XLR vs USB Mics & Is AI Something to Fear?| My First Q&A Video!

[@MichealColhoun]

can't believe 45 minutes has passed already. Enjoyed this format and every minute - and I learned a few things too. Biggest takeaway "Half of Video is Audio", Great phrase to remember!

[@tombuck]

Yes! I used to hammer that into my students when I was a teacher. It's super true! I thought this would be like a 12 minute video, but I'm glad you didn't mind it being longer 😁

[@MonzonMedia]

Tom, I appreciate your take on use cases for AI as a content creator. As someone who covers AI content I often come across haters and trolls that just don't want to open their minds or even give it a try just to understand what it's all about because of preconceived notions. I can see where they are coming from as I was skeptical myself but once I fell down the rabbit whole I found a new appreciation for it. We are still in the very early stages and many of us who learn to use it are pioneers. As you said, it's up to us to find the ways it can enhance content creation without taking away our own creativity. My goal has always been to educate people on the benefits of using AI and using it properly because the truth of the matter is, the rest of the world is still very clueless about it. Just ask your own social circle about what they know about AI and I'm pretty sure 1/10 people will know something about AI. (other than chat gpt hehehe!)

[@tombuck]

It's definitely easy to focus on the negative, and there are also definitely very real concerns with how AI cna be used in harmful ways (or even just ways that diminish creativity and originality), but you're totally right that it's a good time to try and understand it because it sure doesn't seem like it's going away.

[@PreshitDeorukhkar]

Every time I hear the sound of the Earthworks Ethos, it makes me want one (They don’t sell it here in India :( ). It’s so warm and cozy, like having a snuggly blanket wrapped around you while sipping hot chocolate on Christmas Eve. The difference when you jumped from that to the Rode Interview Pro is so stark.

[@tombuck]

It’s an amazing mic! I feel like I’ve seen/heard it more often recently, but I’m still surprised it’s not more popular. One of my all time favorites for sure.

[@JustFlinx]

Some pretty great As for those Qs Tom, really enjoying these more discussion based long form videos !!

[@tombuck]

Glad you liked it! I thought it would be a fun final video for the year!

[@EnricoColacillo]

Just a “funny” consideration: I know that it’s almost impossible to hear any good sound, microphones in primis, on smartphone speakers. But: listening to the tiniest mic on this video with my phone, and comparing that mic with the other mics.. it sounds like.. awesome 😅 great video Tom, as always. Thank you so much for this!

[@tombuck]

The tiny mic kicks big butt! Seriously especially for the price, it's hilariously impressive.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Really great video, as always. Sadly, I missed the community post with the call for questions. Personally, I love doing Q&A videos. It’s my favourite format as it always feels most authentic. And they always end up a lot longer than expected! 🙂 I agree on AI. I like to come up with my own topics and structure, but it helps enormously with the research (subject to the caveats you raised).

[@tombuck]

I definitely did NOT expect this one to be this long, but it was really fun! Bummed you missed the post- I’d like to do videos like this semi-regularly if people like them so hopefully you can catch the next one!

[@jrennickemd]

Thanks so much for answering my question Tom! I feel the same way. I try to use AI to do some of the "grunt work" of video creation, but I never want it to replace my thoughts and personal connection to the content. Great video and I think you should make this a regular content type in your rotation!

[@tombuck]

I'd love to do more Q&A videos! And yeah, I definitely don't want AI to take over the creative part of what I do, but if it can save me hours of using the clone stamp in Photoshop or trying to repair flubbed audio quality, it's a very welcome tool!

[@markhuf]

Tomplicated 🥳

[@tombuck]

It’s what I do. 😬

[@GuilDormeus]

This was so fun!!

[@PaulFeinberg]

Good stuff as always

[@tombuck]

Thanks Paul! Hope your holidays are great!

[@PaulFeinberg]

@ was great! 👍 thanks

[@clurkroberts2650]

AI is an amazing tool as part of a production process. I think you did a great job explaining how it helps your production process.

[@tombuck]

Glad to hear this! It can definitely be scary and is for sure being overhyped at the moment (does a washing machine really need “AI” 🤔), but the underlying tech is absolutely useful and vilifying it won’t make it go away or fix a]potential issues.

[@Mohajerhub]

Thanks Tom. Appreciate your time 🙏 A quick question. Have you ever tried to connect the audio interface output directly to the camera? I'm trying to skip the sync part in the post without sacrificing the sound quality but haven't found anything online about it. I currently have a Sony a7s iii + Rode ntg (usb). I'm thinking of investing in an xlr shotgun to pair with my Focusrite Vocaster Two connected directly to the camera.

