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Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

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Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#181

Post by hnlmorg »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #58
andrewnicolalde wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How are you doing that?

Oh, sorry, I was talking about the traditional TV that comes through the old standard antenna cable. In those, the TV itself lets you do it, but I realize that it may not be possible in paid TV services. I wonder why they don't themselves move the HD channels forward, though... I suppose by now, an overwhelming majority of TVs have HD.

I don't understand why those TV services don't have channel translation. Where the HD boxes default to the HD channels and the SD boxes default to the SD channels.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#182

Post by tauntz »

zeptonaut22 wrote: post #158

While condenser microphones with a boom arm are nice for a home office, they're not portable enough for a setup that will work after returning to a hybrid office/WFH life. Ideally, that portable setup would have no boom arm, no pop screen, no huge microphone. The best candidate I've found so far is the Audio Technica ATH-G1 Gaming headset (reviewed by the excellent Podcastage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMg…

I can recommend the Samson Go Mic if you want something portable but decent audio quality (http://www.samsontech.com/samson/products/microphones/usb-mi...)

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#183

Post by geerlingguy »

criddell wrote: post #45
ryankrage77 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

IMO the best current solution for wireless audio of decent quality is a Rode Wireless Go. The original version (that I use) requires a receiver and analog adapter cable to get it into the phone, but especially paired with an external lav mic (not required, but helpful if you don't want a square mic visible in a shot), it's better than my ancient and much larger UHF wireless mics.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#184

Post by curryst »

Macha wrote: post #89
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…

Why? The audio component, if it's bad, makes you hard to understand and makes its harder to contribute. The visual component is basically just a way for people to know that I'm there and a backup channel to indicate that yes, I am aware meet has once again decided not to recognise my mic and that I'm working on it. If I find a workplace that's ergonomic and works with my home environment, then the fact that there's a…

I don't have data, but I strongly suspect it has an impact in the same way audio does. That person who's office is so dark their webcam gets grainy trying to compensate just looks less professional.

Like it or not, videoconferencing is becoming more and more a professional skill, and part of that skill is being able to get decent audio and video quality.

> there's a window with bright objects visible behind it that screws with the auto balance on the webcam 2 hours a day is a distant concern

On the other hand, those are the only two hours a day where you have anything approximating in-person contact with your coworkers. Those two hours probably have an outsized effect on what your coworkers think of you.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#185

Post by hellohiyesokay »

Mauricebranagh wrote: post #67
benkuhn wrote: 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…

I think I may have to send this link to our thursday night GM :-) his cheap headset mic keeps popping and has terrible quality. I use a chaepo Plantronics £40 for work but for my steaming I use a Focusrite claret and a separate cheap dynamic mic (plus an exciter). I do need to upgrade that mic to a sm58b or a AT 3035. I have thought about buying a focusrite scarlet and use a separate dynamic mic for work as well.

>AT 3035

In my previous life I was a recording engineer, and this microphone was what I used in just about every session. It is one of the most versatile and best bang-for-the-buck condensers on the market, and has been for a lot of years. Very highly recommend to anyone wanting a microphone that can do just about anything.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#186

Post by augustk »

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…

I have always found it fascinating (and strange) that sound reproduction needs to be really bad before people in general complain. Compare this to image and video reproduction where most people are much more aware of the quality. It seems like most people have trained eyes but not ears.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#187

Post by vanderZwan »

splintercell wrote: post #54
vanderZwan wrote: post #36

My partner thought I was being a bit excessive when I bought a high-quality external webcam last year when she was applying for work, but I'm pretty sure it helped her during job interviews. Or maybe it would be better to say prevented her laptop's webcam+mic from getting in the way of presenting herself.

Which can did you buy?

I would also have gone for one of the Logitech C920 variations, like the other commenter, but at the time those were sold out due to the pandemic (also mirroring their remark of being lucky to already own one). So I ended up getting a Logitech Streamcam - which as far as I can tell just adds a hundred dollars to the price because it has a nicer looking design and can handle 60fps.

... now that I'm typing it out I guess she might have meant that deciding to go for a more expensive camera was unnecessary.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#188

Post by anamexis »

__alexs wrote: post #173
ricardobayes wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For those who are not looking to spend a fortune, a simple Apple earpod (wired) is still better than most headsets out there. And it costs 20 bucks. I think my yeti actually sounds worse at it cost 3 times as much.

Curse anyone that uses an inline microphone on some earbuds. They sound awful and people frequently bump against them causing even more terrible experience for the listener.

Earbud microphones rubbing against clothing is like nails on a chalkboard for me.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#189

Post by CharlesW »

ghaff wrote: post #16
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…

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 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.

Yes! Even a Monoprice $20 dynamic mic is probably not going to be the weak point in your audio path.

> Also consider a good external webcam and doing something about lighting if you can.

Another great point. An Elgato Key Light Air is $130, and made a huge difference for me.

Re: Higher quality audio makes people sound smarter

#190

Post by doubleunplussed »

elisaado wrote: post #165
baxuz wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really easy to be honest. Depending on the day, I am getting horrible static in my desktop microphone(s). This might be caused by no grounding in the outlet. I'm living in a really old house with no ground for most rooms (yes, I know), with only a bootleg ground to prevent _really_ bad noise and occasional static zaps. Though I've read of many people having the same issues with properly grounded machines (as far…

I don't recommend the following but in our old house I used to tie my outlet ground (that was free floating) to the radiator which was grounded. It worked until my mother reported the shower water was feeling "very harsh".

If the radiator was actually grounded, why would there be any effect on the water?
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