Actually, the “effects” may be exactly what you need (if you’re looking for a simple fix for your recordings). Effects aren’t just for making stuff sound weird. Some effects are made specifically to make stuff sound less weird. Anyway, send me a file if you’d like, and I’ll see if I can figure out the simplest, most effective fixes for you to implement, since you’re talking about doing this from now on yourself.
Since you guys have some experience, I would like some feedback on my settings. Have a listen to this video clip.
It plays:
- Laptop Microphone (The reason I bought the Lavalier Mic)
- Lavalier Microphone (The reason I bought the CAD Mic)
- CAD Microphone (Finally. But a little off.)
- CAD Mic, Realism Adjusted (with equalizer settings I think sound more like me)
So of course you have not met me, but does #4 sound the best on your speakers?
send me a link
wle
“Getting sound to sound radder”
(some profanity)
Both 3 and 4 sound pretty good to me. 4 sounds a little fuller due to bumped up low end, I guess.
Can you post a link to your CAD mic?
Here’s the raw audio incase that’s what you wanted the link for Wle. Suggestions welcome.
CAD mp4 Recording
Thanks!
What program/settings did you use to get from #3 to #4?
Thanks Angler, I will have to try audacity.
For anyone wondering, that line I read is from the CAD user manual. It was sitting right in front of me when I hooked up the mic for the first time. I’m not trying to sound like and advertisement!
I used Cyberlink WaveEditor2. It’s a lame program, but I can apply custom equalizer settings to a file and save it. I played with the bars for many hours, and that was the result. To re-create it, you can pull the 2K frequency down to –4 and pull the 125 frequency up to +2. Then shape the rest of the bars into a smooth wave look around them. Ending at 0 at both ends of the equalizer.
Alright, just like going to the eye doctor, I made some adjustments. Please tell me if A or B is best on your speakers 
I prefer B. The high frequencies in B are more clearly heard, by my ears.
Thanks Pete, the second opinion really helps
it actually sounds pretty good
i don;t hear any room reverb or artifacts
you are not popping p’s or s’s
voice range is good , not too low and muddy
i;d just say a little compression, if you have not done it already
be confident, you sound uncertain on the last few words
wle
The original is good, but have a listen to the 2-choice clip. I think the edits in the 2-choice clip reduce the microphone feel.
The hesitation on the last few words was because I have read that line from the manual so many times I was having to resist the urge to speed-read 
Oh - and I did try Audacity’s compression. It did nothing noticeable. I guess that is good.
i am waiting patiently for someone to ask “what is compression”, and then someone explaining it, lol…
i like to add the “tube” effect… this is where you add digitally (effect) the distortion that people find “warm” and “pleasant” about vintage tube amps and pre-amps…
most of what you “add” to a voice, in the software? remember its like adding PEPPER to your food. You might need SOME, and too much makes it worse.
one fairly standard rule in all “mixing 101” help textx, is….
“when adjusting levels on effects, by the time you find yourself going ”whoa! thats cool!” its usually a good idea to back it off a bit”
less is more, youre trying to NUDGE and be SUBTLE generally. You never want to hit the listener over the head with anything “cool”. Each effect generally nudges the VOX towards better, no one effect should generally do all the “nudging”
think of it like a rich businesswoman applying makeup…
1) she doesnt wanna look like a PORN STAR or a 20 year old girl ina mini skirt going clubbing looking for a guy to drag home with her. She doesnt want people to NOTICE the makeup, but… she does want it to work.
2) she uses SOME foundation, SOME blush, SOME lipstick, SOME mascara… but no one thing is put on with a spackling knife, generally
3) done “right”, which is subjective mind you… the end result is like night and day, shes now “way more attractive”, yet doesnt look like a porn star going to a nightclub. She doesnt look like “she wears too much makeup”.
Compression is bringing the loud sounds down and the soft sounds up.