How to Successfully Record Your Own Voice

Professional speakers and solid equipment: the basic conditions for successful recording have been truly achieved. Because a clear sound without noise and at a perfect volume can only be successful with the following considerations. Now I’m going to show you exactly which ones: this is how to make perfect recordings with a microphone!

Give your voice maximum volume

In order for the text in the recording to be understood, it must first be said clearly, clearly, and then evenly recorded. I summarize how to optimize already recorded recordings in my article “Improving Recordings with Audacity”. Now I’m going to show you how to first increase the volume of the spoken text, and then increase the volume of the recording to even.

Vocal exercises for increased volume

First of all, the quality of the voice depends on the speaker himself. If it doesn’t have loud organs naturally, it can increase its volume with some tricks. Vocal exercises can be very helpful, for example, to strengthen your own voice. Upper abdominal breathing also helps. Even professional speakers are constantly training their voices to convey this “true nature”. In a blog post by speaker Alex Jacobi, he explains well what this means. However, technology comes into play when the capabilities of professional speakers — who are true experts at what they do — are exhausted.

microphone for recording

The primary responsibility for recording is the microphone, whose suitability depends on the sound. In general, a distinction is made between dynamic microphones* and large-diaphragm condenser microphones. This last variant is often a good choice for studio recordings due to its large diaphragm.

Once the right device is found, attention is paid to its positioning. The mouth should be about 10-15 cm from the microphone capsule – this value depends on the sound and the recording room. The capsule is aligned horizontally with the upper lip.

microphone placement

This placement leaves room for volume adjustments, so tinny sounds can benefit from the proximity effect. The shorter the distance between the mouth and the microphone capsule, the more low frequencies are picked up – the stronger the sound.

• Dynamic Microphone
• Clear Recording | Dynamic Microphones
• focus sound

But even perfectly recording loud and clear voices doesn’t guarantee perfectly clear voice recordings. To do this, it is necessary to separate the sound of the spoken text from any background noise.

Avoid Noise: Quiet Please!

If background noises are not recorded in the first place, you will of course have less work to clean them up afterwards. Therefore, reduce all sources of artificial interference as much as possible. With this, you can ensure peace of mind:

• close the window
• Turn off unnecessary electronic devices or move them away
• Keep the PC and microphone away from each other to prevent fan or signal vibration
• Schedule your recordings at quiet times of the day

You should also choose a soundproof room for your recording location: ideally with a carpeted floor and some furniture.

microphone preparation

It is nearly impossible to eliminate all disturbing noises, as tiny sounds are often inaudible to the naked ear. Therefore, these must be captured directly on the microphone.

One possibility is the so-called pop guard, which prevents sonic pops when making explosions such as p, b, k, t, and g. You can simply stretch a piece of fabric over the mic, or – in the Pro version – put a pop-guard frame in front of the mic.

By attaching the microphone to the microphone shock mount, vibrations can be prevented from creating noise. Since the microphone is not on the table, vibrations from the laptop or mixer don’t even fall into the recording area.

Frequently Asked Questions – Recording

How to record?

There are several options. Your smartphone’s dictation feature is great for on-the-go. There is a “Dictaphone” app for Apple and Android devices. A suitable microphone and laptop or PC are great for at home. An audio interface is also recommended.

How to record sound?

There are various programs for recording sound on a PC or Mac. For Apple, this is the Voice Memos app; for PCs, the Audio Recorder program is one of the options. However, for (semi-)professional recording it is recommended to use a DAW or the recording program Audacity – available for PC and Mac.

Conclusion: perfect recording

With the right use of voice and technique, you’re well prepared for professional recording. Now’s the time to try it out: learn about the equipment and develop your own recipe for the perfect shot.