3. Microphones: How it started/ how it's going

This episode is a look back at the microphones I've used in my podcast and my honest review of them.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to choose the microphone that works best for you, and not to forget that sharing your voice is even more important than the actual mic itself.

mentioned in this episode:

• Blue Yeti mic
• Samsun Q2U/ Audio Technica ATR 2100X
• Rode NT-USB Mini
• extra gear: boom arm, pop filter, and mic desk stand

Chapters

• 1:54 Podcast on a budget & use what you have
• 3:32 Bue Yeti mic
• 6:16 Samsun Q2U
• 7:32 Rode NT-USB Mini
• 9:36 other mic gear

Transcript

Transcript via Descript. (Semi-edited)

[00:00:33] Angela: Hey, everyone. Thank you for joining me on the podcast today. I thought it would be kind of fun to do this kind of play on how it started versus how it's going.

But like the podcast version, you know, and talk about the equipment I used when I started podcasting versus what I'm using now. And honestly, a lot of this stuff is pretty similar.

So I'm hoping that that helps because I know when I started podcasting.

Aside from the big questions, like what microphone do I use and how do I even get my podcast onto iTunes, which it was iTunes at the time it wasn't Apple podcasts, it was before that. But aside from those big questions,

 I was really focused on the budget. You know, I didn't want to break the bank over something that I had never done and something that I didn't know how to do, and I didn't know if I was going to like it and keep doing it. So, didn't want to like put a lot of money into something, but I also wanted to get a good quality product.

You know, so I had to kind of figure out what that middle ground was.

 And honestly, I recorded this episode previously. With like, breaking down microphone and podcast host and editing software and all that stuff.

But I kept realizing that I wanted to go deeper into those topics. So I kept saying things like, okay, we'll talk about that on another episode. And then I was like, you know what, I think these things need to be individual episodes because they kind of need their full focus. You know what I mean?

Podcast on a budget & use what you have

[00:01:54] Angela: So we'll start talking about microphones because of course that's the focus of a podcast, right? But I want to say this jumping into everything. I am a big believer that. Number one, when you're starting out,

If you have any equipment already, you should use that. Like if a friend gave you a microphone, use that, you know, there's nothing wrong with that at all. Or,you don't have a microphone stand, that's okay. You know, do what you can do with what you have, I'm a big believer in that, especially when you're just starting out,

 because the reality is, or at least I believe to a certain degree, it doesn't matter what microphone you have. I mean, yes, there are microphones that are going to make you sound better. And there are microphones that are better quality, but the reality is you're the most important thing behind that microphone.

You know, people want to hear your story, your energy, your motivation and your passion, and they want to connect with you. So yes, your microphone is important, but don't forget that without you sharing your story, whatever it is, it's not going to matter.

Okay. so I just wanted to share that cause I think people forget 

All right. So let's jump into the microphones I have been podcasting for five years and in those five years I've had three microphones.

And I will tell you that looking back, I would have been fine with one of them. So I want to share with you a little bit about each of those microphones. Maybe it'll help you. you know, you certainly don't have to get any of these. I'm just giving you my personal experience because when I look back, I kind of feel like I got in my own way, obsessing about the microphone too much. and let me tell you more about that.

Blue-Yeti Mic

[00:03:32] Angela: So I first launched my podcast in 2020, however, I actually started recording the podcast like two years before that. So in 2018, I started recording some episodes that honestly never published they never happened. I never edited them. I just kind of let them sit there, which is a Totally different story and we will talk about that on the next episode but at that time, I purchased a blue Yeti microphone, and I think it was the most expensive microphone that I've gotten so far.

 It was like a hundred bucks, which, was about average. I mean, everything that I was looking at was like in the 70 to a hundred dollar range, you know, solid microphone. I have heard people talk about more inexpensive microphones.

I just don't have experience with them. So I can't really tell you about it, but I have heard people say good things. And, you know, again, going back to what's really important is. 

But with regards to the blue yeti, people either love it or they don't love it so much. And I am in the don't love it category.

 And honestly, that probably has to do a lot with the fact that when I first started podcasting, I didn't know what I was doing. So again, this is 2018. This is before zoom is really taking off. This is before remote podcasting is really happening. This is when we had people recording in person.

So in my mind, I was going to have a guest come over to my house and you know, we were going to sit across from, from one another with the, with the blue Yeti in between us and have a conversation. the problem with that is each person should really have their own microphone. Truthfully, I didn't really know that at the time. I, had read that it was an omni directional microphone and it could pick up the sounds in the room and to me that translated to oh good, I can have a conversation with somebody in the same room.

 It didn't work like that. You know, it picks up the sound in the room. So that's something you don't want. And I go back to a lot of it was user error at the time. There are different settings on the microphone , that you can use. But I was so green at the time, you guys, I didn't know what I was doing.

So I didn't know how to adjust things. I didn't know how to get a better sound out of it. And it wasn't my favorite.

Now, again, I do know people who use the blue Yeti mic for their solo podcasts and seem to have a pretty solid sound. So I'm not saying that you should not get that microphone. Just make sure you have the settings correctly and make sure you're in a room that, can capture the sound

and work with it a little bit. microphone anymore, so I can't even, tell you guys if it was actually user error, or if it was the microphone.

Do you know what I mean?

Samsun Q2U

[00:06:16] Angela: So take that with a grain of salt. But I do want to share with you what was my next microphone and probably my favorite microphone, to be honest. It's the Samsung Q2U microphone, and it's about 70 as opposed to the Blue Yeti 100.

And it's a great microphone. There's actually another microphone. That's very similar. It's the audio technica ATR 2100 X. I think I have that right.

