Assignment One - How To: Recording Spoken Word

My name is Leah Torly and I'm from Melbourne, Australia. This lesson is for week one of Introduction To Music Production at Coursera.org and will cover how to record spoken word in a studio environment.

Step one - Choosing the right microphone

To ensure a clear vocal sound, it is important to use a good microphone. For recording in a studio environment, a condenser microphone is the best choice because its extended bandwidth enables it to capture the subtle high-frequency vocal detail that dynamic microphones tend to miss.

If possible, use a cardioid microphone. A cardioid  microphone is unidirectional, meaning it mostly picks up sound from one direction. Cardioid microphones pick up sound ina heart-shaped pattern; mostly from the front, but also from the sides to alesser extent.

Step two - Setting up the recording space

To limit sound reflecting back into the microphone, position the speaker away from any walls, nearer to the centre of the room. If you are recording in a home studio and not in a sound proof booth, to keep background noise to an absolute minimum it is important to use some absorptive baffles. These should be placed at least one square metre directly behind the speaker's head to achieve the best sound isolation. You can use blankets hung over frames or thick furniture foam, and these will be more effective if they are placed away from the walls rather than up against them.

Step three - Positioning the microphone and microphone technique

Use a pop shield as an anti pop noise protection filter. This will help to reduce or eliminate 'popping' sounds caused by the mechanical impact of fast moving air on the microphone. You can make one by stretching fine mesh stocking material over a bent coat hanger. Position the pop shield 7 to 15 cm away from the microphone, directly in front of the speaker's mouth.

The microphone should be placed 15 to 30 cm from the speaker's mouth and aimed from below or above. This will avoid picking up noise reflection or reverberation and popping from plosive consonants. The speaker should speak directly into the microphone.

Step four -  Connecting the microphone

Ensure your audio interface is properly connected to your computer. Then, for the sake of taking care of your equipment and your ears, avoid the sound of connecting the microphone to the audio interface - turn everything off first and reduce the input gain all the way down. Also, turn off the phantom power to avoid a signal being sent to the microphone. Turning off the phantom power will stop the microphone from working and this can be treated as an on/off switch for the microphone.

Connect the microphone to the audio interface using an XLR cable. XLR cables are particularly useful for long cable runs in the studio because they reject any excess noise that comes into the cable. Once the microphone is connected, you can turn on the phantom power. Instantly, you will be able to see the signal running through the system by looking at the levels on the audio interface.

Step five - Setting levels

It is essential to establish a line level that all devices in the studio will communicate at. Before recording, ensure that every piece of equipment you are using (eg microphone, preamp, audio interface, etc) has been set to raise or lower the signal to the line level. This is what is called a gain stage. Ideally, it is best to set the gain stage once and leave it there throughout the signal flow. +4 is the studio standard line level and should be used if possible.

Set the level for final recording. The trim knob on the audio interface manipulates the microphone preamp and will allow you to amplify the signal to the standard line level. Aim for a nice, solid level. Use the meter on the outside of the audio interface as a guide. This will be the true input level. Never go too high and always keep the levels below the red or in the three quarter range of the bar. When setting levels, it's always best to err on the lower side, as you can bring them up in post production if need be. If the levels are set too high during recording, the sound will be distorted.

Step six - After recording

Before disconnecting all of your equipment, turn off any monitors or turn down the output volume. Then turn the microphone gain all the way down. Finally, turn off the phantom power and disconnect the microphone.

Thank you!

Thanks for taking the time to read and review my lesson. I'd love to hear any ideas around how I could improve for future lessons. Does this format work well or is it too wordy and boring? Please also let me know if it was informative and accurate. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!