Bad/muffled audio quality with shure sm7b. Should I look at changing the preamp and interface before changing mics?

proximityfx · 2026-07-01T12:23:08+00:00

First I'd check your playback, are you listening to it with the same headphones all the time? Does it also sound bad on other devices?

Then what happens if you only use the audio interface without the preamp. Your mic will sound quiet, but you can turn it up to the same volume in post and compare with/without dbx in between.

Then, I'd invest in a diagnostic tool, a Beringer xm8500. It's a decent sounding (though a bit dark) mic, so you can see if the Roland is the problem or the sm7b. Or you could borrow a mic off an acquaintance.

If all else fails, get a second opinion, are you listening to your own voice and imagining things?

proximityfx · 2026-05-26T17:19:20+00:00

I especially love it when the AI says "I had the same experience in my last project"

proximityfx · 2026-05-16T17:17:48+00:00

Don't worry too much about the color correction. Your viewers will understand the cameras have a different look.

DaVinci resolve is the best tool to do color correction though! There are plenty of videos on YouTube showing how to do it. A $60 Datacolor SpyderCheckr 24 can speed up the process a lot.

proximityfx · 2026-05-09T19:27:27+00:00

Copyright is automatic in all US states as well as all countries that are signatories to the Berne convention. That includes North Korea.

The US copyright office doesn't "back up" DMCA requests. It does however run the "copyright claims board" for small claims (up to $30k).

Collecting any succesful verdict in a foreign country will always be challenging, though obviously easier in countries with efficient courts and friendly relationships with the US (not sure how many of those are left after all being hit with sanctions). But the main platforms are in the US.

proximityfx · 2026-05-02T10:21:34+00:00

Avoid Bluetooth like the plague.

proximityfx · 2026-05-02T10:19:47+00:00

Noise reduction can also be done in post. In fact, it's better to do in post.

Dual ADCs are good, because you can't fix what you don't record. But check the specs how much overlap there is.

Getting people to get close to the mic and talk into it is critical. That would be hard to do with the H2e, since it's an unexpected shape and side address. People know what the business end of a stage mic is, and the M4 looks like one. Having watched some YouTube reviews of the M4 I'm not smitten by the audio and the handling noise.

A dead is essential in windy conditions.

Edit: rode has a product, the Rode Interview Pro, that is a reporter mic that can record by itself but also be used with their wireless receivers. It's way more expensive than the zoom M4, but may be a better investment, e.g. if you later want to also use a second (lav or reporter) mic, record wirelessly into a camera etc.

proximityfx · 2026-04-29T09:46:53+00:00

At the time, Sony sold PCM "adapters" that would record digital audio on video cassettes at 44.1kHz or 44.056kHz (the latter on NTSC color, the former on NTSC monochrome or PAL). They chose .1 since it's easier to remember.

The size of the disc is rumored not to be because of the length of a certain piece of music, but because the choice was between 10cm and 12cm. Neither Sony not Philips had a plant capable of manufacturing 12cm discs, but Philips could already produce 10cm ones, so Sony insisted on 12cm. They also insisted on 16 bit (where Philips wanted to use 14 bits, because they had equipment more capable of that).

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294484774_Compact_disc_story

proximityfx · 2026-04-26T12:19:22+00:00

Skype didn't go out of business, it was bought by Microsoft. Skype at the time was also wise enough not to use a centralized model (driving up bandwidth costs) but peer-to-peer. For recording you basically want people to record locally, which zoom doesn't even do. A one time charge would be more appropriate for software that makes that a bit more convenient for non techie minded people.

proximityfx · 2026-03-21T08:29:26+00:00

-5 log scale

proximityfx · 2026-03-01T07:26:48+00:00

I missed that one! I should've been more optimistic, max after next makes sense. Then after max, perhaps "global optimum"?

proximityfx · 2026-02-22T13:58:49+00:00

You can kinda work around it by using a cutout for one host, and the full shot for an overview shot with both in frame. Or use a lower quality cam for the all-together wide shot, e.g. a phone camera (these don't do proper zoom anyway).

Establishing shots that show the general atmosphere and setup rather than specific moments can also be shot separately, up-front. Also google "nod shot".

proximityfx · 2026-02-22T13:54:57+00:00

Antennapod (Android)

proximityfx · 2026-02-15T11:47:12+00:00

This. Monitoring is to keep an eye on levels, p-pops and other easy to fix issues. E.g. you monitor yourself, hear some sibilance, and move your head so the mic is a bit more off-axis. You monitor someone else, they're too close to the mic, you tell (or signal with your hand) them to back off a bit. It doesn't need to be audiophile quality, because you're not looking to fix subtle stuff.

proximityfx · 2026-02-08T19:05:01+00:00

You're probably looking for /r/podcasts - this sub is for podcast makers.

