What Is Microphone Technique and Why Is It Important and Helpful When Recording Podcasts?

Microphone technique is art of managing your proximity to a microphone.

Bad microphone technique results in a sound and audio signal level that is:

• Wildly dynamic (oscillating between sometimes extremely loud and sometimes extremely quiet)
• Very unpleasant for listeners to experience (oscillating between painfully loud and literally inaudible)
• Prone to clipping and distortion
• Much more difficult to process in post-production

Good microphone technique avoids all the issues listed above and provides all listeners with a good listening experience during which they can focus on the content and not be continually distracted by audio issues.

How to have good microphone technique:

• Consciously establish a good default distance (3-6 inches) from the microphone for when you’re speaking at normal volume, and stay there when speaking at normal volume.
• If and when you raise the volume of your voice considerably, move your mouth further away from the microphone (by leaning back a bit or turning away slightly).
• If and when you lower the volume of your voice, move your mouth closer to the microphone. (for softer, more intimate moments and whispering, etc.)

When you first start doing this, it will feel incredibly awkward and difficult, but very soon you will develop the habit of good microphone technique and you’ll never have to consciously think about it again!

How good is your microphone technique? Comment below.

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