Audio drama gear recommendation was more durable to come back by again in 2010. I took my first tentative steps into fiction podcast recording by utilizing the built-in mic on my Zoom H2n. Not a foul mic, by any means, however definitely not at all times the perfect device for the job.
Audio drama and fiction podcasting are like podcasting as an general medium – there are such a lot of folks creating content material in numerous methods. Similar to an on-location interview has totally different technical calls for than a distant interview within the non-fiction podcasting realm, so too do the assorted methods dramatised items are recorded. And that looks like probably the most logical approach to break this down – into fiction podcasting codecs.
I’ll caveat this audio drama gear information by saying that I’m by no means explicitly telling you to exit and purchase one thing. My method right here is extra of a “What would I do?”. An unlimited quantity of latest package has come onto the market previously 14 years, and I’ve been lucky to evaluate plenty of it. So right here’s my ideas:
A fast heads as much as say that we use some affiliate hyperlinks in our gear roundups, which assist assist all of our free content material. Relaxation assured, although, that affiliate hyperlinks by no means cloud our judgement or stop us from giving our sincere ideas!
Audio Drama Tools for Solo Fiction Podcast Makers & Voice Actors
Whether or not you’re studying chapters of an audiobook or doing distant traces for an audio drama, the precedence right here is to report a very good clear vocal recording.
Funds Mic Choices
A toss-up between the Samson Q2U and ATR2100. These reasonably priced workhorse mics supply a strong degree of sound high quality and are forgiving of suboptimal room circumstances. You can begin out by utilizing both in its USB kind, then improve to an interface afterward by way of XLR.
Mid-Vary Mic Choices
USB mics have come on leaps and bounds this previous decade. I’d fortunately belief the Rode Podcaster, AKG Lyra, or Sennheiser Profile to report high quality vocals. However once more, having the choice to change to XLR additional down the road is a giant plus, so let’s go for the Samson Q9U.
Premium Mic Choices
In case you’re someway swimming in a pool of cash (tell us the place you discovered it) and need one thing high-end, then there are a number of choices as large as your pockets. Standouts for me are the Shure SM7db, Shure MV7+, the Rode NT1 5th Gen, or the Electro-Voice RE20.
All of those mics are world-class. However you’ll be able to’t depend on an costly mic alone to make a recording sound good. In case you’re investing closely in your setup, please treat your room with the identical significance as you’re your gear.
Solo Interface Choices
I’ve talked about plenty of mics that run by way of USB. A few of them (just like the Q9U or NT1 fifth Gen) work as USB or XLR mics, whereas others (SM7db, EVRE20) are completely XLR.
If you wish to run an XLR mic, you’ll want an interface. I’ll give one advice right here: the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. I’ve used mine for about 13 years, and the newer incarnations are even higher. The 2i2 plugs in by way of USB and allows you to run one or two XLR mics into it.
The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is the most well-liked audio interface amongst podcasters, based on our 2024 Gear Survey Report.
Audio Drama Tools for In-Studio Efficiency
A “studio” can take many various varieties. It could possibly be a pro-level radio or sound studio, or it could possibly be a room in your home with some acoustic remedy. The purpose is that we need to report a number of voices in the identical room and do it as cleanly as attainable.
By “clear”, I imply that the producer (probably you) ought to be capable to take these voices and place them in any fictional soundscape in post-production. To realize this, you want no background noise and undoubtedly no reverb in these vocals.
Studio Interface Choices
This time, I’m beginning with the interface as a result of it’s the central hub for recording all of your voices and having them separated neatly into their very own particular person tracks.
As a finances possibility, I’m going to advocate the Zoom PodTrak P4. This helpful little machine is nice worth for cash, and you may report 4 actors without delay into its XLR inputs. The PodTrak P4 will run by itself, no pc wanted.
In case you’re doing the Brewster’s Thousands and thousands factor, then the Rodecaster Pro II is perhaps for you. It’s a much bigger, brighter various to the PodTrak P4, with even higher preamps (and the P4’s preamps are good) to energy even the hungriest of mics. Once more, no pc wanted.
Studio Mic Choices
A lot of what I stated in regards to the mics within the solo audio drama gear part nonetheless applies right here. One key variable is mic bleed. That “clear” recording we talked about may be affected by the sounds of different actors.
Stopping this isn’t essentially right down to mic selection – although that may assist – however the positioning of your actors within the studio. Getting an honest quantity of distance between everybody is nice apply, and should you can add in some baffling or shielding (extra on this within the “Different” part), then that’s splendid.
On a finances, I’d fortunately use the Samson Q2U or ATR2100 right here. Each reject noise from round them very nicely. I’ll additionally throw the Shure SM58 into the hat.
In case you can spend a bit extra, then I’d go for some Samson Q9Us or Shure MV7+s. These will enhance the standard of your vocal recordings while nonetheless minimising that undesirable bleed.
Audio Drama Tools for On-Location or Subject Recording
Subject recording includes taking your actors to a location and utilizing its pure soundscape as a “baked-in” backdrop to their efficiency. Many actors love this method, which might really feel just like engaged on a movie or TV set. For producers, it will probably save time in publish, too. You don’t must edit in background atmosphere as a result of it’s already there.
That stated, area recording isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Good luck attempting to make your sci-fi audio drama sound prefer it’s set on Mars with the sound of a hearth engine or ice cream van passing by.
Subject Recording Interfaces
Once more, beginning out with the central hub of our package, we would like an interface that’s moveable, sturdy, and battery-powered. The Zoom PodTrak P4 stays a superb possibility on this entrance. I’ll throw its cousins, the Zoom H5 and H6, into the hat, too. Each are excellent area recorders and have the benefit of coming with built-in stereo mics.
