Lavalier Microphones: Cheap Voice Recording for Filmmakers and Podcasters

Lavalier microphones are a fantastic way to capture voice for a video. They clip to a person’s clothing and don’t stand out in the video. Depending on your setup, you may be able to use multiple microphones. Whether you’re making a YouTube video, podcast, or recording a film, lavalier microphones are a must have solution.

One advantage of lavalier microphones is their portability. Though many expensive wireless solutions exist, there are also a lot of budget friendly systems available. It's not always necessary to record wirelessly. Instead, keep the recorder in a pocket and attach the microphone. If portability isn’t much of an issue, you can record with a computer or camera.

Camera and laptop microphones can pick up excessive background noise. This isn't usually an option for professional applications. These solutions are a great way to improve your production quality, while still using cheaper equipment.

Lavalier Microphones

Neewer Mini Lapel Microphone

The cheapest option available for lavalier microphones is the Neewer Mini Lapel Microphone. This is an omnidirectional microphone. This microphone works with a camera or computer. The Neewer mini lapel microphone isn't compatible with cellphones.

Though their quality isn’t the best, the cheap price makes these microphones a good backup. They make a good addition to any recording kit in case other lavalier microphones break. Keep in mind to test your microphone before using it, because the cables can fail.

PowerDeWise Lavalier Microphone

If you’re planning on recording with a phone, the PowerDeWise Lavalier Microphone is a good option. This lavalier microphone works with iOS, Android and Windows phones. The PowerDeWise microphone also includes an extension cable. There’s also an adapter to use it with a laptop, camera, or portable recorder. Overall, the sound quality of the PowerDeWise microphone is better than the Neewer. The build quality is also an improvement. This microphone will pick up less noise and will last longer. Though the quality is better, it is still always important to test it before each use.

Portable Recorders

To achieve high quality professional recordings, a good solution is to use a dedicated portable recorder. Though portable recorders have a built in microphone, they also support lavalier microphones. A good example is the Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder. This device is capable of recording at a sample rate of 96 kHz and a bit depth of 24 bit.

Portable recorders capture audio on a microSD card. You can access the files on a computer for editing. The recorder comes with a 2 GB card, but it can be upgraded to a 32 GB card, such as the SanDisk Ultra 32GB.

Cellphone Recording

If you’re not looking to buy a portable recorder, it’s also possible to use a cellphone. There are a few apps available, such as RØDE Rec (iOS) and Samsung Voice Recorder (Android). This is a cheap, portable solution, since most people have a phone accessible. Portable recorders provide better quality, but using a cellphone is best for most people.

Computer Recording

If you’re using a lavalier microphone to make a YouTube video or podcast, you may have a computer nearby. If this is the case, plug the lavalier microphone into the computer. Then you don’t need to use an external recorder or a phone to capture the audio. We recommend using Audacity to capture all the audio, since it’s free and simple to use. To learn more about Audacity, check out the video here.

Regardless of how you've recorded the sound, Audacity is a great editing program. Use compression to level out the volume if necessary. Depending on the microphone, you may want to use equalization to adjust the frequency balance. If there's a lot of background noise, use noise reduction to remove it. After all the editing is finished, export as a WAVE file.

Combining Your Audio and Video

It's easy to combine audio and video after recording. You can do this with just about any video editing software. Just make sure the timing is right, since there’s nothing worse than out of sync audio!


Overall, lavalier microphones are simple way to record voice portably. They provide great sound quality for voice without picking up extra noise. When budgets are tight, we hope you like these solutions for capturing voice for a video.

Electric Guitar Recording: Tips and Tricks for the Home Studio

Electric guitars are essential to many different genres of music. Recording electric guitar is a complex process that is harder than it seems. It's very trick to get a balanced sound that fits well with the other instruments.

One of the most important parts of recording a guitar is dialing in your tone before you spend time recording. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to get a nice sounding mix, even after a lot of time is spent processing the guitar track. Your guitar tone should sound basically how you want it as soon as the signal is captured by the audio interface.

Finding Your Tone

As with many instruments, the first step to recording an electric guitar is getting a good tone. This means experimenting with different guitar and amp settings until you find something well suited to your song.

Your first consideration should be the type of guitar tone you plan on using. The pickups in a guitar can drastically change its tone. Both single coil and humbucker pickups have their place in a wide variety of music. Along with the type of pickup you're using, pickup position and tone settings will also affect your sound.

