Reddit mentions of Aokeo Professional Microphone Pop Filter Mask Shield For Blue Yeti and Any Other Microphone, Mic Dual Layered Wind Pop Screen With A Flexible 360° Gooseneck Clip Stabilizing Arm

Why would you do that?

A cheap pop filter is $6

A pop filter is a physical screen you put between your mouth and the microphone in order to dissipate sudden bursts of air that cause a "popping" sound. For example: https://smile.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Stabilizing-Awesome-Recordings/dp/B01N21H9WY/

If/when you get one, record yourself saying something like "Peter Piper" directly into the mic both with and without the filter and notice the difference. It will sound something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvhwIOcUbjw

just since we're talking about audio, might I also suggest a pop filter for taking the edge off all those hard bursts of air.

• Samson Q2U microphones. We used them in USB mode with no audio interface and I was very pleasantly surprised at the sound quality. The raw audio actually sounded better than the Shure SM58s through a Focusrite Saffire Pro which was our setup at the library.
  
  
• Eastshining adjustable mic arm with shock mount
  
  
• Aokeo pop filters
  
  
• I made the "soundproofing" out of some egg crate foam someone was throwing out by taping it to a pizza box. This has the added bonus that it folds up nice and compact when we're not recording!
  
  
• Recording directly into Reaper
  
  If anyone has questions or wants some advice on how to do this for low budget let me know! We did a lot of research and spent about $80 per person, and the sound quality rivals that of the legit sound studio we were recording in before. Also we used both USB mics on my computer and it was relatively easy to make work (on a Mac) so happy to offer advice on that front too.

About the cheapest setup I can think of to get a professional sound would be the MXL V67G, Behringer UM2, with an XLR cable, pop filter, and mic stand. A shock mount is also recommended (the one I linked is a bit tight for the mic I linked, but it still works) but the V67G comes with a solid mount, so it's not essential if you are tight n mony. All-in-all, this will run about the same price as buying a Yeti, and will have a much better sound quality. The Yeti just doesn't have the ability to capture all the frequencies well and winds up having a thin low end with a harsh treble, even in the best recording spaces. It wouldn't be completely unusable, but when you can get better quality for the same price I just can't recommend it at all. The Snowball has even worse sound quality, and just has no chance of getting you what you are looking for.

​

As for acoustic treatment, improvised stuff works just as well as the professional stuff, it just doesn't look as nice. If you go the blanket over the head method, make sure it is a thick blanket, or double up. Another way of treating your space could be building a PVC frame and hanging thick blankets over it (don't forget above you as well!), or using a well-stocked closet with a thick blanket draped behind you.

​

If you need an extra male voice feel free to hit me up! I'm a huge fan of Skyrim and would be happy to help! And feel free to message me if you need help getting anything set up.

Get headphones and a mic that can be on an arm. I made a budget combo ($100) that would blow any headset out of the water.

Links below


Mic: https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-Condenser-Recording-Streaming-669B/dp/B06XCKGLTP
Pop Filter: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Stabilizing-Recordings-Broadcasting/dp/B01N21H9WY
Arm: https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Microphone-Suspension-Broadcasting-Voice-Over/dp/B00DY1F2CS
Headphones: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M20x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR18

Me and the Yeti have had our long hours and stressful history, months and months of adjusting trying to get it to work properly and I've learned more about this damnable mic than I have about basic math it feels like lmao. I had a constant humming problem but I ended up solving it by just getting it off my desk with an arm stand. A cheap one too! It's not the most stable, nor the most professional, but it works for me and my set up and is incredibly cheap. https://www.amazon.com/InnoGear-Microphone-Windscreen-Suspension-Snowball/dp/B07CN2C93T/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=mic+arm&qid=1574236902&sr=8-4

​

Otherwise definitely use a pop filter. From my experience you don't really need anything fancy, just a nice cheap one will do. https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Stabilizing-Recordings-Broadcasting/dp/B01N21H9WY/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=pop+filter&qid=1574237097&sr=8-4

​

I don't use a shock mount. After fiddling with my Yeti for a while I don't seem to have a use for one right now so I don't really have any good recommendations for those. Hope any of this works out! Just skip around one of my VODS if you wanna hear an example of my set up but so far with the cheap stuff it's worked out well.

