USB Dynamic Mic and Audacity Setup Walkthrough For Beginners with Edward the Sound Guy

This is a walkthrough for beginners looking to get recording at home with an inexpensive USB microphone, using Audacity to record.
The microphones in this example are specifically "dynamic" USB microphones, the most common examples being the ATR2100, 2100X, 2005 and Samson Q2U. This type of microphone is very suitable for up close recording techniques needed in home recording environments and these in particular are inexpensive and sound decent at the same time.
Audacity is a commonly used free editing software that is capable of easily recording a track or two of full quality audio when set up properly.
This overview contains a description of the hardware needed, setting it up, setting up Audacity to perform properly, and some recording operation details like getting the level correct for recording.
chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:59 1 Stuff we need
02:14 2 Set up microphone
02:18 2A Pick a good space
02:39 2B Set up stand
02:44 2C Install clip
03:21 2D Add the microphone
03:27 2E Adjust height
03:49 2F Optimal distance
04:04 2G Plosive control - pop filter
04:46 2H Plosive control - foam ball
05:22 2I Plosive control - off axis
06:08 2J Connect USB
06:32 3 Set up Audacity to record
07:16 3A Setting Audio Host
07:51 3B Select Play and Record devices
08:12 3C Set sample rate
08:21 3D Set Meter Range
09:36 3E Get a good recording level
10:32 4 Try it out
Hope this helps and you get some excellent recordings.
#edwardthesoundguy #audiorecording #audacity3 #voiceactor #audacitytutorial

[@jn646]

Your videos are extremely helpful! Looking for quick, easy ways to set-up audio on audacity is not easy to come by. A video on how to set-up an office space in a normal house room for recording would be a great topic for a video.

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Hey thank you! I might be able to put something together like that. It might take a minute to figure out the best way, but I am looking into it now. Thank you for the kind words and the suggestion.

[@Warwic]

Thanks for the video Ed. I just bought a Samson Q2U (first dynamic mic) and wasn't much happy with the results. Was trying desperately to figure out and suddenly YT suggested your video...

[@vanderavortdebije]

Excellent tutorial! I just bought a samson q2u and this tutorial was very helpful. Moreover, the way of your presentation is clear and.... not so 'modern-quick-what do I know much'. That is a relief.

[@rounderone8437]

Thanks for showing how to center the meter around 18. Never realized it could be adjusted.

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Sounds good. Hope you get some excellent recordings!

[@sinnaman-dj-atrain]

Great video

[@sonyeolovessweaters]

From a sound girl who's still learning the ropes, thank you!! This is a clear and helpful explanation

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Meloyadina]

I love the corny comedy 😅😂 mixed with the Awesome info.

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Appreciate it so much. Thank you!

[@sharingmyfun8804]

Those tips for positioning the Mike were so helpful! Your videos are great. I, also, would appreciate the turning a corner of the office into a studio. 11:27

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Talking a look at the idea. There are so many good and troubled ways and different situations it might take a minute to figure out how to demonstrate. I'll try though as soon as it can be figured out!

[@blakecamp5848]

Excellent video learned alot for using USB mic. Maybe an ACX plug in video would be good with info on how to set up db noise floor and so on. Lots of these vids on youtube but are mostly from VO people. A vid from a qualified sound guy would be much more useful.

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Hey thanks! And that's a good idea on the ACX plug in an compliance stuff. It might take a minute but I'll give it a shot as soon as possible!

[@MrBlarganator]

After going through these steps I did notice that changing the host to Windows DirectSound disabled the slider for recording level and stuck it at 100%. has anybody else experienced this and and does anyone know whether it can be fixed while keeping the host? That said everything in the video has been a great help in getting started and I hope the videos keep on coming. Easily the best made videos on the subject I've seen.

