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Setting up your microphone correctly is SO important. By getting clean and consistent recordings, you make yourself much more attractive to casting directors. But here’s the thing, your microphone is just one part of the puzzle. So setting up your microphone properly means setting up EVERYTHING properly! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up and get recording!. 1. Choose the Right Space Your recording environment is just as important as your equipment. • Quiet Location: Find a space with minimal ambient noise. Listen for potential intrusions like traffic, HVAC systems, or noisy neighbors. • Isolated from Electronics: Avoid spaces near noisy electronics such as refrigerators or desktop computers with loud fans. If you have a computer with a fan, place it outside of the recording space, run cables to a monitor, and use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to interact with your DAW. • Room Size and Shape: Smaller, irregularly shaped rooms with soft furnishings often work best for voice recording, as large square rooms with hard surfaces tend to create echoes. 2. Treat Your Space This is the most overlooked aspect of setting up equipment. No mic can compensate for poor acoustics; in fact, high-end mics can often sound terrible in poorly treated spaces because they hear EVERYTHING. Put in some extra effort here, and it will make all the difference. • Soundproofing: Block external noise by sealing door gaps, using thick curtains, and applying weather stripping. • Acoustic Treatment: Reduce internal reflections by placing foam or fabric on walls. You are looking to build a space with no hard surfaces! Especially behind your recording area and opposite the microphone. • DIY Alternatives: On a budget? BLANKET FORT! Thick blankets or moving pads can act as makeshift acoustic treatments. Here is a great video for some ideas: https://youtu.be/5Se381sERrY 3. Choose the Right Microphone Before you can set your mic up… you need a mic! • Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphones: These are ideal for voice over due to their sensitivity and warm tone. The Neumann TLM 103 or the Rode NT1 are the most common I see in home studios, and they are great! Check out our review of the NT1 - HERE • Shotgun Mics: In less-than-ideal recording spaces, a shotgun mic like the Sennheiser MKE 600 (review - HERE) or MKH 416 can help minimize room noise. They also have a very forward sound making them ideal for commercial reads. • Dynamic Mics: Usually used for podcasts or content creation due to their ability to isolate poorly treated spaces, dynamics are not often used for professional voice over. They cannot capture the vocal range and clarity needed. However, they can be a great option if you are just starting out and a shotgun isn’t doing enough for you in your recording space. Our budget pick, the PD200X (review - HERE) • Testing Before Buying: If possible, rent or borrow microphones to test how they complement your voice and space before making a purchase. 4. Hardware Setup A clean, organized setup prevents technical issues. • Cable Management: Keep audio and power cables separate to avoid interference. • Power Up Safely: Always connect your microphone before turning on power and disconnect it only after the power is off to prevent electrical damage. • Ground Loops: Use grounded outlets or ground loop isolators to eliminate hums caused by improper grounding. • TURN OFF YOUR PHONE: Or keep it away from the recording area to prevent interference with your equipment. No one wants to hear that weird beep-did-dee-dee-beep sound! 5. Eliminate Other Noises Even subtle noises can ruin a take. • Mic Handling: Avoid tapping or touching the microphone or stand during recording. • Wardrobe Choices: Wear soft, noise-free clothes to prevent rustling. • Digital Scripts: Use a tablet or touch screen for your script to eliminate the sound of paper shuffling or mouse clicks. 6. Use a Pop Shield A pop shield is essential for clean recordings. • Reduce Plosives: A Pop Filter minimizes the impact of strong air bursts caused by sounds like “P” and “B.” • Protect the Mic: Shields also protect your microphone from saliva, niiiiiiiiiiiice! 7. Mic Placement Positioning is everything when it comes to capturing your best sound. • Distance: Place the mic 6–12 inches away from your mouth. Use the “hand spread” technique: thumb on your chin and pinky on the pop shield. • Off-Axis: Experiment with positioning the mic above or below you and pointed at your chin. This helps with tone and reduces harsh sounds in your voice. • Angle: Start with the mic at a slight 45-degree angle to reduce plosive impact. Adjust height, angle and tilt until you find the sweet spot. 8. Setting Levels Proper levels prevent distortion and ensure clarity. • Test Dynamic Range: Record a section with varying vocal intensities. Run an audio analysis to check the numbers below. Don’t trust the live meter! • Peak Levels: Aim for peaks around -10dB, with NO part of the recording exceeding -3dB to avoid clipping, and to give you headroom for mastering. • RMS Levels: The average loudness should sit between -34dB and -24dB. Remember, the Peak Level is the most important, so your RMS comes second to your peak, unless requested by the client. • Room Tone: The quieter the better, but once you have found the gain setting on your mic to obtain the correct peak and RMS, you want your room tone to be at a minimum under -60dB. • Daily Consistency: When working on long projects like audiobooks, keep your space, equipment, settings and positioning identical across sessions. I have a Reaper Set Up Guide that goes over this - HERE 9. Care for Your Mic A well-maintained mic will last for years. • Handling: Always handle your mic with care. Avoid dropping it or exposing it to moisture or extreme temperatures. • Cleaning: Use a soft cloth to clean the mic grille periodically. • Storage: Store your mic in a case or cover it with a dust guard when not in use. 10. Other Essential Tools You are also going to need: • Audio Interface: A quality interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (review - HERE) converts your voice into digital audio for recording. • Headphones: Closed-back headphones like the Beyer DT770’s (review - HERE) help you monitor without audio bleed. • DAW (Digital Audio Workstation): Software for recording and editing. Many people start with Audacity (free) however I highly recommend Reaper (unlimited Free trial, but extremely affordable if you choose to support them). Conclusion By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to producing professional-quality recordings. Do not underestimate the power of a good blanket fort, and remember, experimentation is key to mastering your setup, so keep playing and see what adjustments make a difference. Chat with our community in the comments below and share your own tips or ask questions!

