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I took a listen through some of your recent audios. You're doing a very good job! I'd love to know what mic, interface, software, ect. you are using. Your sound is clean, clear, and free of most of the noise normally associated with home recordings. Because of the fact that you're starting point is actually very good, I'm going to go a bit more in-depth than I normally would.

I'm interested in your reference to "condensing". While there are condenser microphones, the only condensing I know inside of audio deals strictly with file size and sound quality. It could also be that compression is called condensing in the Audio program you are using. I know Audacity in particular has a "condense" feature for their file sizes, but I've had trouble pinpointing down exactly how it compresses the files and what the resulting quality is in regards to the original.

The easiest things you can do to make your audios sound more clean and professional are going to be fairly simple in your case. Let's start at the top of the chain and work our way down.



Microphone

Whatever you are using is pretty good. The level is good, the quality is perfect for what you are doing. I wouldn't recommend upgrading at the moment, unless you want to invest some serious cash.

You should look at either a pop filter if you want to invest some money, or a change in mic technique if you do not. I noticed several consonants popping on your recordings, which could either be breath or just the mic loving your consonants. A few inches more of space between you and the mic could help alleviate that. Facing the mic at a slight angle, not head-on, can also help with this.

If the pop filter is out of your price range, or you want to try before you buy, grab a metal coat hangar, bend it into a circle, and pull 2 pairs of nylons over it so you make a circle of fabric. Rubber band or tape them in place, and hold or place it it halfway between your mouth and the microphone.


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The Software

I know everyone on here LOOOOOOOOVES Audacity. And that's great! It's a lovely, lightweight audio editor that I know nothing about, because I primarily use Logic and ProTools HD. I learned on these programs, and never picked up some of the free audio editors to see what was what.

Therefore, I'm going to actually recommend Reaper. It's a pro-level, lightweight audio editor that has an unlimited free trial, and the license is only $60 if you decide you want to buy it. It is a professional audio editor that's been used in 2 different studios I've worked in. It has full MIDI integration, supports mono and stereo multi-tracking, and comes with a full suite of plug-ins built in.


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The Editing Process

I'm going to give you a list of my signal chain, from start to finish, with a broad overview of the settings I use on each. Please, feel free to leave another comment or PM me if you need more explanation, and I'll be happy to help. It should be noted that in most audio editing software, the signal is passed through the plug-ins in order from top to bottom. The order does matter, and can drastically alter the sound.

Pre-editing - Noise Reduction plug-in.

I actually hate these, but if you must use them, please use them at the very start of your process. And if you find a good setting and get a decent result, print/render/record the effect onto the track so you can have the clean audio, but pull off the noise reduction plug-in. I don't like to have these running while I'm doing the other steps.

1st - Notch filtering.

For Parametric EQ Plug-ins:

Use a Parametric EQ plug-in, set all of the bands to a narrow Q/Width, the narrowest it will go. Next, boost one up to +12 db, while playing the audio. Move the band up and down the frequency spectrum until you find an unpleasant sound, like a hissing, pop, or other unwanted attribute. When you find a problem frequency, leave the band where it is, and turn the gain down to somewhere between -8 db and -12 db, depending on the severity of the sound. Repeat 3-5 times.

For Graphic EQ Plug-Ins

Use a Graphic EQ Plug-in, and play the audio. As it plays, pull each frequency slider up to +12 db, then back down. If you find a frequency that brings up any "problem noise", reduce it down to -8 db to -12 db. Repeat 3-5 times.

2nd - General EQ

I prefer to use a parametric EQ Plug-In for this step. I try to keep my editing subtractive rather than additive, but boosting some areas up +3-6 db is pretty normal. This is the step where you set your Q or width fairly wide, and pull areas up or down to see what sounds good.

For you personally, I would try a little dip in the high-mids with a medium-width or Q. Somewhere between 4.7khz and 9khz may help clear up some of the sharper "S" and "Th" sounds.

3rd - Gentle Compressor

Compression is a pretty hard subject to tackle in a short post. If you want more in-depth, again, feel free to PM me and I'm happy to help.

I tend to set this compressor at a 2:1 ratio, a threshold that activates when I'm talking but not when I'm whispering, and the fastest/shortest attack and release times it will allow me.