Those are microphones that will grow with you. They are solid microphones. They have both a USB and XLR output. So if you want to connect it to your computer. You can do that through the USB. And then as you grow, as your podcast grows, if you get multiple guests or an external interface, and I don't want to get into anything, too complex, but

you'll need that XLR output and the Samsung QTU has that, so it can grow with you. And for the 70 price point, it's really great. And the sound is solid. I would honestly still be using that microphone to date, except I did end up giving my Samsung Q2U to a friend who was going to do a podcast and just ended up not doing it.

Rode NT-USB Mini

[00:07:32] Angela: But when I gave it to them, I was a few years into my podcast. So I kind of took that as an opportunity to get something new, to be honest, and I ended up getting the Rode NT USB Mini. And that one is like 90. So it's not much of a price difference from the Samsung QTU. And the Rode is a solid, microphone, you know, it's well known, and it's a good brand. And I would say I like both the Rode NT USB Mini and the Samsung QTU equally.

The sound is a little bit different because there are two different types of microphones,

but I will tell you, if you do get the Rode, any Rode microphone, actually, there's a Rode connect software that is free. You can download it from their website. It makes a huge difference in the sound. So definitely download that software. It's basically an internal interface. Rather than an external interface. . You can tweak the sounds.

You can add little, like an air horn or

 Or a record scratch, stuff like that. So it's got that.

 and I like the Rode mic a lot, but I also liked the Samsung QTU. And honestly, like, you know, at the beginning of my podcast, when I started this journey, I was hesitant to spend money on anything because I didn't know if I was going to stick with it.

Right. But now, you know, five years going into it, I'm honestly thinking about getting the Samsung QTU again and just kind of switching out the microphone on this podcast every now and again. And like using the Rode on some of them using the Samsung QTU on some of them. just to play around with it.

 Because now I know I'm doing this, right? 

 So you get to that place where you're like, yeah, now I'm okay with spending a little more money or spending more money, you know, just to get something you already have, I guess, versus a time when you really weren't so sure so those are the three microphones that I've had. And again, I really like the Rode NT USB Mini. I really like the Samsung QTU. I just think that Samsung QTU just has more flexibility because it has the ability , to work with the USB output or an XLR output

other mic gear

[00:09:36] Angela: with either microphone or any microphone, I should say, I really recommend getting a pop filter.

They're super inexpensive. They're like, I mean, you can get them for like 10 bucks, but I would definitely get them. Because they capture those plosives, those moments where you say a P, and and it kind of catches your breath 

 So it'll capture those sounds. Even though the NT USB Mini says It has an internal pop filter.

I still use the external pop filter that I bought when I had the Samson QTU. The NT USB mini is just really sensitive, so it picks up a lot. And I'm not complaining about that just because it really does capture sound nicely, but I think you need a pop filter with it or with any microphone, to be honest. Um,

And while we're talking about gear and microphones, you're probably going to want a boom arm of some sort. That's also pretty inexpensive, depending on what kind you get. When I first started, honestly, I got one off Amazon for like 15 bucks, and I still have it to this day. 

[00:10:43] Angela: So I don't think you have to get the most expensive thing. However, I will say it's, that's another thing where, and yeah, now that I'm five years into this, I want a more sturdy boom arm for my microphone.

And now I'm willing to spend, more money on it just because yes, I know I'm going to use it. And so that's just something to keep in mind is you can do things within a budget, and those things could last you.

I mean, I would still be using the Samsung Q2U if I hadn't given it to my friend. And, um, I still have the boom arm and I still have the same pop filter. So for what was essentially, a hundred bucks, 70 for the Samsung QTU. The pop filter was like 15 bucks. The boom arm was 15 bucks. You know, had I not started with the blue Yeti that was a hundred dollars, I would have had all three things with the same price.

Do you know what I mean?

 I also want to mention that if you don't want to get a boom arm, or in addition to the boom arm, you might also want a desk microphone stand.

I personally feel like the desk stand works better for me, than the boom arm. I recently got one on Amazon also. It was like 30 bucks. And it's pretty solid. 

I think I'll have it around for a while. So again, for 30, I could see myself using it for the next three to five years. So. So that works.

So I hope this info has been helpful. You guys, I know it's always tough starting out because you want to make sure you get the right thing and, and

you don't want to spend anything that you don't have to, or at least that was how I felt.

So I'll put links to all these things that I talked about In the show notes, . And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out. I'll do this again, talking about editing, talking about podcast hosts,

All the individual things regarding getting started. I just kind of wanted to dedicate an entire episode to it because it's a lot to be honest.

 But I did want to mention one last thing. People get so focused on microphones podcasting that they forget the biggest And I think the most important thing, which is your computer, I will tell you that when I first started podcasting, my computer was old, like it could not keep up with what I needed it to do.

And this just goes back to use what you have. Believe me, my first year of podcasting was not fun because everything was so slow on that computer and I wanted to pull my hair out, but when I was finally able to upgrade, oh my gosh, a whole new world opened up and honestly, there was something to be said for kind of going through the trenches, you know what I mean?

 So stay mindful of the fact that your computer is the biggest expense that people don't really talk about, and you might want an external hard drive, as you're organizing your stuff, but I think the most important thing is to use what you have, buy what you need. And stay focused on sharing your story. That is the most important thing.

As you go along and you find your podcast footing then you can think about leveling up.

All right, you guys, thank you so much for listening. I would love for you to subscribe to the podcast and share it with a friend. I'm starting to get this podcast off the ground and it would really help me out until next time y'all.