Home Studio Solutions, Part 2: Audio

As a nation, it’s great to see us moving in the right direction with regards to the virus, and, optimistically speaking, as an industry we should be back into the swing of things in a matter of months. However, with the large influx in live streaming and content creation from our homes in recent times, our outlook on content creation might well have changed forever. 

The last blog I wrote touched on the green screen and background systems that we have available, but now I want to talk about sound. More specifically, affordable options that will give you a high quality result with minimal set up. Whether it’s a lav mic for home Youtube videos, a studio mic and mixing desk for podcasts, desk mic for live streaming or you even just want to build a kit to take on location once restrictions are lifted, there are a wide range of options available. 

Lav Mics:

The important thing to always consider when picking which lav mic and accessories you’re going to need is what you’re recording into. 

Are you shooting with a DSLR and needing a solution to record sound directly into the camera?

Are you shooting with a smartphone?

Do you need a wireless solution when you’re at a distance from the camera?

If you’re requiring a wireless solution, the RodeLink Wireless Filmmaker kit is a good base level option that is easy to set up. With one button pairing, you simply need to turn it on, plug it in and you’re ready to record. In addition to this, while it requires a little bit more set up time with setting radio frequencies, the Sennheiser EW-112 G4 wireless lav kit is built to last years, meaning you won’t ever need to buy another set again.

If you’re not needing a wireless solution and are happy to plug the mic directly into the camera or smartphone, we also sell individual lav mics, such as the Rode Lavalier, Sennheiser MKE2, ME2-II and BOYA BY-M1. These mics all vary in price, so please visit our website to read up on the specs of each mic if you’re having trouble deciding which one is best for your desired application

If you’re shooting with a smartphone, here’s where it can get a little finicky. Since smartphones don’t automatically have a mic input, you’ll need a TRRS adaptor to be able to use a mic with it. This can be in the form of the Rode Smartlav+, a lavalier microphone designed for smartphones and with TRRS already built into it. However, if you’re wanting to record into your phone with regular lav mics you already own, the Rode SC4 TRS to TRRS adaptor will solve all your problems. Please contact us if you have any further questions regarding that. 

Side note: We receive a lot of inquiries about the Rode Wireless GO, and although it might seem like a more affordable solution, they generally just aren’t built for prolonged use. Besides, why would you stop making content when restrictions are lifted? It’s imperative to make sure your gear will be just as useful in the future when you’re doing bigger things and quality matters, as well as right now.

Studio mics:

What if you want to start your own podcast? We have a variety of Podcast kits available for you to get started, such as the PodMic studio kit, or the Rodecaster Pro kit, which you can find on our website. However, what if you don’t have the time, money or space for a whole kit?

Luckily, the Rode NTG-USB microphone will solve that problem for you. Being a USB mic, you are able to record directly into the computer with.

If you already have your own sound mixer, such as a Zoom H6 or Sound Devices MixPre, you’ll most likely know how to use your mixer as an audio interface. If you’re unsure how to set it up, check out this video tutorial from ZoomSoundLab that goes into detail about how it all works.!

Soundproofing:

Generally, soundproofing is required in large studios, however if you live in a noisy neighbourhood, or your studio space is made of hard surfaces, such as wooden floorboards, acoustic foam is a good solution to eliminate reverb and ensure your recording space is soundproof. 

However, that doesn’t mean you need to go all out on acoustic foam to get a good result if your budget doesn’t allow it. Simply cover all the hard surfaces with soft materials such as quilts, blankets, bed sheets etc. and you’ll be good to go. Additionally, space permitting, propping up a mattress in place of acoustic foam will do a good job at soundproofing your room - the only downside being that a lot of people don’t have the space to put a mattress! There are plenty of DIY options for soundproofing, but it ultimately comes down to what you’re recording, and the space you’re recording it in.

In short, knowing what microphones and audio gear you need for your particular project is important to getting the best sound recordings possible. As always, please contact your local Dragon Image, or visit our website, if you have any questions that we can help you with. Once again, stay safe and stay healthy, there is light at the end of the tunnel beginning to emerge!