4th - More Agressive Compression

This is to smooth out some of the louder noises that may pop through. I again set my attack and release as fast/short as they will go, and use a 4:1 ratio. I then play my audio in a part where I am talking fairly loudly, and move my threshold up and down slowly until the compressor is only kicking on for individual parts of words, not whole words, and only on ones that are fairly loud. Again, this is hard to explain in short format, but I can elaborate more.

5th/Last - Reverb, Vocal Effects, and other Pretty Pretty things

Now you can have fun and really be creative. Your audio should be clear and pretty clean, and putting these effects after EQ and compression is the way to go.


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I hope this helps, and please let me know if I wasn't clear or you want more info on anything!

How do you feel about hand-jobs? Do they do anything for you?

I've never been brought to orgasm by a partner using just her hands. Believe me, I'd like to have it done to me but there are two problems. The first issue is overstimulation. This is the same reason why I rarely ever come from oral sex (only 2 women have been able to make me come with their mouths alone). It feels wonderfulfantasticholyshitilovethis but it can get to be a bit too much very rapidly. Add to this, the common practice of drawing a vacuum with the mouth. It's okay but not necessary for good oral skills.

The other reason is because once i'm wound up, there is simply no place I'd rather come than inside my partner with the exception of between her breasts, which is a close second.

Lately I've had this desire to meet a couple (MF) and spend a night giving hand/ blowjobs to the guy with the girlfriend/ wife looking on and participating. I'm very tactile.

Do you like any form of roughness (spanking, hair-pulling, etc.)?

Yes. The hair pulling and spanking are mandatory for me. There are other areas that I've explored but not to the degree that I want to- breast slapping, flogging/ being flogged, restraining, teasing/ denial. I had a partner that liked my running a jagged fingernail, a callous, the tip of a knife or even sandpaper on her. I'm sure there's more to add to what I'd like to explore.

I am very toppy with very little sense of what is appealing about being a sub. Having said that... there are some things that I do enjoy.

When I am seriously turned on, I like my girlfriends to bite the head of my cock- and I mean fucking sink their teeth into it. Same with the base or side of my hand when I'm inside of her.

Being flogged is seriously relaxing. I've had it done to me once and it was amazingly calming and serene. If you're interested in flogs and the sort, I've seen this woman's work in person and her craftsmanship is absolutely amazing.

Sometimes I like to grab a closet rod or rafter (I'm tall) and be spanked. Hmm... to be spanked and given a handjob at the same time. Oh yeah- that's gonna go into the bucket list right now.


List three of your biggest turn-ons and three turn-offs if you want!

Good stuff: Being emotionally connected to my partner, threesomes (both FMF and MMF), face sitting and shaving my girlfriend.

Ungood stuff: Lack of confidence, abusing my trust and nasally/ squeaky voices.

Have you ever used a homemade or normal object as a sex toy?

Does hand lotion count? Because if it does, the Mango Vera lotion, which is ballz deep in lanolin is fucking fantastic. Other than that, only semi warm bagels and donuts- but in fairness, they really deserved it and that's what I tell the workers at the bakery every time they give me, "the look".

How do you feel about someone finishing on you? Hot or gross?

I've had women finish on my face and grind against my leg to orgasm. Not sure if that counts.

As for giving, I'm okay with coming on my partner if that's what she wants (as stated, I much prefer to come inside of her) but have no interest in going off on her face.

Are you down to be pegged or to peg someone?

I've never had anal sex. Rimjobs? Check. Pushing a finger in during doggie style? Frequently. Penis in anus? Nope. There are reasons but they aren't because I'm against it.

And even though I'm no where close to being a submissive, I have to say that I'd like to be pegged by the right woman/ women. It's just one of those bucket list things.

What is your favorite food mixture? (coke and pizza, etc) Sorry couldn't all be sexy questions :3

Oh gods- the fucking brain cocktail of Tryptophan, serotonin, Phenylethylamine and Anandamide that can be found in chocolate is only made moar betterer [sic] with dipping it into some peanut butter (smooth, of course).

Do you think sex toys can be good as the real thing or better?

No opinion since I don't have any. I know there have been advancements in male sex toys beyond the fleshlight- I'm just ignorant of what's out there.

I do know that there are inherent design flaws in warm bagels and donuts. They just seem to fall apart after only one use. I've complained and complained to the donut shop but all they do is give me "the look" and start to dial the police again. I don't know what their problem is but I'm really tired of their oppressing me.

