Microphone and Amplifier Guides
Plain-English guides to choosing microphones, sizing amplifiers, wiring speakers and predicting loudness. Each one links to the free calculator that checks your numbers.
Microphone guides
Choosing, placing and setting up a microphone.
- Best Microphone for Podcasting and Voiceovers in an Untreated Room Most podcasts and voiceovers are recorded in ordinary rooms, not studios. Here's why a dynamic beats a condenser there, and why treatment matters more than the mic itself. · 8 min read
- Best Microphone Setup for a Noisy or Untreated Room No microphone suppresses fan noise by itself. Here's the setup that actually works in a shared, echoey or untreated room, and the mics that reject the most before software. · 8 min read
- Shure MV7+ vs Rode PodMic USB: An Honest Comparison Two dynamic hybrids with USB and XLR, aimed at the same buyer. Here's where each one wins, why the answer changes between USB and XLR mode, and what neither can fix. · 8 min read
- Choosing a Microphone Under $100 That Will Not Die in 6 Months The cheapest USB mics have a reputation for failing fast. Here's how to spend under $100 on something that lasts, and the build-quality trade-offs to accept if you go lower. · 7 min read
- Is the SM7B Worth It? Who Should Not Buy One The SM7B is a great microphone and the wrong purchase for most people who want it. Here's what it actually needs to work, and the cheaper mics that do the same job for a home setup. · 8 min read
- Upgrading From a Blue Yeti? What Actually Improves The Yeti isn't bad, it's just misused and dated. Here's why yours sounds noisy, what a genuine upgrade changes, and the specific paths that are worth the money. · 8 min read
- Condenser or Dynamic Mic for an Untreated Room? Condensers are more sensitive, dynamics are more forgiving, and the right choice depends almost entirely on the room you record in. Here's how to decide. · 9 min read
- USB or XLR Microphone: Do You Need an Audio Interface? USB or XLR is a question about your setup, not about sound quality. Here's what each connection actually requires, what it costs you, and how to choose without wasting money. · 8 min read
- Reading Microphone Specs That Actually Matter Most spec sheets bury the three numbers that actually affect your decision: self-noise, sensitivity and max SPL. Here's how to read them and what the thresholds are. · 8 min read
- Which Microphone Polar Pattern Do You Actually Need? Most guides explain what cardioid, omnidirectional and figure-8 mean. This one tells you which to pick for your situation, and when switching pattern actually fixes a problem. · 8 min read
- Why Your Mic Picks Up Keyboard and Fan Noise (Fix It in Order) Your mic isn't faulty. It's doing exactly what it was built to do. Here's why background noise gets in, and the order to fix it so you don't waste money on the wrong solution. · 8 min read
- Do I Need Phantom Power? A Straight Answer Phantom power confuses more beginners than any other part of a recording setup. Here's exactly which microphones need it, which don't, and which ones it can damage. · 6 min read
- How Far Should Your Microphone Be From Your Mouth? The distance between your mouth and the microphone changes your recording more than most upgrades. Here are the actual numbers by microphone type, and the physics behind them. · 7 min read
- What Mic Gain Should I Use? Setting Levels Without Guessing Gain is not volume, and most people set it wrong in both directions. Here are the actual dBFS targets to aim for, and the order of operations that gets you a clean recording. · 7 min read
Amplifier and speaker guides
Sizing amplifiers, wiring speakers and predicting loudness.
- How Loud Will My Speakers Be? Watts, Sensitivity and Distance Explained Worked examples for desk, living room, studio, PA and outdoor setups showing how speaker sensitivity, amplifier watts and listening distance combine to determine real-world volume. · 14 min read
- Watts to dB: How Amplifier Power and Speaker Loudness Actually Relate Does doubling watts double volume? No. Here are the real formulas, tables and worked examples showing how amplifier power, speaker sensitivity and distance combine to determine loudness. · 17 min read
- How Many Watts Do You Actually Need? The Math Behind Loudness Doubling your amplifier power adds about 3dB. Speaker sensitivity matters more than wattage. Here's the actual formula, with worked examples for home, studio and PA. · 8 min read
- What Size Amplifier Do I Need for My Speakers? Matching an amplifier to speakers isn't about buying the biggest one, or the one that matches on paper. Here's why underpowering destroys more speakers than overpowering. · 9 min read
- Wiring Speakers in Series vs Parallel: Impedance Explained Series raises impedance, parallel lowers it, and getting it wrong is one of the most common ways to kill an amplifier. Here's how to calculate the load before you connect anything. · 8 min read
- Subwoofer Wiring: Every Impedance Combination Explained Every common subwoofer wiring combination with the impedance it produces: dual 4-ohm to 1 ohm, two subs in parallel, series-parallel, and how to match each one to your amp safely. · 9 min read