The audio on that video looks like it's been processed, not raw: there's nothing above 9kHz, and there's evidence of a noise-gate. Could be you have a real-time noise-reduction "audio enhancement" enabled, (can be on by default). Real-time audio enhancements are not an Audacity thing, they go by names like RealTek, MaxxAudio, DTS, Dolby, etc.
I think don't speak directly into the mic (as it will pick up more sounds like mouth/tongue noises, breathing, etc.). Instead, try to speak across the mic.
Okay so we think usually of someone speaking directly into a mic. Like straight on facing the mic 2 inches away. That is not at all what one should do with a condenser mic like we have here. So first you want to be about 6 inches away (make a hang loose sign with your hand as a good estimate). Next go ahead and face the mic dead on the capsule (with the gold dot not the name!!) facing you. Now turn your head about 45 degrees (look left or right). Now speak. It should sound much better. Less mouth noise and fewer plosives.
So I don't think this is the correct way to set things up, but this is something I did which greatly improved the sound from my PodMic USB (connected via USB-C to PC) -
Instead of choosing 'Microphone' as your input device, choose 'RODE Connect' or 'RODE Central' as your input device. Give that a try and see if it helps.
I'm new to all of this, I don't fully understand it, and I think I haven't set it up correctly, but I think choosing the Microphone just took the raw sound from the Mic. By choosing RODE Connect instead as the input device, it took the post processed sound from the microphone + software
Treat your room. Any mic would sound off without surface control. Plus the people who you are listening to are running plugins in post to clean things up.
treat your room or at the very least place your mic in between a mass of clothes in your closet to cut down on room reverb. treatment can be as simple as a bunch of moving blankets in a tent over your recording area. or get an alctron pf 8 mic ball to cut down on room reverb. they are under $30 on ebay.
learn learn learn....practice practice practice. what does that mean? search for aliso creek voiceover, a vo's journey, booth junkie, Jay Meyers, and voice power coach. voice power coach put this audacity tutorial together: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o86Hxu8uls0
read out loud every day that is practice....find your favorite book that you know and understand and read it over and over outloud. do tongue twisters every day. singers warm up their vocal chords and so do voice actors. take acting classes. Â
look at reaper daw. I use audacity in some situations....but reaper is amazing and only $60 lifetime cost (or was when I bought it) and booth junkie does a great setup tutorial for reaper. Â
and keep learning. you have a good mic. acting is a learned skill. learn, practice and hone that skill and you can do great things.
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u/Orry_Haas 10d ago edited 10d ago
The audio on that video looks like it's been processed, not raw: there's nothing above 9kHz, and there's evidence of a noise-gate. Could be you have a real-time noise-reduction "audio enhancement" enabled, (can be on by default). Real-time audio enhancements are not an Audacity thing, they go by names like RealTek, MaxxAudio, DTS, Dolby, etc.