Do you have any kinks or fetishes you wish people understood more

As a general statement about the public at large- a better understanding of dominance and submission. Submissives are exceptionally powerful. If you parse the dynamic of a dom/sub (top/ sub, alpha/ sub- whatever you want to call it), the sub is really the one that holds all of the power; it's just not overt.

As for my own understanding, I never understood the entire DD/lg dynamic. "Incest" is all that I could think of. But one night on the TS server, someone explained to me that it (to her) is about intimacy, trust and nurturing. Since it was a woman that I trust and respect, once she gave me that paradigm, a light went on. Ironically, not two hours later, someone approached me via Skype and we had a DD/lg session that was positively amazing.

There are other similar dynamics such as Teacher/ Student that I'd like to explore as well as dynamics such as, "Sweaty NHL Player/ Innocent Sports Reporter", "Toaster/ Bread", "Bar of Thick Chocolate/ Jar of Smooth Peanut Butter", "Disgruntled Cop One Day from Retirement/ Possibly Guilty Librarian with Tourettes Syndrome" and "Mildly Tainted Cookie Dough/ Spork".

edit: added a verb

Oh my god I did not even know until now that I have been waiting years for someone to make this post

As a very much out-of-the-closet believer in waifu-ism I can totally get this. Have you ever read Beautiful Fighting Girl by Saito Tamaki? There's a really interesting excerpt in it where he actually talks about how he thinks that people that experience serious attraction to fictional characters don't so get reality and fiction confused so much as they have a heightened sense of the line between the two. Like, you kind of have to be able to mentally acknowledge the difference to really get that feeling.

Whispers' Waifu omake by Whispers please make this happen

Your waifu is pretty high tier :O I gotta get back on that... It got deleted off of my laptop somehow, but I have it on my hard drive :O

But yeah. I totally hear you. I think at first I got into Saber because she was cool and she hit stuff with a sword and she disappears at the end of the 2006 anime and it broke my heart, but as I got more into the VNs and the new shows I started to really connect with her on a deeper level. She has this self-sacrificial altruism that's really admirable and tragic to watch, and she has a pretty simple wish, but she's surrounded by crazy things and people that make her life crazy.

She's definitely not a perfect character at all, she's idealistic, but often to an impractical fault. I like that she's tough and has a strong sense of responsibility, but she can still take this really cute and innocent joy in simple things like food and get adorably petty about silly little things.

With the "It's probably not the healthiest" thing, you're right, it's not "the healthiest." But there are so many things that could be worse than owning an anime body pillow (daki master race reporting in :D)

For me, the waifu thing did start kind of as a joke, but I have the same thing where having Saber as an anchor really pulled me out of some really long-term, self-harming interactions with people.

When things get extra crazy, I actually have an email account that I label as hers, and I'll just send emails to it from my own email. So it's like a diary, but it's a bit more... personal, I guess? Like starting my diary entries with "Dear Saber, " instead of "Dear Diary." So it's like... There's an instance of the character who lives in my head, and by addressing my journal entries to her, I'm still writing to myself, but I can do it without an extra helping of self-loathing XD

And now her regalia is my GWA namesake :3 Look at how far we've come! I think this July marks my five year anniversary of officially declaring Saber as my waifu XD

I think audios are a wonderful way to entertain fictional character fantasies, too :) I'd love to hear more shenanigans like that!

Wonderful post :) Thanks so much for sharing these personal feelings with us :D

>Have you ever had someone walk in on you when you have been at it (masturbating/ having sex)? How did you handle it?

Back when I was about 16, I was hanging out in my bedroom with my boyfriend at the time. I wasn't allowed to shut the door if I had a boy over (boyfriend or otherwise), so we'd always be listening for my parents to walk towards my room (especially bc my room was right next to the bathroom). I started giving him a blowjob, and we didn't notice my mom approaching my room until it was a second too late. I bolted upright and he covered himself, and I made some lame excuse (I think I said I was blowing raspberries on his tummy, which actually is something I like to do). She pretended not to notice (but she definitely did), and it was never spoken of.

>What is the most sensitive part of your body?

The obvious answer is my clit, but besides that, I'd say my sides, especially near my hips. Not necessarily sensitive in a sexy way, but I am INCREDIBLY ticklish there! As far as sensitive in a sexy way? Definitely my neck. Them neck kisses tho 😍😍😍

>Is there a sexy scene from a movie you want to recreate? Any preferences with whom?

