A Newbie Question on Microphone Choice in a Constant Noise Environment

C

Curiousnewbie

Member
I am a newbie in video/audio production. If you don't mind, please allow me to ask you a question that is suitable for a newbie :cheesy:

I am a college teacher, and video/audio production was not something I had to worry about. But since the pandemic started, much of teaching has moved to online, and I had to learn much about video/audio production for both synchronous and asynchronous online teaching. One of the enduring issues I am dealing with (but haven't found a solution for) is the background noisy created by the air conditioner. I live in a Singapore now (85-90 constantly), so turning off the air conditioning is not an option. It could become quite loud during the daytime when it has to work harder due to the high temperature (my high-rise condo has a glass wall).

I am currently using condenser microphones (Rode NT-USB, Rode NT-USB Mini, and Audio Technica AT2020). These microphones are all very sensitive, and picks up the air conditioner sound whatever I do. I am aware that dynamic microphone picks up less ambient noise, but it is not an option because I cannot speak close to the microphone while teaching. I am wondering if there is any other option that will help me contain the air conditioner noise more effectively.

I did some research, and it seems that either Lavalier microphones or shotgun microphones might be helpful. But before I buy and try them, I would like to ask for your advice. Which will be a better option for me? If neither, what would be the best option for my situation? Do you have any specific model/maker you would recommend (I am not planning to buy very high-end equipment)?

Thank you in advance!
 
Anything that gets the microphone closer to the source will (relative to the signal) reduce background noise. A lavalier mic will be a big improvement, a mic mounted on a headset even better.
 
Thank you for your advice. A headphone isn't really an option because it looks too geeky (yes, I am a geek, but looking like a geek is different from being a geek :). It is especially bad for recorded (asynchronous) sessions.

I also think that a Lav is probably the best option in my case. But Lavs are omi-directional. Wouldn't they pick up the air conditioner noise? Would it be better than a shotgun (or supercardoid) microphone? A shotgun microphone is supposed to be directional. Wouldn't a shotgun (with decent side rejection) perform better than a Lav?

I have some experience with Lavs but haven't used a shotgun microphone. I would appreciate your advice.

Thanks.
 
The great advantage of a lav is that it can be a consistent 10cm from the mouth. A shotgun will likely be 30 - 50cm away. It terms of maximising signal to noise, distance trumps everything including omni vs directional. Plus, a really directional shotgun will take quite careful self-monitoring to make sure you don't go off-axis. Even with a shotgun with a really tight pickup pattern (so maximum inconvenience), I doubt that it will reject enough noise to be better than a (much closer) lav.
 
Thank you for your advice, Andy9. It makes a lot of sense. I will buy a Lav and test my luck.

Do you have any recommendation for a Lav? I am not planning to buy a $500 professional one, but I want to have a decent one that could reject noise well. It appears that amateurs tend to recommend Sennheiser (XS) or Rode (SmartLav+). Would you recommend these? If not, what would be decent ones?

Thx.
 
A headphone isn't really an option because it looks too geeky (yes, I am a geek, but looking like a geek is different from being a geek
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Maybe check out earset mics. I use those a lot. I own Countryman and DPA, but have worked with lower-cost Point Source Audio's ones. The cheap Point Source don't sound as good, though a touch of EQ makes them sound OK. There are lots of other lower-cost brands, but I don't have any experience with them.

I'd be willing to guess that the Oscar Soundtech headset mic is decent:
http://www.oscarsoundtech.com

For Countryman, look at the E6 and E2
https://countryman.com
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Point Source has an even shorter ear mount mic:
https://www.point-sourceaudio.com
woman-wears-embrace_cropped_optimized.jpg


Now, Countryman and DPA are rather expensive (though the Countryman E6 isn't too bad). Some Point Source mics are also expensive. But again, the lower-cost Point Source aren't terrible and I'd think the Oscar Soundtech is affordable and decent (and probably good).


Here's a US-based audio dealer (with a good reputation) that carries many of the common brands, most of which are probably available locally to you.
https://www.sweetwater.com/c1175--Headset_Microphones

Depending on what you're doing, an earset could be a good way to go. Consistent sound even if you turn your head, easy to establish "optimal" placement since you just stick it over your ear and if needed bend the little boom arm, and usually much less chance of clothing noise.


If you do want to go with a lav on a budget, brands to consider are Oscar SoundTech, Rode, and Deity (they're making some good stuff these days). https://deitymic.com/professional-lavaliers/
 
Thank you, Jim. They are great suggestions. I never thought of ear-worn microphones. But it does seem like an option. The school should be able to afford it, considering how much they charge to the students these days :(

The only thing is that I will need to get a microphone interface for most of these microphones because most of them have XLR or wireless connection (the reason why I've been relying on USB or 3.5mm). But I guess it's time to invest in one of them.

Thanks!
 
in addition to an earset mic, some kind of audio software or VST plug-in that has an equalizer would be useful in removing low frequency HVAC rumble. On the post processing side, iZotope RX Elements did a phenomenal job removing HVAC hum/rumble from one of my recordings.
 
