The Common Era with Aron Arnold

This is a quick comparison of recordings made in Zoom and in Squadcast. It bears mention that the Zoom recording is local, not remote, which is to say the sound did not travel over the internet before getting to the recording. That makes a big difference and we'll listen to that in another episode. This is just so that you can hear the recording quality of the two platforms.

My mic is a good, old Shure SM-58 - a great mic that just happens to always be around. I can't say enough about it.

I was at a well-known discount store yesterday and saw these wireless clip-on mics for $09.99 and thought "I have to hear this" so in this episode, I got to hear them and so will you. No surprises here but it sure was fun!

Demonstrating the Rodecaster two ways; connected to a Rode Wirelss Pro microphone and a Shure SM58.

Then a brief discussion about how Colorado is really five different places (ymmv) and fulfilling the old stereotype of looking for something your whole life only to discover that you were already there.

please note; in my discussion of how to pronounce "Mesa Verde" I ended up using the wrong one - this is because we have all been arguing about it for so long that it's easy to get them all straight. The pronunciation that the powers that be have finally signed off on is like "May suh Vur Day" such that "verde" would rhyme with "her day." I accidentally used the version that sounds like a white person trying to pronounce Spanish such that "verde" would rhyme with "hair day." Some might argue that this is correct but...well...maybe that's a good topic for next week...(when I was a child, btw, we used to pronounce it as if to rhyme with "hurdy gurdy", which is just abrasive to my ears...yeah maybe next week, we'll really unpack the whole mess).

RECORDING NOTES:

Mic: Rode Wireless Pro and the Shure SM58 (beta)

Recorder: Rode Rodecaster

Room: My patio/warm weather office - a rectangular room with lots of windows

Processing: None. I always want you to hear the hardware as-is.

Produced by Clarity Sound Lab

Helping spoken-word creators make better recordings.

claritysoundlab.com

Comparing a few different mic solutions on a zoom call:

RECORDING NOTES:

Zoom Call Recording

Shure SM7B (w/RME interface) This is the mic in my thumbnail.

Shure SM58 (w/RME interface)

Built-in Mic on Dell Laptop

Sony WF1000X series wireless earbuds

Apple EarPods

Rode Wireless Micro Lav Mic

Room: My "office" - an enclosed patio facing the backyard.

Processing: Just a quick volume adjustment - no EQ, no compression or any other fancy stuff. I just want you to hear the gear as-is.

One quick correction; upon listening, I think the Sony earbuds should actually be ranked *below* the laptop mic.

Produced by Clarity Sound Lab

Helping spoken-word creators make better recordings.

claritysoundlab.com

Recording into a Galaxy S21 using a Rode Wireless Micro in my living room.

A discussion of how humidity makes hot feel hotter and cold feel colder - does that mean it makes medium feel extra medium??

Is that where we're going as a society? In this time of extremes, do we all yearn for things to be, not just medium, but extra medium?

Listening back - I think the audio is good. Not great but good, which is really impressive, considering the cost.

RECORDING NOTES:

Mic: Rode Wireless Micro

Recorder: Samsung Galaxy S21 phone

Room: Our living room - typical mid-century ranch. A couch, a love-seat and a handful of throws help dampen the acoustics.

Processing: Just a quick volume increase - no EQ, no compression or any other fancy stuff. I just want you to hear the gear as-is.

Produced by Clarity Sound Lab

Helping spoken-word creators make better recordings.

claritysoundlab.com

Some types of stupid are a choice.

But first, a quick rundown of the gear and room I used for this recording. Listening back, I'd say it sounds a bit boomy and roomy, mostly because I recorded in a rectangular room with lots of windows. Overall, though, I think the hardware did a good job.

RECORDING NOTES:

Mic: Shure SM7b

Recorder: Rode Rodecaster

Room: My patio/warm weather office - a rectangular room with lots of windows

Processing: None. I always want you to hear the hardware as-is.

Produced by Clarity Sound Lab

Helping spoken-word creators make better recordings.

claritysoundlab.com

Setting the format for my new show. In this first episode, I describe the gear used to record it, including the recording device, microphone, and a rather surprising recording environment. Then I just talk for a bit—not because I have anything interesting to say, but to provide a listening sample. This will be the format moving forward: a brief description of my recording method followed by a brief description of my head.

RECORDING NOTES:

Mic: Rode NT2k Modified by Michael Joly

Recorder: Zoom F4 field recorder

Room: Recorded in a surprising space

Processing: Processing: Just a quick volume adjustment. No EQ, no compression or any other fancy stuff. I always want you to hear the hardware as-is.

Produced by Clarity Sound Lab

Helping spoken-word creators make better recordings.

claritysoundlab.com