The sex montage from Deadpool. With Ryan Reynolds in his Deadpool costume.

>April showers bring May flowers: What's your favourite type of flower? Or, if you prefer, you're buying a bouquet of flowers for your favourite person, what's your goto bloom?

I love roses! I'm not sure if black roses exist, but I'd love to see one. There also used to be tulips and daffodils at my old house, so I really like those!

>It's a lazy Sunday morning, and it's time for breakfast in bed. What will you be having this morning?

Definitely scrambled eggs. It's the only decent breakfast food I can make, and I like to add cheese and either turkey or ham lunch meat into the mix, with some salt and pepper. It's AWESOME. I'd probably also have some toast and grapefruit juice to go with it.

(In reality, I had a cookie for breakfast bc I'm lazy as shit and wasn't super hungry)

>What one fashion trend of the past would you bring back to current if you could?

FANNY PACKS. I'm seriously trying to make them a thing again. I've found some really cute ones on Amazon (Kandy Pack has some of my favorites), and I feel less restricted with them than if I have a purse on my shoulder.

>And the SUNDAY SPECIAL for this week:

>Travel goals, name all the places in the world that you have on your bucket list... within 15 seconds (your time starts now... no cheating... time yourself if you are writing this)

JAPAN, Venice, Los Angeles

Ah fuck I ran out of time. But Japan is number one, I want to go there more than anything in the world (one of my friends is spending a week and a half there next month and I'm still trying to get him to sneak me in his luggage 😂).

>P.S. There is candy at the door on your way out. :)

Thank you! It's been fun 😊

Here you go, ladies.

Pegging. Thoughts?

• No thank you. Even if he asked for it, I’d be worried about doing him an injury by mistake. Not a sexy feeling.
  
  
  How old were you when you lost your virginity?
  
  
• 15.
  
  
  If you could change it, would you make it earlier or later?
  
  
• The date is less relevant than the individual I chose. I’d change the person.
  
  
  Do you like using toys in the bedroom?
  
  
• On my own, yes. Though much less often, now that I have the miracle of sexy audios. I prefer my hand.
  
  What is your go to song for when you are
  
  
• a) sad - Uno, Ludovico Einaudi
  
  
• b) contemplative - Gong Meditation
  
  
• c) happy - Get Lucky, Pharrell Williams. I associate it with walking into the Louvre in Paris.
  
  
• d) head over heels smitten - To each man his own song, but in the past I've swooned to Simply Beautiful (Al Green) and Keep Them Kisses Comin' (Craig Campbell)
  
  
  When was the last time you laughed a lovely laugh full of mirth?
  
  
  
• Last week. Something a friend said in response to another friend, that cracked me up. Extremely not-PC remarks about Easter between a Catholic and a Jew. The kind of thing only two very good friends could get away with riffing on.
  
  
  What is your favourite colour and what does it signify?
  
  
• All the colors. What I wear entirely depends on my mood and my whim. I'll admit my closet and drawers are color coded. For your reading pleasure, this is an excellent book about the origins of pigments; [Color: A Natural History of the Palette](https://www.amazon.com/Color-Natural-History-Victoria-Finlay/dp/0812971426/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0812971426&pd_rd_r=WPK9M49AJFY6BVCG98HN&pd_rd_w=cAyMT&pd_rd_wg=sySho&psc=1&refRID=WPK9M49AJFY6BVCG98HN
  ), by Victoria Finlay. It is well worth your time.
  
  
  And the SUNDAY SPECIAL for this week:
  Your favourite on screen villains/ vamps of all time...
  
  
• Total fail here, ladies. I got as far as whoever shot Bambi’s mother, the eponymous star of Alien, and was wondering if Hitler counts (because he is in so many movies) when I stalled out. Was pondering horrible characters, when I realized that if they are good at being villains I don’t like them, so the concept of having favorites doesn’t really work for me.
  
  
  
  

EDIT: Already found it and a few other things. My initial handout for meditation, a follow up 10pg hand out for meditation, and worksheets for Chapters 3 and 4 in the book. Chapter 3 is "Identifying and Rating Moods," and chapter 4 is, "Identifying Situations, Emotions, and thoughts."

I put a list of acronyms and their descriptions at the bottom, since I threw in some shorthand.

