Good advice on how to physically set up your mic's. I am surprised that you didn't mention the noise removal effect in Camtasia. It helps put that final touch on the audio recording. Still a good video though!
That's a great point! This time it was 'what can anyone do right now,' but next time we can definitely cover some ways of improving your audio inside of Camtasia. Thanks for mentioning!
I use the snowball Ice USB with a pop screen and a boom stand and get great audio, however it would be great if Camtasia would add some basic audio EQ and effects!
Have you played with Camtasia's sister software, Audiate? We're currently building out lots of audio tools over there and there's even more to come. www.audiate.com
I've often seen it suggested that, for many people, a handspan 🖐 is a good, quick guide for the right mouth-to-mic distance: the 6-8" that you mention… Leaving aside the software (that's a different part of the production chain), good setup or bad setup for any mic can definitely make a noticeable difference, so don't sabotage your own efforts! According to sE Electronics' web site, the sE2200's body is 8" long (excluding the XLR connector coming out the bottom). Maybe it's an optical illusion, but the 8" distance you're claiming for your sE2200 looks more like about double that away from your face when you show the optimum arrangement, even though it does sound the best of the three positions for that mic. Since you asked about the kit that we're using, I've got a Røde NTG4 peeking over the back of my display - just out of camera. I'm probably going to order the new Focusrite Vocaster mic interface when it ships. What box of tricks do you normally use with your sE220?
The hand trick is a good one! Internally we've started referring to that as the "shaka" distance 🤙. Good eye, there is a bit of optical illusion going on here. It's probably not a perfect 8 inches, but it was closer than it looks here. The sE2200 has served us well as a voiceover option in our recording booth. I don't recommend speaking directly into it, but just over it. As with most mics, you don't want to aim your mouth right at them, but just past them for the best sound catch.
Hi, does Camtasia automatically boost the gain on a mic? I run a RodeCaster Duo as my interface with an SM7B mic. The Rodecaster duo shows my audio levels and they are in the green. But, if I turn the volume slider all the way up in Camtasia's recording panel, my audio in Camtasia clips. But it doesn't clip according to the meter in the Rodecaster. It also doesn't clip in other software like Zoom, Clipchamp, and Filmora. I'd appreciate any help you can provide.
Sir should we chose option "Endoce audio" while rendering a video or not ? should it be checkd every time? cuz after rendering a video , camtasia usually gives audio skip prb. in many portions of the video the audio is just cut .. some words skipped . why is it so. please respond
Using a Rhode pro caster because it was the one I could afford that came in a package deal last holiday season. Mic and PSA1 arm in one package. It sounds pretty good and sounds better than the Yetti I was using.
I move around too much. Even though I sit in a chair, I shift side to side, varying my distance to the mic. So, desktop mics don't work for me, and my Blue Yeti has been in a box in a closet for 4 years. I tried a boom. It didn't look good on camera, and I really didn't have the space on my desk for it. Today, I use a lapel mic and a Focusrite USB interface.
I have used the Blue Yeti mic for many years, but I recently upgraded to the Yeti X and it is an excellent mic. The included Blue VO!CE audio software that comes with it provides a great set of tools to improve the overall sound quality of your recordings. If you haven't taken a look at this and you want great recordings, I urge you to see what it is all about.
Lots of great practical tips here, thanks! If you ever update this, you might add shock mount to your list (which you have on your SE-2200, though I don't need to tell you that, just noting for people reading :D) The shock mount really helped me with vibration noises that were amplified by my desk and carried up the boom. And, it's cheap! I found a kit with a boom arm, pop filter, and shock mount on Amazon for less than $25 US. Well worth it!
And then when you are done recording don’t forget that your audio and video will likely be out of synch. The mic won’t fix that. It’s just a well known camtasia bug. Wish they’d fix this. Camtasia doesn’t even have a synch audio feature. I have free software that does this. Camtasia still has a way to go. 😢
Marker is Not Working on Screen Recording. under Tools>Preperfences>Shorcut section. I try to add a marker *Ctrl+M* on the recording screen but not working. How to Fix it..... Please make a video on Screen Recording and guide all tools option
Some shortcuts cannot be used because they're what's referred to as Global shortcuts, meaning your computer may already have another application set to remember Ctrl + M no matter what program is open. You can try to use "M" or "Shift + M" or "Alt + M" as alternatives.
When I'm doing something important, I wear my Logitech headphones with a mic built-in. So, I would guess that that would be similar to earbuds. I do have one question for you: why would you do a great video on how to improve your sound quality with a music background? Admittedly, it did not prevent understanding you, but it caused me to turn off and on your video verifying it was you, not a neighbor. (:>)). Thanks for the video.
Great simple explainer, with good tips for better voice audio. Just recently got the Tonor TC30, I didn't have the biggest budget, £35 on Amazon. It has proven a worth while purchase, has really enhanced audio on my training and tutorial videos, of course using Camtasia. But these tips will definitely be a help
The Tonor model showed up during our research phase of mics to discuss, but since we didn't have one already we didn't include it. Really glad to hear it's providing great results for you! 👏
The video does kind of underplay that desktop microphones really do outperform other types, no matter what the technique. If you are doing a lot of voicework for videos, it may be worth petitioning your workplace for an upgrade.
I’ve always heard that with podcast style mics (atr-2100, etc) it’s best to have it close but to not speak directly into the mic - in other words, have it right below mouth level and just a few inches away so it’s close but doesn’t get plosives. Should I be changing my Strategy?
You received good advice. Speaking 'across' the mic, with the mic at the side or above or below your mouth is a good way to prevent plosives if you don't have a pop filter.
Not sure which model you have, but in general Elgato makes good mid-range products. Is there software you can use to try and adjust gain (or is there a knob on the mic for it) that might solve some of this? Remember to keep it beneath your mouth, not directly in front of (chin level), and that way your sound travels over it, not directly into it.
Okay, thanks for that. However, I have a question. What do I do when my sound is just slightly out of sync with my mouth like yours was in this video? I bet it isn't off by more than one or two hundredths of a second. My problem is can never quite figure out which way it is off!
This takes some manual adjustment. Right-click the clip in the timeline and select "Separate audio and video" then try to find a visual cue (which is why we always recommend clapping when you first start recording to have a visual/audible cue) to sync together.
I just got a Blue Yeti Classic and use it with Camtasia to create powerpoint videos. I've tried putting my mic closer and father away and your suggestion of 8 inches away. I then use camtasia noise removal. It wouldn't be useable without noise removal. It still sounds like I'm in a tunnel or on an airplane. I'm wondering if its because I have a Windows 11 machine. Yeti directions end at Windows 10
Great points Carolyn. For the Yeti, have you changed the pattern dial on the back? Make sure it's set to Cardioid Pattern (the upside down heart shape) and then face their logo that says "Blue" and has the mute button under it. That should produce the best sound. Sometimes people simply have it facing the wrong way, or are using the wrong pattern on their mic and it produces wildly different results for them. We didn't cover all of the microphones dials since this video was less about each more and more about the sound you get from them. Hopefully this is helpful!
I know it's a super elementary suggestion but make sure that you have the Yeti *selected* as your microphone. I've seen people make the mistake of not actually using the microphone that they just hooked up.
@@JebHoge Not elementary at all! Even we pros make this mistake from time to time. Solid point! Make sure you've selected the mic you WANT to record! Thanks Jeb!