Mic technique top tips
1. Mic distance (The six-inch rule)
- Your distance from the microphone dramatically affects tone and clarity
- Too far away: thin, echoey, room noise creeps in
- Too close: boomy, distorted, breathy
- Ideal starting point: about 6-8 inches (15-20cm)
- For most spoken-word podcasts, consistency is more important than perfection. Moving in and out during sentences creates volume swings that are hard to fix later
2. The proximity effect
- Directional microphones (especially cardioid mics) boost low frequencies when you get close to them
- Closer: deeper, warmer “radio voice”
- Too close: muddy, overpowering bass, risk of over modulation (distortion)
- Some microphones, such as those made by Electro Voice (EV27 etc) are designed to minimise the proximity effect
3. Speaking across, not directly into, the mic
Plosives (P and B sounds) send bursts of air straight into the microphone
Instead of speaking directly into the capsule:
- Angle the mic slightly off to the side
- Or speak across the front of it
- This reduces popping and harsh blasts of air.
- A pop filter helps, but technique matters more
4. Mic level control (working the mic)
Professional broadcasters “work the mic” by subtly adjusting distance depending on delivery:
- Lean in for quiet, intimate lines
- Pull back slightly when laughing or raising your voice
- Back off during big emphasis moments
5. Posture and positioning
Good technique includes:
- Sitting upright (improves breath control)
- Keeping your head stable
- Avoiding turning away from the mic mid-sentence
- If you turn your head while talking, the tone changes instantly (proximity effect)
6. Breath and sibilance control
Good mic technique includes:
- Controlled breathing (not gasping into the mic)
- Avoiding overemphasising S sounds
- Using slight head turns to reduce ‘big breaths’ being broadcast
- Radio pros take breaths slightly off-mic
7. Room awareness
Even with good technique, a reflective room can ruin the sound.
- Better technique includes:
- Staying consistent in position
- Avoiding tapping desks or bumping mic arms
- Being aware of clothing rustle and chair noise
8. Why it matters
Good mic technique:
- Reduces editing time
- Improves perceived authority
- Makes even modest gear sound expensive
- Builds listener trust subconsciously
A lot is written about podcast production, gear, software, editing and distribution, but from what I can see there’s very little said about the all-important microphone technique. In other words, the way you actually speak into a microphone.
Now, what I’m about to say doesn’t really apply to a well-positioned lapel microphone. This is mainly about what happens when you’re sitting in front of a microphone, recording a podcast or hosting a radio-style show.
As an avid listener and watcher of podcasts, I routinely hear presenters — and their guests — popping the mic. That’s the result of a large burst of air hitting the microphone capsule, causing a sound commonly referred to as a plosive.
It’s distracting. And the frustrating thing is, it’s usually avoidable.
The first time I sat in anything resembling a broadcast studio was at hospital radio — a well-equipped, professional outfit in Southend-on-Sea in the UK.
Up until then, my only experience with microphones was as a mobile and club DJ, enthusiastically shouting encouragement to the crowd. That’s what we personality DJs did in the 1980s.
I used a Pro 4 dynamic mic. It delivered a crisper sound than a Shure SM58 and it was very forgiving if you shouted directly into it.
But sitting in a studio with an AKG D 202 was a completely different experience. This was a broadcast microphone — and it’s now something of a legend.
There was no need to get close to the capsule. And there was certainly no need to shout.
I was advised to make the microphone my friend. To talk to it as though it were a person.
Some presenters even placed a photograph of a partner or friend next to the mic and spoke to that image when broadcasting to patients. Because when you broadcast — or podcast — you’re essentially talking to one person. Most people listen in isolation.
Before going on air, I spent hours speaking into that AKG microphone. Moving it slightly. Adjusting the angle. Wearing headphones and listening carefully to how my voice sounded.
And that’s really where microphone technique begins.
For most spoken-word podcasts, a good starting distance is about six to eight inches from the microphone. Too far away and the room takes over. Too close and the sound becomes boomy or distorted.
What matters most isn’t the exact distance — it’s consistency.
Moving in and out while you speak causes volume and tonal shifts that are difficult to fix later.
Now let’s talk briefly about the proximity effect.
Directional microphones boost bass as you get closer. Used deliberately, it creates warmth and intimacy. Drift closer without meaning to, and suddenly your voice sounds heavy and overpowering.
Good presenters control this. They don’t fight it.
They also work the mic.
If you’re about to laugh, you ease back slightly.
If you’re emphasising a point, you pull back a touch.
If you’re saying something quieter or more personal, you lean in.
These are small, intentional movements — not dramatic ones.
Avoiding plosives is another key part of microphone technique.
Don’t speak directly into the front of the mic. Place it slightly to one side and speak across it. Use a pop filter, or at the very least, a good quality foam shield.
And importantly — know where the capsule actually is.
For many microphones it’s obvious. It’s at the top.
But not always.
Some microphones are side-address. The Audio-Technica AT2020 is a classic example. I’ve seen someone record an entire show speaking into the top of it, simply because they didn’t know where the capsule was.
It happens more often than you might think.
Posture also matters. Sit upright. Stay stable. Turning your head or slumping changes your tone instantly — and the microphone hears everything.
Breathing matters too. You don’t need to remove breaths entirely, but be aware of them. If you need a bigger breath, turn slightly off-mic. Broadcasters have done this for decades.
As an editor of other people’s podcasts, I’ve spent countless hours repairing poor microphone technique. Yes, there are clever and powerful plugins available — but there’s always a trade-off. You fix one thing and lose something else.
And the time it takes? It’s rarely worth it unless someone else is paying.
So record it right the first time.
Treat your microphone with respect. Get to know it. Experiment. Listen critically.
Make the microphone your friend — and speak to it, not at it.
I hope this episode of Podcasting Made Easy has been helpful.
You can find out more at SteveHartMedia.com, and do check out my Podcasting Made Easy book wherever you buy — or borrow — your books.
If you’ve got a podcasting question, let me know and I’ll answer it in a future episode.
