Jaayne: All right, so ready for this deep dive. You sent in this Danny Brown video, Jaayne: the two quick tips for better mic technique. Jaayne: And honestly, who doesn't want like super clear audio? Am I right? So let's jump right in. Jamie: And you picked a great one. Honestly, Danny Brown, his channel is like mic technique 101. Jaayne: Yeah. Jamie: But, you know, actually fun to watch. Jaayne: Totally. Yeah. And I love how he doesn't like assume you've got this crazy pro studio happening.
Jaayne: Like, yeah, he's got the cool acoustic panels and all that. Yeah. Jamie: Yeah. Which, I mean, they do make a difference. Jaayne: Oh, for sure, for sure. Jamie: Don't get me wrong. Jaayne: Oh, absolutely not. But he really emphasizes that, like, mic technique by itself. Jaayne: Even if you're recording, like, in your closet right now, like, no judgment.
Jamie: None at all. You know, I once heard this recording, and it was made in a professionally, Jamie: like, treated vocal booth, you know, the whole nine yards. Jamie: And the mic technique was so bad, it sounded like they were speaking from inside a fishbowl. Jaayne: No way. See, that's what I'm talking about. So you're telling me you even I Jaayne: with my like very basic setup can improve things just by What was his things Jaayne: speaking across the mic not into it? Have you tried that?
Jamie: Oh, yeah, absolutely Felt Jaayne: Kind of it. Jamie: Feels a little unnatural effort natural, but there's a method to the madness Yeah, Jamie: especially when it comes to what we call plosives plosives, you know There's Jamie: little bursts of air like when we say words with P or B They create this like Jamie: popping sound and it can really mess with your audio. Jamie: It's like imagine someone like shoving a mini air cannon at your mic every time Jamie: they said Peter Piper picked.
Jaayne: Okay, now I'm both grossed out. And D, I understand what you mean. Right. Okay. Jamie: So speaking across the mic is almost like creating a little sound barrier, right? Jamie: So those plosives, those little air bursts, they're not hitting your microphone Jamie: diaphragm directly. correctly, so you get a much smoother sound, Jamie: right? Much more pleasant to listen to. Jamie: It's the difference between like someone slamming a door versus gently closing it.
Jaayne: I'm going with gently closing for sure. Yes. Jamie: Which one would you rather listen to? Exactly. Yeah. The one that doesn't make Jamie: me jump out of my skin. So this works for any type of mic, right? Jamie: Because he also talks about like condenser versus dynamic mics. Jaayne: Right. And that's where things get even more interesting, especially for, Jaayne: you know, if you're working with a condenser mic at home.
Jamie: They're great. They're amazing at capturing detail. They're like the high-definition Jamie: cameras of the microphone world. Jaayne: Ooh, tell me more. I'm suddenly very self-conscious about my pores. Jaayne: But okay, so condenser mics, very sensitive. Jamie: Very sensitive. Jaayne: So they're like the super, super HD cameras of the microphone world, Jaayne: which sounds amazing, but maybe a little high maintenance. Jamie: A little bit, yeah. They can be. They're very sensitive. Okay.
Jamie: Which is great because it means you can capture all those subtle details, Jamie: the nuances of your voice. Okay. Jamie: But it also means that it picks up everything else. Jaayne: Oh, okay. Jamie: So that whole thing that Danny Brown does in the video. Yeah. With the hang loose. Jaayne: Oh, when he's all like hang loose, like he's about to like catch a wave. Jamie: Yeah, exactly. Jaayne: I thought he was just like messing around.
Jamie: No, no, no. He's actually, he's really onto something there. What? Jamie: Because that distance, like from your thumb to your pinky. Yeah. Jamie: When you make that hang loose sign. Yeah. Jamie: That's actually like a pretty solid rule of thumb. Jaayne: I see what you did there. Jamie: For how far you want to be from a condenser mic. Jaayne: OK, so not like breathing down its neck. Jamie: Less breathing down the neck and more like, you know, having a respectful conversation.