I meant to add this in the post last night, but I was drifting in and out of sedation. There is a workbook called Mind Over Mood that, as to my understanding, is very common to given when doing CBT. I have the first edition of this book with, I think, zero marks in it. There is a second edition that came out in 2015 (20 years since the first edition), but I can't speak on what's changed. I assume it was updated to fall more in line with the DSM-5 and new APA standards, since it seems to work with the DSM. This book works great with a therapist, but there are plenty of things you can educate yourself from it by just reading. For me the book didn't help, BUT I never tell people to ignore it since all our experiences are unique to us.

The primary reason I bring the book up is it deals with intrusive thoughts specifically. I do not endorse it as a replacement for professional help. If you would like to see scans of some of the sections of this book to get a feel of it, or think it would be useful to own in general, I will make a whole hearted attempt to find it. If you think owning the book would be helpful to you in a positive way, I will mail it to you free if you're in the US, if you are comfortable with that. I believe P.O. Boxes circumvent the need of any personal details, but I'm not 100% on that. If you aren't in the US, I can't speak to how helpful it would be with therapeutic treatments there, but I will still ship it if the cost is reasonable. That said, if you aren't in the US, Amazon may have it dirt cheap used, especially since it appears out of print.

As side note: if anyone knows a good scanner app that's a reasonable price for iOS, that would be helpful. For a lot of things really, but particularly this.


List of acronyms used
CBT - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Generally a short, goal oriented therapy to change your mental health and outlook. I say generally, because I was in it for almost two years before I was told I had exhausted all options.

APA - American Psychiatric Association: The main professional organization of psychiatrists.

DSM - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The DSM-5 is the edition in use. Published by the APA, the US has moved on to this, but under a bit of controversy. I'll leave personal opinion out of it, but if you don't live in the US it won't affect you.

Again, a PM or a reply here, and I'll do my best to offer what I can. To reiterate what u/Ensellure said, love yourself, believe in yourself, and understand it does take time.

Take care of yourself.

actually I do have a submission.

The Impossible Fortress - Jason Rekulak

Nerds and Misfits and pre-internet hacking involving a Vanna White Playboy magazine. in the 80s. What's not to like?


“A sweet, funny, and moving tribute to nerds and misfits everywhere.” —Seth Grahame-Smith, New York Times bestselling author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Until May 1987, fourteen-year-old Billy Marvin of Wetbridge, New Jersey, is a nerd, but a decidedly happy nerd.

Afternoons are spent with his buddies, watching copious amounts of television, gorging on Pop-Tarts, debating who would win in a brawl (Rocky Balboa or Freddy Krueger? Bruce Springsteen or Billy Joel? Magnum P.I. Or T.J. Hooker?), and programming video games on his Commodore 64 late into the night. Then Playboy magazine publishes photos of Wheel of Fortune hostess Vanna White, Billy meets expert programmer Mary Zelinsky, and everything changes.

A love letter to the 1980s, to the dawn of the computer age, and to adolescence—a time when anything feels possible—The Impossible Fortress will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you remember in exquisite detail what it feels like to love something—or someone—for the very first time.

Thanks for the question--I've gotten more ideas from the comments! I have to record here and there, so yeah, noise is always a concern. Since you already use Audacity, you know about the noice reduction effect. There are also some effects that can moderate larger background noises which you can google and try out. Otherwise, here are two tips I have used:

1. In a pinch, try kneeling and recording over your bed. The blankets and mattress really absorb a lot of noise. You can even use pillows to build a kind of fort/wall around the mic. Bonus: Helps you to kind of physically get into the voice acting.
   
   
2. I bought this portable sound unit -- it's on sale under $60. Yes, it's an expense, but using this and setting it on a square piece of foam, on a table top virtually eliminates most if not all background and louder random noise. You can use this about anywhere and it folds up for storage. It's smaller and just great for a table, desk or counter top. When I have the time and privacy, this is what I use. It's an option if you don't mind spending a little $$.
   
   I agree that background noise is not a huge issue. With Audacity, the hiss and such can be eliminated so easily for a cleaner sound. I'm finishing up what is supposed to be a kind of lab setting scenario series of audios and I've been handholding a recorder, mostly because of lack of time, but the residual noise gives it a more realistic, live sound (I think). Hope this gives you a few more options! Happy recording!

What is your life? Well, right now on the internet you’re providing a lesson to a complete stranger on the internet. To be fully honest, I’m assuming you’re not a pulmonologist or an SLP but it seems you know what you’re talking about, I’m still taking your advice, respectfully but with a few grains of salt.

