Microphones - The Home Recording Studio

25Apr 2025 by Jon

Recording Acoustic Guitar – Which Mic is Best?

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Mixing, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Techniques

In this video I test out 4 microphones for recording acoustic guitar in your home studio. All mics are budget friendly, with the cheapest just $200 and the most expensive $650. Listen and decide which one you prefer from the Shure SM7B, GAP R1 MkII Active Ribbon Mic, AKG C451 B, and the Rode NT2 https://youtu.be/rOcj9Ds7ZnQ I've been recording a lot of Acoustic Guitar lately and its something I think lots of people struggle with in home studios. Our environment can sometimes be challenging and most of us don't want to spend a fortune on microphones. Therefore, I only wanted to test budget friendly mics. It's very tempting to just give in and buy a new microphone. However, I wanted to try out my existing mics first and see if…

03Jul 2023 by Jon

Budget vs Pro Mics on Piano

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Recording, Uncategorized

Can budget microphones really compete with high-end microphones when recording piano? In this piano microphone test, I compare two omnidirectional condenser microphones at very different price points to see how they perform on a real acoustic piano in a real-world recording environment. The test took place in a pretty special location — the John Lennon Suite at the Hard Day’s Night Hotel in Liverpool, complete with a beautiful white baby grand piano. This was a great opportunity to put a pair of microphones to the test and let you hear the results for yourself. 👉 Watch the full piano microphone test video here:https://youtu.be/UiaxBd_O4ME https://youtu.be/UiaxBd_O4ME The Piano Microphone Setup For this test, I used two pairs of omnidirectional microphones, both well suited to capturing the full frequency range and natural resonance…

22Jan 2023 by Jon

Binaural Microphone Review: SR3D Pro XLR vs DIY Binaural Kit

Blog, Field Recording, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones

If you’re interested in binaural audio recording or you’re thinking about buying a binaural microphone, this review will help you decide which option is right for you. In this article, I review and compare two binaural microphones from SR3D: The SR3D Pro XLR binaural microphone The SR3D DIY binaural microphone kit Both were tested in a range of real-world scenarios, including indoor and outdoor recording, quiet ASMR-style sounds, and louder environments like fireworks. 👉 Watch the full binaural microphone review video here:https://youtu.be/… https://youtu.be/ni9QtCV2HKU What Is Binaural Audio? Binaural audio is designed to replicate the way humans hear sound. We have two ears, spaced a short distance apart, and our brain uses timing, level differences, and reflections from our head and ears to determine direction and depth. Binaural recording mimics this…

09Oct 2022 by Jon

Record Audio For Screencasts – with separate audio feeds

Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Mixing, Podcast, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Techniques, Uncategorized

In this post, I will demonstrate how I record audio for screencasts and video tutorials. I'll show you a FREE application that allows you to record audio for screencasts with separate audio feeds for my microphone and system sound. Why do I need separate audio feeds? Most screen recording applications will record a mix of microphone and system audio. This means you don't have any control over the individual levels once the screencast has been recorded. In my videos, I like to demonstrate audio techniques by playing audio and talking at the same time. If I record my system audio too loud people won't be able to hear my voice and there is no way to fix this afterwards. How to record separate audio feeds In this video, I walk…

24Apr 2022 by Jon

Recording the sound of nature: Stereo microphone shootout

Blog, Field Recording, Foley, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Recording, Sound Design, Sound Effects, Techniques

Stereo Recording Shootout In this stereo recording shootout I test two different stereo recording techniques. One, a mid-side (M/S) stereo setup costing over $2000. The other, a pair of inexpensive stereo omni-directional mics. Can these $100 microphones compete against the higher priced alternatives? So, join me for this stereo recording shootout as I record the sound of nature. The Location I recently visited the Welsh countryside and took the opportunity to record the sounds of nature. Understandably, it's difficult to make good recordings near cities or towns. For example, traffic, and other noise can easily ruin recordings. So, while I had the chance I compared two stereo recording techniques. Read on to find out how I made the recordings. Listen to the results In the video below I explain the…

03Jul 2021 by Jon

What is a Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone?

ADR, Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Podcast, Recording, Recording & Mixing, Techniques

What is a Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone? In this month's post we will answer the question: what is a Large Diaphragm Condenser microphone? Some characteristics of a large diaphragm condenser microphone are:- It is good for recording quieter sounds, instruments or the human voice Delivers warmth and clarity Has a wide frequency response (Low to high frequencies) It has an extended dynamic range (Quiet to loud) Requires Phantom Power This type of microphone is designed for increased sensitivity. Therefore, it requires phantom power. It is likely that your recording device will have an option for turning phantom power on or off. Most importantly, always make sure you turn phantom power on after connecting the microphone. Typical uses Spoken Word (e.g. Audio Books) Narration or Voice Over for moving image Podcasting…

19Mar 2021 by Jon

Home Recording Studio Essentials: What You Actually Need to Get Started

Blog, Home Recording Blogs, Microphones, Podcast, Pro Tools, Recording & Mixing, Techniques

Setting up a home recording studio doesn’t have to be complicated — or expensive. In fact, you only need four core components to start recording, editing, mixing, and playing back audio at home. In this guide, we’ll look at the Home Recording Studio Essentials, explain what each piece does, and help you make sensible choices without getting overwhelmed by gear options. The 4 Essential Components of Any Home Recording Studio Every functional home studio needs these four things: A computer with DAW software An audio interface A microphone Monitoring (headphones or speakers) With just these, you can: Record sound Edit and arrange audio Add effects Mix and export finished tracks Let’s break each one down. 1. Computer – Mac or PC? Your computer is the heart of your studio. It…

Category: Microphones