[@tombuck]

Thanks for the support! It depends on the interface. Rodecasters and the like have monitor outputs, so you can use a 1/4" to 3.5mm Y cable, but it can sometimes be tricky to get levels right for a good signal. Other interfaces like the Focusrite Vocaster or Zoom F3 have 3.5mm outputs specifically for cameras, which makes things easier. So yes, it's totally possible and not too complicated, but just might require a little bit of experimenting to get levels and quality dialed in. BTW, I saw you originally called me Mike and that's not the first time it's happened, so I wonder if people see mics and think "Mike"? 😁

[@TC_Conner]

25:57 in, thanks a bunch for answering my query and the recommendations. While I'm here, I forgot to ask about your guitars. I have two hobbies (three counting my KZbin channel); photography and acoustic guitar/ambient electric guitar that I am torn between. Would you suggest I start a separate YT channel for my music only? I'm retireed so time constraints don't matter (other than having less years in front of me than behind). Great Q&A video Tom and if I haven't said it before now: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and she and all your family!

[@tombuck]

Hey! Glad you liked the video! For the music channel, I think it depends on your goal. If it’s for personal growth/fun, then you can mix and mash all you want. If you’re looking to grow and establish yourself in a niche, then I do like the advice of “one channel per audience.” I feel like a lot of photography people are also interested in music, but those do seem like they’d be better as separate channels even if there’s some audience overlap. Hope that makes sense !

[@TC_Conner]

@@tombuck Makes perfect sense, thanks a bunch! 🎸📸🎸

[@JoshRazauskas]

Great answers, buddy. I don’t know how I missed the community post. Thanks for nothing KZbin. 😂 This was a fun watch. Hopefully I don’t miss it if you do it again

[@tombuck]

Yeah, I really have no idea how KZbin decides to share community posts? It seems like a lot of people missed it. Maybe I need to use the feature more and then they'll share it more?

[@JoshRazauskas]

@ Maybe so. I have the bell turned on for you so I don’t think there’s anything else I can do on my end.

[@scviper]

Hi Tom! I don't have anything to contribute, I only wanted to say that I love your content and I am super happy for your award

[@tombuck]

That's a lot to contribute! Thank you 🙏

[@mattliller]

Another “banger” as the kids would say. If you don’t mind, I’ll selfishly take some comment real estate to ask my simplest burning question: Do you turn off your Rodecaster Duo (or other interface connected to your main computer) daily, or just leave it on for days/weeks on end? Thanks, and loved this format!

[@tombuck]

I do turn them all off every day. I don't think you HAVE to, but I just get weirdly paranoid about electronics, and especially since I do have a lot of gear in my office I figure it can't hurt to keep things off when I don't need them.

[@anothercharacter]

Thanks for answering my question!😃 Is it difficult to set up a xlr though? I mean as you need to have a mixer and do all those settings? 😅

[@tombuck]

Not really difficult at all! USB mics have an interface built in, whereas an XLR mic just needs an external interface. Ultimately it's the same result, just different ways of getting there.

[@kapil3794]

Ahhhh thank you SO much for answering my question about mic positioning and mouth sounds. I learned a lot! A quick follow-up.... any advice for folks who have particularly 'moist' mouths? I've been wondering if my condenser mic (NT-USB) isn't the right type for me, perhaps because it picks up these sounds more readily? I've been experimenting with placing it a full 9-inches away, and it's better, but I find myself using the Blade tool in Davinci all the time to cut out those moisture sounds when my mouth opens. I've been dreaming of just being able to hit record, lay down a voice track and not have to cut it up!

[@tombuck]

That's definitely tricky! For what it's worth, when I get really into the weeds with editing, I also find myself cutting out clicks and things (usually at the start of sentences). I don't know where my mouth ranks on the moistness meter, but I think everyone does encounter this to some degree. 😁 I've heard people say that staying hydrated and avoiding certain foods like dairy or sugar before recording can help reduce the intensity/frequency of mouth sounds, but I don't have any bullet proof solutions. I don't think a new mic would solve the problem, but it could be worth a try, if for no other reason than to put your mind at ease. If there's a dynamic mic that suits your needs, you could order one from somewhere with a good return policy and give it a try!