So, you're set up, you're ready to record, and then you hear it... that pesky problem that spoils your audio: the clicks, smacks and pops of mouth noise. Well, hold on to your headphones, my friend! In this article, I'll let you know what I do every day to keep the mouth noise at bay! Hydrate loads... and then some more... and then a liiiiiiittle bit more... cool Dryness equals mouth noise. Simple as that. So, chug H2O. I start drinking water three hours before I go near the booth and aim for 32 oz before I hit record. Keep drinking throughout the day too, just ... keep drinking, trust me, it makes a world of difference.... you might need a few visits to the loo, though! Oral Hygiene Brush your teeth, floss like a champ, and rinse with mouthwash. A clean mouth means less gunk that can trigger mouth noise. Oh, and don't forget about your tongue—give it a good scrape, sounds gross, helps loads. Watch Out for Enemy Foods and Drinks Avoid dairy products, sticky goodies, too much sugar, and beverages like coffee or booze before your recording session. They can mess with your saliva production or leave a sticky residue in your mouth—all of that is bad! Opt for plain water or herbal tea to keep your mouth happy and noise-free. Warm Up and Loosen Up! Warm up those vocal cords and relax those mouth muscles. Every day. Before every session. Hum, trill your lips, and tie your tongue in knots with tongue twisters. Stretching the mouth muscles and jaw releases tension and helps us articulate (next tip). Deep breathing exercises are a bonus—keeping your breath steady and controlled helps control mouth noise. Articulate, Annunciate and Speak proper innit! Now you are all vocally limber, focusing just a touch more on pronouncing fully can keep those noises from creeping in. Obvs you don't want to sound like a robot, but just make sure your mouth, lips and tongue are moving! Sometimes I will overannunciate if I hit a particulaly mouth noise-y section. Shield Your Mic with Pop Filters A pop filter does more than deal with plosives. It puts a bit of distance and diffusion between your mouth and the mic, which can take the edge off mouth noise, too. Worth having one. They're great. Back off the Mic! Getting too close to the mic amplifies everything — including all the stuff you don't want. Back off a bit, speak up slightly to compensate, and you'll often find a lot of the noise just disappears into the background. Generally, if you stretch your hand out, put your thumb on your chin, and your pinky on the pop shield, that is a good starting distance. Take time to find your sweet spot. It's worth the experiment. Tweak and Tidy Up in Post-Production Even if you do everything right, a few sounds will slip through. That's what post is for! Noise reduction, EQ, de-essers — all useful. I MASSIVELY recommend the RX plugins... their de-clicker tool alone is worth it! They usually have sales, so wait for one to come along. Seriously, it is witchcraft. Conclusion Drink loads, use good technique, and if needed, use magic wands/plug-ins! Voice 101 I have a video that teaches more of the fundamentals, and should give you a bunch of knowledge to avoid vocal strain and start strengthening your voice, too! You can check it out here :

I get a bunch of people asking me, “How can I stop straining my voice?” Maybe they are a voice actor who is working on challenging character voices, or an audiobook narrator wanting to record for the industry standard of six hours, or maybe a business professional giving presentations and finding themselves hoarse afterwards. Well, my friends, read on for 5 Tips that will help you avoid the strain and record for longer!  Hydrate Drink more water than you think. I start drinking 3 hours before work. I drink a whole 32 oz bottle and then keep drinking throughout the whole recording session.  Warm Up Everyday. Without fail. Your vocal folds are like any muscle. Imagine going to the gym and immediately trying to do your best squat! Ouch! You are going to pull a muscle! Your voice is the same; give it some vocal lunges and jumping jacks to warm up! Start slow and simple, gentle humming or ‘sirening’.  To siren make a ‘ng’ sound, like the sound on the end of the word ‘sing’ and gently go up and down your whole range. Nice and gentle, about as quiet as a normal conversation volume.  Have Enough Breath This tip is the reason 95% of the people who come to me are straining their voice! They are continuing to speak when they are running out of breath!    We often try to continue speaking to get to the end of our thought or the line, but as we start to run out of breath, we add tension and begin to strain our voice.  By improving lung capacity, we can get through longer thoughts or lines. Try this! Breathe out on a long Ffffff sound. Ensure to take a new breath before you feel any type of ‘squeeze’. Try to breathe out a little longer each day!   