[@edwardthesoundguy]

That's interesting. It is hard to pin down as Windows and different hardware have all kinds of ideas on what should control the level. Once in a while, some models of USB mics even change the level randomly and uncontrollably. I don't have enough types of hardware to piece this together, but will make some kind of presentation if we can get some answers. Thanks for bringing this up.

[@packhowlmedia]

This is awesome! Really great tips for someone getting started on this stuff.

[@mrrgstuff]

Good video. Well done and although it wasn't quite what I was looking for, it was interesting and I did learn some useful stuff. Thanks 😀 👍

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Hey thanks!

[@gglebabydoc2955]

Thank you so much! You are great. Please show me to set up an Audio-Technica condensed Mic for Audacity. Thanks

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Working on it! The process is pretty similar, but I'll have something up as soon as I can!

[@emmapeel38]

First off, I like the audio quality in your video. I can't tell you how many hundreds (maybe over a thousand) of tutorials on Audacity, mics, plugins, etc - people who are audio engineers (!) - can't get their audio up to a solid standard of quality. Considering your mic, nice job! I'm curious why you're recording in 32-bit float (default sample rate). Would it matter if you recorded at 16-bit? For me, I use an AT2020 mic (that I'm not crazy about), and recording in Audacity, then export a wav file in 16-bit. I use Filmora, and everything (AFAIK) converts everything to 16-bit 44100 when uploading to KZbin. Specifically, is it okay to record using 32-bit float, and then simply export it as a 16-bit wav file? Anyway, I appreciate your video, and your pace. You made me rethink about how I'm not setting my recording levels properly.

[@edwardthesoundguy]

That's a good point. I should have included something about why that is set to 32 bit float. The microphone in this demonstration has an interface that has no 32 bit float hardware, yes, but this setting on Audacity is about how things are handled inside the software after it is brought in. This to have Audacity work in this "space," which could be an advantage. 32 bit float has the benefit of more room above 0dBFS (the 0db at top of the meter,) so if a filter you use makes the audio clip when messing about in Audacity, you might next use a compressor or turn the level down, but instead of 24 or 16 bit integer, all of a sudden the disaster will go away. If you were working in 24 bit, then turning it back down with another filter would lower the level, but the peaks would still be ruined. It is debatable how valuable this is when working with normal audio, but there is little penalty for the extra range. On the other end, it is another benefit that the "digital" floor is also lower than the input device, so it is not adding any limitation there either. Of course you can export at any bit depth like 16 bit perfectly well. Yes this is perfectly normal.

[@voicequickie]

Hi, this was both fun to watch and helpful. Thanks! I got here while looking for how to monitor myself on headphones while recording using a Blue Yeti. I just got a Mac, and I find I cannot hear myself without disabling the "hear other tracks while recording" option. Problem with that is I am getting horrible latency. Is there a solution you could please recommend? I'm a bit of a rookie with this, FYI. Thanks again.

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Hey, sorry I did not see this earlier. In case this is still an issue, I'll be able to access a yeti this weekend and will try to replicate the problem and see what we can find out. Hope you are getting some great recordings.

[@voicequickie]

@@edwardthesoundguy Thanks, I’ll look forward to your feedback, as I’m still having same issue sadly 😞

[@AAAndrew]

Extremely basic question. Do you apply EQ to a recording, or set it up before recording?

[@edwardthesoundguy]

Actually a pretty good question. The convention is that you apply any adjustments later. This has a good reason. If something doesn't work out, you are not stuck.

[@MrMountain707]

Did all this and it still sounds worse than my phone. What am I doing wrong

[@ThatArekkusu]

i think the music in your video should be quieter

[@edwardthesoundguy]

I'll try making it lower and see how things go. Thanks for the feedback!

[@jokatech]

I'm done with audacity. I am a trumpet player and I've made countless recordings using this software. They decided to do something to the coding of the software where it now automatically filters out any sound other than a voice completely, and there is nothing you can do about it. They have completely stripped it of the ability to record instrument sounds like a woodwind or brass. Whoever did that is sick and stupid.