So, you’re sittin’ there at your desk, tryin’ to talk or record somethin’, and all of a sudden, that microphone starts rattlin’ and shakin’ all over the place. It’s makin’ all kinds of noise, ain’t it? Now, don’t you worry, you’re not the only one who’s had this problem. Many folks, especially them who got shaky desks or those little microphone stands that sit on top of the desk, they know exactly what I’m talkin’ about.
First thing I gotta tell ya, it ain’t always the microphone’s fault, no sir! Sometimes it’s the desk itself, or the way you got that microphone set up. You see, if your desk shakes, or you got a big old keyboard in front of ya, slappin’ them keys away, it sends all that vibration right up to your microphone. That’ll make it pick up all sorts of hums and rattles that you just don’t need. Now, what can you do about it? Well, let me tell ya, there’s a few simple tricks you can try to fix it up.
1. Get the microphone away from that desk!
First thing’s first – your microphone should not be sittin’ right on the desk, no matter what kind it is. If it’s standin’ there, and the stand’s connected right to that desk, then every little vibration from your mouse movin’ or those keyboard taps is gonna get picked up. It’s like the mic’s sharin’ the same table as all them noises, and that ain’t good.
2. Use some dampenin’ pads
Another good trick is puttin’ some rubber or foam pads under your keyboard or mouse. This will help soak up the vibrations before they can travel up to the mic stand. You don’t need any fancy equipment for this – just find somethin’ soft and squishy, like old mousepads or those rubber feet you find on furniture.
3. Put that mic on a separate surface
Best way to handle it is to make sure the mic stand is on a completely separate surface from the desk. Some people use a stand that clamps onto the desk, but if you’re havin’ trouble with vibration, try puttin’ the mic on a little table or a shelf next to your desk. That way, when your desk starts shakin’, the mic won’t pick it up. You want the mic sittin’ on a surface that don’t move or shake, see?
4. Adjust your mic distance
If you’re usin’ a dynamic microphone, like the XDM-100, you want that mic pretty close to your mouth. Ideally, between 5 to 15 centimeters away. Now, if you’re usin’ one of them sensitive condenser mics, like the XCM-50, you can keep it a little farther back – maybe 10 to 20 centimeters. Don’t let it sit too far, though, or you’ll lose the sound quality. Keep it close, but not too close!
5. Check the mic’s cable and connections
Sometimes, it ain’t just the stand or the desk – it could be the cable itself. If the cable’s loose or ain’t properly connected, it might pick up static and make your mic sound all funny. Check them cables – make sure they’re plugged in good and tight, and maybe even get a new one if it’s lookin’ worn out.
Now, let’s talk about the different kinds of mic stands. There’s ones that just sit on the desk, and then there’s ones that clamp onto the side of your desk. The clamp kind is usually a bit better at isolatin’ the vibrations, but it ain’t foolproof. If you got a shaky desk, it’s still gonna pick up some noise. The trick is to find a stand that can hold the mic still without movin’ around too much. If the stand’s shaky or loose, that’s just gonna make things worse.
6. Go for a shock mount
If your microphone’s still pickin’ up noise even after you’ve tried all this, then it might be time to get one of them shock mounts. A shock mount is like a little cage that holds the microphone, but it’s designed to absorb any vibrations before they can get to the mic. They’re especially good if you got one of them big, heavy microphones that tend to move around too much.
And finally, if you’re still havin’ trouble, it might just be the nature of the beast. Some microphones are just more sensitive than others, and if you’re usin’ a cheap one, it might be more prone to pickin’ up vibrations. In that case, it might be time to invest in a better mic, one that’s got a bit more stability and won’t shake or rattle so easily.
So, to sum it up, you want to make sure your mic’s on a stable surface, away from any desk vibrations. Use pads or shock mounts to absorb the noise, check your cables, and make sure your mic’s positioned right. That should take care of most of the problem, and you’ll be able to record or talk without all that shake and rattle messin’ up your sound.
Tags:[Microphone Noise, Desk Vibration, Microphone Shakes, Mic Stand, Audio Tips, Vibration Noise, Static in Mic]