Avoid the squeeze! Now you’ve got more breath, you need to add the voice on top! Make sure you are never speaking as you start to run out of breath. Make sure you take a new breath before that ‘squeeze’ feeling. Your voice should always feel like “oh yeah, I’ve got loads of breath for this!” Stop When It Hurts As soon as you feel any tickle or hoarseness, stop. Build up slowly, and as soon as you feel anything uncomfortable, stop, rest, and come back to your work later.  And when you are sick… rest! Drink some nice honey and lemon tea, steam and watch a movie instead!  Safe Practice All this is fine to say. But as soon as we get a job, we get excited, and all technique goes out the window! Be strict with yourself. Drink. Warm Up. Practice first. Know where you are going to take a breath. Make sure you have enough. And if it starts to hurt… rest!  Conclusion There are a bunch of other things that help. Getting good, solid vocal training is super important if you are going to regularly work using your voice.    I record for 6 hours every day. Weird monster voices, efforts, all the crazy things we do for a living. No vocal strain, no change in vocal tone. It is all about technique, and you can get there too!   I have a video that teaches more of the fundamentals, and should give you a bunch of knowledge to avoid vocal strain and start strengthening your voice. You can check it out here :  Other than that, warm up and go drink some water… yup… bit more… nice…

Welcome to The Audiobook Guy's Production Services At The Audiobook Guy, we're all about turning your audiobook dreams into reality. Whether you're an author with a story to share or a narrator looking to perfect your craft, we're here to make the production process a breeze, and even a bit of fun. Audiobook production can sometimes feel confusing and overwhelming, but we're here to take away the stress and technical worries. Our team of experts is committed to delivering high-quality results, and we're dedicated to making the journey an enjoyable one for you. So, let's get started! Welcome to our world of creativity, precision, and above all, a warm and reassuring approach to production services. Have a look below for more information on the services we offer, and if there is something else you need that is not listed reach out to us! We will always chat with you to see if we can find the answer! Our Production Team is based in California, USA, so all prices are in US Dollars; however, we work with Authors and Narrators all over the world! Let's make some magic! Full Audiobook Production COMING SOON! For authors and rights holders, we offer a comprehensive service that includes everything from casting the perfect voice, right through to post-production. We'll handle the technical aspects, so you can focus on what you do best – telling stories! $370 pfh Post Production Services Narrators, we've got you covered too. Our post-production services include: - Proofing - Editing - and Mastering. We'll make sure your narration shines, and that your audiobook is a masterpiece. $90 pfh Audio SOS Have you recorded an audiobook and just cannot get the audio to pass ACX requirements? Let us do it for you! It can be really stressful trying to meet the RMS requirement, without blowing past -3 dB peaks, all while keeping your noise floor low! Let us sort that, and you have a well-earned cup of tea! $40 pfh Production Support Do you need something a little different? - An FX Chain to keep and use yourself to master your files to ACX Requirements - A sound-check of your recording set-up to ensure it hits industry standards - Help navigating ACX, preparing and uploading files - Advice in the process of researching and preparing a book for narration We are here for you! We can create a bespoke service to match your needs and budget so that your work is as bright and wonderful as you are! Usually $150 per hour (price can change depending on the help you need!) Testimonials "Working with Kevin was one of the best parts of getting The Lavender Blade audiobook made. I genuinely had no idea what to expect going in—just that I was intimidated and overwhelmed by the whole process. But from start to finish, Kevin was completely on top of everything: professional, organised, clear, and incredibly supportive. What really stood out was that I felt like I had someone in my corner the entire time. He was assertive in all the right ways—pushing things along, managing deadlines, and advocating for the project without ever making me feel pressured or lost. I always felt looked after. The end result is something I’m really proud of, and I credit a huge part of that to Kevin’s quality, care, and expertise. He made everything easy, and he was a genuinely lovely person to work with. I’d recommend him to absolutely anyone." Emma Deards - Author, The Lavender Blade Get a Quote Let us know about your project and the kinds of services you need. Let's create together to make your work FLY! First Name Last Name Email Project Info Send Thanks for submitting!

Contact If you have any questions about The Audiobook Guy, need help with anything to do with Voice Over or Audiobook Narration or just want to say Hi! then feel free to reach out with the form below! Let's Chat First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!