Like everyone has suggested lav mic is the best option to reduce background noise. If this is for streaming online I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a high quality mic most of the subtle differences will be lost. If your sitting at a computer, good way to save money is to use a wired lav instead of wireless.

If you go with over the ear style compatibility is common problem. This is why people buy a wireless kit that comes with a clip on lav because it's guaranteed to work. Usually only professionals with bigger budgets looking for higher end mic buy the lav separately. If you do decide to go with over the ear wireless solution I'd recommend Sennheiser G4 because they sell cheap over the ear mics on ebay/amazon. Its always best to buy mic or wireless systems that are designed for your camera. This means if you camera has a traditional xlr then get a system for that or if you have mirrorless/dslr 3.5mm then get something designed for that.
 
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Dear Peter,

Thank you for your advice. The microphone topic is like a 10 foot rabbit hole. It gets deeper and deeper :)

Indeed, I am concerned about the compatibility. I do have Sennheiser ME2-II (got it from work), but it is not compatible with either my X1 Yoga or MacBook Pro (perhaps due to the locking mechanism or bias voltage, I don't know). As there is almost no USB lav (except for cheap no-brand ones), I might have to experiment with a couple until it works out. I will definitely look into G4.

Many thanks.
 
Curiousnewbie said:
Dear Peter,

Thank you for your advice. The microphone topic is like a 10 foot rabbit hole. It gets deeper and deeper :)

Indeed, I am concerned about the compatibility. I do have Sennheiser ME2-II (got it from work), but it is not compatible with either my X1 Yoga or MacBook Pro (perhaps due to the locking mechanism or bias voltage, I don't know). As there is almost no USB lav (except for cheap no-brand ones), I might have to experiment with a couple until it works out. I will definitely look into G4.

Many thanks.
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If you're going directly into a computer then you need either a usb mic designed for a computer or interface that converts analog xlr/3.5mm to digital via usb. Often the most direct solution is the best. In this case I'd say usb headsets that you see gamers use. There are a huge selection in a big price range. I couldn't begin to make a recommendation. You might not like the look but that's what fits the application you're talking about. Goes back to what I was saying it's easier to buy mic or system designed for the device you want to use otherwise you might spend as much on an adapting solution.
 
Peter, thank you for your advice. I totally agree with you that it is best to find equipment that suits my situation (easier, cheaper, less compatibility issue). I do have a relatively high-end headset (as a gamer). And I must admit that, of all the options I've tested so far, the best one is the $29 Apple earpiece that comes with iPhone. It cuts most air conditioner noise (perhaps due to its low sensitivity) :grin: But, because I stand up when I teach, wearing a headset makes me look really weird (with the bulk on my head and dragging a long cable). Also, in a teaching situation, wearing a headset is generally not desirable because it creates a sense of isolation between the teacher and the students.

I want to stay with the USB interface. But I am realizing that there is too much limitation in what I can do using USB. For example, because most monitor speakers cannot be used with USB, I am using a Bluetooth one. It works alright most of the time, but it is not completely reliable because wireless is inherently unreliable. There is only 1 USB-based lav (Sennheiser XS USB-C) I could find, and it doesn't seem like a quality product. I might have to throw a towel and get an audio interface, unfortunately.

Thank you for your advice.
 
USB is simply easy and convenient for people with basic needs and needs that will not change. Manufacturers of quality products rarely even offer usb versions of their most popular mics. Shure make the most successful mic on the world, and it’s not even expensive. Putting a usb version on sale would generate complaints from the technically illiterate users. One would try to use it two feet from a quiet speaker and another would have it down their throat bellowing thrash metal vocals. Both would be unhappy. A real interface offer so many upgrade paths and variations of use that I don’t understand why the usb thing comes up so much?
 
Dear Paulers:

I do agree with you, and your argument makes perfect sense, especially in a forum geared toward experts. I am here to seek for high-quality professional advice as I am trying to up my game. Having said that, 99% of people out there don't need anything sophisticated. I bet 95% of people don't know the difference between TRS and TRRS. I saw my colleague yelling at a poor IT guy because he couldn't get sound from a company-issued microphone. It turned out he plugged a TRS microphone into a TRRS jack. By the way, he has degrees from Caltech and MIT :)

We always resist a new technology when it first comes out. When CD came out, we complained about its cold sound. When LED lights came out, we missed the warm glow of incandescent bulbs. When the FM radio came out, music companies filed a class action lawsuit against FM stations. When smart phones came out, we made fun of it. But ultimately, the technologies for the masses will usually come out victorious, simply because more funding and R&D go into them. Technology disruption, as we often call it. My guess is that USB/Thunderbolt or another digital interface will replace most analogue audio interface in the not-so-distant future, which is being accelerated by Youtube and Podcasters.

But until then, I DO AGREE with you that an audio interface may be the way to go if I want to do anything better than completely amateurish. Many thanks.
 
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If you get a really sensitive mic, you might get away without using a preamp, and just booting your computer's input gain.

For $29 you can get this XLR to TRS preamp and the USB audio adapter I linked to earlier. The benefit to this setup is that the preamp is battery powered, so you can use it anywhere.

With that said, as desktop USB audio interface might work best for your purposes, I don't know which ones are good, but they're as cheap as $50 on Amazon.
 
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