After deciding on a guitar, the amp must be set up to your desired settings. First, you must decide whether you plan on using a solid state amp or a tube amp. Solid state amps have come a long way in recent years and are inexpensive compared to tube amps. Tube amps on the other hand are still praised for their classic tone and warm sound. We covered tube amps for recording in a separate article that can be found here.

After selecting an amp, the first setting to consider is the gain. This will be the difference between a clean and distorted guitar sound. Guitar amps also have an option to control the level of low, mid, and high frequencies. Avoid using reverb with the guitar amp, since you can't remove it after.

Recording Electric Guitar

Amp Recording

Once a good guitar tone has been set in the room, it's time to capture that perfect sound. Guitar amps can be recorded using a good dynamic microphone, such as a Shure SM57. The microphone should be placed a few inches from the center of the speaker. If you are unsure about the exact location of the speaker in a cabinet, a good trick is to shine a flashlight through the front grill. Placing the microphone close to the center of the speaker will give a bright sound with a lot of high frequencies, whereas moving towards the edge of the speaker creates a warmer sound. You can also place the microphone off-axis to change the tone.

Choosing a microphone position will require a bit of patience. It’s really important to get this right before recording, otherwise the only way to fix it is will a lot of EQ and compression. Don’t bother recording the track if you’re not happy with it, make sure you have a good tone first.

Another trick that can be used to record a guitar amp is placing a condenser microphone further back in the room to pick up more ambience. The farther the condenser microphone from the amp, the more ambience is picked up. This microphone can be blended with the dynamic microphone to create a larger sound. It also gives more flexibility when mixing later on. You can use as little or as much as the condenser microphone as you want since it's on a separate track.

Direct Recording

One fantastic option when recording an electric guitar amp is to record the amp itself and a direct guitar signal. You can do this with a direct box, such as the BEHRINGER ULTRA-DI DI100. This device will send a line level guitar signal to your audio interface, and also send the guitar signal out to an amp. This acts as a backup plan, in case your performance is really good but the guitar recording is not. You can then send the direct signal back to the guitar amp and try recording it again.

Direct guitar signals also work great for people who are unable to record a guitar amp. If you’re in an apartment and don’t want to make too much noise, or you’re trying to record late at night, you can just make a direct recording. This allows you to re-amp the signal and record at another time or use a guitar amp simulator such as Guitar Rig 5.

Amp Simulation

Guitar Rig 5 is a great option for recording guitar. The software provides many amp simulations for direct guitar. It makes a guitar sound like it were recorded with a real amp. Then, you can capture the processed signal onto a track and mix it as if it were recorded normally. There’s also a lot of different effects such as reverb, phasers, flangers, delays, and choruses.


If you’re hesitant towards using software amp simulators, there are also hardware options available. Though these options are typically more expensive, they can also be used live. The whole concept of the rack amp simulator is similar to Guitar Rig 5. If you’re looking for a good rack amp simulator option, the Line 6 POD HD PRO X is worth considering. However, when using hardware amp simulators, the settings can’t be changed after if you record the processed signal. For this reason, we recommend recording the direct guitar signal and looping the outputs of your audio interface back into the signal processor after, allowing you more options to change the tone during mixing.

Equalization and Compression

Once the final signal is recorded, you need to tweak the EQ and compression during mixing to get the electric guitar to fit. These fixes should be fairly subtle, otherwise there were problems that should have been fixed during the recording process. In general, we recommend a slight amount of compression to level out the volume. Be careful at this stage, it’s a fine line between leveling an uneven track, and destroying all your dynamic range.

As for equalization, your guitar tone itself should sound pretty close what you’re looking for. If you’re planning on recording other instruments with a lot low end, we recommend a high pass filter. This will cut off some of the low frequencies and allow the other instruments to be heard. Without using one, you could easily end up with a cluttered low end, as well as a guitar and bass that are indistinguishable.


When recording electric guitar, getting a good tone that fits your mix can be difficult at first, but experimentation and practice will allow you to record professional sounding guitar tracks at home. Just remember to be patient, and always make sure you have the tone you want BEFORE hitting that record button.

