Technical
Audio interface
The box that converts an XLR microphone's signal to USB for your PC, with clean gain and monitoring. Required for mics like the SM7B.
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Related terms
- XLR
The three-pin professional microphone connector. XLR mics need an audio interface but offer the best quality ceiling and upgrade path.
- Gain
The input volume of your microphone. Too low = whisper quiet; too high = distorted clipping. Set it so normal speech peaks around -12 dB.
- Pop filter
The mesh screen between mouth and mic that tames explosive 'P' and 'B' sounds. Cheap, and the difference is instantly audible.