a shotgun style design? I think I’ve heard good things about that mic if that is the one.
@@vektacular Yes, it is. Very directional for its size, also rich sound, slightly bright in my opinion.
In the beguining I was a monoaural recordist Nagra soundman, to turn the corner a became an eight channel recordist.
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Thanks so much for the truth.
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Same question I'm asked about photography camera gear, which my usual answer is "if you're starting from scratch, have passion and want to improve, but not buying something you'll want to upgrade in 6 months, I'll buy used a 250$ Canon 6D, a 70$ Ef 28-105 f3.5-4.5 and a 30$ Ef 50 f1.8 so with just 350$ you'll be good enough to learn, but also good enough to shoot a wedding, as I did my first one with exactly that kit many years ago. And if you get tired of it, you can resell all of it without a single dollar of penalty".
But then, they always end up buying something new, more expensive, and with a crappy kit lens, just to tell me after some months that they don't like camera photography, phone pics are better, easier and faster, and they have resold the kit for less then half the money they paid for it...
LOL! It happens in audio too.
The best microphone: 42
That's the answer to most things. But hopefully one can land on a "career microphone" before trying 42 microphones.
Is a TLM 103 straight into a C70 set on "Auto" (and 1080p) ridiculous, or what?
The sound was better with the MixPre3, but I doubt anyone on UA-cam notices, and the new set-up is super easy.
P.S. The Shure KSM32 is very fantastically great.
Not ridiculous, but I'd probably switch to manual and set the gain myself.
Any time I'm down on my luck, I watch a Curtis Judd microphone video and always makes the clouds disappear.
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There's nearly no reason to not have a 58.
Agreed!
Depends on what you’re doing. My voice doesn’t sound good on a 58, so if I was just recording my own speech, it would be a waste of money.
@@djp_video Indeed. It may be surprising for some to learn all the things one can do with a 58 other than record vocals.
Line Audio CM3 of course
In some cases, I'm sure.
@ I was being silly of course. The mic needed depends on the circumstances. That’s why there are so many choices!
A video of pure truth 🫡
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That's why I felt confused when Bandrew said a certain mic didn't sound great. All mics in his videos sound great, or at least decent, unless he deliberately makes them sound bad (and sometimes he fails 😀). It's obvious that knowledge, room treatment, and mic technique define almost everything in the world of recording.
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Happy duck subs Curtis!
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It's like the photography equivalent. And the answer is:
"The best one is usually the one you have access to when you need it."
Learn how to use it and you'll know what your needs are.
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The SM58 is the best. It’s a mic and a hammer! 😂
LOL! Indeed!
When a mic emphasizes the s-lauts it means the frequency response is not flat. So by definition I would not consider that a good mic. Why are Schoeps considered good? Because they are pretty flat and have a very consistent pickup pattern across the frequency range. Those are good mics in an absolute sense. A SM58 is not a good mic as well. Can it be very usable and suited to a specific task? For sure. Thousands of recordings prove that. I bought a pair of CC8, which are pretty close to a good mic and still quite affordable. That pair is quite versatile and can be used for most typical recording needs. No, I can not make a Blumlein or MS recording with it, but you can use it for voice or any instrument or stereo recordings and it does sound pleasant, IMO better in that regard than a KM184, which can sound harsh sometimes. Again because not being flat enough. And yes, I am aware the CC8 is not perfect in that regard as well, but it is close enough normally and does not break the bank.
I would in general advise to take a closer look at SDC and not only looking at LDCs, because of the inherent downsides they have. When you do not need/ want the frequency dependent change in pattern and/ or the lowest possible self-noise I think SDCs are normally the better mics.
I think there’s still value in having a beginner podcaster start with a dynamic vocal mic because most will record in untreated spaces, and because of the lower sensitivity of the dynamic mic, work a bit closer to the mic, increasing their signal to noise ratio. But of course an SDC can work too. They’ll just learn the lessons a different way.
The best illustration of what you're discussing here is the ubiquity of the Shure SM7b. Hundreds of wannabe streamers and podcasters buy it, but they have no idea how to use it and most of them have muddy audio (at best). In the VO world, I've seen brand-new wannabe VAs with no credits to their name shell out a thousand dollars for the Sennheiser MKH416, just because that's what pros are "supposed to use." No amount of money will fix a lack of skills or experience.
Agreed!
The new best is located in my Hero 13 Black, that just arrived 20 minutes ago.
Undoubtedly! 😉
Only way is trying them out. In my case the sm7b was not got for narration. A cheaper Sennheiser dynamic e835 was. far better. A small condenser better than a large Condenser, because of the specifics of my room. Now I own the Sennheiser plus an SE electronics SE8 small condenser. I have a darker voice and a not perfect but accousticly acceptable room. The Sennheiser 835 makes an excellent job for just a hundred Euros., and the SM7 b couldn’t compete (for my voice).
I need to buy a new Skills. Maybe a Skills Pro model.
Haha! 👍
👍👍👍
🙏🙏🙏
Obviously the best microphone is whichever one I just bought but haven't opened yet.
LOL