Leelbox Virtual Reality Glasses Review

The Leelbox Virtual Reality Glasses are a great way to experience VR. Requiring only a cell phone to use, this headset is simple and works great. It’s very comfortable and the adjustments allow it to be used with minimal eye strain.

This headset includes a few accessories in the box, but none of them are really useful. There’s an instructions manual that covers the details of how to get the headset setup. It also comes with a lens cleaner if the lenses get dirty. There’s also a few adhesive padding pieces, but we haven’t been able to figure out where those go. They’re not mentioned in the instructions and don’t appear to be a replacement for any existing part of the headset. Their absence would likely not be missed anyways.



To use this headset, all you’ll need is a cell phone running iOS or Android. It supports cellphones from 4.7-6”, so just about any newer phone will work. The experience you have will depend largely on what apps you download, and not on the headset itself. When just starting, we recommend the Google Cardboard app, but there’s plenty of others available, and you can even watch 360° YouTube videos by turning your head around.

Setting up the Leelbox Virtual Reality Glasses

 

Strap Adjustment

The Leelbox headset has a few adjustments to make it more comfortable and easier to use. When adjusting the headset, start with the straps. There are Velcro adjustments on the two side straps. Adjust them to the point where they’ll stretch to the back of your head, but don’t make it too loose. Then adjust the top strap so that the triangle formed by the 3 straps sits in the back of your head. If the strap keeps pulling loose to the top of your head, the top strap is too tight. Keep in mind that the straps are elastic, so they can stretch. It’s better to have them a little too tight than have them loose and let the headset fall to the ground as you’re looking around.

Putting in the Phone

The next step is to put the phone in. If you have a thick case on your phone, you’ll need to remove it. Otherwise the magnetic latch for the front plate of the headset will not close. Place the top end of the phone in place first and push up and back until it locks in place. Then, make sure the phone is centered. If there’s any part of the headset that’s weaker than others, it’s probably the phone slider. The plastic that holds the phone in seems flimsy, so be careful when putting the phone in. It’s also at a position that it can accidentally push the side buttons on the phone, such as the lock button or volume controls for iPhone users. Though there are a few problems with this setup, it is still a good solution since it allows many different types of phones to be used.

Lens Positioning

Once the phone is in place, you’ll need to adjust your pupil distance. This adjusts the distance between the lenses, allowing them to accommodate different distances between eyes. To do this, turn the knob on top of the glasses until you can comfortably see the image on the screen. Next, adjust the focus. There’s a knob on the side of the headset that moves the phone forwards and backwards relative to the lenses. This is helpful for people who normally wear glasses, since they won’t fit with the headset on.

Now you’re ready to experience virtual reality. Put the headset on and look around in your app. The motion of the phone will change the view. Depending on what app you choose, it may be in full 3D.

Review

As far as comfort, this headset is pretty good. The padding is very soft and there’s no feeling of pressure against your face. We did notice on our model that the padding can sometimes pop off it accidentally tugged on, but the plastic piece snaps back into place very easily. The headset is also very light, so it doesn’t pull your head down when you’re wearing it.

One thing you may notice when using VR apps on your phone is that it creates a lot of heat. Luckily, the makers of the Leelbox headset came up with a solution. There are holes on either side of the phone compartment that allow air to flow through. Conveniently, they can also be used to keep your headphones plugged in while using the headset. If the phone is still getting too hot, you can remove the front cover. This allows much more air to flow through and should keep the temperature under control.

Limitations

Though the overall build quality of this headset is good and it provides a fantastic VR experience, we recommend limiting your use, or taking short breaks while using the headset. Looking through the lenses for a long time can cause eye strain. Also, depending on the app, there can be a little bit of delay between moving your head and the view changing on the phone. This is enough to cause motion sickness in some people.

Unlike some other headsets, this one does not have a magnetic slider to act as a control while in the app. This isn’t a problem though, since not all phones can even use this. Usually, you can make a selection by looking at a point for long enough.


If you’re looking to get into virtual reality, we highly recommend trying out the Leelbox Virtual Reality Glasses. They provide an easy and inexpensive way to experience virtual reality using only your cellphone.

Guitar Tuners: 4 Different Types for Guitar and Bass Players

A guitar tuner is essential for every guitar and bass player to keep in tune. There are many tuners available that are good in different situations. If you’re looking for a new tuner, we recommend a chromatic tuner that will display the nearest note. They also tell you how sharp or flat your string is. When choosing the right style of tuner, we recommend considering when and how you’ll be using it.