I had thought about going to a speech language pathologist (SLP) so I went to two different SLPs that specifically offer trans voice training. After my initial evaluations, one said “I sounded fine” and didn’t think I would be “a good candidate.” WTAF?! The other didn’t take insurance or offer a sliding scale. Instead, she said that to “people in my financial situation,” she had suggested The Voice Book for Trans and Non-Binary People: A Practical Guide to Creating and Sustaining Authentic Voice and Communication by Matthew Mills and Gillie Stoneham. How honest!!

I tried doing your speaking exercises over the last several days and I realized that I am already having my belly expand a little when inhaling during meditation as well as when I’m breathing normally.

Before writing this comment, I spent the last couple days trying to do this while talking but old habits die hard! I don’t know if this is a factor but I live in a part of America that is well known for the stereotype as the fastest talkers in the Union and I’m also a chatterbox. That being said, I’m doing a little better with my speech patterns sounding more male, like having my speech a little more monotonous, less bouncy, more direct, among other “traditionally” Western masculine traits.

wow , thank you - I’m always a little worried as I never know what’s going to come out of my mouth until it’s too late, lol. (book embargo?)

(and omg - a wall-climbing, web-spinning toaster - no thank you 😳)

Sadly, I have not seen any of the John Wick movies. I’m afraid my experience is limited to a crossover John Wick / Wicked script someone posted once 😁 but I will bear that in mind when I get there.

And I’m always up for recommendations - I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface on the Slavic folk tales, so I would appreciate any suggestions you have.

I do love the classics! I think HG Wells is probably my favorite but I did love me some Bradbury as well. And I can’t think of any sci-fi translations; to be honest (in a terribly sweeping generalization) I have always been somewhat intimidated by Russian literature. But again, always up for more recommendations; one can only be a chickenshit for so long 😉

Roadside Picnic?

No prob! And here's the book: https://www.amazon.com/BabyCakes-Gluten-Free-Sugar-Free-Recipes-Talked-About/dp/0307408833

Not all of the recipes are gluten free but the ones that are, are insanely delicious. The minimalist baker blog is also really good when it comes to gluten free recipes :)

Audacity's noise removal tool is excellent at getting rid of consistent background noise, like computer hum, etc. if that's what you mean. If you mean your soundcard picks up a lot of electrical noise when you try to record with a mic, that's harder to fix. Impossible, really. Easier to get a $20 USB soundcard or headset adapter. I use this little guy from Turtlebeach for my headset and it's very clear. The headset mic, on the other hand, likes to pick up every creak, crack, and twitch the headset gear makes. It even picks up the sound of my mouse wheel scrolling! But it gets temperamental about my voice if the boom is an inch or two off. Go figure. ;)

EDIT: Actually, unless you need a headset adaptor, probably more cost-effective to just buy a USB mic...

So for recording with my Samsung Note 5, I use the voice recorder app already on there. I've never had an issue with it. I use the Stony Edge Lapel Mic, which just plugs into your headphone jack for anything with the phone now. Haven't done a commute ramble with it yet, but I will.

For other recording purposes, I use a Blue Yeti Blackout Edition, and have a Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone, Cardioid Mode(Gloss Black) for mobile use (i.e. traveling). I have a generic pop filter I picked up at a music store, and a DR Pro Tripod Mic Stand with Telescoping Boom for streaming and recording at home.

The Yeti is a pretty popular mid-price mic for GWA peeps. Snowball is a GREAT starter mic though. My dream mic is a toss up between the Shure SM7B and the AT2035 (both please?)

For desktop recording/editing, a lot of people use Audacity, which is what I started with. I now use Reaper Pro to record, and Izotope RX6 for editing.

Disclaimer: None of these Amazon links are referral links, and I earn no money from them

I looked up your mic and it seems pretty decent sounding, so I'm guessing it's part mic placement and part room. I read you have a couch in the room, I actually sit down on the ground with my mic on my couch so that it absorbs the reflections a lot more since the room is hardwood floors and pretty bare walls.

I'm using just a usb mic, a pretty cheap hobby one too, but once cleaned up, it sounds pretty decent lol. I've got the Snowball mic, which is the Yeti's cheaper sibling mic basically. You can hear it here in my verification. It does the job, but I do clean it up a bit in audacity after (and Adobe Audition if the particular recording calls for it lol)