Links to products I've mentioned in this podcast:
Wired Ear Buds
Wireless Lavalier Microphone
Inexpensive Cardioid Microphone
Higher-End Cardioid Microphone

These are just guides - I encourage you to buy a variety of options from a place with easy returns so you can choose what's truly right for you.

----------------------------------------

If you find yourself in the position of doing Zoom calls for work, or running online workshops, or just making content for the internet, you might have found yourself wondering: what kind of microphone do I buy? The right microphone can set you apart and give you this je ne sais quoi quality that just makes you sound more authoritative and yummy.

I don't know how else to describe it. However, the right microphone for you is not necessarily the most expensive one. Let's get into it.

External Microphones: Why Are They Better?

First, let's talk about external mics. Why are external microphones better, quote-unquote, anyways? The microphone in your laptop or your phone is located right next door to a bunch of other stuff that makes noise—fans in the computers, keys being tapped, fingers swiping the screen, and other things like that.

It makes sense, therefore, that what an internal mic picks up most clearly is that stuff—the stuff that's near to it—not your voice, which is relatively far away.

The other problem is that the default microphone's quality usually can't properly capture the range of loudness happening around it. When that happens, it just cuts off the waveform as it's going into the mic. This is called clipping.

All this is to say: when that one person unmutes themselves on the Zoom call, and you suddenly hear thunderous clacking as they're typing notes, and you hear a lot of static, and you hear a lot of popping—that's what's happening. And I'm going to tell you how to fix that.

Distance Your Microphone from Noise

Fundamentally, as you probably have already guessed, the first thing you want to do is just get your microphone away from the noisy stuff you're not trying to record. In many situations, just the fact that the mic is external from your laptop or phone is good enough, even if it's not a fancy microphone.

And that leads me to my first recommendation:

Recommendation #1: Corded Earbuds with a Built-In Microphone

Just buy yourself a standard pair of corded earbuds that have the microphone included. Your Apple iPhone, if you have one, came with these. But if you don't have an Apple iPhone, you can just go onto Amazon and buy a pair. They're usually around $7.99 or $8.99—something like that.

Interestingly, I actually don't recommend AirPods. There are two reasons for this:

1. My AirPods, I don't know about you, are constantly pairing with stuff I don't want them to pair with. It becomes a hassle when I'm on a Zoom call, and they want to pair with my phone, but I want them to pair with my computer. And people are waiting for you. So I avoid them for that reason.
2. You can't really tell where the microphone is on AirPods, so you can't maneuver your voice position to the most advantageous spot.

So, yeah, get yourself a pair of those cheap corded earbuds.

A Helpful Hack for Earbuds:

Hold the cord so that the microphone on the corded earbuds is close to your mouth—not on top of your mouth, but around 2–3 inches away—and just hold it there. This ensures your voice has a nice, even loudness to it, and that other things you don't want people to hear (like your keyboard clacking or your kid in the background) will be quieter.

The one "gotcha" here is that it's really easy to forget to keep the microphone close to your mouth. When you let it fall away, people end up not being able to hear you very well. So you’ve got to keep it next to your mouth.

This solution works for most situations where you're able to sit relatively still, and it's definitely great for any work calls.

Recommendation #2: Wireless Lavalier Microphone

If you're going to be moving your head quite a bit, talking to another person, or you don’t want to be tethered to your phone because it's on a tripod, a wireless microphone is a great option.

Order a bunch of these from Amazon (they have very easy returns) and keep the one that works best for you. Different microphones are made for different devices, so what works on an iPhone may not work for an iPad.

Do a sound test using a control: compare your iPhone's audio by itself to the sound when using the wireless microphone. Play it back in headphones to hear the quality.

Wireless microphones are also great for isolating your voice from background noise if you're outdoors. Depending on which one you buy, they’re generally better quality than corded earbuds.

Recommendation #3: Cardioid Microphone

For recording podcasts or consistent Zoom calls from the same computer, a cardioid microphone is ideal. If you’re ready to step up from earbuds to something higher quality, here’s what I recommend:

• Don’t buy a Shure microphone or anything too expensive right away. Instead, search for a cardioid microphone or podcast microphone on Amazon.
• Start with something affordable — and ideally it has a USB connection to plug directly into your computer.

A cardioid microphone focuses on sound from one area, ignoring other noises. It’s like a camera that blurs out everything except the focal point. This gives the impression of being in a studio, even in a noisy environment.

Recommendation #4: Enhancing Your Audio with Software

Regardless of what microphone you choose, use the tools available in your software to enhance your audio.

For example:

• Zoom: Go to Settings > Audio > Background Noise Removal and adjust it.
• Descript: Use the Studio Sound tool to isolate background noise when editing podcasts.
• Instagram: Go to "Volume settings" when you're editing your reel - there's a slider to enhance the source audio quality.

These tools can significantly improve audio quality, even with basic equipment.

Final Thoughts

I’m not an audio engineer, but these tricks can help you level up your sound quality without breaking the bank. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you next time!