The microphone is rarely the problem

People send us recordings made on expensive microphones that sound worse than the ones made on cheap ones. The difference is almost never the capsule.

Distance

A hand's width from the grille, off-axis by a few degrees. Twice that distance and you have recorded the room as much as the person.

The room

Hard walls, a glass table and a bare floor will beat any microphone you buy. A rug, a curtain and a bookshelf will fix more than an upgrade will.

Gain

Aim for peaks around -12 dBFS and leave the rest to the mix. Recording hot to feel loud is how shows arrive clipped and unfixable.

Then, if you still want one

Ask us before you spend. Half the time we will tell you to keep what you have.