Welcome 2024 and welcome to episode 2 of The Pod Garden Ponderings! Here, I share my experiences and thoughts on creating and collaborating, along with techniques for recording, editing, and mixing gained from working on podcasts, music, and film.
Hang Loose: Microphone Placement. I don’t like rules, but I do like guidelines. People often suggest this & that for specific microphone placements and distances, but after recording thousands of singers, actors, and podcasters, I've learned that it's different for every person and setting. My starting guideline is to sit or stand comfortably, make the hang loose sign with one hand, place the thumb at the corner of the mouth, and move the microphone screen to the pinky finger. Remember, closer mic placement captures more intimate details and warm low-mids, but may also result in more pops, sibilance, and artifacts. Conversely, more distant mic placement may yield more even and natural tones with fewer artifacts, but less dramatic tones and potentially more room noise. Record a few test sentences, listen back, and adjust to your taste, as not all issues are noticeable during recording, especially in online recording programs. Still getting plosives and other artifacts? Try aiming the mic a bit more toward the corner of the mouth or chin or nose. Sometimes a bit more off-axis position will decrease direct pressure on the mic diaphragm and yield fewer plosives. Oh, are you using a good pop filter?
New work alerts: I’m thrilled to have worked on mixing, editing, and music selections for season 5 of Radical Imagination, a podcast featuring meaningful conversations about social justice with some cool music transitions! It’s a pleasure working with the talented crew. Check out the last two episodes:
Reclaiming Outdoor Spaces Rue Mapp of Outdoor Afro and Ronda Chapman from the Trust for Public Land discuss their efforts to reconnect Black communities with nature's joys and healing powers.
Revolutionary Leadership Be inspired by two trailblazers whose leadership and determination exemplify what's needed to ensure a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
I also serve as the Sound Supervisor for the Army Matters podcast, where I work on recording, editing, mixing and music selections. I did some cool sound design for these latest episodes:
What Do Batman and Ruben Rivers Have In Common? Staff Sergeant Ruben Rivers was a WWII hero who led the 761st, all black, tank battalion.
The Man Who Died Six Times - and Then Became a Super Bowl Champion Greg Gadson overcame severe injury and a painful recovery to go on and share stories that motivated a team to win two Super Bowls.
What are your favorite podcasts and events at the moment? I’m always looking for recommendations for cool stuff to listen to. I’ve been enjoying One Handshake Away: Peter Bogdanovich and the Icons of Cinema. Bogdanovich sat down for intimate conversations with his favorite contemporary directors and discussed a wide range of topics related to cinema.
Today’s Tech Tip: Izotope RX, Shift + S for Bumps & Thumps
Andy, “Please don’t hit the microphone or desk.”
Host, “Do you hear that?”
Andy, “Yes!”
Since I started mixing podcasts, I’ve done more dialogue restoration than ever before. All those mic thumps! In Izotope RX, use Lasso (or R) tool to outline the bump, plosive, or problem, then hit Shift + S for attenuation. Repeat as necessary… This technique works wonders for eliminating various annoying noises. I find it more effective and transparent than the De-Plosive module. While I believe it’s best to “fix it in pre,” it is great to be able to eliminate artifacts in post.
Stay tuned for discussions on collaboration between sound professionals, hosts, and producers, as well as thoughts on spreadsheets, planning, and storytelling techniques.
Happy listening! Happy mixing!
Comments