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Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

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Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#41

Post by BeFlatXIII »

diarrhea wrote: post #2

People vastly undervalue good audio quality. It also often makes the difference (given equal visuals) between great amateur and pro in e.g. the YouTube scene. I didn't have data to back this up before, but I bought a good microphone specifically for this purpose. People will simply like the audio, and by extension what I am saying and also me as a person, better. Meanwhile, my ears will continue to bleed from the awf…

To add to the audio quality discussion, well-meaning people who want to improve their quality often make the mistake of buying the mic with the best spec sheet. That ultra-sensitive microphone will make you sound more natural than your built-in mic, but it will also pick up dogs barking down the street and your neighbor mowing her lawn. If you’re not in a studio-like office, a less-sensitive dynamic microphone is often better than the condenser with better specs. That said, both options will greatly improve your voice.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#43

Post by andrewnicolalde »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #29
enragedcacti wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my discord calls we have effectively resorted to shaming people into accepting a gifted clip-on amazon mic if they have an awful microphone. $10 every couple of months and no ear bleeding. That said, I really think some people are just immune to it. My mom for instance prefers to use the standard definition channels because the channel numbers are easier to remember and type. She says she can't tell the difference…

And that's why I move the HD channels to the numbers of the traditional ones.

How are you doing that?

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#44

Post by hnlmorg »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #29
enragedcacti wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my discord calls we have effectively resorted to shaming people into accepting a gifted clip-on amazon mic if they have an awful microphone. $10 every couple of months and no ear bleeding. That said, I really think some people are just immune to it. My mom for instance prefers to use the standard definition channels because the channel numbers are easier to remember and type. She says she can't tell the difference…

And that's why I move the HD channels to the numbers of the traditional ones.

A lot of broadcast services don't let you do this.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#45

Post by criddell »

ryankrage77 wrote: post #28
diarrhea wrote: post #2

People vastly undervalue good audio quality. It also often makes the difference (given equal visuals) between great amateur and pro in e.g. the YouTube scene. I didn't have data to back this up before, but I bought a good microphone specifically for this purpose. People will simply like the audio, and by extension what I am saying and also me as a person, better. Meanwhile, my ears will continue to bleed from the awf…

Tomska used to have a video mentioning this (though in the context of making YouTube videos), in which he demonstated that video from a iPhone camera in conjunction with a professional mic was much more watchable than video from a professional camera with an iPhone mic. Sadly the video seems to have been removed, the only reference I could find was the last paragraph of this Wired Article, https://www.wired.co.uk/art…

Is there some way on the iPhone / iPad to shoot video with a Bluetooth mic? I bought a BT lapel mic and whenever it was connected to the phone, it showed up as headphones and audio wouldn't play from the phone until I disconnected it.

If Bluetooth is the wrong technology, what would you recommend?

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#47

Post by ghaff »

shoto_io wrote: post #25
ghaff wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of people get wrapped around the axle of having the "right" $500 microphone whereas there are a ton of decent USB mics under $100 that will make a big difference. Also consider a good external webcam and doing something about lighting if you can. I realize that not everyone has a great physical environment to work with. But I'm struck by how many people who seemingly haven't made any real effort after a…

I have noticed with colleagues the insane improvements in video and audio after their amazon shopping sprees. At the same I haven’t updated my camera because I don’t have a nice room to work from and I feel a bit ashamed to show my tiny box with a high resolution... sounds weird, I know, but that’s how I feel

There are things you can do with hangings and screens and so forth if you want to. I do have an office but my background includes some ugly file cabinets so I got a fabric print to hang over them. You can also do virtual backgrounds with a lot of software if you rig up a green screen. (That's not absolutely necessary but it tends to look bad otherwise.)

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#48

Post by cbreuel »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #39

I just use a pair of Bose QuietComfort III headphones. The audio from the built-in mic is very good. Zero background noise. I suspect a really good condenser mic, with a filter, would be better, but these headphones work great. I have noticed that people that use earbuds (in particular, Apple AirPods Pro), seem to also supply a lot of background noise. That does not happen with my headset.

If you're using them with Bluetooth, you're not only sounding worse than you could but also the audio that you get is much worse, because Bluetooth audio in bidirectional more is very low quality. I also use a QC3, but I bought a good desk USB mic and use the headphones just for output. I can hear people much better and vice-versa, and I'm even less tired throughout the day.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#49

Post by AhtiK »

Roritharr wrote: post #40

I've recently bought a Samson Meteor. Is it considered HQ already?

Yes, if you don't type frantically at the same time on your mechanical keyboard and keep it at the right distance by stacking ~20 cm worth of books :)

In all seriousness I had it, the sound is good but had the physical usability issues. Had two, the USB port seemed to die after ~1-2 years of active use but that's the lifespan of these devices anyway.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#50

Post by aikinai »

shoto_io wrote: post #25
ghaff wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a lot of people get wrapped around the axle of having the "right" $500 microphone whereas there are a ton of decent USB mics under $100 that will make a big difference. Also consider a good external webcam and doing something about lighting if you can. I realize that not everyone has a great physical environment to work with. But I'm struck by how many people who seemingly haven't made any real effort after a…

I have noticed with colleagues the insane improvements in video and audio after their amazon shopping sprees. At the same I haven’t updated my camera because I don’t have a nice room to work from and I feel a bit ashamed to show my tiny box with a high resolution... sounds weird, I know, but that’s how I feel

Use a longer lens and you won’t have to show any of your tiny box! I hooked up my mirrorless camera behind/on top of my monitor and have a 35mm (APS-C so 50mm equivalent) which is perfect to just frame my head and show basically nothing behind me.

I don’t know why webcams are always so insanely wide; we don’t need to see your whole room with your head only taking up 5% of the frame. Just like audio, I wish everyone else would use this camera setup so I can see everyone clearly.

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