Hummm this is my shopping list for the cheapest usable equipment I could find, the interface is for 8 people so don’t get that lol and the prices are for 4 people but this is about the best I can think of (they’re might be cheaper stands and getting a shorter xlr cable might be a good idea but this is kinda a baseline)

4 Microphones $80https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Ultravoice-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002KZAKS/ref=pd_aw_sim_267_1/134-4918017-9581726?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0002KZAKS&pd_rd_r=67247d59-873d-11e9-b9fc-e96a8f51671e&pd_rd_w=rl713&pd_rd_wg=YUNRU&pf_rd_p=469620d9-3e90-496d-9dc8-b19f900ba5fe&pf_rd_r=43C56ST8VNKF3SY65G3P&psc=1&refRID=43C56ST8VNKF3SY65G3P

4 Pop filters $40https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Stabilizing-Recordings-Broadcasting/dp/B01N21H9WY/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=pop%2Bfilter&qid=1559702707&s=gateway&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1

4 XLR cables $40 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003JJQMD8/ref=psdcmw_11973421_t2_B00018CXV0

5 Microphone stands $60
https://www.amazon.com/InnoGear-Upgraded-Adjustable-Microphone-Snowball/dp/B07F82BPLV/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?keywords=microphone+stand&qid=1559703326&s=gateway&sprefix=microphone+st&sr=8-20

Audio interface $150
Amazon.com: BEHRINGER Audio Interface, 4-Channel (UMC404HD): Gateway

Total: $370

Looks good
Ok, this is what I would do in your situation. This doesn't mean it is the right thing to do but I can recommend a few options that are regarded (generally) by the audio community as decent starting points.
First off Id suggest you do get two mics. It will also enable you to record both vocals and guitar at the same time if you wanted to do youtube covers or anything like that.


For vocals. Id get an AT2020. For the money, you won't really do better. I've used them myself and really have no complaints about there. sure, they aren't the best top level, high-end studio mics. But for someone starting out with Audio, the quality is amazing. If you want some examples before you buy one check out some youtube videos. Id also suggest getting a pop filter. There one here for 9bucks. If you dont want to buy one you can just try this. But personally i value not having to hold i, esp when playing guitar.
For guitar, Id get a Shure SM57. Even some of the best studios in the world still use these for guitar. A guitar recorded with a 57 is the coffee and nicotine combination equivalent of the audio world.

​

Also, as a side note, id recommend finding an XLR cable with decent connectors. Neutrik is a trusted and reliable brand. Im not sure which ones amazonbasics uses. For the most part cables can be much of a muchness but the connector is important, its worth splashing out a little bit on this. On second thoughts, these amazonbasics ones have pretty decent reviews so might be good.

​

Also maybe boom mic stand will help if you dont have one already.

​

Hope this helps!


​

This - $58.99

This - $99.00

This - the one with the stand ($48.00)

and This - $12.50

Total: $218.49

The "soundproof shield" on the mic stand isn't enough. The only reason I say you should get it is because it will allow you to hang a blanket over your mic. You want something heavy with a cotton-like, or very dense surface. You can hang the blanket there and "duck in" to do your voice work. You can take a phone in with your lines on it so you don't have to duck in and out so much. The point is that there is no such thing as a good mic that doesn't need soundproofing, period.

With this condenser mic, good soundproofing (blanket), and the heavy pop filter, you will be surprised at the quality. The Behringer audio interface is basically an amp, you know, and it's totally fine for voice work. And remember, this is NOT a USB mic! It NEEDS an audio interface.

I realize it's more than the option already presented, but it's just so worth it. It really is so much about that blanket. The fact is if you want to sound pro without spending pro money, you need to stick your head in there and just put up with that. The results are 100% worth it.

One other thing: if you find that pop filter isn't enough, and you're still hearing "mouth clicks" (this setup, without filter, will pick up every little sound the inside of your mouth makes -- and the inside of your mouth actually makes a LOT of unintended noise, if you didn't know it), start layering on thin nylon fabric (panty hose will work) until it's gone to your satisfaction.