Subject Recording Mics
There are a couple of approaches right here. One is to go for sturdy audio drama gear that may get a bit soiled and beat up and nonetheless carry out nicely. Because the Shure SM58 is invincible, you’ll be able to run a few these right into a Zoom H5 or H6 to seize the vocals whereas utilizing the recorder’s built-in mics to seize your ambient soundscape.
Subsequent up, you’ll be able to go for the film-style method of sticking mics onto increase poles and dangling them in entrance of actors, which permits them to maneuver round a bit extra. Shotgun mics are a very good possibility right here, and the Audio-Technica AT875R may be very reasonably priced. That stated, prices can stack up if you want a number of, in addition to increase arms and quite a few folks that will help you wield them. In its place, you may as well purchase a shotgun mic capsule that’ll fit on the Zoom H5 or H6.
For me, the apparent selection could be to go for wi-fi or lavalier mics. A pricey however top-quality possibility is the Rode Wireless Pro package, which might actually unlock your actors to do all of the bodily stuff with out the necessity for further manufacturing assist. For this method on a tighter finances, think about getting a smartphone lav for every actor who information instantly into their very own cellphone. There’s a bit of additional manufacturing (to not point out way more likelihood of one thing going improper), however you’ll be able to undoubtedly make it work.
Different Audio Drama Tools
Microphones and audio interfaces are probably the most important and distinguished components of your fiction podcast recording package. However each good story wants a strong supporting forged, too.
Stands, Mounts, & Growth Arms
In case you’re flying solo, any desk stand or increase will do the job. The Rode PSA1 is the decide of the bunch, however you’ll discover many cheaper options.
Rode also has a boompole should you’re taking the sphere recording method, however for lower than half the value, the Neewer NW-7000 is a well-liked and nicely considered possibility.
In case you’re getting everybody collectively in-studio, then your commonplace musician’s ground stands are splendid. You’ll discover extremely reasonably priced choices on Amazon or at your native music retailer.
Headphones
There may be definitely no scarcity of sensible choices in the case of headphones for monitoring recordings and post-production. My private favourites are the Audio Technica M20xs. They’ve higher-range fashions out there (M30x, M40x, and so on.), however I’m very happy with the 20s.
When selecting headphones, be cautious of consumer-level fashions designed for listening to music. If in case you have a pair of cans that add further bass to your audio, then you definately’re not getting an correct depiction of how your recordings really sound, and – crucially- how everybody else will hear them.
Sound Therapy & Audio Safety
Pop filters are a low-cost safeguard to forestall an excellent take from being ruined by a thumping plosive. Once more, these may be picked up cheaply on-line or at your native retailer. Many mics declare to have built-in pop filters today, however I’d nonetheless advocate utilizing an exterior one.
Foam windjammers or “furries” are extra suited to area recording. Keep away from shopping for something till you get your mics, although, as many fashions include their very own (exterior) plosive and wind safety.
In case you’re creating an in-studio setting, then some acoustic remedy is crucial to eradicate reverb out of your vocals. You should buy foam acoustic tiles or hold sound blankets round your house. Who stated sound remedy needed to be baffling!? I’m making a joke right here, and I sincerely hope it landed, albeit with out inflicting any reverb or background noise.
Cables
While I received’t go so far as to say an XLR cable is an XLR cable (an audio engineer would seemingly string me up with one), I can actually say that I’ve by no means needed to swap one out as a result of I observed it was negatively affecting the audio high quality. You should buy very fancy and high-end cables with gold (gold!) in them, however once more, until you’re an eccentric millionaire, I wouldn’t fear about it. An honest quantity of XLR mics include cables today, but when not, they’re very accessible and reasonably priced.
What About Software program?
Software program for recording or enhancing audio drama is a topic in its personal proper. I’ve always used Adobe Audition. I discovered on AA, and I do know my method round it, so I by no means had any motive to go elsewhere.
Many fiction podcast buddies use DAWs like Reaper and Hindenburg and converse extremely of them.
The most well-liked podcast recording and enhancing software program is Audacity. It’s free, and has each device and have you’ll ever want, however the structure can really feel clunky and unintuitive to some.
I discussed a hearth engine probably ruining your recording earlier on, too, and that’s a pleasant alternative to say Alitu. Test this out:
Noise discount like that was unthinkable even a few years in the past!
Audio Drama Tools: Most Well-liked Package
Our 2024 podcaster gear survey informed us hundreds in regards to the gear 500+ creators are utilizing, and eight% of them had been audio drama and fiction podcast makers. Clearly, that’s a small pattern measurement, however a couple of patterns emerged which may counsel wider tendencies in our nook of the medium.
- The Blue Yeti was the most well-liked mic (as it’s in podcasting, general)
- The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 was the most well-liked audio interface (as it’s in podcasting, general)
- Rode was the most well-liked model, with fiction podcast creators creators utilizing the Podcaster, Procaster, and NT1-range fashions.
- Adobe Audition pipped Audacity as the most well-liked software program program.
Extra Fiction Podcasting Assist
I hope this audio drama gear information has been helpful in serving to you select the proper instruments to report and produce your present. A few extra assets for you’re our guides on how to make a fiction podcast and how to edit and produce and audio drama.
Final however not least, you should definitely sign up to the Fiction Podcast Weekly, a vital e-newsletter for creators and fanatics within the house. You’ll get all the newest information delivered straight to your inbox every week, from creator assets and casting calls to varied different alternatives and business information as a complete. In case you’re even pondering about making an audio drama, then it’s worthwhile to be getting this.
Trending Merchandise