Jaayne: OK, OK. Jamie: From a comfortable distance. Jaayne: I like it. So it can like do its thing. Jamie: Exactly. Let it breathe. Yeah. Capture the richness of your voice without being overwhelmed. Jaayne: It can breathe. I love that. OK, so condenser mics, the sensitive friend that Jaayne: you don't want to blast with an air horn. Got it. But what about dynamic mics? Jaayne: Because those seem to be like all the rage, you know, for podcasts and like
Jaayne: live stuff and all that. Are those as high maintenance? Jamie: So dynamic mics, they're a little bit more like think about your trusty old landline phone. Jamie: Okay. You know, it can handle a little bit more volume. Yeah. Jamie: They're not as sensitive to every little bump or breath. Jaayne: So I could like whisper sweet nothings or like belt out a power ballad and it will be fine. Jamie: Maybe not whisper.
Jaayne: Okay. Jamie: But, you know, they are designed for those higher sound pressure levels. Jaayne: Right, right. Jamie: Think about it. They're used a lot on stage where things can get really loud. Jaayne: Yeah, yeah. Jamie: They're built to handle that. Jaayne: Makes sense. Okay, so with a dynamic mic, I don't have to worry about the whole Jaayne: hang loose thing. I can get all up in there. Jamie: You want to be mindful of your distance. Okay. But you can definitely get a little bit closer.
Jaayne: Okay, okay. But I'm sensing a butt. Jamie: Butt, butt. Jamie: Speaking across the mic still matters. Jaayne: Even if I can practically like kiss it. Jamie: Even then. Yeah. Because remember, it's not just about volume. Jamie: It's about directionality. Right. Jamie: You're still aiming those plosives away from that diaphragm. Jamie: Okay. And that's what's going to make your audio sound so much clearer and more professional.
Jaayne: So no matter what, speaking across the mic is where it's at? Jamie: Always. Jaayne: Okay. I'm picking up what you're putting down. Anything else I need to know Jaayne: about that before I move on? Right. Okay. So speaking across, not into. Jaayne: Got it. But then Danny Brown, he also talks about like being consistent with your mic technique. Jaayne: It's like finding that perfect parking spot. You know, you don't want to just
Jaayne: like admire it from afar. You got to pull in and hold it. Jamie: That's a great analogy because, yeah, it's one thing to find that sweet spot Jamie: where your voice sounds amazing. Right. Jamie: But the real magic happens when you can actually stay there.
Jaayne: Yeah. Easier said than done, though, right? I will fully admit I've been guilty Jaayne: of like leaning in when I'm like super fired up about something where i back Jaayne: away when i'm thinking it's like my voice has its own gravitational pull to Jaayne: and from the microphone how do i stop that.
Jamie: Well and even those tiny little movements you might Jamie: not even realize you're doing them yeah but they Jamie: can really really impact how your audio is perceived you know yeah think about Jamie: it how many times you've been listening to someone speak and you just you kind Jamie: of zone out oh all the time and it might not even be like the content itself Jamie: right it's those subtle There are subtle variations in the volume, the tone.
Jamie: Our brains, they just pick up on that stuff. Jaayne: It's so true. Like when you're watching something, like a movie or whatever, Jaayne: and the audio is just all over the place, and you're so busy like messing with Jaayne: the volume, that you completely miss what's going on. Jamie: Exactly. Wow. Jaayne: Okay, so consistency is key. How do we get better at that? Jamie: Well, I mean, honestly, practice, you know, just start by recording yourself speaking.
Jamie: Okay. And then really listen back and listen for those little things. Jamie: Do you lean in when you get excited? Do you back away when you pause? Jamie: And once you identify what your kind of like bad habits are, Jamie: you can start to break them. Jaayne: It's like becoming aware of your like nervous six. You know, Jaayne: once you see it, you can't unsee it. So you just got to work with it. Jamie: I love that. Exactly. The more you practice, the more it'll become second nature.
Jaayne: Yeah. You know what I love about all this is that it's not about like having Jaayne: the most expensive microphone or this like fancy studio setup. Jaayne: It's really just about like understanding how to use what you've got to the best of its ability. Jaayne: Totally. It's like Danny Brown is giving us all the cheat codes. Jamie: Exactly. And you can use those cheat codes, whether you're recording a podcast, Jamie: giving up a presentation, even just leaving a voicemail message.
Jaayne: It's true so good it's like a superpower but like for your voice yeah makes Jaayne: you wonder if something as simple as how we use our microphones can have that Jaayne: much of an impact what other areas of our lives could use a little optimization you know it's.
Jamie: Something to think about right Jaayne: It really is well that is it for this deep dive huge thanks to danny brown for Jaayne: the amazing advice and remember speak across the mic not into it find that sweet Jaayne: spot and hold it until next time. Music: Music