"USB" is NOT a Type of Microphone: A Guide for Podcasting and Home Recording

I've been threatening to make this video for a while now...

There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all "nice microphone". There are different types of mics for different types of recording jobs. If you're looking at podcasting, spoken word, interviews, or voice over recording, here's a quick primer on some of the microphones you might want to consider!

EWABS Ep 192 - Audio Masters Roundtable & Home Recording Trends

It's the end of an era. Dan Lenard's last East West Audio Bodyshop Shop show before trekking out to the west coast. That's right folks, he's coming to MY neck of the woods. I WIN! HA!

Anywho, it was only fitting that we joined for an epic Audio Masters Roundtable discussion. Almost two hours of chat with some of the most knowledgeable folks in the industry. Discussing the trends we've seen in VO and home recording over the years, which bad habits just refuse to die, and answering a TON of viewer questions.

I might even get a bit rant-y towards the end. Maybe... I had two beers...
Settle in for a good one folks.



I wonder if they'll just be "WABS" from now on...

Full Review: Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset with Microphone Test

Kingston's HyperX Cloud II is an ambitious follow up to their first Cloud headset. Not only are they refining and simplifying the cabling, they're adding a USB DAC while only charging $20 more.

Is the HyperX Team biting off more than they can chew? Let's take a listen to the cans and the mic!


Shop the HyperX Cloud II on Amazon.
More info on Kingston products.

Review: Sennheiser Urbanite XL Headphones- Sophisticated Design, Impeccable Build Quality

Sennheiser impressed last year with their high-end Momentum headphones, and now they're positioning the Urbanite line as their mid-range audio experience.

A unique blend of modern design and incredible build quality, do these cans have what it takes to stand up to more established "FashionPhones" brands? Let's take a listen!



Shop the Urbanite XL's on Amazon.

Native USB Audio Finally Comes to Android!

It's been a strange, long, frustrating, trip. No joke. I've been writing about the state of Android recording for years now.

Now with Android 5.0 "Lollipop" we finally have one of the most sought after, and completely neglected features, for those of us looking at project, home, and travel recording. I took a little time to demo USB Audio input and output on an NVIDIA Shield Tablet with the Lollipop update and my Blue Yeti Pro. It's always nice to have another option for recording, and makes Android a LOT more valuable for Voice Actors. Enjoy!

Review: Cloud Microphone's Sexy 44-A Active Ribbon with Low Cut Filter

Ribbon mics are OLD SCHOOL recording tech, and Cloud has been making terrific mics for years now. Their 44-A represents a fresh twist on the ribbon utilizing phantom power, and a novel low cut filter for spoken word and voice over applications. Let's take a listen!


More info on Cloud products.

Shop for electronics on Amazon by clicking on this link to support our site and reviews at no additional cost to you.

Save 10% on a Loot Crate by using promo code "SGLOOT" at checkout!

Interview: Monika McMahon chats Noiselace Necklaces - Fashionable Earplugs for Concert Fans!

I got to meet Monika during my recent adventure out at the Firefly 2014 Music Festival with the Microsoft Lumia and MixRadio crews. She's a concert and travel blogger who created the Noiselace Necklace, a MUCH more fashionable way to protect your hearing while out at shows than traditional gummy earplugs. She joined me for a quick chat about Noiselace, concerts, and going Paleo.



Noiselace Necklaces: http://www.noiselace.com/
Noiselace on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Noiselace
Monika on Twitter: https://twitter.com/monikarun

FFC VLOG - Firefly 2014 Music Festival!

Video First Impressions: Noble by Wizard - FR In-Ear Monitors

Taking things up a notch for professionals and audiophiles, we're taking this first look at Noble's FR in ear monitors.

With a switchable driver for accuracy or "full" listening experiences, let's see what a $700 investment gets you in the world of inner-aural headphones.


More info on Noble products.

Next Mic Master Class! Saturday May 31st at The Voicecaster in Burbank!

For those wanting to step up their recording game, we're hosting another Mic Master Class at the Voicecaster in Burbank on Saturday May 31st from 2-6pm!

This one day workshop is designed to teach students about the different microphones you see in studios, why they're used for different kinds of jobs, and what each person sounds like in front of each different mic.

Price per participant will be $250, and you will leave with samples of your recordings to compare at your leisure.

For more information regarding the workshop, and for scheduling and availability, please contact The Voicecaster at 818-841-5300 or "Casting@voicecaster.com".

Mailbag: Diagnosing Noise Issues on the Zoom H4n

Ask any engineer, and one of their least favorite tech support calls is diagnosing "noise" issues. Wilson writes in with this issue concerning his Zoom H4n:

I recently bought a Zoom H4N recorder. I'm generally pretty happy with it, but I do have a question.
You mentioned in the article "Messing Around with the Zoom H4n" that you particularly like it as a USB mic.
However, I've tried hooking it up to my computer over USB and I get a ton of hiss and noise, both with the internal mics and an external mic (which actually sounds much cleaner, though a lot quieter).
Does it require some kind of shielded USB cable or something to get rid of that? I'm not in a particularly noisy environment, so I think that most of the noise is not environmental.
Wilson

OK. So there are a couple things to look at first. First of all is consistency. You say there's noise being generated via the built in mics and the inputs. Have you tested the H4n under battery and AC power? When it's recording to the SD card is it generating the same noise? I'm also assuming you've played with the distance between your mic and your computer to rule out fan noise? 

Now, how hot are you driving the H4n? All pieces of audio gear generate their own noise. I think the preamps on the H4n are competitive with most portable and "all-in-one" solutions at comparable price points, but they will deliver more noise than dedicated professional studio-grade gear. If you're having to max out the preamps to get the levels you want you'll be delivering significant noise as well. The Olympus LS-100 for example, has an almost -9dB noise floor advantage over the H4n, but comes in almost $150 more than the Zoom. Ditto the headphone volume you're monitoring with. 

If the mic you're connecting to the Zoom is a dynamic, that would explain why it's a lot quieter. Assuming nothing is wrong with the H4n, if you're making the move from a dynamic to a condenser, condensers will pick up a LOT more of your environment. You might just be hearing the "air" of your room amplified for the first time. 

Lastly you can try swapping out different USB cables to see if that makes a difference. You can also check for electrical gremlins by connecting to a different computer, or a laptop running off the battery. Does the noise stay consistent as you move the H4n to different environments?

If the noise or hiss can't be explained or corrected via any of the steps above, it might be time to contact you're friendly neighborhood Zoom representative to see if a warranty or return is in your future. Best of luck. Noise issues are bummers, and they can require a fair amount of voodoo to properly sort out.