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Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

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Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#481
It's a simple correlation. Our brain does this all the time.

And not always in sense of "better quality" -> "smarter".

For example, we're so used to cheap TV content, that when a movie is played at higher TV framerate, it looks "cheap" to us.

I've heard a few attempts to explain this as "in higher framerate you can see the sets are fake", but that makes no sense, especially if the set is not moving.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#482
post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most important thing is to have the microphone close to your mouth. There is nothing more annoying than listening to echo-y voice. The mic even have to be that expensive. I use a cheap dynamic mic from ebay with a windscreen and a mic arm and it sounds fine.

> I use a cheap dynamic mic from ebay with a windscreen and a mic arm and it sounds fine. How do you know what it sounds like? How do you know how good you sound to other people compared to if you were speaking through a good condenser mic?

Put on headphones, linked to your phone, mute the phone mic (do not skip this step), and hold a video call with yourself between your computer and your phone.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#483

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…

> 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 between that and full HD Is this referring to something on Discord or traditional TV? If the latter, is it referring to audio or video? Your replies have all assumed different answers to those questions, I believe. (If it's audio, your mother is prob…

I was referring to the video. It was a little bit of a leap that I didn't make clear, but it was just an example of someone able to completely tune out the quality of the media they are consuming and I imagine that can carry to voice calls

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#484

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…

Which mic?

https://www.amazon.com/PoP-voice-Professional-Microphone-Omn...

You can check the reviews for audio samples if you want to see how it sounds. It's a little bassy imo but perfectly clear.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#485
post #314

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…

> gifted clip-on amazon mic if they have an awful microphone Which one do you buy? I’m in the market for a good clip on mic

https://www.amazon.com/PoP-voice-Professional-Microphone-Omn...

You can check the reviews for audio samples if you want to see how it sounds. It's a little bassy imo but perfectly clear.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#486

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…

Pro sound engineer here. There is not that much difference between SD audio and HD audio. SD only allows stereo and not surround, but can deliver perfectly good quality, assuming a clear broadcast signal.

you're definitely right, I made a bit of a leap to video as an example of someone being able to tune out the quality of the media.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#487
post #229
post #13

It's also really easy to have high quality audio! The author recommends a "podcasting" microphone, but a $35 standalone headset mic[1] is almost as good and much easier to use. If you want to hear a comparison, I got kind of obsessed with this problem at one point and took some comparison recordings here[2]. (You need a standalone mic since most headsets, even really nice ones, have really bad mics because most heads…

The ModMic is also excellent, and you can attach it to existing headphones [1]. I use this at home with my prized Sennheisers. It baffles me that some people don't seem to care about their audio quality on calls. The most obnoxious are those who use speakers and you get echo on all your talking, and despite telling them, they still never bother to get a decent mic. Another common offender are the Bose QC35s: they hav…

> It baffles me that some people don't seem to care about their audio quality on calls.

They might care but have no idea it is bad. You can’t hear yourself on a call.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#488

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, given that most people still use Windows, VB-Audio software mixer and virtual soundcard plus Cantabile as effect host together work exceedingly well. And cost nothing or very little. (But do support the authors.) Hardware has ease of setup and excellent knobs going for it, but if you're going for cheap, you should spend money on a condenser microphone, some mounting hardware (e.g. gooseneck, spider mount, maybe…

Your setup is great for enthusiasts like you and me, but everyday folks don't want to deal with mounting hardware or audio interfaces or learning what a condenser mic is or spending more than $50.

It's a supercardioid (partly directional) microphone. The only difference for user is that it is XLR and needs the 48V button set to on, and a shock mount because this specific one is sensitive to hits. It comes with an ok spider mount, but you need at least a tiny extra tripod.

$50 is about the price of the microphone.

It so happens that there's the $70 USB version of it too, but the interface in it is just acceptable, as opposed to being superb. (This microphone sounds as good as $400 RODE products, using it with bad interface is a disservice when $80 gets you a great one.)

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#489
post #149
post #13

It's also really easy to have high quality audio! The author recommends a "podcasting" microphone, but a $35 standalone headset mic[1] is almost as good and much easier to use. If you want to hear a comparison, I got kind of obsessed with this problem at one point and took some comparison recordings here[2]. (You need a standalone mic since most headsets, even really nice ones, have really bad mics because most heads…

The most important thing is to have the microphone close to your mouth. There is nothing more annoying than listening to echo-y voice. The mic even have to be that expensive. I use a cheap dynamic mic from ebay with a windscreen and a mic arm and it sounds fine.

Quality supercardioid microphone will reject echo well enough for most rooms and a meter or two distance. That is usually enough distance to not typically require a pop filter, this giving improved clarity.

Hypercardioid "shotgun" works too as long as its back is placed far enough off a wall, however these tend to have sound coloration.

It just so happens that most microphones are the less directional cardioid. Or worse, omnidirectional.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#490

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not true. USB microphones do not have as high quality as XLR microphones connected to a usb interface. In general, USB mics have a lower signal to noise ratio (SNR) and a higher noise floor. Does this matter for gaming or calls? Not really, as it will definitely sound better than crappy laptop or headphone mics. But there is a marked difference. The AT2020 usb mic doesn't even go up to 20khz. Not to mention t…

Err no an xlr mic into a sound card is going to be better.

What sound cards support direct XLR input?

In nearly every case, a dedicated usb interface is going to have better quality ADC and mic preamps. High-quality sound cards are not prioritized by consumers, so they remain rather poor quality in most laptops and pcs. Even something like a focusrite scarlett is going to improve the signal chain immensely (plus you get the added bonus of a decent DAC as well).

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