Snark SN5X Clip-On Tuner

One option to tune a guitar is a clip on tuner, such as the Snark SN5X Clip-On Tuner. These tuners clip on the headstock and detect pitch through a vibration sensor. They have a bright display to show your current note and pitch to make it easy to read. Clip on tuners work great, since background noise isn’t able to interfere with the vibrations in the guitar. They also don’t require anything to plug in so they work with electric and acoustic guitars.

Korg TM50 Combo Tuner

The Korg TM50 Combo Tuner is also a great solution. It has a ¼” input so you can use it with a guitar or bass. There’s also a microphone for acoustic guitars. This tuner has an easy to use display, but it’s not visible from a distance. This makes it great for practicing, but not live performances. There’s also a built-in metronome, making it easy to practice on beat.

Boss TU3 Chromatic Tuner Pedal

If you’re looking for a tuner for on-stage, a pedal tuner is a good choice. We recommend the Boss TU3 Chromatic Tuner Pedal. This tuner works like any other pedal. Simply press it down to activate. The bright lights are easily visible on stage. The tuner cuts out the signal so the audience can’t hear you tuning.

Korg PB05 Rackmount Tuner

If you're a professional musician, we recommend the Korg PB05 Rackmount Tuner. It is rackmountable and works great for studio or live performance playing. This is great for setups involving rack guitar amps. Since it requires a signal to be plugged in, this can't be used with acoustic guitars unless they have a pickup. It also isn’t very portable, so we don't recommend it as a practice tuner. With its larger size, this tuner is also very visible. You'll easy be able to see it on stage at a distance.


There are many more guitar tuners available, such as those built into an acoustic guitar or phone applications. We’ve decided to cover these standalone tuners, since they can be used by anyone.

5 Kindle Books Everyone Recording Music Should Read

Learning music recording and mixing can be a long and difficult process. Though practice is a great way to improve, there’s also some knowledge you’ll need to be successful. Recording books are definitely a good place to start.

If you’re planning on getting into music recording and production, these are a few recording books we recommend you read. These books cover everything from tracking instruments, to advanced mixing techniques.

Recording Secrets for the Small Studio

The first book we recommend is Recording Secrets for the Small Studio by Mike Senior. This book is specifically targeted at home recording. It focuses on how to get the most out of budget equipment instead of focusing on expensive preamps and microphones. Not only is this book a good start, but it also covers the pros and cons of advanced techniques. It will focus on some common mistakes made in a small studio environment. It also covers the importance of recording it right the first time instead of fixing it in the mix.

Modern Recording Techniques

Another book we recommend is Modern Recording Techniques by David Mules Huber and Robert E. Runstein. This is a book for more advanced recording. It has a heavy focus on different types of equipment as well as recording studio design. There is also focus on topics such as acoustics as well as running a recording studio as a business. Though targeted more at professionals, there is definitely some useful information that can help guide you when designing your studio.

Mixing Audio: Concepts, Practices, and Tools

If you’re looking to learn advanced mixing techniques, Mixing Audio: Concepts, Practices, and Tools by Roey Izhaki is a good choice. This book starts off with the basics, such as how to use different tools such as compression, equalization, and reverb. It also covers how to properly monitor your mix, with consideration given to your monitor speakers, room, and headphones. The book concludes with a few examples of different mixes and how you can get the same results. Learning the mixing process and workflow to get a final product is an invaluable skill in the home studio.

The Art of Equalization

During the mixing process, equalization is basically the most important tool you have access to. It allows you to cut and boost frequencies, giving each instrument their individual space in the frequency spectrum and allowing them to all work together without clashing. The Art of Equalization by Thomas Juth covers how to use equalization to clean up your mix. This will allow you to make clearer mixes and work quicker in a home studio.

56 Mix Tips for the Small Recording Studio: Practical Techniques to Take Your Mixes to the Next Level

Those who are just looking for quick mixing tips, should consider reading 56 Mix Tips for the Small Recording Studio by Amos Clarke. These tips are easy to use, and there’s no need to read each tip. Simply find something describes a result you’re looking for and follow the tips to carry it out.


We hope these recording books will benefit you, and increase your home recording skills. Just remember that even though they provide useful information, there's no substitute for practice!