[@DjMike-L]

Do you have a video showing your processing on the Podmic and numbers

[@tombuck]

I actually do have that exact video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqqtpmmuaNmim68

[@david.victor]

I’d love to know how you get such a “dead” (no reflections and beefy tone) vocal tone from your setup. I have a rodecaster pro Ii, a shure SM7 and a cloudlifter and my audio always has room reflections

[@tombuck]

I don't think I'm doing anything special (but I'm glad it sounds dead 😁 ). I think having carpeted floors and a lot of stuff in the room makes a big difference, along withe recording in the middle of the space rather than facing a wall. Sometimes I'll add Voice Isolation in Final Cut when using a boom mic since that picks up more reflection, but I didn't need to do that here with any of these.

[@mainowl]

I never heard of the Rode Broadcaster but is sounds so good, it looks like a end address condenser too. If you have to pick between LCT 440 and Rode Broadcaster without the limit of a budget which one would you pick?

[@DashBoard143]

tnq❤❤

[@TheRockPilePodcast]

Hi Tom, off topic but great video. I’m trying take calls on my Mackie XS. It says my Bluetooth and phone is connected and my phone when I call out or calls come in it’s not coming across my mackie and I can’t hear on my headset. I must be doing something wrong.

[@tombuck]

Hmm, that's a bummer to hear. To be honest I haven't done much experimenting with the Mackie's Bluetooth functions but this sounds like a potential mix minus issue?

[@BrendanGates]

Totally agree that AI isn't going back into the AI-tube, but I am concerned that some of the big AI companies today are taking a very permissive view on what they should be freely allowed to incorporate into their training datasets. Lots of creative works have been hoovered up without crediting or paying the original creatives. Hopefully we can figure out a more sustainable way forward there.

[@tombuck]

Yeah, there definitely needs to be some sort of regulation or oversight, but I have no idea what that might look like? I know a number of my videos have been scooped up by some of the training thingies without my permission. But maybe it'll just give 'em a bunch of bad jokes and puns and screw up the whole thing 😁

[@mattwruff]

I thought about asking you a simple question like how to mic an Orchestra but I decided to be nice...LOL (Must be the Christmas season)

[@tombuck]

It sound's like a riddle: "How many mics does it take to mic an orchestra?" 😁

[@mattwruff]

@@tombuck a lot! by the way

[@ianroberts7119]

Hi Tom yeah AI is her to stay for sure, and like the hammer/tool analogy there's always room for mischief! I have found some of the AI music vocal separating effects interesting and noise reduction(Audacity has a couple of fantastic things there, which is open software and free I use subscribe to adobe Audition 2024 and it doesn't yet have the same built in effects as yet).I love the different mics,and I got the audio Technica mic stand adapter I think you recommended in a video and love the Rodecaster Pro 2 for our daily radio web drive time show(have a remote host) we use Google Meet, and the new Gemini AI seems to have a fancy solution for sharing video/audio in one screen! amongst other things. Talking of AI FX is there a virtual compression/limiter solution you know of that could help finishing audio before broadcast(I use a broadcast multi band pass combination in Adobe currently, that can level female and male vocals? We b both use Audio Technica mics currently(Although I sometimes use the Podcast USB rode).And do you have any thoughts on the new virtual channel's on RodeCaster stuff? Cheers for now thanks for the videos.

[@tombuck]

Yeah, it's definitely a tricky subject to navigate, but once the hype dies down, I'm hoping a lot of AI tools can settle into really useful places! As for final mixing, if it's prerecorded then Adobe's Enhance Speech or Auphonic work really well. For live processing, I don't have many options beyond the Master Compellor on the RCP2. I've found the RCP's virtual channels to be helpful! Definitely a bit tricky on MacOS, but very cool once you take the time to get them set up.

[@vishutdhar]

Where did you learn audio and video creation?

[@schultzeworks]

Tom Buck, DSLR Video Shooter, Potato Jet and Gerald Undone are the four best on the Tubes. I stopped watching Peter McKinnon after he got too boom-pow-obnoxious.

[@tombuck]

I’ve been into it since I was really young so initially it was just trial and error in my own. Luckily I got to take some classes in high school and then was able to work at a local tv station for a number of years in high school/early college. Once KZbin came around, channels like Dave Dugdale, FilmRiot, and Caleb Pike really helped me figure out dslr video production and budget/quality audio options. 💪

[@PawFromTheBroons]

Why are the questions blurry on screen? This doesn't usually happen.

[@tombuck]

I just took funky screenshots 😁

[@aleksandernowak585]

There is one additional difference between XLR and USB cables: the maximum length of an USB cable is very limited compared to a XLR cable. But in a home studio the maximum USB cable length mostly not a big issue.

[@tombuck]

Thanks for this tidbit! It’s something I didn’t consider.