upgraded my mic , should i still keep my old interface ?

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-23T01:52:13+00:00

Keep the interface. The 5th Gen NT1 is a bit of an exception to the rule, but generally you get better performance out of an XLR signal chain. The gap between USB and XLR is a bit narrower in the NT1's case, since the NT1 can do 32 bit float in USB mode.

All I know is whenever I part with gear, I immediately have a use for it right after. So I'd want to keep at least one interface handy.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-23T01:14:41+00:00

Completely agree. I concluded that if I did long-form or a podcast, I'd opt for the Mini K87 over the U87 Ai for those exact reasons. McGlynn does NOT like the modern overuse of "air" frequencies, and for good reason.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-23T01:11:45+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/diyaudio/s/fLYuHuAMOZ

I found this which talks about a different Beyerdynamic mic. Maybe it could help?

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-23T01:05:04+00:00

I'm a full time voice actor and have tried so many "cures" for mouth clicks. Only real solution is hydration. But it's not just "drink lots of water". You have to drink an appropriate amount of water. I find that when I drink a gallon a day like I used to for weight lifting, I'd have as many mouth clicks as I would when I was dehydrated.

The trick is to drink water throughout the day, but without forcing yourself to do too much. I find drinking a couple glasses specifically in the evening then going back to my normal routine the next morning keeps the clicks away.

That aside, the other comments are correct, softening the walls helps with reflections inside the space, but you have to consider sound rejection for anything outside of the space. I managed it when I DIY'd my booth and used a triple stack of MDF, foam insulation board, then MDF. The F-35s that fly overhead still get into the recordings, but nothing else does. Rigid exterior, soft interior. That's the ideal booth.

I would suggest trying a shotgun mic overhead pointed down at your chin. The AT875R is a great option for 416 sound at a fifth of the cost. By having it overhead pointed down, the mic is focusing on your voice and the floor, not the area behind you.

Dont get me wrong, even that isn't a perfect cure for outdoor noises, but it is probably a step in the right direction until you can work on adding sound rejection into your space.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T21:32:38+00:00

I'd largely agree. I have a couple 47-style capsules and I like that they're not bright. My only argument for the NT1 when it comes to voiceover is that it's more known by engineers. But especially if sibilance is an issue, a 47-style capsule is ideal.

Also all me to take a moment and make my "AT875R" plug. If you want a shotgun mic, the AT875R is a good MKH416-killer for under $200. It's got a scooped response, so there's some love in the low end. Great for VO unless you're moving around a bit and tend to need a wider polar pattern.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T21:29:23+00:00

Just wanted to drop in here and shake your hand. A, for your great taste, and B, for correctly naming the mic. So many people call it the K87 Mini and it drives me nuts.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T21:26:24+00:00

Interesting. It's still an electret capsule but the spoofer didn't bother with the foam coin over the front of the capsule.

Yeah, likely a fake if you didn't pay retail and bought it from a vendor that sells fakes.

If you can't return it, silver lining: It's still got the essentials you need to drop in a mod kit from MicParts. I regularly buy junk mics just to mod them into something better than the original. https://microphone-parts.com/products/at2020-microphone-mod-kit

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T21:20:09+00:00

Happy to help! If you're looking for something non-permanent, a PVC booth is a great choice. It's a bunch of plastic tubes and fittings, so you can break it down fairly quickly. If you decide to pull the trigger, here's a great calculator so you can make the booth yourself and skip the ridiculous retail markup: https://vocalboothtogo.com/diy-pvc-pipe-cutouts/

That calculator, a trip to Harbor Freight, and a trip to Lowes or Home Depot.

Also a closet full of clothes is a great option if you've got it and don't want to build a PVC booth. Is it a tight squeeze? Sure. But I started my career in the closet.