Here's me using this exact setup (I have tried other inexpensive setups!)

https://soundcloud.com/dan-williams-214914755/credits-1/s-881qi?in=dan-williams-214914755/sets/a-house-in-wayward-canyon/s-cfvoq

I also have a Yeti

This is what I use
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N21H9WY?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

for a compressor depends on what software you are using, if you have OBS (google it if you don't know what it is) then there is plenty of youtube tutorials. i personally haven't yet ventured into streaming myself and can't help much more than googling the correct terms for you. "OBS compressor tutorial" it's easier to see an example through the tutorial then for me to explain in words what they do.

as for the other question ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ i don't personally use a mic stand for gaming i'm using a lav mic. i'm guessing it depends on your setup whether you'd want a on desk mic stand or a free sitting one. there is a youtube video for that.

my personal quess would be : gator short mic stand with sp1 shock mount and generic pop filter

I have a couple of items that might be helpful. If you're into streaming games or use a mic (like a Yeti), then having a pop filter would be great as it will help get rid of that pesky "p" sound whenever you say a word that starts with a p. If streaming is not something you're into, then perhaps you're like me and spend a lot of time staring at the computer monitor. In that case, a pair of computer reading glasses can cut out some of the glare from the screen.

​

Of course, you can always add a Funko Pop of your favorite character to hang out with you when you're browsing the web or doing that important computer work. One of my personal favorites would be the one and only Loki. I mean, who wouldn't want the god of mischief by their side? I also realize that means I listed three and should just pick one to go by. If so, I'd have to go with the glasses as they would be helpful. But then again... Loki. Ugh. So hard to pick one.

Using the same mic, coincidentally, and have been pleasantly surprised. Figured it was worth a go before mic shopping. I don't have a shock mount but have been using a floor boom like this one. Also picked up one of these pop filters from Amazon which seems to cut down, especially with some mic testing/technique. Good luck!

If you want to go for the cheap route, you could do what I do. I have a cheap $20 mic stand with a pop filter that attaches to the mic/boom stand arm and then attach an adjustable shock mount so it can fit both types of mics.

I'll link the ones I personally use.

Mic/Boom stand: https://www.amazon.com/Samson-MK-10-Microphone-Boom-Stand/dp/B003CLIPHO/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1522273119&sr=1-5&keywords=mic+stand

Pop filter: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Stabilizing-Awesome-Recordings/dp/B01N21H9WY/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1522273155&sr=1-3&keywords=pop+filter

Shock mount: (I use a different mic, but you can check out a few of these) https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dmi&field-keywords=adjustable+shock+mount&rh=n%3A11091801%2Ck%3Aadjustable+shock+mount

Hope this helps!

Now I'd like to start off by saying, great video! No, really! The idea was one of the first of it's type that I've seen on YT, granted I don't watch a lot of sims, but it was executed well and even had a bit of connection with your viewers, in the sense that, it was about your channel and the things that you use in your video. Now because I'm only going off of the one video and the video in question is completely sped up I will have to comment more on the side of your audio.

The first thing that I'd like to address is the fact that you don't seem confident in your mic and it's ability pick up your voice well. All I'm going to say about your mic is that it's okay and you shouldn't need a newer/better one unless that one breaks. You have little to no background noise, which is great, and for someone with an accent, you speak clearly enough for people to easily understand you.

Now onto your actual voice itself. You seem nervous and/or out of breath during your video, now I'm not sure of how to fix this problem directly, but I'd imagine a few good solutions would be to either get a good [pop filter] (https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Stabilizing-Awesome-Recordings/dp/B01N21H9WY/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1522666504&sr=1-3&keywords=pop+filter) or to try and 'stealthily' breath purposely away from you mic to minimize interference. But if you are genuinely nervous about recording I would suggest just imagining that you were talking to your best friend/s, not strangers over the internet.

Another thing that I've noticed in your videos is that you tend to go over the same concept over and over again at the beginning of your videos, now this isn't the worst problem you could possibly have, but all you need to do is explain it once clearly enough so that it wouldn't seem out of place in one of those "For Dummies" books.

As for the question you asked me to answer, I believe that you should likely test out some different type of music for different types of videos. An example of this being the video that you linked me was one that was sped up to the point of only being a few minutes long (Isn't a bad thing with this type of video) so you may want to use some music that is slightly faster than most, but make sure it's still only at a low volume so that the audience can still hear you.

Hope this helped <3