Voice recording: Zoom h1 + lapel mics??

[Telemacus]

I've been searching for a good microphone for my voice recordings (I'm mainly working on some video tutorials, so voice quality is important).
I have a simple logitech headset which I thought would do the job (and, you know, maybe some noise reduction with audacity). I also purchased a C-1u mic to do some tests a while back.

Then, a couple of days ago I watched this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjx1Oxteqmg

I didn't even know what a Lapel mic was!

Does one really need to spend 400 bucks to get quality voice recordings??

[slowtiger]

In short: yes.

You can get some decent recording with cheap equipment as well, but you need to know how. Also it depends on the job: do you record some tutorial, or some Hollywood movie?

If you're not visible or run around, you don't need a lapel mic. Instead use something with a boom. The in-built Zoom mic might suffice (although I think it changes voices too much). Lapel mics always dampen the higher frequencies of speech (by placement), thus let your voice appear muffled.

I usually use a SPL Nugget http://www.justmusic.de/de-de/recording ... ugget.html which was and is 333.- €. This goes into a Behringer Ultragain Mic 2000 (that's a mic preamp, was about 120.- €) and then into the Mac. Some compression and filtering in Logic, and I have a nice warm sound.

By accident you can compare both mics with the same voice here:
https://vimeo.com/71192647 SPL Nugget
https://vimeo.com/71991615 Zoom h4n

[Danimal]

Does one really need to spend 400 bucks to get quality voice recordings??

Probably not $400, but it will cost something, yes. Especially since you already have a large-diaphragm condenser mic that directly connects to the computer (no preamp needed) and that's the lion's share of the cost.

You would need the added expense of a boom stand, like slowtiger said. They make smaller, desktop stands too which may also work depending on how you sit when doing the tutorial. You may also want to look at a pop filter to keep from getting those plosive Ps.

Another option is to do an audio "scratch track" with the headset mic you already have, then go back and dub in a narration track done with the stationary mic for better quality. This will require more thought and a video editor, so that may be more than you're wanting to do.

[Telemacus]

Thanks for your insight Slowtiger + Danimal, much appreciated.
It doesn' help my budget, which now includes a new computer. Oh well.