Where best to have my microphone for my audiobook narration work

Recording my audiobooks

One of the big decisions to be made when you first start in audiobook narration, is what equipment to buy. After perusing various sites and getting some advice, I decided on a USB Yeti blue Nano microphone . Here you can see it on it's own stand with foam filter and a separate pop filter. These filters help to stop some of the mouth noises reaching the microphone.

I did find though that it was very easy to knock the table or filter and that noise would get into the recording. That wasn't always easy to edit out and may well require a 'pick up'...basically a rerecord of that section and slotting it in to the original track. I decided to get a good quality heavy microphone boom arm which attaches to a desk or separate shelf. This also has a shock mount to reduce movement to the mic itself. The other big advantage to this set up was that I could arrange my equipment so I could stand whilst recording. I can have my tablet on a cushioned holder from which to read the text of the book, on a shelf at a suitable height. Standing gives better posture for the body and easier voice production.

Having the microphone at a 45 degree angle to my mouth at cheek level has also reduced the amount of mouth noise...the clicks and pops. Most of these noises get directed to the front and down from the mouth so having the microphone on the arm, higher and to the side has really improved the sound quality and the amount of editing required.

I have been experimenting with leaning in or away from the microphone for particular effects. Leaning away for loud voices as the increased volume can sound quite overwhelming through a microphone. Turning closer to the microphone for especially important or sensitive moments.

As in so many things in life, experience helps us to improve our performance and ease the time needed to get things sounding good.