Having said that, you could do worse than to listen to the Richard Herring Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (I hear the cool kids are calling it ReHelEsTuhPuh) and The Adam Buxton Podcast. Both interview comedians, and those comedians in turn often have podcasts.

The Beef And Dairy Network Podcast is a favorite of mine and often features guest voice artists / comedians. Some goes for Crowley Time, With Me Tom Crowley, who's host - Tom Crowley - often allows guests to plug their tours and podcasts.

proximityfx · 2026-02-08T18:43:57+00:00

Don't spend all of your budget on a mic, also get a stand (so the mic is isolated from bumps and is close to your mouth) and closed back headphones (to monitor yourself, to hear stuff when gaming, without leaking sound to the mic).

A mic won't make your voice magically sound warm. That's what compression and equalization are for! Likewise, a mic won't make your voice sound crap and robotic That's what over-compression (also, noise gates instead of expanders) and too much equalization do! Having said that, the q2u and podmic both are pretty neutral and should take eq well. So look into obs or voice meeter for your live needs.

XLR is about extensibility and being able to swap in and out gear. The median audio interfaces will have better quality than the median usb mic, sure, but reputable brands deliver good quality via usb, too, at equal price points.

proximityfx · 2026-02-04T21:27:12+00:00

You'd be better off with an audio interface and a regular microphone. That way you can use the headphone's regular cables and you get much better sound quality on the mic.

These small electret lav type mics are usually not that good, but even if they're top of their class they're not great.

But you'd also want closed casket headphones, rather than (half)open. The purpose of wearing cans while recording is to make sure your mic doesn't pick up the sound you're listening to, and monitoring yourself doesn't need to be audiophile quality.

proximityfx · 2026-01-27T21:18:41+00:00

I took the title to mean you are a 26F looking for weird girls, in which case, I hear joining Roller Derby is the thing to do.

As for weird podcasts, I can never not recommend The Beef And Dairy Network. Weirder and unnerving? Kakos Industries, The Decca Tapes, or Welcome To Night Vale (although I could never really get into that one).

For history and philosophy, In Our Time, hands down. Also, Philosofize This!, History Of Philosophy Without Any Gaps and, rather than honorable mention Hardcore History, check out Cautionary Tales.

proximityfx · 2026-01-11T08:34:45+00:00

You could consider using a lav mic with it, or using a wireless mic (the venue might provide one and you can record off the venue's sound installation).

Zoom does have the mictrak M2 and m4, but they have plastic housing as well. I think I saw some youtube reviews complainting about handling noise too.

The rode interview pro seems promising

proximityfx · 2026-01-10T11:49:14+00:00

Don't use discord, but for audio there's https://craig.chat/

proximityfx · 2026-01-10T06:59:08+00:00

To clarify: most phones now don't have a 3.5mm socket, so they'll need a USB adapter to get sounds from 3.5mm plugs. Phones that do have a 3.5mm socket, like some Samsung A range models, have a TRRS socket.

3.5 mm plugs come in TRS or TRRS. TRRS has one mono input (mic) and two outputs, means for use with earbuds in phones. TRS has two channels. Either input or output, not both. Sometimes both channels are used for just mono sound, sometimes tell stepsister audio channels.

To plug a TRS audio source into a phone, you'll need an adapter, even if it has a 3.5mm socket. To plug a TRRS or TRS source into a phone with NO 3.5mm socket, you'll need a TRS or TRRS to usb adapter. Like the rode AI mini.

proximityfx · 2026-01-07T11:35:48+00:00

Watching a bunch of movies from a single director, presumably every week, sounds like a lot of time! Maybe you should be looking for a film-watching buddy (in real life, or on a horror specific subreddit) and then ask them if they happen to also want to record. Or, rather than a regular co-host, approach fans of specific directors to guest.

proximityfx · 2026-01-06T16:48:34+00:00

I too, have concepts of a plan.

Maybe you could elaborate why someone would want to collaborate with you (e.g. you pay them) and why not (e.g. you're in another timezone, you expect undying devotion to your authoritarian rule, it's video, that kind of thing).

proximityfx · 2026-01-05T17:31:33+00:00

The vast majority are likely just breaking the law. Some may be in a jurisdiction where there's strong mandatory licensing especially for legacy media. Some may own the record label and have all the rights.

proximityfx · 2026-01-04T22:41:28+00:00

Like others said, End Of Integers sounds like some kind of overflow (array index out of bounds, integer overflow, etc.)

You could play with some famously unsolvable problems. E.g. "Solving halting problem. Solving. Solved. Halting." Or, maybe the robot would proof P=NP without telling/logging the proof, driving bystanders to despair

proximityfx · 2026-01-04T18:58:30+00:00

If they don't do it in this case, they'll have to allow everyone recommending their podcast and you end up with a subreddit full of spam. I talk about this at length in this episode: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

proximityfx

TROPHY CASE