I need to record some ‘screen flow’ type videos giving instructions on how to use a new app.
I’ve made some test videos and the quality of my voice recording is average to say the least, it is quiet and sounds like I am in a big empty room, which I am!
I’m recording my voice using my Jabra Evolve2 40 headphones/mic which I use for video calls.
I can’t do anything about my location, its my living room so I can’t start plastering acoustic materials to the walls etc.
What I would like to know, is if I invest in a separate (quality) Mic, will this have a marked improvement over the headset I am using in terms of audio quality.
If so, do I need to go down the XLR route, or will a USB one do? What is the best kind of Mic for recording my speaking voice whilst sat at a desk? What ‘extras’ do I need?
I literally know nothing about audio equipment, and any recommendations would be appreciated?
Oh, and I should have said, I need the hardware to be plug and play, i.e. no drivers or software to install as I will need to use on my work Windows PC and on my own MacBook.
As a first (free!) step try recording audio using your current equipment under a duvet! It’s what a lot of professional broadcasters were doing when working from home during the covid lockdowns
+1 on a good quality external mic. I bought an Elgato Wave:3 for when I guested on Focused. It produces a noticeable improvement over the mic in my AirPods Max even over Zoom calls.
+1 for a decent microphone, which can be had for a reasonable cost. (And should last you for many, many years.)
But instead of literally sitting under a blanket/duvet, you can put soft stuff in the room to help knock back those echoes. If you think of the blanket tent as 100% coverage, then you can achieve some portion of that simply by sticking a clothes horse behind the microphone and drape a blanket over it, or even a thick towel. Note I am not a sound engineer. There may be better materials and better locations, but basically you can block some of the echoes… just try some things and see what sounds best.