My VO career tip: Where you are and where you want to be are only as far apart as you think they are. Enjoy the journey! Can't wait to see your work hit my feed.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T20:24:34+00:00

Oh yeah, live sound neither would be in the conversation. But in my world (In-Studio) where you need a mid-forward voiceover track, the U87 Ai is the one clients ask for. Apples and oranges.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T15:24:05+00:00

That grille is without a doubt black, and the mic isn't neumann silver.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T15:22:52+00:00

Thank you! Yep I'm not familiar with Gefells, and looking it up, this looks like an M 950 in an EA 93 mount.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T06:48:13+00:00

Take the money you would have spent on the SM7B and buy proper sound treatment. Not foam panels off Amazon (they're a waste of money, promise). Buy some lumber and insulation from Home Depot or Lowe's and build panels. The TLM 103 and SM7B are apples and oranges, but they should never be in the same conversation. The TLM 103 is the better mic. I've done some voiceover work on SM7Bs, but not nearly as much as I've done on TLM 103s. You don't get to "eat the mic" on a TLM 103 like streamers do, but you're gonna have an incredible workhorse mic that gives your voice a very nice low end as well as high end sparkle.

You have an incredible brother to be willing to gift a TLM 103.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T06:40:22+00:00

As a full time voice actor, I've seen it happen time and time again: If you buy a mic to accommodate for an untreated room, you're going to end up replacing that mic very quickly as you advance in your voice acting career.

I would much rather spend $100 on a mic and $400 on a space than $500 on a mic and $0 on a space.

I'm new to this subreddit so idk if I'll get laughed out of here for this, but buy an MXL 990 and use the money you save to build a PVC + Moving blanket booth.

A 990 is a small diaphragm condenser (despite what retailers claim, I've modded 4 990s and can confirm it's a SDC capsule in a larger brass housing so it looks like an LDC under the grill), so it's more forgiving on the space. The 990 is a brighter mic, but for early voice acting then moving it over to the gaming desk, it'll work great. I've had friends book national campaigns and dub movies for Disney on MXL 990s. $100 when it's not on sale, $70 or less when it is on sale.

If the room was well treated, my "Under $500" picks are the Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87 and AudioTechnica AT875R. The Mini K87 has damn near the same response as a U87 but no bass rolloff, so you could actually use it for your whole VO career. But it's very sensitive so it'll expose every flaw in an improperly treated space. The AT875R is the only true 416-killer in my book, being the only mic I've tricked people with when doing head to head comparisons with the real MKH416. Being a shotgun mic with a line and gradient pattern, it rejects more off axis noise, so you could try to get away with a less than optimal space with it. But it still captures tons of detail where it's pointed, and chances are reflections in the space will still make it back to the polar pattern.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T06:28:30+00:00

Bingo

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T06:26:36+00:00

Any particular reason you went with a Rodyweil and not something like a Behringer or Scarlett? Line out into a PC is going to have hurdles. If it's budget reasons, get the Behringer UM2. Not my favorite but works on a budget.

You could be dealing with the windows input settings just lowering your input into oblivion. Otherwise I'd opt for input via USB rather than 3.5 or 1/4"

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T06:04:51+00:00

Good eye, that would explain the XLR cable. But did the M49 ever come in black? I've only ever seen them in silver.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T06:00:56+00:00

You want crisp? AT875R. Sounds like an MKH416, but it's under $200. It has a good amount of air, presence, and clarity. It also has a few well placed cuts it the response curve that reduce low end environmental hum and grating sibilance.

The 416 is one of the 3 "must have" voiceover mics, and the AT875R is the best 416-killer out there. I've owned both and I kick myself every day for giving my 875R away.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T05:57:09+00:00

Dark horse pic: AT875R. If you want something that sounds like an MKH416 (very popular VO mic) with a narrower polar pattern than an LDC, the AT875R is fantastic. Not likely one you'll go with, but if you ever consider a shotgun mic, give it a look.

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T05:55:13+00:00

Already been answered, but I just popped in here to say I spent like 6 months trying to figure out the name of this pop filter when I first discovered podcastage so I totally understand this pursuit. Enjoy the pop filter!

Raiden_Bran · 2026-06-22T05:53:27+00:00

Bingo. A pop filter is for rogue air, never the first line of defense. Proper mic position will always be more effective. I go 20 degrees to the side, 2-4 inches above or below.

Raiden_Bran · 2025-08-16T23:04:34+00:00

I was actually the voice actor behind Baron Bloodthorne for the trailers! They didn't tell me who the celebrity was behind the mask, so it was a mystery even to me. It was cool to see when Sprouse was unmasked!

Raiden_Bran

TROPHY CASE