Microphones
People forgive a bad picture. They hang up on bad audio.
What actually matters
- The room matters as much as the microphone. Soft furnishings, and not sitting in the middle of a bare room.
- Closer is better. A cheap microphone near your mouth beats an expensive one across the desk.
- USB is the sensible choice unless you already own an audio interface.
- Check whether it needs an arm or stand, and whether that is included. It usually is not.
Picks
No specific picks in here yet — I only list things once I've actually formed an opinion about them. The points above are what I'd go on in the meantime.
Also in being seen and heard
- WebcamsWhat a client sees on a call. Usually the cheapest credibility upgrade available.
- LightingThe upgrade with the best ratio of cost to visible difference.
- Content-creation gearFor recording the build, not for becoming a studio.
- Product photographyHow a small product looks when somebody is deciding whether to buy it.
Kit is the easy part. The awkward part is usually the process.
Buying a label printer fixes an afternoon. If the thing eating your week is the admin around the orders rather than the packing itself, that's the part I build.
Tell me what's eating the week