Popular audio interface (approx £100): Focusrite Scarlett Soloīudget audio interface (Approx £40): Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 Your headphones plug into the audio interface. The audio interface has a button called 48v (Phantom Power) which needs to be switched on – but only do this once your condenser microphone is connected. Your professional microphone will plug into the audio interface, and the audio interface will plug into your computer via USB. Most popular microphone with shock-mount and pop-shield (Approx £160): Rode NT1-Aīudget microphone with shock-mount and pop-shield (Approx £70): Fame C05 This mic has a ‘low end roll off’ switch (gets rid of pops at source): SE Electronics sE2200 Top studio microphone with shock-mount (Approx £950): Neumann TLM-103 and a Pop-Shield A £90 microphone can sound remarkable similar to an £950 microphone – until that is you whisper or shout! Whispering requires a sensitive microphone with a good signal-to-noise ratio for clean results in post – and shouting requires a microphone with a high SPL (sound pressure level) so there is less or no distortion on your recording. You should be considering a Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone complete with Shock-Mount and Pop Shield. Don’t be tempted by the more expensive MacBook Pro for recording – the fan is like a jet engine and will be heard down the microphone! This is one of few laptops available that doesn’t need a fan built in – it runs cool and efficiently, and is very fast at multitasking. Looking to buy a new laptop? I personally recommend the Apple MacBook AIR M1. It is essential to have at least 30gb of free hard disc space on your computer otherwise you may encounter problems whilst recording audio. Do not however cover your desktop computer as it may overheat and cut out mid-session. If so, move it far away as possible or even outside the door as this fan noise will be audible through your microphone. If you plan to use a desktop computer be aware it may have a noisy fan. A noiseless computer means you can keep it close to your microphone and thus saving your audio files requires little or no movement away.

If I had to choose I would opt for a laptop without a built in fan (most do have a built in fan). Generally speaking any laptop connected to the mains, or quiet PC/iMac will be ideal.

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