The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2023 - 24

For microphones, the biggest issue I see in the profession
is that everyone focuses on how things sound to them, but
few pay as close attention to how they sound to others.
and excellent microphones
simply by adding a digital
audio converter (DAC). If
you go that route, my top
choice is the classic Shure
SM57 ($100), followed
closely by the Mackie
Element 89D ($50). A top
choice DAC is the Focusrite
Scarlett Solo ($120).
Professional podcasters
tend to like the Shure
SM7B, which you see in
many videos. I also use this
microphone regularly, but it
needs another small device
known as a microphone
activator, like a Cloudlifter
($150), to boost the gain,
as it's a low output nonphantom-power
microphone.
It's also a big microphone,
so it can get in the way a bit
even when boom-mounted.
Like all microphones, it
needs to be positioned very
well and closely.
Location, Location,
Location
The positioning of any
microphone is indeed
critical. You can have a great
microphone, but it will not
make you sound good if it's
not positioned properly.
Watch those side-address
microphones and make sure
a separate microphone is
positioned closely enough
to you. Boom arms are great
for this and free up table
space for papers. Pop filters
are inexpensive add-ons
that can also be helpful. For
a headset microphone, be
sure to position it not too
close or too far away. The
ideal position is below your
mouth, about half an inch
or so. If it's above or too
close, listeners will hear
" pop " sounds or hear your
breathing. During sound
24 The ATA Chronicle | March/April 2023
checks a good technician
may tell you to move your
microphone down or up half
an inch to achieve better
sound. Some microphones
slip down and are then
too far away. The sound
difference can be significant
from a small change.
Tech Specs
Read the data/technical
specifications before you
buy. This is where you'll find
" open-back, " " semi-open/
closed, " or " closed-back "
information, the weight
(heavy gets old after a
longer session but this is,
again, a personal thing),
the frequency response
range of the speaker and the
microphone, and the type of
the microphone (condenser
or that rare USB jewel, the
dynamic), and the pick-up
pattern (look for cardioid).
It's Personal
And finally, above all,
remember that sound is
personal. You need to work
with equipment that suits
your environment, is
comfortable, and works well
for you. Whatever you use,
have a backup solution ready
whenever you work because
failures do happen, even with
excellent quality equipment.
We can expect additional
headset, headphone, and
microphone options to come
on the market, with more
dynamic U.S. microphones,
USB-C adapters, and
connection options, as remote
works continues to be
normalized and manufacturers
respond to market needs.
Naomi
Bowman
is the chief
executive
officer of
DS-interpretation, Inc., a
global language services
company specializing in
on-site, hybrid, and remote
conference interpreting and
language services. She is a
public speaker and author on
remote interpreting, including
the article " How to Choose
a Headset for RSI " and
co-author of the Interpreter's
Guide to Audio and Video.
She is a technical expert via
ANSI to ISO for TC37/SC
5-Translation, Interpreting,
and Related Technology.
She is also a project editor
for ISO 24019:2022-
Simultaneous Interpreting
Delivery Platforms. She has
extensively tested and worked
with numerous microphones
and headsets in her quest to
find quality and good value
products for interpreters.
nwb@ds-interpretation.com
www.atanet.org

https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm57?variant=SM57-LC https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm57?variant=SM57-LC https://mackie.com/en/products/microphones/em-series/EM_89D.html https://mackie.com/en/products/microphones/em-series/EM_89D.html https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB?th=1 https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B07QR6Z1JB?th=1 https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm7b?variant=SM7B https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm7b?variant=SM7B https://www.cloudmicrophones.com/cloudlifter-cl-1 http://www.atanet.org

The ATA Chronicle - March/April 2023

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